Rider profile: Darragh Ryan

Name: Darragh Ryan

Young Rider Academy participant

Age: 21

From: Thurles, Co Tipperary

Parents: Tomás Ryan and Fiona Hyland Ryan

Based with: Greg Broderick

Top horses: Lackamore Storm/Boleybawn Actor/MHS Carlos/ESI Starstruck/Ballypatrick Flamenco

Trainer: Greg Broderick

Academy mentor: Barry O’Connor. Barry is extremely knowledgeable about horses and is a very good business man which is vitally important in our sport to survive!

Major achievements:

•won Irish Breeders Classic 2016

•won 4YO Championship in RDS 2016

•won Young Rider Championship in RDS 2016

•won 5YO Championship in RDS 2017

•qualified eight horses for RDS 2017

Goals: To compete on an Irish Nations Cup team in the future/to win a medal at Lanaken

Key things learned from FEI Young Riders Academy: Making plans/good tips on banking and accounting/looking after your health

Based in Ireland or overseas in the future: Ireland, if possible

What would help the industry in Ireland: I think the industry in Ireland is improving and very good.

There’s some great shows and with Irish Sport TV broadcasting a lot of shows, it’s easy for people to look up horses.

More funding for these shows and facilities to keep on improving would only be a good thing and for increased prize money would be great for everyone!

Compiled by Emer Bermingham