European team young rider gold medallist Max Wachman

1: What was your best moment of 2023?

I think my best moment of 2023 was being part of the gold medal winning team at the European Championships. It really was a special moment!

2: Who is the horse you would most like to have on your team for 2024?

I’m very lucky to have some nice horses to look forward to for 2024. Kilkenny is my main horse and I look forward to continuing to build our partnership throughout 2024.

3: What was the best round of show jumping you saw this year and why?

With so many incredible jockeys competing every week, it’s very difficult to name just one round, but Steve Guerdat’s performance at the European Championships this year. I thought it was incredible. The partnership that he has built with his horse Dynamix over the last few years is unbelievable.

4: What is your favourite part of the festive period?

We are very close as a family, so spending family time over Christmas is always nice.

5: What was your funniest moment of 2023?

There’s lots of funny moments to look back on in 2023 to name just one would be very difficult!

Olympian Cian O’Connor

1: What was your best moment of 2023?

Jumping clear with Eve D’Ouilly in the second round of the Aga Khan in front of the best audience in the world.

2: Who is the horse you would most like to have on your team for 2024?

I feel very fortunate to have put an exciting team of horses together for 2024 and I’m so grateful to those who support and help make that happen.

3: What was the best round of show jumping you saw this year and why?

I really enjoyed watching Richie Vogel’s jump-off to win the recent Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva. His horse United Touch has a monstrous stride and to see how he has taught him to turn and manage his power is something special.

4: What is your favourite part of the festive period?

Seeing the excitement of my two kids, Cara and Ben, and taking a few days off to spend time with family.

5: What is your main goal for 2024?

I’d like to develop my string of horses and hopefully be a part of team Ireland’s efforts at the Paris Games.

2023 National Champion Jonathan Smyth

1: What was your best moment of 2023?

I was lucky enough to have a great year, but if I had to pick a moment, it would be jumping my first 5* Grand Prix in Dublin this year.

2: Who is the horse you would most like to have on your team for 2024?

King Edward - it’s hard to think of something he hasn’t won in the last few years.

3: What was the best round of show jumping you saw this year and why?

There’s so many! Richard Vogel and United Touch S last week in Geneva was a very special round, but the one that springs to mind for me is Mikey Pender and HHS Calais jumping the only clear in a tough 4* Grand Prix this spring in Spain.

The course caused a lot of problems for very experienced riders and horses and Mikey just made it look so easy. It was so impressive.

4: What is your favourite part of the festive period?

Christmas is the best time of the year. I love spending time with the whole family, which is rare when you are at shows every week and, of course, eating great food.

5: What was your funniest moment of 2023?

We had people coming to view a horse jumping at a show recently before they would try it and I fell off the horse right below where they were standing.

European team gold medallist, and young horse world championships silver medallist Niamh McEvoy

1: What was your best moment of 2023?

My best moment of 2023 was probably when the young rider team won gold at the European Championships. It was a great team and we were all delighted.

2: Who is the horse you would most like to have on your team for 2024?

I think I’d love to have United Touch S on my team. He was amazing this year and has so much scope, a perfect Olympic horse!

3: What was the best round of show jumping you saw this year and why?

I think the jump-off from the Grand Prix in Geneva when Richard Vogel and United Touch won the Grand Prix. Definitely one of the fastest and most entertaining rounds.

4: What is your favourite part of the festive period?

I love getting home at Christmas and seeing all my family. It’s nice for the horses to have a few quiet weeks and freshen up also!

5: What is your main goal for 2024?

In 2024, I hope to have a good season. We have a lovely string of horses and my big aim for the year would be to get into the five-star at the Dublin Horse Show.

Irish Chef D’Equipe Michael Blake

1: What was your best moment of 2023?

We had a great year and it’s hard to single out some of the great performances. Team Ireland won Rome for the first time this year, a week later we retained the title in Langley.In September we were delighted to win a silver medal at the Europeans and a week later the team was successful in Spruce Meadows.

2: Who is the horse you would most like to have on your team for 2024?

Of the horses that are not in Team Ireland, I would like to have Steve Guerdat’s Venard De Cerisy. This horse is ultra-consistent in Nations Cups and that is the most important thing for me.

3: What was the best round of show jumping you saw this year and why?

There were many great Irish performances this year and it would be unfair to single them out, so I am going to pick Richard Vogel’s jump-off round on United Touch S in the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva. Once Richard had jumped, the class was effectively over, as the stride pattern and roll backs could not be matched.

4: What is your favourite part of the festive period?

It’s great that things slow down a little for a few days and you meet people that you haven’t seen for a while and I really like to watch some of the great racing.

5: What was your funniest moment of 2023?

In Milan, after the medal presentation, Marie Sweetnam presented us all with a pack of cheese and onion Tayto, these had been earmarked for Shane - or so he thought - and his six pack brought specially from Ireland suddenly became one pack, but I’d say the medal probably made up for it!