AOIFE Keogh, who is from north County Dublin, is a fourth-year student in the Early Childhood Education programme at the Marino Institute of Education. She hopes to do a Master’s degree and become a primary school teacher. “I have done some sub work and really enjoy the profession,” said the 22-year-old.

“I ride out sport horses for numerous people and I also teach riding, primarily within the Louth Hunt Pony Club which I joined myself in 2004. I am still a member of the Branch as are my two younger sisters. Our passion for riding comes from our mum, Aideen, who has always been involved with horses as were both her parents.

“I’ve taken part in most Pony Club activities. When I was young, I did Minimus and mounted games, which I thoroughly enjoyed, before moving on to combined training, pure dressage and eventing; I was placed in a lot of PC one-day events.

“Beyond the Pony Club movement, I very much enjoy showing. I’ve been placed twice at the RDS in the Connemara showing and in the Connemara working hunter section at Balmoral show. I’ve also had good results at shows run by the Irish Pony Society (I’m a member of the Kildare/North Leinster Area) while I also compete with Dressage Ireland as a member of the Eastern Region.

“I began taking Pony Club tests at the age of five and always wanted to continue on and do the A Test. The two horses I took to Spruce Lodge were my 2009 Connemara gelding Cloon Apollo and Maura, a 2016 Sirillio mare who is registered as Pinnock Hill Luna.

“I brought Apollo, who is by Funambule II, to do the jumping phases. I have had him since he was five and have achieved a lot of dreams with him; I also used him for my B and B+ Tests. We have jumped in Dublin, Balmoral and at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan. We have also evented and compete up to Elementary level in dressage.

“I brought Maura for the flatwork phase. I’ve had her for a year and a half but things have been very slow with Covid. We have competed in some Novice dressage and I showed her in small hunter classes last year including at Balmoral in September.

“I was very lucky with the other horses I got to ride at the A Test. They were each very different animals and brought something different to the table. Passing the A Test was a huge achievement. It’s a goal that I always dreamed of achieving and it makes me so proud to know that I have attained it.

“Of course, I couldn’t have done so without the help of many people, especially my Mum and Dad, Aideen and Shane, who are my number one supporters. I have had many instructors who have greatly impacted my journey including Barbara Quinlan, Anne Stanley, Tom Holden, Emma Kieran and, most importantly, Kevin McGuinness.

“While I hope to become a primary school teacher, I plan to continue teaching riding, both in and outside the Pony Club, as well as continue to compete as I thoroughly enjoy it and cannot imagine life without horses. I also hope to continue on and become an examiner for Pony Club Tests.”