Empathy for the horses he rode and an abiding admiration for the sport that has invigorated his life are the two most important impressions I took away from a lengthy chat with army showjumping legend Comdt. John Ledingham.
In between Zoom calls to the RDS Dublin Horse Show working group, we spoke of how it all began, his most exhilarating moments but most of all about the wonderful Irish horses that made it all happen.
As a youngster, John was lucky to have the great Dutch coach and trainer Anthony Paalman as a near neighbour across the Waterford-Cork border in Youghal.
“I went to Anthony with my pony Peter Gun and to have that opportunity of being exposed to someone of his ability was huge,” John remembers.
[...] this was the spark that lit my ambition to someday be a part of that
By age 11 the training truly paid off when John won the 13.2hh championship at Dublin with Bright Butterfly. But even more than that, on the Friday of that same week, he found a perch for himself in a tree near the Main Arena pocket to get his first experience of an Aga Khan Nations Cup.
“That was something – the pageantry, the colour, the bands, the whole package; this was the spark that lit my ambition to someday be a part of that.”
Comdt. John Ledingham and Kilbaha coming down the Hickstead bank before victory in 1995
Later meetings with Aga Khan riders Billy Ringrose and Ned Campion showed him a path – the Army Equitation School. At Cork Summer Show he introduced himself to Ned who pointed out the route: “I had to start knuckling down to getting the grades that would get me into college and on to the Cadet School.”
The spark of ambition became the fire of reality when he became part of the army team at McKee Barracks in 1977.
Early horses
With a gleam in his eye, John recalls his first national Grand Prix win on the experienced Lough Sheelin at Mount Armstrong indoor in Kildare.
“That was my first exposure to a horse of that ability. When we went in and the bell rang he changed from a horse to a real competitor. It was like turning on a switch and that day was a real eye-opener to me.
“The first stage in a jumping career is dependent on having access to horses that allow you to believe in the power and the magic of the sport and trust in the ability of the horse. Without that exposure the next step is not possible,” John said.
That next step was his first international, a trip with Mullacrew and Sliabhnamban in 1980, “When I walked the opening speed track at Lucerne (Switzerland) it was bigger than any Grand Prix I had jumped so far.”
I remember thinking at the time this opportunity might not come again
John’s longing to be part of an Aga Khan team was finally realised later that year. With Loughcrew he joined Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh and James Kernan on his first home Nations Cup at the RDS.
“I remember thinking at the time this opportunity might not come again. While you have a terrific team of people helping you outside the ring, when the bell goes you are on your own. I had to grab it with both hands and deliver, because I could be out of a job the next day.”
But he survived and on a superb horse called Gabhran he was on his first winning Aga Khan team in 1984.
Comdt. John Ledingham and Galway Bay Liath at an event in 2016 celebrating the establishment of the Army Equitation School with members of the RDS and the Defence Forces \ Orla Murray
“Gabhran had been bought from Eddie Macken three years earlier at the Dublin Indoor International and he was the real deal. He carried me on three Aga Khan winning teams in 1984, 1987 and 1990. He won the 1984 Hickstead Derby, the Millstreet and the Einhoven Derbys, had wins in Calgary and was National Champion.”
In the meantime, John had Kilcoltrim who won the Dublin Puissance four years in a row plus taking the same class at Rome, Aachen and Donaueschingen.
“Amidst the excitement it was great to go in knowing you had a chance of winning. Kilcoltrim created a new RDS record at 7ft 6in in 1984. He has a very special place in my heart,” John said.
“Having enough ability and experience to make the right decisions along the way in terms of getting the horses you need is so important – to assess their talent and then not burn them up and destroy them. I suppose you call that horsemanship.”
All of that came into play when the army bought Kilbaha and Castlepollard in 1989.
“They were both bought the same day at my local show and that is quite nice,” John recalls.
Nice indeed! Because these two talented mounts created the climax of John’s 30-year career. Castlepollard was a speed champion and was a three-time winner of the Hickstead Speed Derby.
On four occasions in the Dublin Grand Prix only split seconds separated him from a win
He and Kilbaha had nine seasons together and here is what John had to say of him at his official retirement at the RDS Dublin Horse Show in 1998: “He partnered me on 32 Nation Cup teams including winning Aga Khan sides in 1995 and 1997. We won two Hickstead Derbys. On four occasions in the Dublin Grand Prix only split seconds separated him from a win. His clean jump and willingness brought honour to Ireland and the sport of show jumping.”
Olympic experience
John was selected for four Olympics but through ill luck he only made it to one. The Government pulled out of Moscow; Loughcrew was withdrawn from Los Angeles with colic and Kilbaha had to be taken off the plane for Atlanta when he showed a temperature. But he made it to Seoul with Kilcoltrim in 1988.
“It was just fabulous to be part of such a massive international event – the opening ceremony, sharing the Olympic Village with world stars, it is just impossible to explain how special it was.”
With no new superstar horse in sight, John retired in 1999. Of that he says: “It is like when you come out of the ring and think ‘OK, I prepared and did my best, what is next?’”
The energy he used competing has been poured into his family with Alison and to coaching others to enter the ring.
