Ireland's top rider Darragh Kenny was introduces to the horse world from a very young age. His parents were both trainers in the sport and supported Darragh in his ambitions to make it in the horse world. The past few years he has really made himself heard on the highest international level of our sport. Last year was also a good year for the Irish rider. Despite the corona pandemic, he had several successes. However, the lockdowns of 2021 put him on a new strategy to make 2022 another successful year. "By riding fewer competitions, you stay more focused," said Darragh Kenny.
"My goal for 2022 is to claim my spot back in the top ten of the FEI world ranking. In addition, the World Championships in Herning are also on the agenda", Kenny continued. Those are the two big goals he has set himself for this new year. Surprisingly, his approach is to take it easy. "I want to choose more competitions in 2022 that I really feel like going to. I don't want to 'have to' go to competitions anymore. That's no fun for my horses or for me anymore. We limit the shows so we can ride in the ring as a fresh and happy team", says Darragh Kenny.
If I don't have to, I won't be competing every weekend.
So unlike most riders who can be found on the competition grounds every weekend, Darragh Kenny wants to do things completely differently in 2022, and he has his reasons. "By giving my horses a break last summer and thus staying at home, I've come to realize that the fewer competitions I ride, the better my horses feel and the more focused I am myself in the saddle. Needless to say, sometimes there is no other choice but to go to a few extra competitions. But if I don't have to, I will also definitely won't be competing every weekend in 2022," the rider explains.
"When I look back at 2021, there are two big highlights in my career that will not be matched anytime soon," he continues. "First of all, the Olympics with VDL Cartello was a real dream for me. That was an experience i am incredibly grateful for. In Monaco, my victory in the LGCT Grand Prix also blew me away. Idaville d'Esprit jumped fantastic in Monaco and gave me one of the rounds of a lifetime!"
Horsemanship is not about going to competitions every week but getting to know your horse is.
To sum up, the future looks bright for Darragh. With some new horses on the horizon, he is especially looking forward to taking the time to get to know them better. "The thing I'm most looking forward to in 2022 is building a bond with my new team of horses. Instead of showing every week, doing some gentle training at home and getting to know your horse, that's what 'horsemanship' is all about for me. That will also be my main point of focus in 2022", Darragh concludes.
Source: Equnews