I had the pleasure of talking to the young and very talented Showjumper Jack Ryan recently. Jack a Native of Co. Kilkenny started his Equestrian Career as soon as he could Sit Up Straight, in fact sitting up on horses is one of his earliest memories. Jack’s Mum Marguerite Ryan was an Amateur Showjumper who competed at the Dublin Horse Show several times. The family were good friends of the Moloney family and Jack’s first formal Riding Lessons took place at Warrington Equestrian Centre in Co. Kilkenny at the Age of 5 or 6.
Jack’s Pony Career
A pony career ensued for Jack and he did have quite a bit of success, he used to regularly jump at the Dublin Horse Show and buy and sell ponies. Jack said, “Although I had success in ponies, it wasn’t until my jump into horses that I began to see real improvement, I just preferred horses.”
An Early Leap into Horses.
Young Jack made the Leap into horses in 2013 at just 11 years old. The first horse that he competed was Sandballin. Jack’s mother had previously competed this horse in Amateur competitions. Jack went on to compete in 3 Europeans Children on Horses for Ireland, The Team finishing in 2nd place in 2015 in the German Nations Cup, with Jack Riding Cavalier Teaca. He competed in 2 children on horses and 3 Junior Europeans with Cavalier Teaca, winning the Team Bronze Medal in European Championships 2018. Jack also won his first National Grand Prix on the Mare in 2017 at Coilog Equestrian Centre, during his Junior Cert Exams! Cavalier Teaca is still going strong and is only rising 14 years old in 2021.
When I asked did he always want to Showjump professionally, Jack replied with a laugh, “No, at one point I wanted to be a Jockey, but my mum wasn’t too keen on that idea, so showjumping it is.”
Joining the Breen Team & Team Z7
During 2019, Jack was offered the opportunity to go and work with Irish International Rider Shane Breen. Jack Recalls “Originally when Shane offered me the job, I didn’t know if I should go, as I had quite a few horses to work on at home. However, we met up at a Show in Lier in Belgium and had a chat, and I decided to take him up on his offer, joining the team toward the end of 2019. J with Shane has been a great opportunity; we ride up to 10 horses each a day and it’s always busy. Despite lockdown, we did manage to get quite a bit of competition in 2020 in the UK. Of course now we are in Dubai, we are competing a lot, getting ready for beginning of the International Shows here.”
Irish Rider Shane Breen had taken over training of the showjumping horses for Team Z7 owned by Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2017/2018, now spending 2 – 3 months of the year following the showjumping circuit in Dubai. Jack Said “The facilities are fantastic here, and the horses are top class; just last weekend I had 2 top finishes with Jule Van Den Tinnenpot owned by Shane, at the show in Sharjah. January here tends to be all National Shows, and on the 1st of February the International Shows begin. This year due to Covid, the season may run into March, giving us plenty of jumping, all going well.”
Special Horses in Jack’s Career So Far….
When discussing the Special Horses that Jack has had thus far, of course, Cavalier Teaca was top of the list, with all they had a achieved together. Jack also spoke highly of Essenar High Hopes, owned by Anne Marie Fagan. Jack won the 7&8 year old championship in Barnadown Equestrian Centre in September of 2018 with the Chestnut gelding by Phin Phin he also won a 2 Star Grand Prix in Sentower Park in Belgium in 2019 with the horse. He has gone on to compete him successfully at 4* level, a 5th place finish in the World Cup in Abu Dhabi in January 2020 being among those successes, and is planning on stepping him up to 5* in the near future.
Jack also has great faith in the Grey gelding by Cardento 933, BBS McGregor, an Irish Sport Horse bred by his mother Marguerite. Jack said McGregor showed great form from the beginning winning the 5 year old class in 2017 HSI Showjumping Series, going on again to win the Breeders Classic the following year in Barnadown in 2018, and following that with another win in the 7 year old class in 2019 again in Barnadown. He also came 5th in the final of the 7 year old LHK Insurance International 1.40M Class at the Dublin Horse Show 2019. Fair to say the horse is showing great talent and consistency, Jack and McGregor recently winning their latest National Grand Prix together in January 2021 at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
Jack also had a super win at the end of February last year on one of Shane’s horses, the Grey Holsteiner Stallion, Colmar Cruise, when they claimed victory in the 2 * Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While KBS Major Player is another horse Jack believes will be a future star, Jack shared “KBS Major Player is owned and bred by the Kennedy’s, he is definitely showing great attitude and form, in fact I won the Under 25’s Longines Ranking Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in January last year with him and he also jumped some great rounds for me in Vilamoura, Portugal toward the end of 2020, finishing in 3rd place in October in the CSI3*1.35m.”
Greatest Inspiration within the Sport
When asked who had been his greatest inspiration in the sport, Jack replied, “Well, Shane of course, he doesn’t say very much, but you can learn so much by just watching him ride. Also Marcus Ehning, who I believe is one of a kind, and Ludgar Beerbaum, as he seems to have a great way of producing top horses and riders. Plus my Mum and Dad have given me great Support over the years.”
Future Goals
On Looking toward Future Goals Jack said “Well I would like to get a chance to compete for Ireland in the Young Rider Europeans, and going forward I would love the chance to compete in some Senior Nations Cups.”
Best Advice
To Finish I asked Jack what is his Best Advice for the Sport, here is what he had to say…..
“With horses there are going to be good and bad days; learn from the bad days, and stay motivated and focused on your end goal.”
Jack Ryan
Great Advice and we are looking forward to seeing Jack in competition again soon.
This Interview was originally published in February 2021 Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine. Pictures were provided by Jack Ryan and are subject to Copyright.