Hello my name is Tommy Mahon I am 17 years old and I am from Co. Carlow. I always loved animals from a very young age. My father is a farmer and all my uncles have a farming background, Cattle, sheep, dogs and cats where all in the family but then came along a horse. I got into horses from that day. I decided to go to a riding school 15 minutes away from me where I used to fall off more times than stay on. In 5th and 6th class in school, I used to tell my friends how I was going to be the next Ruby Walsh. A few years on I got more into horse RACING! as dad worked in Jessica Harrington’s. I asked him could I go there, he said I don’t want you to be in St. Lukes hospital in Kilkenny with 2 broken legs, ah sure I had to laugh!
When I turned 14 I went down to Jim Bolger’s for a summer, it was the best decision of my life. I was put up on the lead horse a few times but other than that I was riding nothing. I was painting railings and picking weeds from 6am until 12am, what a day that would be. My experience grew and grew over that summer and I will never forget it. I then told my parents I wanted to leave school after junior cert and wanted to go to RACE. I used to run every night to keep my weight down as I am just about 6ft it was always going to be hardship to get to 9st I could lose 1lb after a 10km run and that’s not just with 1 layer on me! I got notice of the week trial and I couldn’t believe it, I was the fittest on the bleep test out of the whole trial. When a letter came into my house about being accepted for the course I couldn’t believe it.
I am now fitter and stronger than ever before. Going from not being able to ride a racehorse 2/3 years ago to riding work and schooling over fences each morning is a massive achievement. I enjoy working in Christy Roche’s as my work placement. At the weekends, since the course started, I began riding out in Pat Fahy’s back home to keep myself occupied. Getting up at 6 each morning is getting easier as I know I am getting up to do something I love.
It’s been an experience of a lifetime and my future career in the industry should be helped with the likes of Niall Byrne and Barry Walsh and everyone else who helped me along the way. I hope to become Champion Amateur in the near future and ride as many winners as I can.
Good luck, safe home and I’ll talk to you guys later!!!
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| Tommy schooling on RACE Gallops |
