The July Show is perceived as a great warm up to Dublin. As a competitor what are benefits of having a show of this quality so close to the showpiece event of the year?
I think it’s an ideal warm up because of the amount of time between the July Show and Dublin. The horses can get a break in the lead up to Dublin. The facilities are top class – the rings are amazing and there is always a great atmosphere. I also think staying there over the weekend with the horses means that it’s not their first time doing it in Dublin. Horses learn a lot from their experience at the July Show.

You’ve had a successful year so far, tell me about some of your main achievements?
We had some new horses on the scene this year. It all started in Balmoral. We had a five-year-old horse win his class. Then a four-year-old riding horse won his class and was reserve champion. We had a four-year-old riding horse at the Northern Ireland Festival. He was intermediate champion, and then went first reserve in the Supreme on the opening night. The following day I rode him to win the small riding horse class, and then he went on to take Supreme of the Show on the Sunday. He also went onto win at Balmoral. He is owned by Regina Daly who bought him as an unbroken three-year-old.
At the IPS Spring Show in Barnadown, Ballyconniger was Champion Hunter. Another horse called The Outsider was reserve on the same day. Ballyconniger went to Ballyfoyle and was Hunter Champion and won the Dublin qualifier for the Ladies Side Saddle, and was Supreme of Show with Stephanie Moore.
I have a heavyweight horse that is new to us this year. He was Hunter Champion and went overall Supreme of Show in Ballivor. I took him to Clonmel where he qualified for the Horse of the Year Show, and he was also Champion Hunter.

You are a big supporter of Irish Draughts and have enjoyed great success with them. What draws you to the breed?
I suppose I have been very lucky with them. I was Supreme Champion in Dublin in 2016 on a horse called Fort Knox. I had a very good Maxi Cob called The Peaky Blinder who won championships at Balmoral and Dublin on a number of occasions. I felt like I wanted to put something back into it, and I ended up on the board of the Irish Draught Breeders Association. I was Vice Chairman on the board initially, and now I am into my second year as Chairman. I must admit that it has taken over more than I had planned, but I really enjoy it and they are a great breed to work with.

What does the journey with a horse from being an unbroken 3yo to entering the show ring usually look like for you?
The process starts the week after Dublin. We try to find new horses every year. Whether that is out the country on farms, or buying privately from people, the search commences when we finish in Dublin. The aim is to have them all riding by Christmas, we then give them a break, and once the new year begins our focus is to prepare them for Balmoral.

You have picked up a Golden Ticket with BBK Flynn to the Horse Of The Year Show. That must give you great satisfaction?
It was nice to do it with him. He is a new horse that we have this year. He belongs to a lady called Debbie Harrod from Yorkshire. We have only taken him to two shows and he’s been champion on both occasions. It is great to have something to aim at when we finish in Dublin. We’ll head across the water to some of the show during the later part of the summer. It is expensive travelling over and back, so we leave the horse over there and we travel over and back ourselves.

Do you have any pre-show rituals or habits that you like to keep the same?
I wear the same tie all the time! I’m not overly superstitious and we try keep things simple.

You spend your summers on the road showing. How do you like to spend your downtime in winter?
We don’t get much downtime! We go back to see my partner’s family a couple of times a year in the UK. Cornwall is where we like to go every year. I like my bus man’s holidays. I like relaxing at horse shows. I’ve no interest in lying on a beach !

What draws you to an individual horse?
I like conformation. I like to see four good legs. I’m not too bothered about colour. They need to fit into a category for me. I have a soft spot for cobs. They have been lucky for me down through the years.

Have you any advice for someone competing for the first time at the July Show?
I would tell anyone to arrive early. We are well known for being the first to arrive and the last to leave. If you are new to the game, never be shy about asking someone even the simplest question. There’s lots of people out there that are more than willing to share their knowledge.