MY love of ponies started after my grandad Bob McConnell bought me my first pony, Mountcaulfield Lady Ruby, when I was two. Lady Ruby and I finished my lead rein days in style by winning the first show pony lead rein class held at Dublin Horse Show.

From then, I went through all the show pony ranks up to 14.2, with the 13hh show hunter pony Oakley Spring Rhondo being my pony of a lifetime, winning everything possible all over Ireland.