MORE than ever before, talented young riders are choosing to stick with their education before entering the competitive horse world full-time.

There is no doubt that the commitment required to study at third level, while at the same time keeping a string of horses fit enough and ready to compete requires a lot of time and effort, but in the long run the benefits far outweigh the sacrifice.

One such rider is Ellie Humphries from Dromore, Co Down. Having recently completed her Masters in sports psychology at the Ulster University, all the while competing her horses at a high level, she intends in the future to combine all she has learned in college with her knowledge from a rider’s point of view to establish a business, which shares what she has learned with other like-minded riders.

“I’m very lucky that I have always had great support from my dad, Paul Humphries and stepmother, Allison Mercer. This has allowed me to be able to study, secure in the knowledge that my horses are being correctly looked after and worked to a level, which allows me to compete,” Ellie told The Irish Field.

“My dad and Allison began coaching me when I was very young. I did 128cm and went pretty much straight into 148cm, because I was so tall.

“After that, I was lucky enough to be given a horse named Chekane, two weeks before the final Children on Horses qualifier for the Dublin Horse Show in 2015. I was fortunate enough to qualify her and that was the start of it. From then on, it was ponies and horses for me until I aged out.

“I did the young riders in Dublin, in my last year in 2022, with Ringfort Rua, which was great.”

Ellie Humphries riding Rossmount Luis, winners of the NIHB 1.30m Grand Prix last June at The Meadows EC \ Tori O'C Photography

A juggle

Ellie was determined to do both college and horses to a high level. “I’m 23 now and have spent the last four years, firstly doing a degree in sports studies and then a masters in sports and exercise psychology at Ulster University,” she continued.

“I was lucky that I could live at home during my studies, which meant I could continue to ride. My dad, Allison and Sammy Dixon deserve all the credit for keeping everything going in the yard.

“We currently have six horses competing. In October 2023, Jane Allen Collins and William Collins gave me their two home-bred horses to compete; the nine-year-old mare Lougherne Kingfisher (Colestus x Lougherne Springs by Limmerick) and the 13-year-old stallion Lougherne Caravaggio (Colestus x Werenfels). They are two lovely horses to have.

“We were abroad a couple of times this year; in the summer we went to Valkenswaard and then went on to Bonheiden in July.

“We are just back from two weeks in Lier in November just gone. I took Jane’s two and a seven-year-old of my own, Rossmount Luis (Luidam x Clover Hill), who was bred by Michael Griffin and whom I have produced from a three-year-old myself.

“He has had quite a successful season, winning both the seven-year-old development classes in Barnadown in August, he was second in Bonheiden in the seven-year-olds, and was third in Lier. He did well at the Breeders’ Classic in September and was fourth in the DAFM class in Cavan recently.

“He is very quick, and is known in our house as ‘the skateboard’. He is a very cool guy. Hopefully, he’ll continue in this good form next year.

“We will probably go away at the start of the year. I plan to bring both of Jane’s, Rossmount Luis and my own good 10-year-old Dutch-bred mare Jalandra (Action Breaker x Indoctro). I jump her in the 1.35m/1.40m classes and we had our first double clear in a National Grand Prix on her in the Breeders’ Classic, she was super there.

Future plans

“During the summer, I hope to do the National Grand Prix and possibly the Premier Series with Jalandra and Lougherne Kingfisher.

“I have Jalandra’s three-part brother, who is out of an Indoctro mare, but is by Hard Rock Z and is rising five. He has been produced slowly, but is looking very nice.

“We have another five-year-old, Corraghoe Natural Ability (Vittorio x Cruising), who is going well. We hope to aim them both at the RDS qualifiers and the studbook classes next year.

“We have quite a few that we’ve bred ourselves. This year, we had a colt by BP Quarterback, who is out of a mare I rode named Minny Skinny (Luidam x Cruising). We have two yearlings, three two-year-olds and three three-year-olds. Some of them are out of mares I jumped like Sumas Duiske (Puissance x Marlon) and CV Santander (Womanizer x Coevers Diamond Boy), who we only retired this year. So, it’s quite exciting.

“We aim to go away three times in 2025. But we will be at home for a lot of the summer. There is always plenty to do at home with the youngsters.

“I get some help at home with my flatwork from Clare Abbott and Eamonn Rice helps with the jumping. There is some good advice on the go.”

Making a living

Ellie would like to eventually combine her professional qualification with her love of the horses, and she is already reaping the benefits of her studies. “My plan is to concentrate on my own and Jane’s horses for a while, and eventually combine my qualifications with my riding. It’s nice to not have to depend on just riding to make your living I think.

“Even now, I’ve found my degree/masters beneficial. It has helped me to develop different strategies, which help me to deal with the pressures of competitive sport.

“I think that, whatever level of sport you are competing at, there will always be pressures involved. Whether it be the need to produce good results, overcoming setbacks such as injuries or achieving certain goals. Therefore, I think that chatting with a sports psychologist can help an athlete to deal with these pressures and allow them to reach their full potential, which is the direction I would like to see my career develop.

“I’m just trying to enjoy it all right now and make the most of it.”