Irish Pony Club Race Day

The Curragh staged the second Irish Pony Club Race Day last Sunday with hundreds of pony club members and their parents in attendance. 

A packed program of entertainment during the afternoon provided the Pony Club with the opportunity to highlight their various activities with presentations supported by TRI Equestrian to their winning teams, including Horse Trials, Hunter Trials, Mounted Games, Minimus, Tetrathlon, Show Jumping and Dressage taking place during the afternoon, while there was Musical Ride performances from the County Laois and Island Branches of the Pony Club on the racetrack between races

Appropriately former Pony Club member Joseph O’Brien rode two winners for his father Aidan on Nephrite and Harrison’s Cave. Former Pony Club member Tony Mullins trained Rock and Roll Kids to win the Irish Pony Club Race Day Trophy and received the winning trophy from Carlow branch member Romy Bolger, while Jim Tyrrell from the Laois Hunt Branch judged the best turned out horse in the race

One of the most exciting aspects of the day was a Jockey Skills Training Course, which took place over the weekend at the world renowned Racing Academy and Centre of Education in Kildare Town for 10 Pony Club members. Eimear O’Brien from the West Waterford Branch was announced as the overall winner and received a prize including one week of work experience with leading trainer Michael Halford, together with private jockey coaching session with a RACE Instructor and €250 voucher from TRI Equestrian.