I have unashamedly stretched the definition of ‘Horsewomen of Ireland’ with the excuse that Louisa Carberry is married to Irishman and champion jockey Philip Carberry. It’s not because I want to feature her under her husband’s banner, but because she is worth stretching the rules for. Few people have achieved so much in jumps racing as her and she has only been in the business of National Hunt for seven years.

She has already trained one of the greatest French horses in living memory, Docteur De Ballon, who this summer won a second Grand Steeple Chase de Paris to add to his victory in the Prix de la Haye Jousselin (think two Gold Cups and a King George). Carberry was the first foreign female trainer to win the ‘Grand Steeple’ and Docteur De Ballon became only the 10th double winner of the €820,000 French Gold Cup.

Helen Sharp (HS): What would you tell your daughter Sophie if she wanted to train racehorses?

Louisa Carberry (LC): I’d probably tell her what my mother said: “You’re a complete idiot! It’s a one-way ticket to bankruptcy!”

But if that is what she was really passionate about, I believe in always giving things a try. I don’t think you’ll regret giving things a go and it not working out, whereas you can look back and wish you had given something a shot. So I’d probably support her and hope that she kept her head above water.

But it’s a tough road; if she could find a good job, with a nice wage and regular hours, and keep horses as her passion, that’s possibly the easier route.

Louisa Carberry was the first foreign female to win the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris /Carberry Racing

HS: You are both from families of great horse people; Philip’s family are Irish equestrian royalty, and he won the Grand Steeple Chase De Paris as a jockey twice. You rode at top-level eventing before the switch to racing, and your grandmother trained flat horses. What are the realities of working with Philip every day as your assistant?

LC: I think we both bring a lot to the table, and I think we both respect that. I don’t think one has a heavier weight than that in those terms. I have a huge amount of respect for him and his family’s horsemanship and all the history that they have between them. A huge amount of that helps build towards every horse we have walking through the door. I have a broad background, but he has a specific race-riding background, and he can see a lot from a jockey’s perspective that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to see. I can read races and understand races and train racehorses, but it’s invaluable to have that jockey’s perspective of a race.

HS: If you could train any living racehorse, who would it be? Or alternatively who was the greatest jump horse of all time?

LC: I’m going to answer both questions because I’m such a horse geek! A horse I love, with so much athleticism and heart, is Native River. I know he’s in the twilight of his career now, but such an athlete. When you see him walking around a parade ring, he moves like a cat, and when you see him jump, he’s just so fluid.

As for who is the greatest of all time, I was just about born when Desert Orchid was in the middle of his career, but I’ve watched a million videos of him and read his book a million times. He was unbelievable: he could be a champion over two miles, three miles, left-handed, right-handed, soft ground, quick ground, lumping big weights and handicaps, absolute champion. Love him, love his story, and love the people behind him. David Elsworth is a master trainer.

HS: What do you find yourself most thankful for?

LC: I’m thankful for my daughter and for the wonderful horses we have had in training. The clients who have given us the confidence and the trust to train them, I thank my lucky stars every day for them.

I am so thankful for having such a special childhood. I spent most afternoons outside playing with ponies and dogs and hunting every weekend, and getting to know special places in the countryside. Both my parents love animals; animals teach you to respect and responsibility and give you so much joy. I hope that Sophie might grow up and look back on her childhood with similar feelings.

HS: What do you do when you have a day off?

LC: A day off doesn’t happen very often; in fact, never. But today, for example, we don’t have any racing, so while I had to feed and check the horses and exercise anyone who is going to be racing soon, it was essentially a day off.

I’m afraid I’m very selfish! I spend it doing as little as possible! So today, after yards, I read a book in the sunshine and took Sophie out with her pony for a nice long ride and just tried to relax and refill the batteries.

HS: In terms of other trainers, is there someone you admire particularly?

LC: My old boss, Alain de Royer-Dupre is number one for me! His sense of horsemanship, patience with his horses, his absolute love and admiration and respect for his horses was lovely to see and to work for him was a joy. He’s a man of few words; he lets his horses do the talking, but what he does say is worth listening to.

I have always loved the way Sir Michael Stoute campaigns his horses. He lets his horses come together when they are right. He’s so good at keeping his horses going later into their career, which is a sign of happy, healthy horses being brought along with consideration, keeping them sound, a fantastic trainer.

Another interesting trainer is Andre Fabre; he rode the winner of the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris; he then trained the winner four years in a row, with four different horses. Then became one of the best in the world on the flat. He has a slightly similar story to Vincent O’Brien, who did something similar with the Grand National.

HS: Jumps racing is a hard way to spend a life; why have you chosen it as your way of life?

LC: Anytime you choose to dedicate yourself full-time to horses or livestock, it’s very hard. But, for every filthy morning, late night, bad performance or injured animal, those days you have a winner, especially when nice people own them and you can share it with someone, there’s nothing better.

HS: What is the stand-out moment of your career so far?

LC: Easy one! It was Docteur De Ballon winning the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris for a second time. After the first Grand Steeple, people thought it could be a lucky one; but he went on and won a Group 1 after that and the Grand Steeple again. It was extraordinary!

HS: Why are thoroughbreds special?

LC: I saw Montjeu win the King George at Ascot, and he was the first thoroughbred I fell in love with. He was a beautiful mahogany bay with real black points and was unbelievably classy, so quality. I love that. Their brains are fantastic; they are so sharp, it gives them so much heart, so much desire to get up and keep going, and those quick reactions as well, specifically for jumping. That agility and athleticism, coupled with having more heart and lung capacity than any other breed: I think it’s wonderful. They’re affectionate, kind, and they give you so much; they are peoples’ horses as well as racehorses.