Name: Zara-Jane Kelly
Age: 12
Parents: Martin and Tracy Kelly
From: Fintona, Co Tyrone
What categories do you compete in: Show jumping 128cms, 138cms and 148cms
Your top ponies that you compete on now: I have been very very lucky that I have several super ponies I currently compete, from novice up to Premier level. My top ponies are my 128cms. The more experienced ones include my eight-year-old Sparkling Miss Leglands, who has just stepped up to the bigger tracks placing fifth in her first ever 1.05m Grand Prix at Cavan HPI in the summer and then went on to place fourth in the Coolmore 128cm Pony Premier the following week at the Meadows Equestrian Centre.
She is consistently placed in her 1m classes and I am so excited that she will have a very bright future ahead of her, and I was part of that… I’m just a little bit sad that, as this is my last year in 128s, I’m not going to be the one who rides her in Dublin someday, but luckily enough I have a younger sister and brother who are both dying to have that chance!
I also ride the fabulous Sparkling Ruby May, a seven-year-old 128cm mare belonging to Sparkling Equines Aldyth Roulston. Ruby May has given me so much fun and many wins over the past few months. She is only seven years old and her highlights have been winning the MEC TRI Equestrian Ulster Region Autumn Pony Series 1m class, first in the 128cm 1m Grand Prix Championship jump-off Class at Cavan two-day Autumn Pony Show in September and then we picked up another first in Cavan again at the October Pony Show!
Ruby May has been very consistent, she has picked up two Leading Young Pony Awards this year at the Northern Indoor Championships and also placing third in the 128cm 1m Bob Sweeney Bloodstock Future Champions Final at Jag Equestrian.
Who has been your greatest influence so far? It has probably been a rider that lives just over the road from me, Niamh McEvoy.
Niamh really inspires me, from when I was little, only just jumping cross poles. I have always looked up to her and hoped that one day I would be as good as her.
I just loved to watch her and another great influencer, Alex Finney, go head-to-head in the 138 classes. Their jump-offs were unreal, something I will always remember watching and thinking to myself, I want to do that!
The rider you most look up to and why? The rider I look up to most is probably Mikey Pender because at such a young age he has achieved so much. I watched him in the Puissance in Dublin and then again in Liverpool last year where he came second both times (Unfortunately I wasn’t in Olympia to see him take the win!) Winning the Hickstead Derby at 19 must be a dream come true for anyone!
Major achievements and or wins:
- • 128cm Irish Pony Team at the Scottish Home Pony International 2019 – silver medal
- • U10 Irish Pony Team at the Scottish Home Pony International 2018 – gold medal
- • Olympia International Horse Show 2018 Mini Major Competition (paired with Shane Breen) – third place
Key things learned from your 2020 Season: This is my last year in 128s and had really hoped to do everything; from trying to qualify again for Dublin, jumping my new pony Sparkling Miss Leglands in the Premier, travelling to HPIs in the hope of making Irish pony teams this year again, and to competing in Liverpool this Christmas. Unfortunately for all of us this year didn’t go to plan!
However, what I have learned is that sometimes when things don’t go to plan, it is just time to find a new focus. We bought two unbroken 128cm project ponies a few years back, we backed them and threw them out… Lockdown became my novice pony project. They both have turned out to be little stars and now they are ready to go jump 1m classes. I have learnt that I really really enjoy the satisfaction that comes with seeing my babies grow up.
Zara-Jane Kelly was in conversation with Emer Bermingham.