Jessica Harrington is one of Irish sport’s most recognisable faces, one of the racing world’s greatest trainers and a former Irish international three-day event rider. She has scaled the heights to reach the summits of both flat and National Hunt racing, adept at training Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot winners she accept that injury is an unfortunate fact of life, both human and equine.
The 73-year-old is putting her personal experience to good use, teaming up with the Cappagh Hospital Foundation and the National Dairy Council (NDC) as an ambassador for bone health and to raise awareness of World Osteoporosis Day, which is Tuesday 20 October.
“I have been very conscious of bone health and aware of the importance of taking care of my bones for a long time, especially as I have had a lot of broken bones, so when they approached me and asked me to come on board I was delighted to do it,” says Jessica, who runs Jessica Harrington Racing with her daughters Kate and Emma and son-in-law Richie Galway.
The message that Jessica really wants to emphasise is how vital it is for younger people to consider the impact of their lifestyle and dietary habits on their bones, instead of thinking that osteoporosis is only something that affects older people.
Osteoporosis affects approximately 300,000 Irish people and although women over the age of 50 are disproportionately represented in that group (one in two over that age developing a fracture because of osteoporosis), the truth is that the disease can strike any person at any age.
Cooking
One of the most important ways of helping to ensure that bones remain strong and healthy is to have a balanced diet. Jessica usually begins her day with granola and yoghurt, providing a source of healthy dairy food at the start of her day.
Naturally as an athlete, and with equine nutrition a vital component of a racehorse’s success, healthy eating is very important to her.
One of the most-recognised horse trainers and former rider Jessica Harrington encourages a healthy lifestyle to avoid ill bone health.\ Healy Racing
“I like my meat and two veg and I think if you eat healthily, and you eat fresh vegetables, that it’s really important. I’m not keen on processed foods, and I enjoy cooking my own food,” she remarks.
Cooking is huge part of her life, making sure to cook every day and she enjoys nothing more than having friends and family around to her Commonstown Stud outside Moone in Co Kildare for a meal.
Exercise
Of course a balanced diet is a great foundation for healthy bones but the musculoskeletal system benefits from a combination of strengthening and aerobic exercises.
With the restrictions around exercise classes and sport under Level 3 of the Government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19, the simplest and easiest form of exercise, walking, remains available to all. It’s an activity that Jessica adopted during lockdown earlier this year, and one that has become an integral part of her daily routine.
“I used to go to the gym weekly but when lockdown came I stopped doing that and started walking,” explains Jessica.
\ Healy Racing.
“I am very lucky that I can do a circuit of around 5km every day around the gallops that includes a steep hill, I enjoy doing it and it has been very beneficial as I wouldn’t have the greatest of knees but walking seems to have made a difference to them. It has to be a good brisk walk, there is no use ambling you want to walk at a good brisk rate to get the heart rate up and when you hit the hill keep walking, don’t stop.”
Despite making the Irish team for the 1984 Olympics, she was unfortunately forced to withdraw just days before the competition when her horse was injured. Jessica, however, still battles with the temptation to skip exercise, like many people, especially as the winter nights draw in.
“Now I have to keep it going all through the winter! I’ll have to do it earlier in the day, so I won’t end up walking in the dark,” she smiles.
\ Healy Racing.
“It’s rather like getting up in the morning, you dread it but once you’re up, you’re great. It’s the same thing with exercise, when you look out and it’s wet and cold and going to be dark soon and you think I’ll stay inside, but if you just get out there and walk 50 yards it’s fine. So it’s just getting yourself outside first and after that you forget why it was so difficult to make yourself go outside in the first place.”
Conscious effort
As a mother and grandmother, she is very conscious of how important it is to take care of your bone health when you are young, and it is a message that she shares with her family and wants to emphasise as part of her ambassadorial role.
“It’s important to be aware that osteoporosis takes time to develop and you need to prevent it rather than waiting for it to happen and then try to do something about it. Be conscious of it and make sure that you take every precaution when you’re young.”
