Hello Darragh and thank you so much for taking the time to talk to Irish Sport Horse Magazine.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your Super Successful year that was 2018. You had numerous placings and Wins at Grand Prix, plus that amazing Lucrative Podium Finish GCL Super Cup Final followed by your double win in Olympia, 2018 really did finish on a high note!
We would love to ask you a few questions about your career with horses up to this date.
When did you first start to ride?
Both my Parents have always been involved with horses and since quite young I took interest in them. I started off with ponies and have been doing this ever since.
Who was your Greatest Inspiration and who did you train with through the years?
My parents have always supported me and they have helped me all throughout my career. I also had the opportunity to ride with Missy Clark & North Run and that was really a great opportunity for me. My greatest inspiration I´d say was Eddie Macken.
Was becoming an International Showjumper always on your to do list?
Yes, I always knew that I would be involved in the sport. I have been lucky enough to have great horses and people who have supported me and that has definitely been of great help in keeping myself at the top level of the sport.
Which horse has been your special horse in Your Career so far and why?
I have had a lot of great horses, the first horse I jumped the top level with OBELIX was a super first horse for me , then Imothep brought me to my first Championship and lately Go Easy de Muze, Babalou, Balou have been incredible for my career.
An Amazing 4th Place Finish for You and Babalou 41 in the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen, can you tell us a bit about the experience?
Babalou is a great mare, with a lot of character. I am only riding her since March last year. Aachen was definitely very special for me. I was not great in the first round of the Nation ´s Cup, but she was fantastic in the second round. The Grand Prix was definitely one of the toughest I have ridden in, the mare really gave it all. It was an incredible feeling to have been able to achieved that result with her.
You were chosen by Roderigo Pessoa to be one of his Team for WEG 2018 after that fantastic result in Aachen, but a setback with Babalou meant you had to step down. Tell us a bit about what happened and will Babalou 41 return to competition?
Yes, this was very unfortunate. The mare was really fit and in shape to go to WEG and a few days before travelling she had a colic which ended up in a surgery.
It was not very serious, but it obviously left us out of the event. This was a great setback for us, but her health was a priority.
After the surgery Babalou flew back to America to recover and slowly got back into work. She is a very strong mare and she is doing great. I have done a couple of small classes with her but will do her first big show next week at the Palm Beach Masters.
We know this didn’t hold you back; because you had a super win with the 10 year old Gelding Carlson in the Belgium Grand Prix in November, tell us a bit about the win?
Carlson actually came from a friend of mine, Brian Walker and at that time, I had only just gotten him. I decided to take him to Sentower that week to get to know him a bit better. He is a cool horse to ride and the courses that week really suited him. I was very impressed with him, he was really sharp and jumped great for me. It was very exciting to win that Grand Prix.
From November to December you were really on Top form especially with the Stallion Balou Du Reventon, with a 4th in the Maastrict Grand Prix, a third in the Rolex Grand Slam in Geneva and that super Podium finish with your Team in the Lucrative GCL Super Cup Final. Can you tell us a bit about this super stallion and also about the GCL Super Cup Competition?
The Stallion was bought for me last year, by one of my sponsors, Ann Thompson. Together with her we decided on a show plan for the horse. We took him quite slowly at the start, as we were just getting to know each other, but he was definitely in top shape at the end of last year.
He is a very good horse, scopey and really good in the head. He will definitely be an important horse for me in the years to come. At the moment he is back in Europe and will do some breeding before getting back into full work.
You were still flying the flag for the Irish at Olympia 2018 with that double win on the first day. Tell us a bit about how things went for you in both Competitions?
Olympia is one of my favourite shows. I really wanted to get some good results there. It is a tricky show, there is so much going on and horses can get spooky sometimes. The first day was really great, we won the big class with Cassini, he was very fast. Carlson also won the 1.50 and Billy Dorito came second in the 1.45. I sure would love to have more days like that!! I was very happy with the results of the 3 horses, it was a great way to end the year.
You have also made a flying start to your 2019 with the Double win on Billy Dorito in the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach. Can you tell us a bit about the classes and of course Billy?
Billy Dorito is owned by VLock Show Stables, he is an 8 year old by Bily Mexico. He is a really nice horse and we really have a lot of expectations for him in the future.
Both weeks he has been fantastic to ride, I think he has matured a lot since we first got him and is now ready to start doing some bigger classes.
What are your plans for 2019 and the future, is Olympic Qualification on the agenda?
This year is really important for Ireland, because we still do not have the Olympic Qualification. The Europeans in Rotterdam will be crucial for our Team.
My plan right now is to finish Florida, go back to Europe, do a bit of Spruce and hope for my horses to be in top form.
Later in the year I will also be doing some GCL event with the Paris Panthers, so I am looking forward to that too.
I feel very lucky to have a great string of horses and I am positive that we can get some good results and hopefully qualify the Team for Tokyo 2020.
When you are setting out to find a new horse what do you look for in a potential Showjumper?
I think the most important is a good brain, an intelligent horse that wants to fight for you, a horse that really cares about leaving the jumps up no matter what shape.
Are there any rising stars in your stable that you are excited about?
Yes, definitely I am really excited to have Classic Dream, owned by Ann Thompson, this horse is now 9 but I have taken him quite slow. He did his first 3* Grand Prix last week and he won it. He is sharp, very elastic and a super Jumper.
Billy Dorito, owned by Vlock Show Stables, you have already seen he has had some very good results already. He is definitely a horse for the top level. We are very excited about him and you will definitely will be seeing much more of him this year.
Billy Manjaro I think will be a great horse for me. He has a great character, very easy going and has a lot of scope. I did a bit with him last year and currently he is back in Europe, but will be busy this summer when I come back to Holland.
Scarlett du Sart also owned by Vlocks, she´s by Stakkato, she is a very special mare, lots of quality in her and has a really good technique. I will be showing her during this winter in Florida and she will then come to Europe to continue our show plan for the year.
Last Question, If you had one piece of advice to offer any Young Equestrian Athlete Starting out, what would that be?
Always work hard for what you want, Take risks and never lose track of the goals you set for yourself!
Darragh Kenny
This Interview was first published in Irish Sport Horse Magazine February 2019.