The rather shy of late sun decided to make an appearance in Fermanagh on Sunday, lifting the hearts of those of us waiting for the grass to grow and for the long winter to be over.

The clocks may have sprung forward, but until the horses are turned out for the summer, in my world, winter lingers on.

The sun also shone down on a bustling Cavan Equestrian Centre as the annual Stallion Show and Equine Expo opened its doors. I was quite taken aback by the hundreds of people in attendance.

I’d missed last year’s inaugural event, and it was lovely to feel the positive atmosphere of interest in both the stallions and the stalls. What was extra pleasing as I sat people-watching with a coffee, was that there were horse lovers of all ages displaying equal enthusiasm.

Plenty of little horsemen out for the day with Granddad learning the tricks of the trade and honing an eye for a top sire.

Commanding

The range of stallions was something to behold, beautifully turned out commanding all eyes on them as they paraded around the ring.

I thought I had my mind made up on stallions for 2023, but there’s always one who catches your eye more than others or raises your heartbeat a little more.

The flow of people between the busy stands, up to the restaurant for the famous Sunday dinner and then ringside for the impressive stallion parades, made the Stallion Show well worth the day out for families and horse lovers alike. It’s certainly one to put in the diary for next year.

Formula 1

Another thing that caught my eye, well ear as it happens was the dulcet tones of former Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell. As I typed away in the office on Friday, I heard a vaguely familiar but out-of-context voice as the racing at Newbury was on in the background.

Geri was there with her husband Christian Horner, boss of Formula 1 team Red Bull. They were waxing lyrical and beaming with pride for their point-to-pointer, Lift Me Up (named after Geri’s hit single) who won the BetVictor Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase. Who knew Geri had a racehorse?

There she was chatting away vivaciously from the winners’ enclosure: “He’s been amazing, he’s really young as well! This is his first race under rules, so we are just delighted. He is such a beautiful personality as a horse, he’s like a gentle giant…he just goes for it. We’re so proud.”

To be honest, I know a bit more about Christian Horner as I’m an avid fan of Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Speaking about their winning horse he said: “It’s tremendously exciting…I’m very proud of the horse today, James [King] rode a great race…it feels pretty good, doesn’t it?

"We were just happy hackers in lock-down and got sucked in. This is supposed to be a weekend off for me! But it’s a great sport, and we’re really enjoying it and I’m sure there will be more to come.”

Oh-oh. Sounds like the racing bug if ever I heard it. Let’s wish them a Max Verstappen-sized level of success for the future with their jump horses.