One can see a number of striking similarities between rising show jumping star Mikey Pender and a young Eddie Macken. I once had the temerity to ask Eddie how come he did so well. With a shrug he answered, “Sure it just happens.”

When I spoke with Mikey Pender at Balmoral and asked how it began for him, I got a similar reply: “I got some fantastic horses from Marion Hughes and it just happened.”

The two men have the same kind of cautious confidence but there is more to it than that, both have the blessed art of becoming uniquely one with their horse and then indeed “it does just happen”.

The beginning

It began for Mikey at his home place in Castledermot. Co Kildare. “My grandfather was always in horses, mum had a riding school where I had ponies to ride. I played a lot of GAA but it was not possible to combine that with shows at weekends,” says Pender.

“My aim became the horses. I rode ponies for Marion Hughes and it just started from there. When you are working with an Olympian, you get a lot of experience. Her husband Miguel Bravo is also a big help.”

When asked about the results he is most happy with at the moment, he points to his three medals at Lanaken.

“You are competing there against the best in the world. It is not pressure but you feel it is important. You have to have the right horses with you.”

He also notes joy at his result in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Marion’s Can You Maken: “Being placed in a five-star Grand Prix was always one of my dreams. When it happens it is great.”

Goals

At only 19 years old, his big aim for this year is making the Irish team for the European Young Rider Championships. Also, following a hugely successful 2019 tour in Portugal and Spain, young horses will command his attention.

“Hopefully the eight-year-olds will keep progressing so I can go to some of the bigger shows at the end of the year. I really enjoy the young horses and the qualifiers. I have two six-year-olds and an eight-year-old for Dublin this year.”

On his selection for this year’s International Young Rider Academy from among 22 contenders in Manheim, he says: “It is a great opportunity to get three months training with one of the best riders around the world – unbelievable!”

With a team of horses including the likes of HHS Geneva, HHS Fortune, Javas Gucci and his Seville Grand Prix winner HHS Burnchurch, there surely can be more good happenings for Mikey this season.