Olive Clarke

“It’s always good to get out of the arena and go and open up across country and jump ditches and walls and wire. I think it definitely helps kids not to be afraid of being in the open with a group of other horses and be a little bit out of control on a pony. It teaches them to be brave as well without actually forcing it on them. You know, you’d jump big drains and things that you’d never think about jumping, but because you’re out with a big group and you’re caught up in the moment, it gives you such an adrenaline rush. It puts a bit of guts into them. Everyone has been carted out by a bold pony or a young horse, or got bucked off just standing in the middle of the field.

“As usual with horses, it teaches you resilience as well. There’s nothing more humbling than having to catch a loose horse or pony after getting buried somewhere! Hunting is good for teaching natural instinct as well. Do I go left here? Do I go right there? There’s wire here I didn’t see, there’s a branch over the tree. And of course it teaches you to be sticky, because you’re going to be letting go of reins and hanging out the back door. It teaches a lot of lessons without intentionally teaching you, it’s a more natural setting and you figure things out in a quicker way without it being pushed on you.”

Greg Broderick

“When I was growing up, hunting was always one of my first loves, hunting and hurling. I’d hunt once or sometimes twice a week with the the Golden Vale Foxhounds. It definitely taught me to be hardy, not afraid to be going fast and also just to be crafty out, jumping up and down off banks gives you good balance - it made me a bit more a horseman I suppose, and to think on my feet.”

Niamh McEvoy

“I really enjoyed hunting when I was younger, I did a good bit with the Tyrone and Donegal Harriers and a little bit in Limerick as well. I think it’s brilliant, it’s really unique. It’s not something you see so much of but you can really see it in some of the Irish riders, it’s a massive help for bravery, confidence and even picking up distances, when you’re doing it at such a young age. I had a few great hunting ponies and I thought it was a massive help for my riding and bravery. When you go into show jumping then, it seems a lot easier!”

Camilla Speirs

“I did a lot of hunting – I remember all the early mornings going cubbing before school! It definitely taught me to be brave - I had to follow my mum and dad and that was that! My pony was amazing and even though only 13.2h he would face on to anything so I got a lot of confidence and knew that any scary ditch or bank was always jumpable...It’s something that’s stood to me going cross-country for sure.”