Team
Fintan McGrath
Horse trainer and instructor. Professionally breaking horses for over 30 years. Fintan was also an Amateur jockey when he was younger and worked for some time for Arthur Moore before coming back to his Uncles’ farm to start the Horse Riding Centre.
He also had competed as a youngster in the RDS showjumping which usually led to the horse being sold before you got it to cool down!
He brings his knowledge to the children and adults of jumping and racing with many going on to work in the horse industry.
Sinead McGrath
Is the main instructor and a competitor who has trained to Grand Prix and competed to Prix St George. She also has brought on horses up through the levels from Preliminary to Advanced. Sinead also has brought riders all from lead rein, all the way to international level. Sinead realised at an early stage that horse riding is not just about sitting on the horse. The benefits is has on different people is amazing, and the growth in the children is super.
For her competitors she ensures that they look after all aspects of their training from their mindset to fitness as it is just as important as the riding.
Sinead loves to make sure that riders pay attention to detail and we use a range of services to help keep the horses in top shape from feed, to saddles, the dentist, and physios. Sinead and the homebred Ballyj Ed were crowned National champions at the 2022 HSI Dressage Series in the 4 yr old class.
Rebecca McGrath
Started horse riding at the age of 2 weeks old and was one of the youngest competitors at the Dressage National Championships 2017.
She started competing Bilko age 7 and it wasn’t long before the pair were famous. They were regularly used to test arenas, where the horses might not venture. In 2019, they were asked to take part in a dressage display in the RDS. Now moving on to a bigger pony she has joined the new Pony Club Branch and started doing some One Day Events. She also enjoys grooming for her Mum and it won’t be long before she steals her horses. Rebecca was crowned National Champion in 2021 at the Dressage Ireland Nationals at Novice Level with her mare Tickerlevan Sunrise, and retained the National title again in 2022 with Terbofens Queen Two. Rebecca was also part of the Regional team who claimed the team title in 2022. Rebecca was a recipient of the Martin Sheridan Bursary Award, which aims to support high performance athletes from Mayo.
With the 2021 and 2022 National Champion ponies
Patricia Frost another important part of the team, came to the centre to ask about lessons for her kids and never left! She helps out with the running of shows, website maintenance and regularly helps with the video lessons that now take place on Zoom. Patricia also competes, is the Pony Club Branch DC (chair). She loves getting involved and has also found the time to progress herself from Preliminary to Advanced Medium.
Katie Behan started out as a lead rein rider and now loves to help out in the yard on her time off from college. She had leased a pony from another rider which led her to compete at the National Winter Finals and National Dressage Championships in 2019 winning Champion and Reserve Champion at both events. She also helps to school the horses and as a result has had the opportunity of competing at One Day Events and Silver Spurs on various horses. She bought Taylor who came to the yard to further her education, who she regularly competes at dressage and One Day Events. Now studying a BSC in Equine Management in CAFRE, Katie still helps and brings a smile to all when home.
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