Rider Profile: David Blake
Age: 21
Based: East Clare Equestrian Centre, Co.Clare, which is owned by his parents Michael and Mary.
After a very successful 2010 David is now preparing a very talented string of horses for the season approaching. There is currently 16 horses in training of which he all rates very highly.
5 year olds:
Shannondale Solly is an extremely talented mare ,which is owned by Michael Meade from Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare. She is a scopey mare with alot of range and has all the ingredients to make a top class showjumper. She will be aimed this year at the RDS qualifiers.
Bart C is owned by Deirdre Bourns form Lisbeg Farm Ballinasloe Co. Galway, this eye catching gelding showed extreme promise as a 4 year old last year. Bart C was Purchased as a 2 year old in Belgium by the Bourns' , and we have no Doubt that this horse will be a future star.
6 year olds:
Albert (kwpn) is a Burrgraff stallion is owned by Tim Vaughan from Castleconell, Co. Limerick. We were asked to take over the ride on him in August last year and we successfully campaigned him on the Autumn circuit, culminating with a great result when taking the runner up spot in the 5 year old final at Cavan International in November. He is a big powerful stallion and really looks a grand prix type horse.
Millennium Joe is a Cruising gelding out of a Porsche mare and is also owned by Deirdre Bourns, Joe gave some nice performances as a 5 year old and was very consistent in the HSI league. He is looking promising this year and will be mainly aimed at the 6 year old RDS qualifiers and also the HSI classes.
Hannibal van overis Z- This stallion is owned by Martin Walsh from the Shannondale Stud in west Clare. He was bought out of Belgium as a 2 year old. He is new horse to us this year. He was runner up in the Cavan Championships as a 4 year old and showed great potential as a 5 year old. I think this horse is an exceptional athlete and we are very excited about his future. He is looking like a top stallion prospect and a future international star.
Creevagh for Sure is another new horse to the yard .He is owned and bred by Ronnie Hollinger from the Creevagh house stud,Co.Monaghan. This attractive looking stallion is a real scopey jumper with a careful technique and is definitely one to watch.
Newmarket Quin- is mare is owned by Billy Daly from Newmarket Co.Cork. She Bred a foal as a 4 year old so is technically a year behind her age. She is a careful mare with a great attitude and will be an excellent young rider horse. This year she will be campaigned by my brother Frank in the young rider divisions.
7 year olds
Zoltaire, a 7 year old Guidam mare was purchased by the Bourns' as a 5 year old and we took over the ride late last year. She was consistently good at 1.35m level last year and with her scope and ability is looking like a top Grand prix prospect. I have high hopes for her in the 7/8 yo RDS championship this year.
Cuffesgrange Lux good is also owned by Deirdre Bourns of Lisbeg farm. This horse was bred by Ronan Sheehan from Kilkenny and was purchased as 2 year old by the Bourns'. 'Lux Good' was a very successful horse for us last year. He finished 3rd in the 6 year old final at he RDS and was the runner up in the HSI 6/7yo league. Due to his consistency he was consequently selected to represent Ireland at the world young horse championships Lanaken ,Belgium. He has a super technique and is very careful and I have high hopes for him in the 6/7 year old divisions this year. He will be mainly aimed at the 7/8 championship at the RDS and also the HSI classes.
Creevagh Delima (owned and bred by Ronnie Hollinger) is a full brother to 'Creevagh for sure' This is a horse Ronnie thinks alot off and he is hopeful about his future.He was highly regarded as a young horse when coming 2nd in the RDS loose jumping final and has been slowly produced since then.He is a bit behind as regards experience so will again be brought on slowly this year at 1.20/1.30 level.
8 year olds
Creevagh Ferros Diamond (owned by Ronnie Hollinger) is also by the stallion Creevagh Ferro ,who Ronnie himself stands at his Creevagh house stud in Co.Monaghan. He is a very easy horse who has currently jumped at 1.30 level and will step up to mini GP level this year.
Grand Prix Horses
Camiro de Haar Z is a stallion is owned by Ronnie Hollinger and was previously campaigned by Paul O Shea. He showed extreme ability last year when winning the six bar competition at the CSIO 5* RDS horse show last year. He s a new horse to us and will this year be aimed at the National and premier league.
Fabienne is a horse we own ourselves. We have had great success with her in the past at national and international level. She will be lightly campaigned this year.
Training
I first trained with Paul O Shea for a short period in 2007. This is where I first got a taste of true professionalism . Paul is extremely dedicated and I have alot of respect for him. He is an out and out professional and his attention to detail is second to none. He has been very helpful to me over the last few years.
After a successful competition in 2008 I then spent a period of time in the winter training with Belgium’s Phillipe Le Juene (World Champion 2010) . Phillipe is one of the all time great horsemen and it was great to train with him and learn his methods.
I then went to Cian O Connors yard for a short period. Cian has a excellent facility at Karlswood and I really enjoyed my time there. Cian is very professional at what he does and for me has the sharpest business head on the circuit. He is constantly networking himself and his business. He is excellent at sourcing horses and always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else. I am very admirable of Cian, I find him very approachable and he has been very helpful to me over the last couple of years.
For 2009 I spent the year time training with William and Pippa Funnell in Great Britain. I learned alot from my time at the Funnells' . I learned about the whole business, buying, selling and producing horses at all levels. William and Pippa are two highly regarded names in the horse world and my time spent there was an invaluable experience to me.
Goals 2011
With such a strong team of young horses this year my main goals will be the young horse classes, mainly concentrating on the RDS and young horse championships.
We are also working on trying to source more GP horses for the future.
Main Achievements to date