BEING in the business of flying Irish horses around the globe, the world has become a much smaller place in recent years. Pioneering trainers have ventured to far-flung locations such as Australia, China, Japan and the US. We at the EIS Agency have invaluable experience when it comes to overseeing the transport of such horses, be they sport horses or thoroughbreds.

My uncle and aunt on my father’s side, Tom and Cathy Rice, bred thoroughbreds at Lea Lodge Stud. Having started off with flat horses, they later switched to National Hunt mares. I was hooked from the day my grandparents sat me on a donkey on a family holiday to Wales. During my teens I hunted and competed in shows. I recall cycling from Sutton to Swords at 5am, with my saddle on the carrier, in order to hitch a lift to a hunt. In return for the lift, I would plait the horses once we got to the destination.