THIS is the story of Spoof, a remarkable pony who for over 30 years, has played a major part in the lives of so many children up and down the country.

The story started in 1986 when two well known Tipperary judges, Sue Perry and Clare Ryan, were at Goresbridge Sales, on the lookout for anything that might have a bit of potential. Sue slipped out to get an ice cream and spotted a very nice sensible-looking little coloured pony being trotted down the road by a child.

The pony had distinctive markings, particularly a large dark brown circular target with his tail as the centre on his white rump. This was Spoof and he was to become a familiar sight on the hunting field, in shows, gymkhanas, hunter trials or wherever ponies and children gathered. Sue made an instant decision. She had to have him. She stopped the child; discovered the pony was ex-catalogue but definitely for sale. It didn’t take long to agree a price.

The first thing Sue had to do though was to go back into the sale ring and find Clare as she needed to borrow the money to pay for him! This was quickly done and Sue returned home that evening the proud new owner of a two-year-old 13.2hh coloured pony.

From the moment Sue got him home to Tipperary, Spoof was the calmest, best natured little gentleman. He did everything that was asked of him without a hint of bad temper. There was no violent resistance to saddle or bridle, he just quietly accepted that this was what he had to do and he got on with it. He walked, trotted and cantered when asked and most importantly, he stopped when asked. He jumped sensibly and economically.

It didn’t take very long for another good judge to spot his potential. Jean O’Brien, wife of Dermot and mother of Dan and Erica, had had numerous top quality thoroughbreds, hunters and ponies through her hands at Derrygrath. This fellow would fit in nicely. Shortly afterwards, Spoof moved to his first family home.

Dan and Erica started riding Spoof straight away. Erica took him hunting that autumn as a two-year-old. The following summer, he did his first pony club camp and completed the first of 21 C tests.

During his stay at Derrygrath, he also made the journey up to the RDS where he competed in the 13.2hh working hunter, ridden by future racehorse trainer David Lanigan. All apparently was going according to plan until the second last where the occasion got to pony and rider and he jammed on the brakes and came to a shuddering halt - a rare blemish on his C.V.

A couple of years later, Dan and Erica had moved on to smarter sharper steeds and the bombproof Spoof was surplus to requirements. It didn’t take long to find him another home. Jane Myerscough was looking for a suitable pony to get sons Jamie and Dave started. Spoof moved to Ballysheehan. He stayed there for the next three or four years, happily mixing with the blue-blooded thoroughbreds that were being prepared for illustrious careers on the racecourse.

In 1992 he had another change of address. He made the short journey to Goolds Cross where he found himself with the Curlings.

Here he had to learn to multi-task. As well as being the guaranteed patent safety introductory pony for Hannah, Sam and Rebecca, Spoof also became the artist’s model for their father Peter. He was painted many times and his likeness now hangs in various houses in Ireland and other countries around the world.

Here Spoof was also introduced to the refined art of carriage driving. It may have been in his breeding but he was very happy trotting along between the shafts with a rowdy rabble of children, all having a wonderful time in the cart he was pulling.

One of the extraordinary things about Spoof is the number of people who he has helped who have been in one way or another closely involved in the horse world.

The Curling family live in the heart of the Tipperary hunting country and the biggest, trickiest banks and ditches proved to be no problem to Spoof.

Plenty of children may have fallen off him, but he himself never ever fell. He would patiently wait while the relevant child would pick him or herself up and climb back on board. He adjusted to each child’s requirements. If the child was nervous or inexperienced, he would take it very steadily, often pausing for a crucial moment while the child battled with the laws of gravity, usually providing the chance to regain composure and proceed as planned.

If however, a bigger question was asked, Spoof was well able to answer the call. He could pop round a hunter trial course with great agility and at this stage, among the many who would have ridden him were future jockeys Mark Grant, David Crosse and Kevin Power.

SILVER SHOW ANNIVERSARY

Children grow up quickly and it wasn’t long before Spoof was on the move again. In 1997 he moved to Fethard where Michael and Josephine O’Hagan became the proud owners. Their children Mike, Jim, Josef and Lucy, all learnt to ride on Spoof. At this stage he was a well known face at pony club camp and all the shows that make up the summer calendar.

Michael and Josephine made the wise decision to hold on to him but he has been on extended loan to various families over the last 10 years.

Jamie and Tiffer Morris both made his acquaintance, as did Alastair Lloyd Webber. He spent a happy couple of years at Mount Coote Stud in Limerick where he provided a safe conveyance for Luke and Tabitha Lillingston’s children Hugh and Lara. His arrival was not without some drama.

Luke’s mother Vivi was in the kitchen the morning after Spoof had spent his first night at Mount Coote when an agitated Maurice Browne, cattle man, came in. He was very upset that some strange pony had managed to find his way in and was happily grazing in one of the paddocks. Should he hunt him back out onto the road where he belonged? He was very quickly told that this was Spoof, the most valuable animal on the place and he was to be treated with the care and respect he deserved! While with the Lillingstons, Spoof attended the 50th anniversary of Killusty Pony Show. It was Spoof’s 25th in a row!

Now at 33 years old, Spoof is still going strong. At the moment, he is up in Co Tyrone, providing his usual first class service for James and Debbie Black and their children Emily, Alice, Claudia and Patrick.

At his age, he is taking things a little slower but is still providing the vital confidence that every child needs when they start to ride. He is a wonderful pony who has touched the lives of so many people. Long may he continue to do so.