Ireland’s only equestrian Olympic medalist, show jumper Cian O’Connor threw open the gates of his training base at Karlswood for members of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) last week.
I say threw open, but really the gates opened silently in a way most conducive to the relentless pursuit of equine and indeed human excellence.
Cattle farm
O’Connor has developed Karlswood on the site of an old cattle farm near Batterstown in Co. Meath. While the entrance is far from unassuming, it partially conceals the sheer scale of the operation from passers-by. Florida is widely regarded as the home of elite show jumping training centres globally, but this corner of the Royal County is looking to surpass even that level.
The main indoor arena is contained in the original structure of one of the former cattle sheds. While much of that original structure remains intact, the relationship between the old and the new is distant. Imported wood panelling, incredible natural light, moisture-controlled jumping surfaces, enough room to turn an aeroplane, it’s a long way from even the most modern farms or equestrian facilities.
Oxygen chamber
Life for the horses at Karlswood is one tailored for the optimised pursuit of perfection. The spa has a water treadmill, walk-in cold water spa, solarium, stable with not just a vibrating plate but rather an entire vibrating floor, and a salt room (effectively a sealed salt and oxygen chamber to help the horses’ respiratory systems when they return from travelling).
Everything is customised for excellence at Karlswood, even the Olympic-themed atrium \Claire Nash
A walk through the stables drew repeated oohs and ahhhs from the party as fingertips brushed along the various high-quality surfaces. Every edge is bevelled, every corner rounded and every underfoot surface is non-slip. The feed room puts most kitchens to shame with full meal plans on the wall for all the horses.
Oak and leather fill the nostrils on entry to the wood-panelled tack room with an Olympic motif on the mirrored doors behind a marble island that houses the immaculately maintained saddles, bridles, rugs, helmets and other accoutrements. Not a spot for whipping out the oil and soap, well of course not, there is a separate room for that.
As is the case across the entire venue, if a horse wants for anything, the best possible version of that product or experience is here.
O’Connor has developed Karlswood on the site of an old cattle farm near Batterstown in Co. Meath \ Helen Sharp
The music plays at different volumes around the premises depending on what the horses will be doing in that area.
All horses stand quietly at all stages, cross-tied in their stalls whether they are being groomed, washed, tacked up, untacked or under the solarium. Given these are highly fit athletes there was a noticeable calmness among all horses and people.
Stark contrast
The touring party was blessed to visit on a relatively rare schooling morning, with some of the big names jumping over the larger poles. An explosion of energy in the arena, where host Cian O’Connor is teaching visiting students, is in stark contrast to the serenity of the barns.
Max Wachman cooling down after a session on the jumping field \ Thom Malone
The star of the show at least from an Agricultural Science point of view is the grass arena, casually dubbed the ‘jumping field.’ This ‘field’ is a contender for the best grass show jumping surface on the planet, explains Richard Hayden of Hayden Turfcare, the man charged with installing and managing the surface. Despite the recent weather, a horse will never really take a divot and somehow only leave a perfect hoof-print, with maximum grip and bounce for the horse. It even relies on its own special ‘Karlswood’ grass seed mix.
It’s no surprise this centre of excellence has its own special mix of grass seeds, because nothing here is off the peg. Everything is customised for excellence. Many sporting operations pay lip service to standards, but not here. Karlswood is a living, active pursuit of excellence and like the lush grass growing in the jumping field, it never stops.
Ireland’s only equestrian Olympic medalist, show jumper Cian O’Connor threw open the gates of his training base at Karlswood for members of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) last week.
I say threw open, but really the gates opened silently in a way most conducive to the relentless pursuit of equine and indeed human excellence.
Cattle farm
O’Connor has developed Karlswood on the site of an old cattle farm near Batterstown in Co. Meath. While the entrance is far from unassuming, it partially conceals the sheer scale of the operation from passers-by. Florida is widely regarded as the home of elite show jumping training centres globally, but this corner of the Royal County is looking to surpass even that level.
The main indoor arena is contained in the original structure of one of the former cattle sheds. While much of that original structure remains intact, the relationship between the old and the new is distant. Imported wood panelling, incredible natural light, moisture-controlled jumping surfaces, enough room to turn an aeroplane, it’s a long way from even the most modern farms or equestrian facilities.
Oxygen chamber
Life for the horses at Karlswood is one tailored for the optimised pursuit of perfection. The spa has a water treadmill, walk-in cold water spa, solarium, stable with not just a vibrating plate but rather an entire vibrating floor, and a salt room (effectively a sealed salt and oxygen chamber to help the horses’ respiratory systems when they return from travelling).
Everything is customised for excellence at Karlswood, even the Olympic-themed atrium \Claire Nash
A walk through the stables drew repeated oohs and ahhhs from the party as fingertips brushed along the various high-quality surfaces. Every edge is bevelled, every corner rounded and every underfoot surface is non-slip. The feed room puts most kitchens to shame with full meal plans on the wall for all the horses.
Oak and leather fill the nostrils on entry to the wood-panelled tack room with an Olympic motif on the mirrored doors behind a marble island that houses the immaculately maintained saddles, bridles, rugs, helmets and other accoutrements. Not a spot for whipping out the oil and soap, well of course not, there is a separate room for that.
As is the case across the entire venue, if a horse wants for anything, the best possible version of that product or experience is here.
O’Connor has developed Karlswood on the site of an old cattle farm near Batterstown in Co. Meath \ Helen Sharp
The music plays at different volumes around the premises depending on what the horses will be doing in that area.
All horses stand quietly at all stages, cross-tied in their stalls whether they are being groomed, washed, tacked up, untacked or under the solarium. Given these are highly fit athletes there was a noticeable calmness among all horses and people.
Stark contrast
The touring party was blessed to visit on a relatively rare schooling morning, with some of the big names jumping over the larger poles. An explosion of energy in the arena, where host Cian O’Connor is teaching visiting students, is in stark contrast to the serenity of the barns.
Max Wachman cooling down after a session on the jumping field \ Thom Malone
The star of the show at least from an Agricultural Science point of view is the grass arena, casually dubbed the ‘jumping field.’ This ‘field’ is a contender for the best grass show jumping surface on the planet, explains Richard Hayden of Hayden Turfcare, the man charged with installing and managing the surface. Despite the recent weather, a horse will never really take a divot and somehow only leave a perfect hoof-print, with maximum grip and bounce for the horse. It even relies on its own special ‘Karlswood’ grass seed mix.
It’s no surprise this centre of excellence has its own special mix of grass seeds, because nothing here is off the peg. Everything is customised for excellence. Many sporting operations pay lip service to standards, but not here. Karlswood is a living, active pursuit of excellence and like the lush grass growing in the jumping field, it never stops.
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