Getting the opportunity to do a weekly roundup with Cecilia Mayne after her weekend in Millstreet international. This time last year as part of the first content team for the grassroots gazette in Millstreet we did a wonderful interview with Cecilia. It’s brilliant that we get an opportunity like this to follow riders like Cecilia and her wonderful horse kangaroo.

Tell us about the event and how you got on?  Millstreet has to be my favourite event to compete at not only is the ground amazing, the course is always stunning; the team are amazing and so friendly and it has such a positive atmosphere. It was my mares first 2* and with her being in the 2L we knew it would be a big ask but she coped so brilliantly, and although we didn’t have a perfect result we learnt so much about each other and have come home with a great focus for the rest of the season. 

How did you prepare for the event? Any challenges coming into this? With Kanga having never done a long formate and only having done a handful of 1* before we spent a lot of time working keeping her relaxed in all the phases. Kanga has often struggled with getting wound up so the main aim for this weekend was to have a fun and relaxed time. 

A challenge I did face was preparing for the event sufficiently not only due to the very wet spring we’ve had but also balancing uni with the preparations. It took a lot of organising and pre planning with my coaches to make sure I got the training and prep runs needed. 

How do you handle the pressures and stress that might come competing in events like this? I would love to say I have found the perfect way to handle the nerves and pressure but in reality I haven’t. A big thing for me is taking the time before and after each phase to spend some time alone in kangas stable focusing on what I need to do to get the best out of each phase and what May have gone wrong or well and compartmentalise the result of each phase. With this in mind I don’t allow myself to focus on the negatives for longer than 15 minutes and I remind myself no matter the result there is nothing that can be done other than learn from the mistakes and not make them again. 

Anyone you want to give a shout out to? It really does take a village. To say it takes a village is an understatement. A huge shout out has to go to my great friend Ellie Townend, I am very fortunate to keep my horse with Ellie, and she makes balancing uni and horses feel much less stressful. Ellie and her team work tirelessly to make sure Kanga and I are always happy and relaxed. Not only this Ellie came to Millstreet to support and help me with Kanga, and to say the weekend wouldn’t have been smooth sailing without would be the understatement of the year! 

As well as this my parents are so supportive and with them being Kangas owners, having them at every event makes it even more special! They have supported me since I was young and always want the very best for me and are always there to pick me up when maybe doesn’t go to plan and to celebrate when it does! 

I also cannot thank Joanne Every for her continued support, now only with her stunning tack that makes Kanga look so smart in all phases, but for the countless support she gives me and the true commitment she has to seeing and helping me succeed! 

Finally, I wouldn’t be where I am without Dickie Waygood and Joseph Murphy. Dickie has made great improvements in both my riding and Kangas way of going and I couldn’t be more thankful. Being back in Ireland Joseph was the first to help whenever I needed, and without him and the opportunities he gave me I wouldn’t be the rider and competitor I am now. 

What’s the one event you’d like to compete in and win? My absolute dream would be to produce Kanga up the levels to 5* and take her to Kentucky. It is my absolute dream event to compete at and to win it one day would be extremely special. 

What have got you to say about your horse/pony? Kanga is an extremely special horse to me, she has been a rock for me in recent years and if I hadn’t had the opportunity to buy her I really don’t know where I would be. She truly is my heart horse. She just has the kindest most genuine personality and will always dig so deep for me even when she or I get a nervous. Riding her is always great fun and makes what I enjoy that but more special! 

Most proud of this weekend? I am most proud of Kangas XC round. It was a big ask to throw her in a long formate for her first 2* but she absolutely ate up the track and made it feel effortless, growing in confidence over every fence. There really isn’t any other feeling like taking her XC. 

What’s up next for you? Any big events coming up? She is going to have a couple relaxed weeks and then step up to intermediate and hopefully run Wellington 2* with an overall aim to finish the season at Kronenburg 3*s.

What advice do you have for others wanting to compete like this? To take your time and make sure you enjoy the progress as much as the competition. It’s not about winning every event you go to but learning from every event and developing your training to hopefully improve every time you go out. But the absolute most important thing is that you are having fun and making sure your work is balanced with fun. No one succeeds without a balanced lifestyle.