CAPTAIN David Power has taken leave of absence from the Irish Army. The 26-year-old has moved to the UK to work as second rider to American show jumper Lauren Hough.

The Kilkenny show jumper, who joined the Cadet School in 2008, and officially became a Captain just yesterday (Friday), has had a one year leave of absence from the Army Equitation School approved, with the option to extend that timeline.

Power will spend the summer months at Hough’s British base in Aston Farm, Gloucestershire, the place she shares with her partner Captain Mark Phillips, father of Olympic event rider Zara Tindall, where he is in charge of managing the barn and helping Hough’s American client Paris Sellon, who is also a member of the senior American show jumping team, before moving to Wellington, Florida, for the winter circuit.

Power’s achievements with the Army include a three-star win and numerous placings at the Toscana Tour in Arezzo, Italy, last summer with Drumiller Lough, and a third place finish in the 2016 Mullingar International Grand Prix aboard Dunganstown Boy.

His other top mounts included Dollanstown, who last weekend won the RDS Puissance qualifier under Capt Geoff Curran.