I had the pleasure of chatting to Irish International Equestrian James Rooney recently about life and horses, and his fully rounded career.
James heralds from an Equestrian background, his father Jim used to Showjump and was also an Amateur Jockey during the 1940’s /50’s. Much of his youth and teens were spent Jumping ponies up to Grade A and he always admired Eddie Macken in those early years and won a bursary for a lesson with the Irish Showjumping Hero. It’s safe to say that this horsey environment gave young James a great grounding for the eventful career that he has enjoyed to date.
Then came the Leap into the Exciting World of Eventing, where James enjoyed great success both bringing on young horses for sale and also touring the American Eventing Circuit for a year at 4* Level with his horse. When I asked James what lead to the further Jump from Eventing to Dressage he said,
“Well Dressage and Eventing go Hand in Hand really, plus as you get older you don’t tend to bounce so well!”
This is a fact of equestrian life that I can wholeheartedly agree with.
Moving To Dressage
Moving on to Dressage James applied the same energy and enthusiasm to his training horses. He had a super little Irish Sport Horse, called Commanding Officer; it was this horse that really gave James the Zest to develop his career further in the discipline of Dressage. So after he and Commanding Officer took a Reserve National Championship at the Irish Dressage Championships, James decided to make another leap of sorts, this time it took him across the pond to the UK where he is now based in Surrey. James said, “I felt the move was necessary to give me more access to training and competition opportunities, as there are numerous shows, many are just an hour’s drive from where I am now based.”
A New Driving Ambition
As we talked I said, “OK, I get the jump from Eventing to Dressage, but when did your love of Carriage Driving begin?”
James replied, “It all began with a very naughty Hackney Pony, Stapleford Pocket Rocket or Rocky for short! This pony was so naughty that whenever anyone tried to drive him he would rear up or lie down! I focused on finding a way to get him going forward. Once I got him thinking forward that was it and he became the first horse that I competed in a driving competition. In fact, in that first competition we qualified for the British Indoor National Driving Championships.
With driving it is a little different to some equestrian sports, as it is the Athlete who qualifies. So the Hackney Pony was then sold and I went on to the take part in the Indoor Championships with another pony, a super Welsh Section B Pony and we Finished 5th or 6th in our class! This little Welsh Pony was called Kingsmeade Gate Keeper and we later qualified for the British Carriage Driving National Championships.”
“These outdoor driving championships are run very much like a 3 day event, with the Dressage Phase day 1, Marathon Day 2, and Cones Day 3, I believe this helped me to fit right in, especially the marathon phase, as I was so used to three day Eventing. We ended up finishing in 3rd Place in Novice Pony Section and were presented our Prize by The Queen. A great finish to what was only my 5th driving competition.”
Driving Horses & Dressage
From here James moved onto to Driving Horses, and there have been a few. He told me of a Gelderlander who although was a bit stiff in the beginning, went on to not only perform well in Open Carriage Trials with James, but also competed successfully up to Medium Level Dressage. James says “I find that flat work is a really important part of the horses training, and it makes them a far better horse to drive.”
“I also got a Super, Roan, Dutch horse in for training, called Sergeant. He was a carriage driving horse, but when I started to teach him Flat work, he just loved to learn, and we went all the way to Prix St. George in a Year! He was such a willing chap, eager to please, in fact, because of his build he found Canter Pirouettes quite easy and his Piaffe was good too.”
Driving At National & International Level.
“Perhaps one of the real Stars of the Ride and Drive horses that I have worked with was the Lipizzaner Horse L547 Favoury Monterau. I competed him both in National Carriage Driving Competitions and also Internationally. He was a really great horse; I also competed him up to Advanced Medium in Dressage. In the end we found that the very big competitions were too much for him, he seemed to withdraw into himself. Therefore, he ended up finding a different job, in fact he now drag hunts with his new owner quite near to where I am based.”
Carriage Driving A Family Affair
I asked James, what he loves about Carriage Driving. His reply, “I love how driving becomes a family affair, it’s not just a one person job, it usually requires 2 – 3 people working together, it’s very inclusive. Plus it’s the only Equestrian Sport that a 14 year old Athlete and an 84 year old Athlete can compete on equal terms. It is very labour intensive, but it offers enjoyment and longevity in the sport; there is a very experienced Carriage Driver who still competes at a top level, at the age of 84!
Current Projects
When asked what he’d been working on recently this is what he had to say; “Well I am on the lookout for a horse, but I am always kept busy. I am just back from the World Carriage Driving Championships in Pau, where I was Chef d’Equipe to the British Carriage Driving Team. It was this Teams 1st time at a Major Championship Level, so we were happy with their performances and there is a lot to look forward to in the future. Plus, between Coaching, being on the board of the British Carriage Driving Association, while also being an FEI Judge for both Carriage Driving and Eventing and a List 2 Judge for Dressage, life always seems to be busy.”
A Good Carriage Driving Horse
So what does James Look for in a Good Carriage Driving Horse? “I look for a Warmblood Cross/Thoroughbred, with good movement and nicely balanced, and most importantly, with a Good Brain. A competitive Carriage horse needs to be Athletic, especially for the Marathon Phase, and they need to be sensible.”
Try Driving Days
I asked James what is the best way for someone who is interested, to become involved in the Sport? His reply; “ If someone wants to give Driving a try, the first thing they must do is to contact their closest Driving Association. The local associations run Try Driving Days, where you can actually sit alongside an experienced driver and see if you enjoy it.
Last Question to James; Any Sage advice about the Sport?
“Give Carriage Driving a Go, it’s an underexposed, exciting gem in the Equestrian World.”
James Rooney
James Rooney is based in Surrey in the South of the United Kingdom, his extensive background in horses offers a wealth of experience; James Coaches Equestrians in Dressage, Driving and Eventing. You can contact James through his Website at www.jamesrooneydressage.co.uk.
This Interview was originally published in the December 2020 Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine, All Pictures are the Property of James Rooney and were provided for the interview courtesy of James.