A GOOD all-rounder, that is the dream for many riders. Whether it be for selling on, or competing in various different types of shows, a horse that can turn their hoof to anything is worth their weight in gold.

Co Kilkenny-based producer Sarah Lang has earned a reputation as a rider that can take a horse with little or no experience in showing or jumping and turn them into champions.

Earlier this week, she spoke to The Irish Field about her horses, her future plans and why she is forever grateful to have found Tom and Mary Power and the horses they have given her.

“I was born in London and brought up in Devon. My parents bought me a pony out of Exeter Market for 315 Guineas, I think it was at the time.

“I started up with the local Pony Club, which culminated with me representing England on the Triathlon team in 1995 in Canada, when I was 19. Actually, John Floody was on the Irish team that year, so that just shows you how long we’ve both been at this. I always look forward to catching up with him at shows here.

“I went to Warwickshire Agricultural College and did Equine Science and worked for the BSJA in my gap year.

“A job popped up in the Horse & Hound to come and run a stud farm for Stephen Lannigan O’Keeffe in Thomastown. I was 21 and I moved, lock stock and barrel, over here and haven’t looked back since. I also went on to work with thoroughbreds in Ballylinch and Norelands.

“I then decided that horses, as a job, wasn’t going to be enough, so that’s when I got a job with Axa, to cover six months maternity leave. A job came up in the VHI after that, and that is where I have been for the past 25 years.

“I work on their digital team and can work three days a week from home, so it is ideal for the horses,” Sarah explained.

“In the beginning, for about seven years, I just did point-to-point horses. I had a couple I trained myself and I rode out for Tony Mullins on a Saturday and a couple of other people.

“While on the look out for a new horse, I came across Kingdom Warrior (Grand Plaisir x Callernish). He was nine years old, had run once and had been in the field for four years. I did point-to-points with him for the first couple of years and then began to try to do some other stuff with him.

“With the Thoroughbreds it can be potluck really. (Kingdom) Warrior was a freak of nature. When I got him, he used to jump over a cross-pole with all four legs in the air. It was just basic perseverance; every single Thursday, I used to bring him to a training show.

“We began with the 80cm, then the 90cm and, when we got to 1m, I thought ‘this could be quite a bit of fun’. It was just patience and time. A lot of people would say ‘look at this horse, he’s got a crazy jump’. He used to do this crazy kick back over the fence.

“But I said, you wait and see. He got up to Grade A within 14 months of me registering him, as a 10-year-old. He jumped a couple of National Grand Prix.

Sarah Lang riding Cois Farraige (by Moylough Legacy x Casiana) with her owners Thomas and Mary Power before she was sold to the UK \ John O'Carroll

Treo Eile

“The mare I have now, Sky Tempest (Cloudings TB x Moscow Society), is very different. She is just six years old. I broke her as a three-year-old and then put her in training at four. She ran once in a bumper and then, at five, she was highly placed over hurdles, but she just couldn’t get her head in front, so I brought her back out of training and we did the Treo Eile show and qualified for the final.

“She was two weeks out of training and she rode so well for the judges. She is super careful, she jumped really well at the Christmas show in December. She will have a second career as either a show jumper or eventer, I’m sure of it.

“If you start them right, you have so much more of a chance. Working them on the long lines. Driving and walking them over poles. Letting them understand that this means turn left and right before you even get on them. You have to get them in the correct head space before you can teach them anything else.

“With the Thoroughbreds, they have been handled from day one, so they have manners. They know that they should walk and trot in hand, whereas if you take a half-bred, they’ve been in the field for three years and they can be quite disruptive.

“I get my horses from Thomas and Mary Power. Tom is an absolute legend. He is 78 now and handles everything from day one. I rode his mare Cois Farraige (Moylough Legacy x Acatenango) to place third in the Lightweight Hunters in Dublin last August.

“That was a fantastic day. Tom’s horses had done well in some in-hand classes at the show over the years, but that was the first time he had placed in a ridden class. She has gone to England now to further her career.

Traditional

“I love producing Traditional Irish Horses, as well as the Thoroughbreds, and that is Tom’s speciality. The story of how I met Tom is, I was working with Ger O’Brien getting the Traditional Irish Horse gelding RNG Vantage Point ready for the Go for Gold sale; he didn’t end up selling, so I contacted Tom (he had bred him) and ever since then we have been working together.

“I competed in working hunter classes with RNG Vantage Point (Pointilliste x Kings Master), evented him up to CCI3*-S level, show jumped up to 1.35m and was named 2023 All-Ireland Showing Hunter Champion in 2023.

“The plan now is to do some more work with the four-year-old Cois Luna (Moylough Legacy x TB Mare Casiana) to do some showing with her and maybe the young event horse league. With Vantage Point, I want to get back jumping 1.30m and 1.35m, and Sky Tempest I will campaign as a show jumper.

“I also hope to work with some of Tom’s youngsters, maybe do some in-hand classes with them. Tom is very good on the ground. He handles them really well from day one, so you know you are getting something that is nicely handled and mannerly before you start, it makes them so nice to work with.

“Once people are patient, take their time, and change it up for them; do something different, long line and don’t forget to keep working them on the ground, then I find you can be surprised by how much they can learn.”