MANY congratulations to Molly O’Neill, a senior member of the West Waterford Branch of the Irish Pony Club, who recently passed her A Test with honours.

O’Neill was the only IPC member to sit the exam in Ireland this year and this she did at Ballylanigan House in Co Tipperary, home of one of the day’s assessors, Faith Ponsonby, and her husband Peter.

“I’m passionate that the A Tests happen in Ireland but, for various reasons, that wasn’t the case last year,” Faith told the Irish Horse World. “When we started putting plans together for this year, there was talk of six candidates but it came down to only one so I suggested that instead of going to the expense of hiring a venue, we have it here as we have a cross-country course – which Peter had looking like a mini Burghley – show jumping fences and an outdoor arena.”

Blown away

“It was such a happy day! My fellow assessor, Jillie Rogers, and I were just blown away by this candidate who had a bit of maturity on her side and impressed from the start. Her work with her young horse was wonderful. By their nature, young horses can be tricky at times but she just sat there and didn’t let it upset her.

"She had taken on board all the advice people had given her and I don’t think I have ever seen or coached a better A Test candidate.”

While Molly’s family were to become supporters of the West Waterford Branch, they had no involvement with horses or ponies when, aged 11, she started attending the East Cork Riding School. Six months later, her first pony was purchased – and kept at her grandmother’s – and she then joined the West Waterford Pony Club.

“I did a bit of everything – minimus, tetrathlon, eventing and show jumping,” related O’Neill. “I began to concentrate more on eventing when I was 13 or 14 and joined Eventing Ireland. I started competing in ponies in May 2014 and was riding in Junior competitions the following year. I was on the Irish team which competed at the 2019 European Junior Championships in The Netherlands.”

Recent graduate

“Marie Hennessy (whose name appears regularly in these pages as a dressage judge) has always encouraged me to take the Pony Club exams, which I did, and have come up the levels. I passed the B Test in 2017, the B+ in 2019 and the H Test two years ago. As I have also been studying to be a primary school teacher, horses had to take a back seat last year as I had to do 12 intensive weeks on placement – it’s hard to strike a balance! I graduated in May and am now working locally.

“When I decided to do the A Test, I worked with Marie to make sure my own young horse, Hugo, was suitable for that part of the test. Then, to learn more about breaking a horse, long-reining etc, I went to show jumper Seamus Hayes. Normally, in Ireland, A Test candidates would ride one another’s horses but, as I was doing it on my own, I had to source two horses that I had never ridden before and I was delighted that the joint-DCs of our Branch, Niamh Marsh and Ali Maxwell, both lent me one.

“On the day of the test, I show jumped one of my own horses first and then took him out cross-country. I then had to do the same on one of the horses I didn’t know. After a short break, I did flatwork on my second horse where I had to showcase elementary level movements. And to conclude the riding section of the exam, I rode on the flat with the second borrowed horse in a double bridle. Afterwards, I was questioned on my knowledge of breaking, training and working with young horses.

“I have been coaching with the West Waterfords for the past couple of years and love working with the younger members.

"I think there is a huge crossover between teaching schoolchildren and those learning to ride or improve their riding.

“I think having experience in the classroom greatly influences the way in which I present myself to a group of children in a lesson. Firstly, by introducing new learning in a way that will interest them without them becoming bored or overwhelmed, for example by using games as learning opportunities; in relation to my understanding of the unique and different ways in which children learn and my ability to adapt teaching styles and techniques; and, finally, by having an awareness of how to express what I want from them in a way that they can comprehend so that learning can occur.”

So proud

The aforementioned District Commissioners were delighted with Molly’s achievement, Nicola saying on their behalf: “Molly is a fantastic girl and we are all so proud of her.

“She has been a valued member of the West Waterford Pony Club since she was a young rider, she has represented Ireland at Junior level eventing and instructs with us here in the club where all the kids are so fond of her. She competes on home-produced horses with Eventing Ireland and was recently fourth (out of 38) in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk on her own Muckridge Quick Step.

“Molly is a highly competent rider, diligent in all she does and has such a lovely personality.

"We are proud to have her in the club and lucky to have her as a super role model for all our members. Her family have been hugely involved in everything Pony Club since Molly joined and we are lucky to have them as strong supporters of our club still.

“We are very grateful to the Head of the IPC Training Committee, Fiona Cloke, the examiners, the amazing venue of Ballylanigan House and all the team that put a super day together for the A Test exam. We were confident that Molly would be a fantastic advocate for the Irish Pony Club throughout the A test programme and delighted for her and all involved that she did so well on the day.”