Jessica Harington is an ambassador for the Mind your Bones campaign, to raise awareness of Osteoporosis in Ireland,
for more information please visit
www.mindyourbones.ie
Jessica Harrington is one of Irish sport’s most recognisable faces, one of the racing world’s greatest trainers and a former Irish international three-day event rider. She has scaled the heights to reach the summits of both flat and National Hunt racing, adept at training Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot winners she accept that injury is an unfortunate fact of life, both human and equine.
The 73-year-old is putting her personal experience to good use, teaming up with the Cappagh Hospital Foundation and the National Dairy Council (NDC) as an ambassador for bone health and to raise awareness of World Osteoporosis Day, which is Tuesday 20 October.
“I have been very conscious of bone health and aware of the importance of taking care of my bones for a long time, especially as I have had a lot of broken bones, so when they approached me and asked me to come on board I was delighted to do it,” says Jessica, who runs Jessica Harrington Racing with her daughters Kate and Emma and son-in-law Richie Galway.
The message that Jessica really wants to emphasise is how vital it is for younger people to consider the impact of their lifestyle and dietary habits on their bones, instead of thinking that osteoporosis is only something that affects older people.
Osteoporosis affects approximately 300,000 Irish people and although women over the age of 50 are disproportionately represented in that group (one in two over that age developing a fracture because of osteoporosis), the truth is that the disease can strike any person at any age.
Cooking
One of the most important ways of helping to ensure that bones remain strong and healthy is to have a balanced diet. Jessica usually begins her day with granola and yoghurt, providing a source of healthy dairy food at the start of her day.
Naturally as an athlete, and with equine nutrition a vital component of a racehorse’s success, healthy eating is very important to her.
One of the most-recognised horse trainers and former rider Jessica Harrington encourages a healthy lifestyle to avoid ill bone health.\ Healy Racing
“I like my meat and two veg and I think if you eat healthily, and you eat fresh vegetables, that it’s really important. I’m not keen on processed foods, and I enjoy cooking my own food,” she remarks.
Cooking is huge part of her life, making sure to cook every day and she enjoys nothing more than having friends and family around to her Commonstown Stud outside Moone in Co Kildare for a meal.
Exercise
Of course a balanced diet is a great foundation for healthy bones but the musculoskeletal system benefits from a combination of strengthening and aerobic exercises.
With the restrictions around exercise classes and sport under Level 3 of the Government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19, the simplest and easiest form of exercise, walking, remains available to all. It’s an activity that Jessica adopted during lockdown earlier this year, and one that has become an integral part of her daily routine.
“I used to go to the gym weekly but when lockdown came I stopped doing that and started walking,” explains Jessica.
\ Healy Racing.
“I am very lucky that I can do a circuit of around 5km every day around the gallops that includes a steep hill, I enjoy doing it and it has been very beneficial as I wouldn’t have the greatest of knees but walking seems to have made a difference to them. It has to be a good brisk walk, there is no use ambling you want to walk at a good brisk rate to get the heart rate up and when you hit the hill keep walking, don’t stop.”
Despite making the Irish team for the 1984 Olympics, she was unfortunately forced to withdraw just days before the competition when her horse was injured. Jessica, however, still battles with the temptation to skip exercise, like many people, especially as the winter nights draw in.
“Now I have to keep it going all through the winter! I’ll have to do it earlier in the day, so I won’t end up walking in the dark,” she smiles.
\ Healy Racing.
“It’s rather like getting up in the morning, you dread it but once you’re up, you’re great. It’s the same thing with exercise, when you look out and it’s wet and cold and going to be dark soon and you think I’ll stay inside, but if you just get out there and walk 50 yards it’s fine. So it’s just getting yourself outside first and after that you forget why it was so difficult to make yourself go outside in the first place.”
Conscious effort
As a mother and grandmother, she is very conscious of how important it is to take care of your bone health when you are young, and it is a message that she shares with her family and wants to emphasise as part of her ambassadorial role.
“It’s important to be aware that osteoporosis takes time to develop and you need to prevent it rather than waiting for it to happen and then try to do something about it. Be conscious of it and make sure that you take every precaution when you’re young.”
Jessica Harington is an ambassador for the Mind your Bones campaign, to raise awareness of Osteoporosis in Ireland,
for more information please visit
www.mindyourbones.ie
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