GROWING up in Mountrath, Co Laois, we always had hunters and that. I got my first pony from Vikki Sheeran, a woman I met hunting. When I was 11, I met a man who introduced me to pony racing. It was through the photographer Mel Doyle, that I got to know Tony Beegan in Galway. I was still in primary school at the time. I did five seasons at the pony racing and Tony was very good to me. For the first couple of years, I was only at the pony racing but two years ago, I started riding out for trainer Mark Fahey. Shane Crabbe, who I rode flappers for, introduced me to Mark. Since then, I am in his yard every weekend and when I get time off school and I am also apprenticed to Mark.

Pony racing is a great education and I got plenty of experience. I rode 49 winners in all, including 29 in my final season. I also rode four winners at the big Dingle festival.