Meet the trainees - Matthew Lynch

My name is Matthew Lynch. I am from Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary. My father has been working in Coolmore since I was born so I was born straight into racing really.
Growing up on the Stud was unbelievable, I would be walking my dog down the fields leaving him hunt away and I’d go over and look at the Mares and see if I’d recognise any of them. Last year the dam of Frankel (Kind) was in the field beside my house along with Midday another superstar race mare. So it’s unbelievable in that aspect!

I was always very keen on racing and was inspired by Johnny Murtagh. When I was 12 years old I asked Johnny Cummins a local pre-train point to point yard for a summer job and he let me! Johnny had a couple of nice horses and he thought me the basics and everything I needed to know.  After a year of working weekends and any holidays I had working with Johnny he got me set up to ride out as well for Mattie Tynan after his.
Dixie Sheehan is the main man in Tynans and he thought me to ride flat horses like two year olds and fresh older horses. He thought me how to settle the younger horses which was a lesson I never forgot. After a while working for Dixie his confidence obviously grew in me because he gave me my first piece of work to ride for him.

During third year we had our careers guidance teacher ask us what we wanted to be when we were older and I was certain on my answer being a jockey. I had already heard of RACE through other riders that you would meet along the way and I looked it up online to see for myself.
After my junior cert and after seeing RACE at the open day I was looking forward to my week’s trial in July. When I was accepted I was over the moon and straight away started working on my fitness after being warned by our fitness instructor!! After starting the course I met everyone and the first morning down in the yard I realised how stiff the competition was! From the start I was in group A and was thought under the eye of Barry Walsh, he thought me that technique was always above strength and I worked towards building up my technique under his watchful eye.

In the middle of November I was sent to Michael Halfords yard Copper beach Stables and I was absolutely delighted and was very excited to start!  I’m in Halfords 4 months now and I feel my riding has come on an awful lot thanks to Mr. Halford letting me ride the yearlings and nice older horses. His team in the yard are extremely helpful and are always dead on with you! It’s great to be part of a yard that does so well on the track but is one of the nicest yards to ride out in. This Summer Id like to go to England to a top yard like Richard Hannons for two or three weeks for another experience which would set me up to get my licence hopefully for a nice yard back home.
My weight is good at the moment and is still ok for the flat but I’m quite tall and see myself going over jumps in the future after a couple of seasons. I have decided to go back to school in September to have a leaving cert under my belt, but I could have my licence still for any weekend rides or Friday night rides, that would be the plan hopefully!!

RACE Gallops September

Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - David O'Brien

I live in Ballincollig in co cork. I became involved with horses when my Dad brought me to hunt and to points to point meetings. I rode my Dad’s friends pony for a season of hunting before buying my own pony which I hunted and pony raced for two seasons.

I gained huge experience before I rode out in John J Murphy’s on weekends and holidays and then started working full time during the summer of 2014. I learn loads in John Murphy’s, such as riding different types of horses such as flat and national hunt. I also learned to jump out of stalls.

I came to RACE in September after a week’s trail where I was accepted for a place on the course.  I was down in the RACE barn for the start of the course and learned to be more stylish as a rider and I learned about horse welfare.

 I was sent out in the first group on work placement. I was sent out to Michael D O Callaghan where I am enjoying myself and learning lots!

RACE Gallops 

Training on Maddenstown Gallops

Meet the trainees - Siobhan Rutledge

My name is Siobhan Rutledge, I am 16 years old and I live just outside Ashbourne in County Meath. I’ve always had an interest in horses as my Dad was a jockey and trained a few point to point horses and my grandmother has bred horses in the past.

When I was 4 years of age, my brother and I were blessed with the gift of a little black welsh pony, he stood about 11 hands high, but was far too big for his boots. We called him harry after the man we bought him from. We had a little donkey called taxi who I’d ride up the field in the evenings after school. My brother eventually lost interest in riding horses, but I was hooked.

I took a few riding lessons at the age of 10 which helped me get the basics of horse riding, but gave up the lessons soon after because the horses were not fast enough! After saving up I bought Sweeney Todd, a 6 year old Connemara pony off a family friend, who I still have today. She is 13.2 hands high and is the best thing since sliced bread as far as I’m concerned.  I still had a great interest in racing, and did a few local pony races with Sweeney Todd that didn’t amount to much more than a fun day out for the family.

 Just before my 16th birthday, I decided I’d apply for RACE. Never in a million years did I think I’d be accepted, but I headed down for the trial in July hoping for the best. They had us doing all sorts on the trial; I don’t think I’ve pulled as much weeds in my life! I loved my week down in RACE and knew then that it was the place to be.
The acceptance letter came late, on the 11th of August, 3 days before my 16th birthday having just completed my Junior Cert in Ashbourne Community School. I was so nervous, but I knew I couldn’t have tried any harder on the trial. I was delighted to find out I got in and since then I’ve spent the last 5 months in the good hands of our four instructors Barry Walsh, Niall Byrne, Paul Keating and Paul Geoghegan who have been teaching me the tricks of the trade.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet 31 amazing people who I’ll stay in touch with forever. We’ve all grown so close over the last few months and I know I’ll be devastated at the end of the course. All of the teachers are absolutely lovely as are our supervisors who have kept an eye on us. I’m looking forward to being sent out to a yard, and hopefully graduating in June.

On RACE Gallops in September

Schooling at RACE