My name is Mark O’Neill, I am from Kildare and I am 16
years old. The first time I ever sat on
a horse I was 12years old. I went to a local
riding school about 10 minutes away from where I lived called Pitfield Equestrian. From the second I started riding I loved it!
I never thought about being a jokey until I was 13
years old. I went to the Punchestown Festival
with my father and from that time onwards I wanted to become a jockey. Around this time, my friend Tommy Mahon was
doing the Trainee Jockey Course in RACE and that’s how I found out about RACE. He recommended that I should go to RACE after
my Junior Cert. When I first said it to
my parents my Father said that it was a good idea and my Mother said that no
way am I leaving school! But, when she came to the Open Day here in RACE on the
21st of March she completely changed her mind.
So,
I sent an application in for the Trial Week soon after visiting RACE. When I got a letter saying that I was
accepted to the trial week I was delighted! The trials were hard work but I
kept my head down and worked very hard. I enjoyed my time on the trial. When I got a letter back from RACE saying
that I passed and was accepted I was completely shocked, I could not believe
that I had got in!
When
I first started here on my first week it was a big difference form what I did
before coming to RACE, but I really enjoyed it.
I liked getting up early in the morning and going down to the RACE
barn. I really enjoyed riding out in
RACE and I had a great time there. Then
after a couple of months down in the RACE barn I was ready to go out on
placement. I was sent out to Conor O’Dywer’s yard and I am really enjoying it
there. I like the early morning starts
and riding out on the Curragh. I am learning
a lot in the yard and I am getting on great out there.
When
I finish in RACE I am going back to do my Leaving Cert after the summer. I hope
to work with horses in the future.
Mark was placed with Conor O’ Dwyer on the 14th of February 2018
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| Family Day 2017 |
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