I am a 17-year-old equestrian involved in sport horses, producing, selling and breeding.

I live on a small stud farm/sport horse-producing yard in Co Meath.

Growing up, I was absolutely infatuated with horses. My poor mother was constantly being pestered with ‘Can I ride, pretty please?’ at 7am every day. I would spend all my time in the yard, helping, grooming and just cuddling any horse I could get my hands on. At three years of age, I started taking riding lessons.

Skipping forward, when I turned eight, I got the best pony I could ever ask for, Buddy Two Shoes. He taught me everything I know.

He could be a little troublemaker, but I think he made me more determined and made my riding what it is today. Progressing a “trouble-maker” pony to jumping a clear round was a massive achievement for me.

That’s the way it should be for everyone riding; the little achievements build up and it shows people that you worked hard and didn’t give up when times seemed difficult.

After Buddy, I was interested in producing my own ponies. Thanks to my incredible parents, they helped make this dream come true.

Horse background

My mother, being from a horse background, taught me all the ropes to breaking in a horse – the standard of care they should always have, safety around horses, young horses in particular. In short, everything I need to know about horses.

My first project pony to produce was a 14.2hh (hands) grey Connemara named Allanah. My parents bought her as a three-year-old when I was 12. This was when my mum taught me the importance of breaking in young horses and what I should be doing to give her the best chance at excelling in the future.

17-year-old Amelia McCarthy from Co Meath.

It’s very important to slowly break in a horse. To be frank, a horse is a horse. Yes, they have emotions, just like us, but they are also animals. They will not understand what bridles, saddles, lunging, aids, and all of that means unless you work with them slowly until they understand.

I think the most important thing we can do when breaking in horses is to have patience.

Champion filly

I brought up Allanah through the levels in showing, show jumping, and eventing. She really excelled in showing, she is an absolute gorgeous mare.

Allanah was the All-Ireland three-year-old filly champion in the Clifden Connemara Breeders Show in 2018, and went on to contest the Ridden Connemara four-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show with me.

I broke-in and produced a few more ponies until I found what I really love doing with horses – eventing.

Eventing (also known as three-day eventing or horse trials) is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combine and compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

My first eventer was Tillystown Girl, though I call her Silver. She is a Connemara-thoroughbred cross with a heart of gold. A very ‘spicy’ mare, she has taught me so much about patience when riding.

She took me to my first internationals and even ended up as a podium finisher, taking second place at Millstreet in 2022.

Currently, I am riding Finsceal Endeavour (pet name Tia). She is the horse I owe the world to.

We bought her as a three-year-old and with help (everyone needs help sometimes, never be ashamed to ask) she evented up to three-star level with Amanda Goldsbury.

I took over the ride in May 2022 and she took me to the Junior Europeans in September last year in Montelibretti, Italy. Finishing in the top 20 in Europe was a dream I never imagined I would accomplish, and I owe it all to her.

In the future, I would love to compete at a high level. I’ve dreamt of riding around Badminton and Burghley, having my own yard to produce horses, and a small stud to create future stars.

Hopefully with hard work and dedication it will come true one day.

In summary, I couldn’t imagine a world without horses. If you really love it, try your hardest in whatever you want to do with horses.