Bluegrass Horse Feeds caught up with Bluegrass customer Lindsay Graham to find our a little more about this rider from County Laois.

“I have been involved with horses as long as I can remember. My parents bought me a pony when I was a child but none of us were experienced, including the pony but I had the bug and plenty of bruises. When I was 15, I started to work in Anngrove Stud and became interested in eventing. I worked at the stud and evented for over 14 years before taking the big step and starting out on my own.

I’m very lucky to have my own yard on the family farm. It’s a labour of love but I wouldn’t have it any other way and am really enjoying building it up bit by bit. I guess my greatest success was finishing 12th in the 3 Star in Ballindenisk in an olympic year on a horse I produced from a four-year-old. Being star struck in x country warm up having the best riders in world trot past is not ideal. Then on a smaller note being able to go to some of the good jumping shows and hold my own in the young horse classes, even winning the odd 130cm.

I was aware of the importance of feeding while working in the stud and feeding pregnant mares, stallions and young stock but now I’m in my own yard I’m a bit ocd about it. Every horse has an individual feeding plan on a big white board. Horses will only perform well if they are feeling well, the wide range of feeds with Bluegrass allows me to tailor each horses feeding programme. At the moment there is a fresian stallion, international games pony, pre-training racehorse and a couple of hunters amongst the regular eventers and jumpers. So ALOT of different feeding plans and the weekly delivery of Bluegrass feeds keeps costs down and horses happy, (And my stress levels in check too)”

1) What’s your favourite horse you’ve ridden?

Darragh Cullen aka Mac. The love of my life, he taught me so much and saved my ass so many times but we learnt together.

2) What horse would you like to have in your stables?

This is tough as I want so many, Valegro, Inca Boy and eventer Toledo De Kerser but most of all I would love to have Mac back to do it all over again with the experience I have now.

3)If you weren’t a showjumper what would you like to be?

I would be really grumpy !!!!

4) Favourite horseshow?

For the jumping it would have to be Cavan Equestrian Centre and for the eventing Tattersalls International, but I do remember a particularly good week spent at Blair Castle Horse Trials.

5) Do you prefer the Greatest Showman or Les Mis soundtrack?

Conor obviously is responsible for this question. I can see him thinking he’s Hugh Jackman. Neither! Give me the Coronas Please

6) What’s the one thing in your tack room you can’t be without?

The kettle... My Antares dressage saddle, I have a bad back so I use this the most.

7) Have you any routines or habits before you go in the ring?

I do alot of coaching so I try think what would I tell someone I’m teaching. Like good canter and straightness but most of all I tell myself keep calm and breathe!

8) Do you have any other hobbies or sport interests?

I used to play rugby and do kick boxing, but I don’t bounce like I used too, age is a terrible thing, now I enjoy watching rather than partaking. I do love to ski

9) Name one competition that you really want to win?

Winning is great, so to win four year old jumping at Cavan or an international event would be amazing, but I really enjoy producing the young horses and having them go well.

10) What’s your favourite Bluegrass Horse Feed Product?

The Bluegrass Horse Feeds Re-Leve, not just for the science behind making it a great feed but also because it looks and smells so good you would nearly eat it yourself.

11) When did you start riding?

My gran always had a pony and donkey (poor donkey had to pretend to be a jumper) on the farm so I guess from when I was tiny. But I didn’t start competitively until late teens.

12) First pony’s name?

Brandy, we hadn’t a clue and bought a four-year-old pony as my first pony. I got bucked off, sometimes more than once, every Saturday in my lessons.

13) What’s your proudest achievement so far?

I think it would be winning a couple 130's, 12th in the 3 star and winning the HSI Mare Championship all on horses I produced from the start.

14) What’s your favourite training exercise?

Hacking, we have some lovely hacking around the yard. It is great for the horses physically and mentally. I’m also a big fan of canter poles and related distances with poles and fences.

15) One piece of advice you’d give to young riders?

Work hard and find a trainer you trust to help you set goals and achieve them while building your confidence. Most of all never forget the reason why you started to ride, remember the child loved playing with their pony before the pressure of competition!