Posted: 27th March 2017 | Back to news feed
HorseHage is pleased to announce that top Irish event rider, Padraig McCarthy, has joined its team of sponsored riders. Married to Team HorseHage event rider, Lucy, (née Wiegersma), it seemed a natural progression for Padraig to come on board too and so now their whole yard of horses will be fed HorseHage dust-free bagged forage when travelling and competing.
Originally from Tipperary in Ireland, Padraig has been involved with horses from a young age and trained under the guidance of Rolf Goran Bengtsson, Max Hauri and Hans Horn followed by almost ten years spent show-jumping and training horses of all levels in Europe and the USA.
In 2003 he made the decision to go to university to study Business and graduated with a first class honours degree in Economics and Finance with German in 2008. He was offered a scholarship to undertake a research project which turned into a PhD study of business insolvency laws in Ireland. Despite having published book chapters and academic journals, Padraig realised this wasn’t the life for him and he decided to return to his real passion of horses.
Making the switch from show-jumping to eventing, he rode at his first BE event in 2013 and has climbed up through the ranks extremely quickly. By the end of the 2015 season he had ridden for Ireland on several eventing Nations Cup teams, including the team that placed 4th at Aachen and the only Irish team to win an FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Boekelo. He was a member of the 2015 Irish European Championship team at Blair Castle and in 2016 he had his first three wins at 3* level, claiming victory at both Chatsworth and Tattersalls. As a result of this he was selected for the Rio Olympics on both his top horses, Simon Porloe and Bernadette Utopia.
With a great eye for recognising talented young horses, Padraig has built up a wide client base who value his knowledge and experience and with Lucy, he set up their successful business, MGH Sport Horses in 2014, based in Devon, breeding, training and selling equines for show-jumping and eventing and also coaching riders.
Said Chris Tar of HorseHage: “We are very happy to have Padraig on board alongside Lucy, and we think they will make an incredible team for the future.”
For further information or for advice on feeding your horse, please ring the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527274 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk
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