23 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 60
60
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
MAY 07 2020
SPECIAL
SERIES
Inspirational Equestrian:
BY BREE RUTLEDGE
THIS island has long been recognised for its
afnity with the horse. Throughout Ireland’s
history, horses and ponies have been bred,
worked, raced, hunted and jumped on
these shores; they in return have offered
their talents, companionship and much
more to those fortunate enough to have the
opportunity to be around them.
Northern Ireland might be small in area, but
has made up for that in equestrian talent both equine and human - many times over!
Our six counties have produced
international stars in racing, show jumping,
eventing and dressage, not to speak of the
countless people behind the scenes who
make it all possible!
In this occasional series of articles,
HorseWeek will recognise some of the
people who have paved the way for horse
sport as we know it today; those who give
up their time and their expertise to enhance
our training and competition experiences
and those whose talents have brought the
spotlight to Northern Ireland’s equestrian
endeavours. A huge thank you is due to them
all for their contribution to equestrianism.
Many of their names will be familiar to
those involved in the various disciplines, but
their stories may not be. Hopefully, through
reading these stories, yet more equestrian
talent will be inspired...
A
NYONE
who has
attended
an ILDRA
(Irish Long
Distance Riding
Association) ride
has probably met
Kathy Conly. She
has been attending
the rides since they
started and has been
a dedicated ILDRA
supporter and ride
organiser for many
years. Kathy is not
originally from
Northern Ireland,
but has been here
for most of her life
and has reared her
family here.
Horse Week’s Bree
Rutledge was keen to
nd out more about
Kathy’s background.
Kathy was born in
a small market town,
Knaresborough in
North Yorkshire
- situated in
Nidderdale, one
of the Yorkshire
Dales - just two
months before the
outbreak of World
War 2, making her
an octagenarian!
She had one older
sister and came
from a non-horsey
background.
Her sister used
to ride at the local
RED DRAGON: Kathy pictured with her granddaughter Hannah Catterall,
who was Chef d’Equipe for the Irish team at the Home International
and Celtic Challenge at the Red Dragon Festival of Endurance in Wales
in October 2019. Hannah presented Kathy with a rosette for her hard
work and support at the HICC. (FW19-517NN)
riding centre and
Kathy managed
to persuade their
parents to let her go
too at the age of 10.
Kathy’s father
was away for most
of the war, serving
in the RAF and he
spent many years
in Egypt. After the
war ended, he took
over his father’s
drapery business
and also opened up
a hardware shop.
Although Kathy
never had a pony of
her own, she rode
at the riding centre
and rode her friends’
ponies. She was a
member of the York
and Ainsty Pony
Club, which held
it’s yearly camp at
the Great Yorkshire
Showground.
Kathy attended
King James
SHOWING AT ASCOT: Kathy when she 18, leading the
daughter of the family she worked for in Essex at the Ponies
of Britain Show, which was held at Ascot. (FW19-505NN)
RIDING
LESSON:
Right, Kathy
teaching
grand
daughter
Robyn how
to ride on
‘Henry’ back
in 1994.
(FW19509NN)
Grammar School
in Knaresborough,
but left at the age
of 16 with very few
qualications - she
hated school!
Kathy went as a
working pupil to a
yard in Norfolk, run
in partnership by
Joan McMillan and
Andy Crofts, who
broke, schooled
and sorted out
difcult horses and
ponies. She hunted
quite often with the
Norwich Staghounds
and the Norfolk
Harriers. After that,
she went to work for
a family in Essex,
who had six children
who competed at all
levels and hunted
with the Puckeridge
Hunt and Essex
Hunt. She looked
after the children
and the ponies.
Kathy met Jim
Conly in 1960. Every
Saturday, Kathy went
to a dance in a hotel
in Harrogate and Jim,
who is from here,
was working there as
an electrician. They
got married in 1962,
when Kathy was 21.
After three years
living in England, the
family moved over
to Northern Ireland
with their two small
sons. They went on
to have another son
and a daughter.
From the start,
they always had
small ponies
around them, but
none of the boys
were very keen to
ride. The family
moved to their
present address
in 1984, which had
some land. Kathy’s
daughter Kirsten
was keen on riding
and was a member
of Iveagh Pony Club.
There were not many
equestrian centres
holding events
at that time, but
Kathy hunted most
Saturdays with the
Tynan and Armagh
Hunt.
After attending a
talk on Endurance
by a member of EGB
(Endurance Great
Britain), which she
thinks was held in
the House of Sport,
Kathy was eager to
have a go.
In 1990, Kathy
attended a ride
held by the newly
formed organisation
ILDRA (the Irish
Long Distance Riding
Association) at
Tollymore Forest.
She has been told
that the ILDRA
committee at that
time consisted
of Nicola Brown,
Monica Walsh,
Charlie Spence, Ros
Allen, Elizabeth
Tollerton and Judy
McCuster - Kathy
apologises if she left
anyone out.
That day, Kathy
rode ‘Penny’, who
was the horse
Kirsten did Pony
Club activities on.
This mare was
very quiet and well
behaved at home,
but was a different
kettle of sh out
in a forest! Kathy
rode her at a good
few ILDRA rides,
completely out of
control, but she met
and rode with some
PONY FRIENDS: Kathy at age 14, pictured on the grey, with a
group of friends back in Yorkshire. (FW19-507NN)
HELPING HAND: Kathy giving a hand to Robyn
and her pony. (FW19-512NN)
WEDDING BELLS: Kathy met her husband, Jim
Conly, in 1960 and they got married in 1962.
(FW19-508NN)
lovely people. Kathy
gave up on ‘Penny’
and bought herself
a 14.2hh black
pony called ‘Pippa’,
who was keen but
manageable. Kathy
rode her for quite a
few years.
In 1996, Kathy
bought a strawberry
roan yearling lly
called ‘Ellanora’
(‘Ellie’). This mare
is still with the
family now and is
completely white in
colour! ‘Ellie’ has
been on the Home
International team
10 times. Her most
notable ride was
at Ludlow, when
she completed
the 160km ride for
the winning team.
Kathy started her
on her endurance
career and got her
to Bronze Shamrock
level.
The rst ILDRA
ride Kathy took
‘Ellie’ to was held
at Craigantlet soon
after she had been
broken. In the
second eld, much
to the amusement of
her two companions,
Kathy fell off her although at the time,
they were stationary,
waiting for a loose
horse to be caught!
Kathy and Kirsten
were at a ride in
Donard, Co. Wicklow
where Kathy got her
Bronze Shamrock
nal with ‘Ellie’. It
was a scorching hot
day and as they were
about to cross the
nishing line - which
was a banner held
aloft by two forklifts
and cast a shadow
HUNTER TRIALS: Kathy jumping at a hunter trials competition
in England. (FW19-506NN)
ENJOYING A RIDE: Kathy on ‘Charlie Four
Socks’ (who must have been naughty that
day!) and Robyn on ‘Lecky’ at an ILDRA ride.
(FW19-513NN)
CONGRATULATIONS: Hannah and Stephanie
congratulate their nanny on receiving her
ILDRA award in 2003. (FW19-510NN)