At just 10 years of age, Jason Foley is rapidly making an impression as a name for the future of Irish showjumping.
From Ballyloughan in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Jason comes from a strong family tradition of hunting and hunter trialling, and alongside his brother Jack (12 ) won several trophies as a hunter trial pair.
He took up showjumping in 2008 and has quickly succeeded in rising to the top, with 2011 proving to be another year of continued success in the 128cm pony category.
Despite starting the year off injured after a kick from a horse in September 2010 that broke his leg in two places, undeterred. Jason was back in the saddle by February.
He quickly won a place on the under-10 Irish pony team at the Home Pony International in Cavan in July and helped the team to win a gold medal for Ireland.
He then went on to win the under-10 National Pony Championship title in Barnadown on pony Sparkle and qualified for and competed in the Royal Dublin Horseshow 2011 on Sparkle in the 128cm category.
His winning form continued when he won the 128cm Leinster League Final on Flying Star in Boswell in August and at the recent Pony Owners three day show in Millstreet he took first and second in a number of the 90cm and 128cm classes.
On the final day of that show he won the 128cm Grand Prix on Sparkle and also came second on Flying Star, ensuring that he won the Leading Boy Pony Rider award.
With two more years left in the 128cm category, Jason will be hoping to add to his vast collection of trophies and rosettes, and that begins at the last big pony show of 2011 in Cavan next weekend.
