Meet the trainees - Eilis Breathnach Ni hEalaithe

My name is Eilis Breathnach.  I’m from Wicklow and I have always been interested in horses.   I have been able to ride for as long as I can remember and I always wanted to work with horses.  My family have always had horses and ponies at home and I was held up on a pony before I could walk.  I first learned to ride on Shetland ponies that we had at home and when I was eight I got my first proper pony and I still have her.  I started doing a few shows and hunts on her and I loved bringing her to the beach and going around home on her.  I got a horse then when I was older and I did a bit of everything on her but became interested in racing.

I decided to apply for RACE after going there on an open day with my older sister.  I applied for RACE as soon as I was old enough and was over the moon when I got in.  I am really enjoying the course and have learned a lot.  I love working down the barn and riding out especially on Maddenstown Gallops.  I had never ridden racehorses before and it took a while to get used to them, but I really enjoy it!

After a while I got in the rewards group and we got to visit a few racecourses and I found it very interesting to learn more about racing because I didn’t know that much about racing before I got here.  I can’t wait to go out to a trainer’s yard and I’m really looking forward to it. I would love to be a flat jockey when I am finished the course and be able to work with horses for as long as I can.

Eilis was placed with Michael Halford and the 13th of February 2017

Eilis warming up on Gallops for Family Day 2016