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Although the first photographic evidence of how horses became part of my life is a photo of me as a two-year-old on the family’s resident schoolmaster Pepsi, my first agricultural show experience was at Ballinrobe Show in 1990.
This I attended in a baby carrier as I had only been born that April and horses have been a family affair ever since.
My parents Bernard and Eleanor, aunt, Marjorie Hardiman and grandfather, Sean Hardiman have, without a doubt, been the biggest supporters and inspiration in my career.
Sean was the backbone of several local agricultural shows, namely the Galway County Show and Corrandulla Agricultural Show, as he carved a path for the west of Ireland to be recognised and brought the Irish Pony Society to the West.
Shauna Finneran.
So you could say it was in my breeding to spend every weekend at shows, from lead rein classes all the way up to intermediate working hunters.
The agricultural show and IPS scene were a community, with many friends becoming like family members.
Wonderful Connemaras
Getting the ride on a Connemara pony called Milford Sirocco when I was 12 years old became an absolute turning point for me.
I started going to Pony Club show jumping and dressage rallies and that is where something really clicked for me; If I spent time practising my flatwork - generally 80% of the time - my show jumping improved.
My pony’s strength, stamina and flexibility improved, while my knack for understanding what rhythm and balance was, started to become second nature.
Winning my first Clifden championship in 2005 with Milford Sirocco (Milford Siskin) and representing Ireland internationally with him was my first taste of how wonderfully diverse the Connemara pony could be.
One weekend I would be doing working hunters and the next week we would be going down the centre line at an international dressage show.
Silver spurs
In 2006 I decided to try dressage as a specific discipline with Creganna Clover, an extremely talented Connemara-Draught cross.
We entered the Silver Spurs competition where the rider is judged on their capability, accuracy and standard of riding.
I got to the last round where the top three riders go head-to-head and ride each other’s horses with only a 10-minute warm up - and we won.
This gave me the confidence in myself that if I pursued perfecting flatwork, I could really tap into the horse’s potential and help them excel.
Creganna Clover wasn’t a fancy, big mover but he was straight, correct and willing, which made the world of difference.
For the next few years I had various horses and Connemara ponies, all of whom taught me countless lessons.
One project in particular was that of Prospect Suzy (Tulira Robuck), which under my aunt Marjorie’s guidance provided me with so many fantastic days.
Taking the championship again in Clifden in 2011 with Suzy gave me the confidence to embark on a journey abroad to continue my training as a rider and producer.
I graduated from university in November 2011 and moved to America where, for the next number of years, I learnt the mechanics of the horse and production, as well as reaching Grand Prix level, while based at a dressage yard.
It was there that I learnt the horse’s way of going is paramount, before you ever introduce a jump.
Hidden Valley
I opened the gates of Hidden Valley Farm in 2017. Based in Corrandulla, I now run my own training facility, offering schooling, show preparation and production.
Since then, I’ve had countless horses come through the yard for training and the education and progression of each horse and rider that passes through Hidden Valley Farm is paramount for me.
Once you start approaching the mechanics of the rider and the horse’s way of going in a positive way, then only great things can happen.
Recently my sister Emma, who worked with me at Hidden Valley, has left to pursue her further education in the world of high performance horses and she is now based as a rider at HS Sporthorses in Eschweiler, Germany.
To say I miss her is an understatement but I absolutely cannot wait for her to come back one day and bring what she has learnt to the farm.
Jumpstarting a tractor
Meanwhile, my parents and brother Kevin are the absolute backbone of Hidden Valley and my biggest support system.
My dad, in particular, has more farm knowledge than I will ever learn, so to be able to have guidance from him, from the little things like how to jump-start a tractor, is humbling and always a laugh!
When I’m not at my farm, I am travelling to England and the USA teaching clinics or travelling around our fantastic country, judging nationwide at shows.
While it is always hard not being able to give a red rosette to everyone, seeing the kindness and respect the young riders have for their animals is something everybody can take home as a reminder.
These gracious animals are so forgiving to us, we should give them only the best back.
Shauna Finneran was in conversation with Susan Finnerty.
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