Name: Jamie Landers

Age: I’m turning 28 this year

From: Tralee, Co Kerry

What is your equestrian experience?

I learnt my trade from a young age at the Kennedy Equine Centre in Tralee and Limerick. The Kennedys gave me some great opportunities and I am very grateful for the start. Before I took up my current position, I spent almost four years riding for Castleforbes Stud and competed at national and international level.

Again, I got great experience while at Castleforbes. I will always be thankful to those people that believed in me and allowed me to develop my career.

The experience I got at home was invaluable but I felt it was time to experience Europe and their way of doing business.

Where are you based now?

I’m now based as head rider for Ultimate Sport Horses in Belgium. The main shareholders in the business are Paul Gibbs, Stracey Cheel and Hollyanne Gibbs. Initially we were based in England, near Windsor, and recently we have moved the operation to the current location near Antwerp.

We made the move as we wanted to be in Europe and close to the main shows which is good for producing young horses as well as being in contact with buyers. In the stable at the moment we have a mixture of horses. We have 15 horses from five-year-olds up to some older horses that are competing at two/three-star level. The Gibbses are very supportive and the plan is to compete at three-star level.

Tell us about your top horses?

My top five horses are LMK Di Caprio, an Irish-bred horse that we purchased from Liam McKee at the end of last year, I’m very excited about him. I also have Stakkatos Boy, that has also competed to 1.50m level. Carlson is an older horse that I am really excited about. He was previously competed by Gregory Wathelet up to five-star level and later was campaigned by Guy Williams. He is a very good horse for me to have as he has ability and experience. Skelwith Diamond Lady is a very talented six-year-old and she already boasts a super record at CSIYH1 level and will be ready to move up.

We recently bought the talented five-year-old Kenzo DHH from Sharon Cifford in Ireland, another exciting prospect. We tend to go back to Ireland ourselves to buy young horses. I am a particular fan of the Irish horse as they have a great brain. They get a rounded education in Ireland and by the time we buy them, they are ready for shows. The system for producing horses in Ireland makes my job easier once they arrive with us.

Why did you chose to move to Europe?

I have previously had wins abroad up to two-star level and in the young horse classes and I wanted to develop this and move up the levels. The advantages of been abroad for me is that there are much more show venues to bring on our horses.

Don’t get me wrong, there are great venues in Ireland, like Cavan and Mullingar to name just two, but in Europe, there are also great centres with buyers there all the time. The venues around me run great training shows each week and this helps with the production of horses. Where we are based means that we are close to a lot of show centres.

What do you miss about home the most?

I miss the shows from home and the competition with fellow competitors. I would have also bred a few horses so I miss being apart of that. My father Pat Landers now looks after that aspect of it.

Any advice for anyone choosing to go abroad?

I would advise anyone in a similar position to try going abroad. The experience you gain is brilliant.

What are your goals?

My goals are to move some of our older horses up to three-star level and above, while at the same time showcase some of our young horses in Europe. It’s an uncertain time for us all right now but we’re using this time to develop our young horses and be ready to go when everything is back to normal.

How is this crisis affecting you at the moment?

The horses are still on the same training path with the goal of returning to shows, albeit it on a small scale. We have been allowed to do some training at venues and we now selling buyers return. It is difficult for everyone.

I feel sorry for producers in Ireland at the moment, with the Spring Tour, the RDS and possibility the ISH series gone, these young horses will be missing this show experience. It is a huge gap for the younger horses. I think Irish producers will have to put their thinking caps on and work together to find a solution.

Jamie Landers was in conversation with Emer Bermingham