My Grandparents Desktop Objects

Unknown artist

There were two objects that really stuck in memories from when I was a very small child. These were objects that would fascinate me which, knowing you’re not allowed to touch them, made them even more intriguing than ever. They were especially so as they are objects of your favourite animal and the passion in your life - not that I knew that then would this passion then become not only my career but also my whole lifestyle involves these animals and the many different sports that go with them. This story started off in England where my family and I were born to Ireland where I live now and have lived for half my life so far. Who knows where they will take me yet... The story is about how a little girl’s passion and love for horses ends up bringing her across the sea to the Emerald Island. There were actually two objects on the desk that fascinated me as a child, the first being an inkwell made of a replica horses hoof vanished with a silver lid and the other a small oil portrait of my grandfather's horse. These items are dated from the... A small portrait of a horse’s head and an inkwell of a horses hoof encased in silver were on my grandparent’s desk, I remember from a very early age in my life. Being a small child obsessed with ponies I was fascinated by these objects. From as early as four years old, I started going for riding lessons at a local riding stables and, although I shook with fear, I gripped on for dear life with determination that I was going to live my dream and become a top competition rider. The obsession with riding horses then became my career - starting from buying young horses and producing them to competition level, to now working for top international show jumpers looking after and riding their horses, some of which have won gold medals for their country individually and as a team. I competed myself in eventing which involves three disciplines: dressage, show-jumping and cross country riding. This I still do in my spare time now out of work on my own horses. I am a member of eventing Ireland which I support by helping to run my local national event. There are a number of us on this committee on the Grove Horse Trials Event which we run twice a year. As a committee, we organise and run this competition and make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible on the day. Taking part in eventing and producing young horses made me realise later on in my life that I am not the most competitive rider and that I enjoy and have more passion to bring on young horses from scratch and seeing them go on with the world’s top riders competing all over the world representing their countries. I still do this in my spare time outside of work, more as a hobby for my own enjoyment. I have taken part in many events, winning some but also having not so good days which resulted in me going to hospital on a few occasions by ambulance. Fortunately nothing too serious, a couple of concussions and a sprained ankle and a few other minor injuries. A particularly memorable event I competed at was on a horse called Salisbury named after my granny's maiden name where we won. I produced this horse from scratch and, after this win, she was then sold to America to an event rider. The socks I wore this day I wore for many competitions after hoping they would bring the same luck they did that day. However, it takes a bit more than a lucky pair of socks to win an event! Horses take up a lot of time looking after them. It’s definitely a 24-hour job caring for them whether for work or pleasure. They can take over your life, but so many good things come from being involved with them, such as the amazing friends I have made over the years from so many different countries, and meeting my partner for life. Even though he is not involved in eventing, his passion and career involve horses in a completely different direction to mine, thus bringing me to stay in Ireland for the rest of my days, with the inkwell and portrait now on my desktop. This story was contributed via The Fethard Horse Country Experience.