From the very first moment I stepped into Sonny D’arcy’s stables in Limerick at the age of 12, I felt a connection to horses that’s hard to put into words. Every Saturday, I would make the trip Sonny’s, immersing myself in the world of these magnificent creatures. Those days are etched in my heart as some of the most precious memories of my life. The saying goes that once the love for horses enters your bloodstream, it’s there to stay – and for me, it couldn’t be more true.

Though I always dreamed of having a horse to call my own, the practicalities of life seemed to stand in the way. However, in June 1990, that dream became a reality, and I became the proud owner of my very first horse. That joy propelled me to further my passion, leading me to train as a British Horse-Riding Instructor in 1998. For years, I managed riding schools, offered freelance lessons, and embraced every moment of it. I did this for many years but with the birth of my third child, I took a brief hiatus from the equestrian world.