Name: Seamus Hughes Kennedy

Age: 17

Parents: Clare Hughes and Melvyn Kennedy

From: Danesfort, Co Kilkenny

Tell us about your five top horses: Cuffesgrange Cavadora (eight-year-old), Castlefield Sapphire (eight-year-old), Castlefield Kamira (six-year-old), ESI Ali (five-year-old) – these are the ones I will be concentrating on, but we have a number of young horses also, including a Quidam Junior five-year-old.

What height categories do you compete in?

In 2019, I made my debut in the (1.50m) New Heights Series in Ballinasloe, placing second. I also competed at National and International Grand Prix level with Louis D’Or, an amazing horse that helped me in the transition from ponies to horses.

Trainer(s): Ger O’Neill and my mother Clare.

Who has been your greatest influence so far?

In my short time as a show jumper, I have been lucky to have many influences on my career. My aunt and uncle Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo, Denis Flannelly, Jim and Ger O’Neill, but due to the levels of time, commitment, expense and sacrifices, my parents have been my greatest influence so far.

Who is the rider you most look up to and why?

Ger O’Neill is a super role model. His levels of professionalism, training methods and ability to get top-quality results, both personally and from his students, is amazing. Also, I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks competing in Wellington, Florida, in February with Oakland Stables and Darragh Kenny. The experience of spending time with one of the top show jumpers and stable yards in the world is one I will cherish.

What are your major achievements and/or wins to date?

I had a successful pony career, winning the 148cm six/seven-year-old competition with Keatingstown Hunky Dory as a six-year-old and as a seven-year-old at the Dublin Horse Show, winning Nations Cups and Grands Prix with Rock Dee Jay. I was also privileged to represent Ireland at the Pony Europeans and win the inaugural FEI Pony Jumping Trophy in Mechelen, Belgium, with Cuffesgrange Cavalidam.

Undoubtedly my greatest achievement was winning the seven-year-old FEI World Breeders Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken, Belgium, last September with the daughter of Cavalidam, Cuffesgrange Cavadora.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank TRI Equestrian and Gain Equine Nutrition for supporting my career over the last few years.

What are the key things you learned from your 2019 season?

Any sport, including show jumping, has its highs and lows. After gaining selection for the European Junior team, the loss of Louis D’Or was devastating.

Thanks to Damien Conway, my mind was somewhat occupied competing at the championships with Consun. From that low came the unbelievable high of winning a Senior World Championships at Lanaken. Staying positive was one of the things I learned from my 2019 season.

What are your goals for 2020?

With the impact that Covid-19 has had worldwide, my goals have changed. We have more time at home to develop the younger horses and keep everything ticking over. I have plenty of time to catch up on school-work also. The main goals for 2020 are a return to Lanaken if it goes ahead.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy was in conversation with Emer Bermingham