8 December 2022 - Flipbook - Page 80
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HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 17 2022
Finn Osborne: A talented young
rider who is no stranger to success
Y
OUNG show jumper
Finn Osborne and
his current mount,
‘Chicco Camiro’ (aka
‘Buddy) have had
a great run of form lately,
winning their last three
1.20m Speed rounds - at
Portmore on November 7; at
Cavan on November 20 (out
of 111 entries!) and again
at Portmore on November
26. ‘Buddy’ then got a well
deserved break!
Finn is 18 years old and is
from Poyntzpass, County
Armagh; he attends St
Patricks Grammar School in
Armagh.
This talented young
man has packed a lot of
equestrian success into his
life so far; HorseWeek’s Bree
Rutledge decided to find out
more...
BACKGROUND
How did you get into
ponies - are you from a
horsey background?
Both my grandfathers
were horsey people. When I
was four years old, my dad
took my younger brother
Rory and I to Millers Hill
Equestrian in Markethill for
lessons to see if we would
enjoy horse riding. We loved
it! After a few months, my
mum and dad bought us our
own ponies.
ACTION: Finn Osborne on ‘Chicco Camiro’ in action at
Portmore, where they won 1.20m Speed classes on November
7 and 26. (FW04-540NN)
Pony Club and also took part
in the Inter-Schools’ Show
Jumping.
When and where did you
start show jumping?
My first proper
competitions were at Iveagh
Pony Club about 10 years
ago.
Did you try competing in
other disciplines or was
show jumping always your
preference?
I was only ever interested
in show jumping.
How long have you been
riding?
About 14 years.
When did you start
registered show jumping?
My first registered show
was at Portmore Equestrian
Centre in January 2020.
How long have you been
competing?
About 10 years. I started
off competing at Iveagh
Are you in a Pony Club,
Riding Club etc?
Yes, I am still a member of
Iveagh Pony Club.
Do you have regular
lessons - if so, with whom?
I have regular lessons with
Mickey McCann.
PONIES/ HORSES
What was your first
pony and what did you do
together?
My first pony was called
‘Smarty’. We rode together
around the farm here at
home in Poyntzpass. We
did a few cross-poles and
small jumping competitions
locally.
What other ponies/ horses
have you had?
‘Double Dazzle’ was my
best 148 competition pony.
He was a super pony - very
careful and very competitive
against the clock. Together,
we were part of the winning
show jumping team for
Iveagh Pony Club in 2017
at the UK Novice Pony
Club Championships in
Chomondeley Castle,
Cheshire.
‘Double Daz’ won the
majority of the competitions
that he took part in.
Unfortunately, I outgrew him
and so moved on to horses.
My current horse, ‘Buddy’
(‘Chicco Camiro’) and I were
part of the winning team at
the UK Open Pony Club team
championship competition
in 2021 at Offchurch Bury,
Royal Lemington Spa.
I have been very fortunate
to have been on two very
successful Pony Club teams,
with great team members
and so I am a double UK
champion!
‘Buddy’ and I have finished
second overall for the past
two years at 110cm in the
SJI Ulster Region Grand Prix
series. It’s a very competitive
league, with lots of stiff
competition.
What horses do you
currently have?
I moved on from ponies
and got my first horse,
‘Buddy’ (‘Chicco Camiro’),
when I was 16. Buddy is 11
years old and I have had
him for two years now. I also
have a young horse that I am
producing.
What classes are you
competing in currently?
I am currently jumping
‘Buddy’ in SJI 120cm classes
and we had great success
before Christmas!
What is your favourite
venue?
READY: Finn ready to go on ‘Smarty’ at Cooley Hill in 2012.
(FW04-544NN)
WELL DONE: Finn was on the winning Iveagh team at the Pony
Club Open UK Championship in 2021. (FW04-541NN)
DAZZLING: Finn and ‘Double Dazzle’ competing in the InterSchools’ Final in 2016. (FW04-543NN)
TETRATHLON: Finn Osborne on ‘Double Dazzle’ competing in
the Cross-Country at Bishop Burton 2017, York, England for
the Iveagh Tetrathlon Team. (FW04-546NN)
TEAM WORK: Finn (left) pictured on the podium with his
Iveagh team mates after they won the Pony Club Open UK
Championship in 2021. (FW04-542NN)
My favourite venue overall
is Cavan. I have been twice
and have brought two red
ribbons home with me, so I
have been very fortunate.
What has been your
favourite show jumping
round to date?
Winning the 120cm
competition in Cavan in the
Winter Horse Championship
show in November 2021.
There were 111 other entries
that day, so it was a great
achievement. We had a bit
of luck!
What are your equestrian
plans for the year ahead?
I would like to qualify for
Dublin Horse Show in August
in the junior/ young rider
class.
What are your equine
ambitions?
Short term, I want to
continue competing on
‘Buddy’ and keep producing
young horses and, longer
term, I would love to
compete internationally in
the future.
What is your best advice
to a younger rider wishing
to do well?
Definitely find a good
coach, take regular lessons,
try and put into practice
what you have been taught
and ask plenty of questions.
Be patient!
HorseWeek will be looking
out for Finn and ‘Buddy’ in
the show jumping results in
the season ahead - here’s
hoping their run of form
continues!
IN THE RIBBONS: Finn and ‘Smarty’ (right) were in the ribbons
in the cross-poles class at Cooley Hill in 2012. (FW04-545NN)
ON FORM: Finn and ‘Chicco Camiro’ had a great run of form
before Christmas. (FW04-539NN)
