IT has been said that a great teacher is one who makes herself ‘progressively unnecessary’ and after my recent conversation with Susanne Macken, it would seem that this is her professional goal.

Susanne began her professional training under Iris Kellett and has built up an incredible amount of knowledge and experience with horses.

However, instead of resting on her laurels, she has spent the past 20 years passing on what she knows to others. Her latest project, the FEI Grooms course, sees people in developing countries train to become professional competition grooms.

This, she maintains, will not only be good for horse welfare in these countries but also may allow students to have an outlook to a better livelihood.

Susanne explains: “Everything I’ve done professionally in recent years is thanks to the Horse Sport Ireland training programmes. Over 20 years ago, I was very kindly put on the original line-up to learn how to be a tutor of the new HSI coaching system; we were going to learn to coach the coaches.

“Thanks to the people like Gerry Mullins, William Micklem, Eric Smiley, and Alison Corbally who had created the course, the content was superb, it was the best thing I’ve ever done, there’s no question.

“I don’t think people know how super important the development of that course was. I think maybe a lot of people forget that the whole thing was totally developed in Ireland.

“Back in 1999 I went to China for the FEI to teach. Ned Campion had been due to go but had to cancel and couldn’t travel so Micheal Stone asked me to go instead.

“When I got there, I didn’t have a clue. But what I did have was the most important thing, and it is what many Irish people have, and that is pony club experience. I was a pony club kid myself with the Kildares and then teaching all the way through when my kids were growing up in the Meath Pony Club.

“I learned everything in Pony Club; how to improvise with what we had, how to just get on with it. But that trip was really the start of it. When I came back I was inspired to learn. I realised that the people I had just spent a couple of weeks teaching went off on their way and put into action with their own riding what they had learned but that’s where it stopped.

“Through the FEI, we actually realised that in many developing countries, you would teach the riders and then those riders leave to work abroad, so you’re not giving a good basis on which to build the sport.”

Vast experience

Susanne continued: “It all fell into place when I got the opportunity to join the HSI coaching programme. It formalised all the things I had learned over the years from time spent at professional yards like Schoklemöhle’s and at international shows all over the world with my then husband Eddie.

“I had all this knowledge but I didn’t know how to teach it so the HSI course (or EFI as they were known then) did that for me. It allowed me to learn how to tutor coaches to coach; therefore people came away being able to pass on what they had learned to others within their country. It leaves a great legacy.

“The FEI then began to use the HSI Levels one and two courses in their education programme. They began using the course content for their coaching systems all over the world and it was developed here in Ireland.

“I’ve been so fortunate to travel to the most fantastic places to give these courses as a tutor, coaching coaches how to coach.

“I’ve been to Sri Lanka, Russia, Ethiopia, Singapore, Beirut and Syria – the most amazing places – to give this course which is Irish, was written in Ireland, and is now in use all over the world which is something we should be very proud of.

“I was lucky to be one of the original group selected from all over Europe to bring this course to various countries, we helped develop tutors and now there must be up to 40 or so FEI tutors worldwide. It has become huge over the years and it all began here which is so fantastic.

Flashback: Members of HSI Equestrian Skillnets coaching team (l-r) Avril O'Byrne, Eric Smiley, Heather Coyle, Niall Quirk, Gisela Holstein, Lt Col Gerry Mullins and Susanne Macken

FEI Grooms’ course

“I did that for about 20 years and from that I’ve just recently written a grooms’ course, along with Anthony Lowry and Valeria Ariza from Uruguay for the FEI.

“The idea began when I was at shows judging and would see grooms making simple mistakes, trotting up badly, lunging with no effect, health and safety issues like flip flops while handling a stallion.

“These were all things which riders assumed anyone around horses would know, but a lot of these grooms did not come from a place where this is learned by seeing it done correctly. They need to be taught and then the next person coming up can see them doing it right and it spreads.

“They needed experience and education. These people did not have the advantage of the wonderful schools for grooms we have here in Europe, where you can take two or three years to go through all the grades.

“I decided to write a few days’ course that these aspiring grooms could take, that would give them a basic knowledge of the horse, aimed at the competition world.

“In other words, they learn how to do a horse inspection, they learn to notice things, they learn to lunge and to put up practice fences, all things they would need day-to-day at a show.

“I’m dying to get back to travelling. I’d say this is one of the longest times I’ve ever stayed in Ireland without some sort of trip abroad. I’m so excited to continue working on the grooms’ programme, I think it’s something special.”

Home and health

“I’m fanactical about it and am really missing it. I’m walking my box at the moment but hopefully it won’t be for too much longer and I’m very grateful that myself and my family are all healthy.

“It has not been easy and I don’t think it’s any good for my mental health, but I’m very lucky to live in a very beautiful place (Rafeehan Stud, Co Meath). I live here with my partner Andy Cox and we do everything together on the farm so that’s great.

“We have 10 retired horses and several youngsters as well as some broodmares so that’s been keeping us busy.

“Looking at the equestrian sector in Ireland at the moment, I think that HSI is doing a superb job. It’s working, the leagues they support here are an essential part of the development of horses and I think they are doing a great job.

“I think Ireland is one of the best countries in the world to bring up horses. We are bluegrass and there are only three countries which can claim that: Kentucky, Normandy, and Ireland.

“The top thoroughbred breeders from all over the world don’t have studs here because they like the trees. I’m a huge believer that from the ages of zero to six, we have the opportunity to let horses grow up free and mature as a horse is meant to. We’ve proved it, in Lanaken we’ve won everything.

“We also have the best young riders in the world, I’m involved in the Rolex Young Rider Academy and I’ve given talks to them about dealing with the practical side of things, the paperwork when they arrive at shows, entries, boot checks, how to check a stable before you put your horse into it. Success begins in the stable.

“Then I also do judging with Sven Holberg. He and I discuss everything and the young riders can throw any questions they have at us.

“We also give them small pieces of advice, like always walk in with a smile, you’ll only be remembered once, it’s too late to do it the second time, and never forget to say ‘thank you’.

“There are plenty of top young riders out there and if you’re not nice, you may not be invited again. It’s much easier to make a nice name at the beginning than to try and be remembered afterwards. I’ve been really honoured to be involved with it.”

Missing judging

“Looking to the future, I’m really missing my judging. I’m so lucky to have several nice international shows which invite me back year after year, my favourite of course, is Dublin. I’ve had to cancel so many trips but hopefully we are on the way to getting back to normal.

“I am also looking forward to being able to visit my son Stevie who lives in Florida, and seeing his two boys, Fynn and Bodhi.

“On a positive note, I’m a very proud grandmother this week. My younger son Jamie and his family live with us here, and his sons Jack (7) and Harry (5) cantered up the field with me this week so that was just lovely,” concluded Susanne Macken.