HUNTING and eventing are alive and thriving in this pocket of East Galway, and they go hand in hand so much that the East Galway Foxhounds and the Western Region of Eventing Ireland will hold a joint hunt ball this season on January 27th, 2024. It makes sense as this area is a nursery for young event riders that are proven winners. They hone their riding and cross-country skills during the winter in the hunting field, so for any aspiring young event rider East Galway is the place to be. Why? Beside owners like Alan Briscoe, Ralph Conroy, Eoghan McCabe, Tim MacDonagh, the Gibbons family and others, the ace in the pack is Ralph Conroy himself, whose Milchem Equestrian Centre in nearby Tynagh is the hub, with perfect facilities and tuition. They run shows, a HSI Eventing Development League, Starter Stakes, Dressage Clinics and combined training and coaching sessions with international riders like Sarah Ennis. Ralph has coached 14 European medal winners in the last few years. His latest is European Team Champion Silver Medallist Godfrey Gibbons, who also came fifth as an individual in Hartpury. And there are other talented riders like Oisin McDonagh, Katie Gibbons, Duncan McFadyn, Rebecca Scott and Jason Doerflinger, a winner in the Young Eventer Class at the Dublin Horse Show. Jason also won the Redmills OPB League against 54 other entries, and three other events on Milchem Echo, formerly owned by the East Galway huntsman Eoghan McCabe and now owned by joint-master Alan Briscoe. The riders also had wins at Scarteen, Rincoola and Rosanna.

Eventers