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“This year has had setbacks, but the progress and positive days have far outweighed them, which leaves me excited for what’s to come in 2025.”
Four ponies. One big dream. And a whole lot of heart. Aoibheann, an amateur equestrian based in Meath, reflects on a year filled with challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable moments with her four ponies — Rolo, Henry, Teddy, and Marcus. From the first hack of the year to unexpected veterinary diagnoses, and the fun and love of bringing home a new Connemara, Aoibheann’s journey embodies everything that makes grassroots equestrians so special.
With a small yard at home, a full-time job, and an ever-growing support network, Aoibheann’s year is a showcase of the power of perseverance and her love for her ponies who make it all worthwhile.
The year began the way any horse lover would dream it — on the back of a horse. “I started off this year with a New Year’s Day hack in our local bog with Henry, my good friend Niamh, and her ex-racer Rua,” Aoibheann recalls. The weather wasn’t kind — the rain didn’t stop — but the feeling of being out on horseback with friends set a positive tone for the months ahead.
At that point, Aoibheann’s focus for the year was clear. With three ponies at home — Rolo (22-year-old golden oldie), Marcus (a lovable My Lovely Horse Rescue cob), and Henry (a classic Connemara) — she had her sights set on getting Henry into the show ring. “I had some aspirations to enter Connemara showing classes with him this year,” she says.
But horses have a way of rewriting the script.
As the year got going, things didn’t unfold as planned. Henry’s behavior started to shift. “He began to become a bit sour in his work, and I knew something wasn’t quite right,” Aoibheann explains. With his calm and easygoing temperament, it was unusual to see him off form. Knowing her ponies as well as she does, she trusted her gut. A full lameness workup followed.
The x-rays revealed the source of the issue — arthritis in his hocks. The diagnosis explained his discomfort, and while it wasn’t the news she had hoped for, it brought clarity. “We made the choice to leave him off for a few months to allow it to settle down,” she says. “I’ve never been one to rush my horses, so I’m happy to give him all the time and rehab he needs.”
With Henry on a break, Aoibheann was left without a pony to ride. But as is often the case with grassroots equestrians, she found an opportunity within the challenge.
With Henry resting in the field, Aoibheann began searching for a second riding pony to keep her in the saddle. Originally, she thought she might try something different. But fate had other plans.
“I’m a massive fan of Connemaras, but I told myself I’d try something different,” she says. Despite her good intentions, she kept getting pulled back to the breed she knows and loves. She even ended up trying Henry’s half-brother.
It wasn’t until her friend Niamh (@racehorsetodressage) spotted an ad for a beautiful 5-year-old dun Connemara that everything clicked. “I arranged to try him, and I fell in love straight away,” Aoibheann recalls. His name? Teddy. Produced by Ali Keating (@ali_keating_eq), Teddy was exactly what she didn’t know she needed.
“I knew from the first day I sat on him that we were going to have a fun-filled journey together,” she says. Teddy brought new energy to the yard, taking the pressure off Henry and giving Aoibheann a new challenge to focus on. “Since he’s been home, he’s settled in so well with the others, and I genuinely couldn’t imagine the yard without him now.”
If there’s one lesson Aoibheann learned this year, it’s that no rider succeeds alone. Her support network has been invaluable, and she doesn’t hesitate to highlight the people who made it all possible.
At the center of it all is her partner, Mick. “My non-horsey partner Mick has been such a support to me with the ponies since we began keeping them at home four years ago,” she says. While his equestrian knowledge started at zero (he once had to watch a Pony Club YouTube tutorial on how to put on a headcollar), he’s now a key part of the team.
“This year, he even ended up showing our neighbor’s 2-year-old colt at a local agricultural show. Beginners’ luck definitely prevailed — they won the class!” she laughs. From driving the horse lorry to stacking hay bales, Mick is a constant source of support. “All jokes aside, I couldn’t do it without him.”
Her team also includes her vet, her farrier, and close friends, who she says were always on hand for advice and encouragement. “Since moving to my own small yard at home, I’ve had to navigate life with horses in a different way,” she explains. “Having my own support team has made all the difference.”
Horses are the greatest teachers, and this year, they taught Aoibheann patience and perspective. “I’ve learned that challenges can be overcome, and it’s important to remain positive,” she says. She reflects on the Irish seanfhocal (old saying) “Níl uasal ná íseal ach thuas seal agus thíos seal”—meaning “There is no high or low, only being up for a while and down for a while.”
This idea of life’s ups and downs has been her guiding principle, especially as she navigated Henry’s rehab. “If he doesn’t come back into work, he’ll always have a home here. And in the meantime, I’ll be ploughing on with Teddy.”
Next year is already taking shape in Aoibheann’s mind. With Teddy’s first full season ahead, her eyes are on Connemara showing and working hunter classes. She’s excited to train over the winter and hit the ground running in spring. Her approach is focused and intentional — each week, she plans the ponies’ exercise schedules to stay consistent and on track.
“The ultimate dream would be for Henry to be back in work too, so I can have the two Connemara boys in action.”
Her goals aren’t just about results. For Aoibheann, it’s about the process, the lessons, and the joy of the day-to-day with her ponies.
If Rolo, Henry, Marcus, and Teddy could sum up the year, Aoibheann thinks it would go something like this:
It’s clear that each pony holds a special place in Aoibheann’s heart. They are pets, companions, and teammates. “I love nothing more than going out to them first thing in the morning and seeing them all looking over their stable doors, waiting for treats.”
“This year has had setbacks, but the progress and positive days have far outweighed them, which leaves me excited for what’s to come in 2025.”
If there’s one takeaway from Aoibheann’s story, it’s that progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to. But when you trust the process, the right ponies, people, and moments have a way of finding you.
Aoibheann’s story is part of The Grassroots Gazette’s “My Year In Review” series — a celebration of the people, ponies and horses who shape the heart of grassroots equestrianism.
This series really isn’t just about results. It’s about the people. The grassroots equestrians who show up every day, no matter the weather, to work with their horses. It’s about the progress they make, their story, the sting of setbacks, and the unshakable love they have for their horses and the sport.These stories are just beginning. Stay tuned as here at The Grassroots Gazette we shine a light on riders like Aoibheann — riders whose stories are as real, raw, and relatable as they come. The way it should be.
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