TAKE the time. That would be the main piece of advice from pony owner Fran Rush (née Kerins) whose three children compete at Showjumping Ireland shows all over the country.

Fran grew up at her parents’ Tubberbride Equestrian Centre in Collooney, Co Sligo. Her mother, Noleen, is an SJI judge and her father, Francie, had a successful show jumping career. Her brothers Richard and Darragh are both professional riders; Richard here in Ireland and Darragh in the USA.

Fran had a successful career in ponies and amateurs and works full-time for the Bank of Ireland. Her husband, and co-owner of the ponies, Kenneth, also competed ponies and works for Ballina Beverages.

The duo still manages to keep a full-string of ponies competition fit and on the road where they have enjoyed countless successes over the past several years. The family have a busy life, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Our son Harry is 12, nearly 13, so at the moment he’s jumping in 138cms, 148cms and Children on Horses. His sister Ella is 11 and she’s competing in the 128cms. Our youngest, Jack, is seven and he’s doing the 128cms 70cms classes,” Fran explained.

“Myself and Kenneth taught them when they started, as they progressed my brother Richard and my Mum and Dad got involved. Between us all we trained them, but for competitions it would be Richard that would be the main trainer.

“We have about 14 ponies in work. Eight or 10 of those would be competing consistently and the others would be youngsters we are bringing on and producing; either for sale or to hold on to and compete.

“Ella has three really nice 128cms for this year; the 13-year-old mare Tower View Lady, the nine-year-old Bellismo Spartacus and Priestwood Hardy, they are all competing at the top-level in the 128cms. We would have bought all of the ponies through private sales. We would always be on the lookout at the shows and around the place, seeing what might be suitable for our needs.

“Harry has the 138cms seven-year-old mare Conazar Jayne (Wild Balou Bill x Conazar Cheeky Chick) which we bought as a two-year-old and have produced ourselves and is now competing at 1.10m. He has the 148cms six-year-old Christmas Candy who we also produced, and another 138cms eight-year-old Welsh-bred named Relled The Entertainer who we only got the other day so we are just getting to know him now.

“For the Children on Horses class he rides my parents, Noeleen and Francis Kerins’ 10-year-old mare Beach Buggy (Beach Ball x Ars Vivendi).”

Ella Rush and Dutch Lady winning the U10 championship at the National Pony Championships last year \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Juggling act

The children are pony mad and juggle their school work alongside working hard on their ponies. Their mother explains: “On a school day, when the mornings are a bit brighter, they both would ride one before school. I feed and muck out before work. It’s pretty full-on when they come home from school, but to be fair to them they put a lot of hard work and effort into it.

“I think all the kids competing at this level are putting in the work. They all have great fun and they have great friends on the circuit but all of them work hard at the sport; they have to put in the time if they want to do well.

“We are very lucky, we have great friends on the circuit and the kids are very social. They really look forward to meeting up, it’s brilliant that we all get on so well.

“The ponies really kept us going through Covid; we were lucky to have them. We just kept them ticking over and working at home so they were ready when the shows came back. It kept the kids busy and active so that was fantastic.

“When we go to a show we could bring eight to 10 with us, we’d have a trailer behind the lorry, it can be busy, busy, busy!” Fran said with a laugh.

“The main thing we are focusing on right now is the qualifiers; trying to get them to Dublin. Both of them have plenty to try to qualify for the 128cms, 138cms, 148cms and the Children on Horses so hopefully we get there. We are hoping that maybe later in the year we might head away and get a trip abroad to some shows with a view to trying to get on some teams maybe next year.”

Florida calling

There have been plenty of good days so far. “We’ve been fortunate over the years to enjoy several wins. Most recently Harry won the Spring Tour last year; he also won the 128cms championships at Mullingar International. Ella was the Under 10s National Champion and also won the Under 10s in Mullingar. Harry competed in Dublin and Ella finished second and third in Balmoral.

“They had an unbelievable year last year, to be fair to them. Another highlight for them was they got to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida when we went to visit my brother Darragh and his family last February which they really enjoyed.”

Any advice for parents who are getting involved in the sport?

“If I had any advice for a parent whose children are getting involved it would be, give a new pony plenty of time. The child has to get to know them and that can’t be rushed.

"Go to local shows start small and build on that; they have to establish a relationship and have trust before they can have success together.

“Over the years I’ve learned to always be watching the ring looking out for the next pony that may suit. You have to just sit at the ring and see what’s there. The ponies won’t come to you, you have to search for them, and when you do find them it won’t just happen overnight.

“You could buy the best pony in the world and when you put your own child on them it might not happen that fast, you have to persevere with it. It all takes time to come together, keep it simple at the start and work your way up to the bigger classes. It’s not too often you buy a pony and it all just clicks straight away; you need to give it time.”