Empathy for the horses he rode and an abiding admiration for the sport that has invigorated his life are the two most important impressions I took away from a lengthy chat with army showjumping legend Comdt. John Ledingham.
In between Zoom calls to the RDS Dublin Horse Show working group, we spoke of how it all began, his most exhilarating moments but most of all about the wonderful Irish horses that made it all happen.
As a youngster, John was lucky to have the great Dutch coach and trainer Anthony Paalman as a near neighbour across the Waterford-Cork border in Youghal.
“I went to Anthony with my pony Peter Gun and to have that opportunity of being exposed to someone of his ability was huge,” John remembers.
[...] this was the spark that lit my ambition to someday be a part of that
By age 11 the training truly paid off when John won the 13.2hh championship at Dublin with Bright Butterfly. But even more than that, on the Friday of that same week, he found a perch for himself in a tree near the Main Arena pocket to get his first experience of an Aga Khan Nations Cup.
“That was something – the pageantry, the colour, the bands, the whole package; this was the spark that lit my ambition to someday be a part of that.”
Comdt. John Ledingham and Kilbaha coming down the Hickstead bank before victory in 1995
Later meetings with Aga Khan riders Billy Ringrose and Ned Campion showed him a path – the Army Equitation School. At Cork Summer Show he introduced himself to Ned who pointed out the route: “I had to start knuckling down to getting the grades that would get me into college and on to the Cadet School.”
The spark of ambition became the fire of reality when he became part of the army team at McKee Barracks in 1977.
Early horses
With a gleam in his eye, John recalls his first national Grand Prix win on the experienced Lough Sheelin at Mount Armstrong indoor in Kildare.
“That was my first exposure to a horse of that ability. When we went in and the bell rang he changed from a horse to a real competitor. It was like turning on a switch and that day was a real eye-opener to me.
“The first stage in a jumping career is dependent on having access to horses that allow you to believe in the power and the magic of the sport and trust in the ability of the horse. Without that exposure the next step is not possible,” John said.
That next step was his first international, a trip with Mullacrew and Sliabhnamban in 1980, “When I walked the opening speed track at Lucerne (Switzerland) it was bigger than any Grand Prix I had jumped so far.”
I remember thinking at the time this opportunity might not come again
John’s longing to be part of an Aga Khan team was finally realised later that year. With Loughcrew he joined Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh and James Kernan on his first home Nations Cup at the RDS.
“I remember thinking at the time this opportunity might not come again. While you have a terrific team of people helping you outside the ring, when the bell goes you are on your own. I had to grab it with both hands and deliver, because I could be out of a job the next day.”
But he survived and on a superb horse called Gabhran he was on his first winning Aga Khan team in 1984.
Comdt. John Ledingham and Galway Bay Liath at an event in 2016 celebrating the establishment of the Army Equitation School with members of the RDS and the Defence Forces \ Orla Murray
“Gabhran had been bought from Eddie Macken three years earlier at the Dublin Indoor International and he was the real deal. He carried me on three Aga Khan winning teams in 1984, 1987 and 1990. He won the 1984 Hickstead Derby, the Millstreet and the Einhoven Derbys, had wins in Calgary and was National Champion.”
In the meantime, John had Kilcoltrim who won the Dublin Puissance four years in a row plus taking the same class at Rome, Aachen and Donaueschingen.
“Amidst the excitement it was great to go in knowing you had a chance of winning. Kilcoltrim created a new RDS record at 7ft 6in in 1984. He has a very special place in my heart,” John said.
“Having enough ability and experience to make the right decisions along the way in terms of getting the horses you need is so important – to assess their talent and then not burn them up and destroy them. I suppose you call that horsemanship.”
All of that came into play when the army bought Kilbaha and Castlepollard in 1989.
“They were both bought the same day at my local show and that is quite nice,” John recalls.
Nice indeed! Because these two talented mounts created the climax of John’s 30-year career. Castlepollard was a speed champion and was a three-time winner of the Hickstead Speed Derby.
On four occasions in the Dublin Grand Prix only split seconds separated him from a win
He and Kilbaha had nine seasons together and here is what John had to say of him at his official retirement at the RDS Dublin Horse Show in 1998: “He partnered me on 32 Nation Cup teams including winning Aga Khan sides in 1995 and 1997. We won two Hickstead Derbys. On four occasions in the Dublin Grand Prix only split seconds separated him from a win. His clean jump and willingness brought honour to Ireland and the sport of show jumping.”
Olympic experience
John was selected for four Olympics but through ill luck he only made it to one. The Government pulled out of Moscow; Loughcrew was withdrawn from Los Angeles with colic and Kilbaha had to be taken off the plane for Atlanta when he showed a temperature. But he made it to Seoul with Kilcoltrim in 1988.
“It was just fabulous to be part of such a massive international event – the opening ceremony, sharing the Olympic Village with world stars, it is just impossible to explain how special it was.”
With no new superstar horse in sight, John retired in 1999. Of that he says: “It is like when you come out of the ring and think ‘OK, I prepared and did my best, what is next?’”
The energy he used competing has been poured into his family with Alison and to coaching others to enter the ring.
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