KILKENNY’s Oisin Aylward (20) has been featuring regularly in this pages since sport returned and that is thanks to his new job riding for Darragh Kenny’s Oakland Stables in Meijel, The Netherlands.

Aylward was back in the winners’ enclosure again last week, finishing second on two occasions with the nine-year-old mare Harissa Z, owned by the Van Liere Stables. The first came in Friday’s 1.35m Table A when they were the second fastest of 17 clear rounds in a time of 63.21 seconds, behind Finland’s Elena Hietanen.

They were then runners-up Sunday’s 1.35m with another double clear round, behind British winner Tabitha Dean. “She is a lovely, very bold horse and she is really super careful. I think she will win some really nice classes in time,” Aylward told The Irish Field this week.

Following a year riding for Barry O’Connor in Malahide, he is settling in well at Kenny’s yard, despite his start date being slightly delayed due to Covid-19. “Darragh has been a great help and I have some really nice young horses to ride and a few older ones as well. I am really enjoying it, definitely no complaints!

“Being in the ring at home with Darragh every day and just watching him is a great help. There are lots of other good rider here as well – Michael Hughes (USA), Don Whitaker (Britain) and Brian Walker (Canada).

"Basing yourself with good riders means it is a lot easier to learn. And the background team here at Oakland Stables are incredible.”

Another horse in Aylward’s string is the nine-year-old mare Lolly Pop van ‘t Akkerhof, who finished third in last Friday’s 1.30m in Lier. Owned by Oakmont Stables LLC, she won the seven-year-olds under Kenny in Knokke in 2018. “She is a really really nice one to have to ride. She was eighth in the one-star Grand Prix in Lier and third last week. She is a super careful horse and it is a pleasure to ride her,” he commented.

“I am at home in the yard this week. We go to Peelbergen in three weeks and then on September 24th the horses leave for Oliva and I will do the full six weeks down there.”

Future plans

What about his future plans and aspirations? “Barry was a great help to get me going in the horses. The young rider Europeans was the aim for this year, but unfortunately with the virus that changed. In January, the plan is to go to Florida for three months; if we get in to Florida [with Covid-19], that is. After that, we will see what horses we have and make a plan.”

At home in Coppenagh Stables in Co Kilkenny, Oisin’s family have up to 70 ponies and horses. Returning home at some point is the dream, but he is aware that you need to be on the continent to have access to the better shows.

“My dad, John, is a big breeder and producers of talented ponies. We had some very nice young ponies and that is how I got into it. One of my very good ponies was Coppenagh Oliver Twist who jumped clear in Hagan in 2016 to help Ireland win. We breed close on 15 foals a year. A lot have been ponies and now slowly transferring over to the horses.

“We bought a lot of yearlings in Holland and will hopefully buy a few more this year. We are going to produce them at home when they are three and four and some of the colts, we hope to get them approved to do the IHB classes.

“The long-term plan is not decided yet. I would love to set up at home, but it is more accessible to be out here. It will all depend on what horses I get,” the astute youngster added.