Featuring famous faces from the world of Irish jump racing, Treo Eile’s hugely popular annual fundraiser highlights Thoroughbred versatility and Ireland’s commitment to aftercare
Ireland: Where might you expect to find a dual Grand National winner, a dual Gold Cup hero plus a plethora of fellow G1 winners from Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown, Fairyhouse and beyond?
Maybe tucked up in their retirement yards, dreaming of racing days gone by? Not a chance – because for some of these heroes of the track, the time has come for new adventures which are only just beginning.
On a starry night in December – ten days before Christmas in Kildare, to be precise – they came together with a host of Ireland’s best-known jockeys for a joyous celebration of what life after racing can mean.
Over 50 former racehorses showed up for the Treo Eile Christmas show jumping extravaganza, an annual fundraiser created to shine a light on the versatility of the racehorse and its ability to adapt as a leisure horse.
And what a night of stars it was. After a magnificent parade of champions that included the pint-sized Aintree hero Tiger Roll plus Cheltenham superstars Douvan and Faugheen, the show moved onto the main event – a show jumping relay featuring former racehorses and teams captained by jockeys. For a fun twist, a child on a speedy pony completed the quartet.
The public’s gaze was naturally drawn to Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Sizing John, who teamed up with his former pilot, Robert ‘Puppy’ Power, and Al Boum Photo, both of whom jumped faultless rounds to push their teams up the scoreboard.
Champion amateur Patrick Mullins (pictured right) was teamed up with Arvika Ligeonniere, formerly a top-flight chaser for father Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci.
The 17-year-old was retrained by event rider Louise Duffy, who successfully brought the French-bred to 2-star eventing and has just begun a similar journey with Al Boum Photo, who won back-to-back Gold Cups for the Mullins team at Cheltenham in 2019 and 2020.
‘He was intelligent and loved his work’
“Arvika had a tendon injury so it took 18 months of conditioning work so he could learn to use himself differently,” explains Duffy. “He was intelligent and loved his work so it all came very easy to him. I can see Boum doing something similar – his mind is busy, so the variety of work and questions seems to suit him.”
Another former Mullins pupil, the Cheltenham Bumper winner Briar Hill, also performed a polished round for Irish international show jumper Commandant Geoff Curran, who was stopping off at the venue on route to London’s International Horse Show.
Curran, who last year clinched two coveted puissance titles for Ireland, was riding alongside his nine-year-old pony-riding daughter Kiki as part of Charlie Swan’s team.
As a nine-time Irish champion, Swan is recognised as one of the greatest jump jockeys of all time, having dominated the Irish scene in the 1990s, when he enjoyed a legendary partnership with the triple Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq.
Swan was also joined by his daughter Olivia, herself a top event rider at 3-star level with Clonakilty Bay, a €38,000 purchase who raced for her grandfather Timmy Hyde, owner of Camas Park Stud in Tipperary.
Swan senior’s round was very tidy indeed, albeit on a rather ordinary racehorse called Oscar Encore. This gelding has transitioned, however, into a very smart performer on the show jumping circuit for Laura Tierney, a teacher who once rode out for Jim Dreaper. She was kind enough to lend her horse for the event.
Natural horsemanship
With four clears on the board in round one, the Swan team were worthy favourites going into the jump off, although Jessica Harrington’s gang were in hot pursuit with the Power siblings (Robbie and Esib) displaying a natural horsemanship.
Mind you, Oscar Encore wasn’t the only ‘also-ran’ to impress with success stories aplenty on the night – including the wonderful tale of Mickah Wallace. Named after a character in The Commitments movie, this five-year-old gelding wasn’t exactly bred for the jumping game.
By sprint sire Anjaal, he was sold for just €3000 and started life out on the Flat tracks with Waterford trainer Mark Cahill. After Mickah Wallace was beaten over 100 lengths in his first five starts, Mark’s partner Selena reached out to Treo Eile to find him a home “Despite his poor record I was very fond of Mickah and he gave me a lovely feel when riding out,” she says. “He also had a fabulous temperament. I try to find homes where they'll be valuable and treasured and it really worked out this time”.
The new owner was Stephanie McGlynn, who was seeking a sensible horse for retraining purposes. Starting the process in 2022, the gelding was always naturally athletic, balanced and learned very quickly.
