AMATEUR RIDER PROFILE

Name: Vickie Anderson

From: Crettyard, Co. Laois

Competition history: I had a few ponies that I mostly did Pony Club with until by chance, I got a 13h pony called Willow Lord who we competed up to almost Grade A before I had to move to 14.2. I skipped 14.2 and started to compete my mum’s horseTullylost Ted.

College: I started in Gurteen College studying Equine and Business studies. I then took 18 months off and spent my time working for Shane Breen, Darragh Kenny and Francis Connors. I then went back to college and am a qualified Beauty Therapist and masseuse.

Occupation: I worked in the pharmacy sector for nine years. I now work in the office of the family haulage business, A Transport Ltd., based in Athy, Co. Kildare.

Biggest challenge when working and competing: Trying to be at a professional level while fitting it in as a hobby. I exercise the horses before I go to work in the mornings, they go to the field for the day and the mucking out gets done in the evenings.

Top horse: Without a shadow of a doubt, Zack is my hero.

Biggest win so far: We won the opening international class in Mullingar two years ago.

Trainer: I’ve had a lot of help through the years but the main person who improved my riding vastly was Willie Dunne who is based in South Carolina. When he comes home, he puts me through my paces.

Greatest influence in your career: I admired Francis Connors before I worked for him and left his yard in awe of him. A true gentleman and a man with more talent than I could learn in a lifetime! Patience is the key to success.

The most important aspects learnt last year: I find it hard as an amateur to compete with the professionals. The most important thing I’ve learnt is never let anybody tell you that you can’t. If you work hard enough, the answer is always “you can”.

Goals for 2018: I plan to follow the national Grand Prix league this summer.

What can be done to help amateurs in Ireland? I think it is so hard for the amateurs to shine here. There are a number of people who have horses at the higher levels in the country as a hobby and it’s difficult to compete in a class where the professionals have two or three horses in the same class. I’d love to have a second or third chance to fix a mistake I made first time around. I guess the solution is to look for another Zack. Introducing the Pro Am to the Spring Tour was a good start.

Vickie Anderson was in

conversation with Emer

Bermingham