LARS Bjoerk moved from Sweden to Ireland in 1970 when he purchased, and began restoring, Belmont House in Co Offaly.

In 1974, he bought Louisburgh at the Dublin Horse Show where the Primal gelding was competing in the four-year-old heavyweight hunter class; ‘Louis’ went on to become Lars’s horse of a lifetime.

The pair competed at their first event together at Ballindenisk in 1975. They went on to win the Advanced class (EI120) at Rademon twice and recorded several top-20 finishes at Advanced level in Punchestown. They finished 17th at Burghley in 1980 and, following this result, were named on the Swedish team for the European championships in Horsens, Denmark. Unfortunately, Louis suffered a very bad emphysema attack which, ultimately, ended his career.

Lars went on to produce many top horses including Viking Conquest who he sold to his great friend Rolf Siedel and they completed Luhmühlen many times. One of his top show jumpers was Solemn Oath (bought from the thoroughbred sales in Goffs) who won a Puissance in Belgium with Edward Doyle. Other horses of note were Big Apple, who completed Luhmühlen twice, and Painters Model.

Lars was a true amateur, rising early to ride before he headed off to work in Irish Cable and Wire in Athlone. As he had to travel abroad a lot in those days, many times he would arrive back the day before an event not having ridden all week. However, he had some great people based with him during that time including Yogi Breisner, Jane O’Flynn, Håkan Crantz (who went on to become the equestrian physio for the Swedish team), and Kieran McEntyre (farm manager and cross-country fence builder in Dollanstown for over 30 years).

Caroline stared her eventing career in the Kildare Branch of the Irish Pony Club which got her hooked, and, after sitting her Leaving Certificate and the Pony Club A Test, she was lucky to be accepted as a working pupil with John Micklem who was then based at Borris House in Co Carlow.

This was to have a major impact on her riding and general horse knowledge as she learned how to run a yard, break and train young horses and produce eventers – and not only from John, but also from his brother William. Here too, she worked alongside top riders such as the late Sarah Gordon who represented Ireland at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics on Rathkenny.

In 1986, Caroline opened her own yard in Clownings, Straffan. With little in the way of facilities, she went on to produce many good horses such as Touchwood who was performance champion at the Dublin Horse Show, third in the National Championship (Gowran Grange) at Punchestown and went on to be Caroline’s foundation broodmare. Red Turn, who had been purchased for David Wachman as a Junior ride, was to become her first international mount.

In 1988, Caroline met Lars and soon afterwards moved to Dollanstown from where she competed many great horses such as Mystery Cargo who was also third in the National Championship at Punchestown. He was subsequently sold to the Japanese Equestrian Federation and went on to finish 17th at the Barcelona Olympics.

Flashback: DSL Duke Ellington ridden by Caroline Bjoerk of Dollanstown Stud, winning his third FEHL qualifier

The thoroughbred gelding Just You Wait (by Runnett) was probably one of Caroline’s most talented horses. Home-bred and a half-brother to a group winner, ‘Gonzo’ was found running wild by Caroline when she first moved to Dollanstown. He had suffered a catastrophic accident as a foal and, while he had responded to treatment, he had been written off as unsound.

Multiple wins

Time proved a great healer. Lars gave Gonzo to Caroline who broke him and together they went on to win many Irish national events including the Irish two-day championships three times, from Novice (EI110) to Advanced level, at Rademon in Co Down. Another to finish third in the Gowran Grange at Punchestown, he and Caroline finished in the top 10 at Blair Castle International. The combination represented Ireland at Boekleo where, unfortunately, Gonzo struck into himself jumping into the water and suffered a career-ending injury.

Other top horses produced by Caroline at Dollanstown included The Black Touch (ridden by the late George Mernagh), Fox Victor, Splitting Image, Just Nimbus, Just Top Cat, Just Nakita, Huckleberry Friend, Ard Highlighter and DSL The Entertainer who all competed up to four-star level, albeit not all ridden by Caroline due to her back problems.

Her best memories from her career in the saddle are competing as a member of the third-placed Irish team at Boekleo on Fox Victor, finishing third on the same horse in the CIC4* at Scarvagh – where she described the cross-country track as “enormous” – and winning her first three-day event on Huckleberry Friend at Dartfield.