THE Irish Field and the Irish Horse World often feature former racehorses moving into other equestrian disciplines and there’s no reason we shouldn’t do the same for riders who are no longer competing on the racecourse or between the flags.

One such is Jason McKeown who, having returned to the hunting field and making a brave bid to win the Golden Button Challenge in England this year, broke new ground last Saturday when he took part in his first affiliated one-day event at Castle Irvine, Necarne.

Riding the Irish Draught gelding Rockvale Moon River, the Co Down equine dentist was one of 11 starters in the EI100 (Amateur) class where, looking at the dressage mark he was awarded by judge John Lyttle, he may have to put in a bit more effort into his flat work. Hopefully Jason’s coach, Sydney Olympian Trevor Smith, will have the rider near the other end of the leaderboard next time out.

However, we’re not too sure who will work on his numeracy skills as he managed to leave out fence six on the show jumping track!

“If I was out there on the point-to-point track, just going around in circles, I wouldn’t have had that problem!” said Jason. “There’s a lot to remember between the dressage and everything and I never got to walk the show jumping track before I jumped.”

As this was just a technical elimination, Jason was permitted to go cross-country where he and his recently acquired seven-year-old Scrapman gelding went clear “I really enjoyed myself,” said McKeown. “It’s great to be doing something competitive when you are no longer racing and eventing is a real test of your riding.

Among other riders at the event who would be known in the thoroughbred world was Declan Cullen, equine feed consultant for Pegus and Hartog, who won the EI115 class with Ultimate Quality.

Only one horse was clear within the time over the EI110 cross-country course and that was the unraced Red Raclette who, with three fences down show jumping, finished fifth in the unrestricted class at this level under Connor McClory.

The nine-year-old Generous gelding is owned by Vina Buller who designed the cross-country courses at Castle Irvine, Necarne and oversaw the building work of Noel Fitzpatrick and his team. The chesnut is out of the Zaffaran mare Baily Mist whose four wins included a Grade 3 novices’ chase. He was bred by Vina’s husband Alfred who was among the spectators on Saturday.

I met a few ‘point-to-point men’ when walking the cross-country course, all of whom bemoaned the fact that there was no Co Fermanagh two-day meeting at Necarne this year and who also expressed their worries about the sport in Northern Ireland in general.