As a good-looking horse, his showing career took off quickly, resulting in multiple wins (including at the All Ireland Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship) followed by a notable fifth at the Dublin Horse Show.
To watch him excel again at yet another discipline is both heartening and rewarding for all those involved and underlines exactly what Treo Eile’s mission is: to connect, support and promote.
“The whole idea is that Treo Eile facilitates racehorses transferring to another career by connecting owners and trainers with riders who want to retrain them.” says Treo Eile director Caoimhe Doherty.
Fantastic stories
“We then create competitions and opportunities for them at every level and promote the fantastic stories afterwards,” she goes on. “This show has brought a huge amount of awareness, and people are starting to see just how good these horses can be across multiple disciplines.”
Ireland is considered the home of the Thoroughbred by many and, despite its small geographical size and relatively low population, is consistently the source of a significant proportion of the world’s top racing talent.
With an annual foal crop of around 9,000 making it the third largest producer of Thoroughbreds in the world after the US and Australia, Ireland is also under a moral obligation to be a world leader in the areas of responsible production, welfare, and aftercare.
In the key areas of welfare and aftercare however, no one entity has carried the torch for Irish racing, with efforts over the years having been dispersed across HRI, the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, Retraining Of Racehorses Ireland, and other industry bodies and individuals.
Established in 2020, Treo Eile (Irish for ‘Another Direction’) is a relatively new kid on the block and its ambition has garnered significant industry support.
Back to the jump off, where the participants return to the arena for a speed relay. To rapturous applause, former Irish champion Davy Russell (right) kicks on with Ballybrowney Jack, but alas he can’t keep the poles up. He passes the baton to daughter Lily, but her pony gets a fright and unseats before the first – spoiling the script for their team but creating lasting memories as they gallop a lap of the arena for the fun of it.
Crowning moment
“I love coming to this show and to ride with my daughter Lily was a crowning moment,” says Russell.
“We’ve a bit of a bug for show jumping as my kids are doing it every weekend. It’s great that the industries can combine and that the youngsters get to ride – there’s a huge talent amongst them.
“To see the work that’s put into these horses,” Russell continues. “It’s phenomenal and the retrainers deserve huge credit. We’ve been asking them to run fast and then their clocks need a reset, but they seem to enjoy it. The patience required is huge and it’s all for the love of it.”
History maker Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the Grand National and the Gold Cup, is next up. After a second place last year, she makes a bid for glory with a lightning fast round whilst Mia de Bromhead, daughter of leading trainer Henry, sparkles aboard her pony.
Rory Cleary, Katie Walsh, Jack Kennedy and even the ‘Stormin’ Norman Williamson team put on bold shows for the silverware, but none can catch the Swan troupe, who stay in front to scoop the coveted Horse Racing Ireland Trophy.
The Jessica Harrington team claims second with the Mullins team settling for the yellow ribbon in third place. Whether or not they tied it round the old oak tree will be lost to history.
With the trophy presented by the bigwigs of Irish racing and the event broadcast on the main racing channel, the Treo Eilie Christmas Show is fast on the way to becoming a significant date in Irish racing’s winter calendar.
Sponsors, brands and participation are all on the increase and, with Christmas in the air, the goodwill is evident. This fun and entertaining concept has the potential to grow some very long legs.
Treo Eile (meaning: ‘another direction’)
Treo Eile is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates and promotes the retraining of racehorses in Ireland. Established in 2020, it is now funded by industry brands and bodies including Godolphin, the Foal Levy, Irish European Breeders Fund, HRI, Association of Irish Owners, Moyglare Stud, Racing Post and many others.
Prize-money for Thoroughbreds is filtered into different levels of showing, eventing, dressage, showjumping, polo, polocrosse, and endurance events. They also run a series of clinics and educational events aimed at training riders on their ex-racehorses.
There is still progress to be made to attain the high standards that Irish racing sets for itself in horse welfare and aftercare, but events like the Treo Eile Christmas Show demonstrate that the drive, industry support, and vision are there to see Ireland’s status in these areas equal its lofty achievements on the track.
• To get involved or donate, please contact hello@treoeile.com or visit their website at www.treoeile.com
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