SLIGO show jumper Kevin Gallagher has departed Ballypatrick Stables, where he was a competition rider for almost five years, to set up a new business in America.

Gallagher is currently spending a few weeks in Europe riding and looking at horses before making the move. Speaking to The Irish Field, he said: “Myself and my girlfriend, Kelly Arani, are setting up a business together. She has a farm in Kentucky; we will spend the summers there and go to Florida in the winter.

“I am going to do as much training as I can and keep a small number of nice commercial horses.

“I would like to set up a conveyor belt of horses that can come from Ireland and will be ready to go. Myself and Greg [Broderick] will continue to do plenty of business together.”

Speaking about his time at Broderick’s Thurles stable, Gallagher added: “It was an incredible almost five years. I won my first National Grand Prix, first Premier Grand Prix, first Nations Cup and jumped my first five-star all at the same stable which is amazing.

“The Nations Cup in Lisbon last year with Ballypatrick Flamenco is probably a highlight from my time at Ballypatrick, as well as winning the seven/eight-year-old final at Dublin this year. That was my biggest Dublin win and that horse [Thor Ter Wilgen Z] was one of my favourite horses. I was killed with a couple of injuries over the last couple of years which was a shame at times!”

Gallagher was crowned the Irish National Champion in 2021, won the Irish Breeders’ Classic in 2020 and 2021, as well winning his first international Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, at the end of 2020. Ballypatrick Stables wished him well, saying: “We wish our good friend Kevin the very best with his new venture. A massively talented rider but on top of that a great man to work alongside in the yard.”