Rory Gilsenan

Rory Gilsenan is one of the top show producers in the UK and a Sport Horse Breeding (GB) judge. He lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and family. Rory has competed every year for the last 20 years at Horse of the Year Show. Last year he qualified horses for 9 classes at HOYS, with 4 horses in the Working Hunter classes.

Show update  - Here’s an update on some of the shows Rory has competed at, thus far.

The National Hunter Supreme Championship Show - We are so lucky to have this show locally at Addington and it is so well attended and enjoyed by everyone. The Sport Horse Breeding Team work hard to make it an enjoyable show for us. The evening performance is great opportunity to see how your horse will behave indoors and under lights, before Horse of the Year Show. Crack the Code won the Small Working Hunter class and went on to be the Supreme Working Hunter Champion. I’ve won the Small Working Hunter class five times now on several Small Hunters and the course is quite demanding for them. Kenlis Caruso was 3rd in the Working Hunter Grand Prix class and 3rd in the Heavyweight Working Hunter class. River of Thyme was 3rd in the Novice Lightweight Working Hunter class and this was his first hunter show. Lauren Roberts, my step daughter won the Best Turned Out Groom prize, this is the second time she’s won it.

The Irish Draught Blue Chip Championship Show - Cabra West was the Champion Irish Draught and Kenlis Caruso was Reserve Champion. Kenlis Caruso won the Open Working Hunter class and Royal Gem won the Novice Working Hunter class.

Newbury & District Agricultural Society -Kenlis Countryman won the Lightweight Working Hunter class and went on to be the Champion Working Hunter, qualifying for Royal International next year.

Autumn Festival of Showing at Addington Manor -Kenlis Countryman came 2nd in the Lightweight Working Hunter class.

Pre Hoys Hunter Show at Addington - Crack the Code won the Novice Working Hunter class and was Reserve Working Hunter Champion. Kenlis Caruso came 3rd in the Heavyweight Working Hunter class. EquineLife kindly sponsored the Lightweight Working Hunter Class, which was won by Derek Morton on Alan.

 Horse of the Year Show - The atmosphere was electric and we’ve worked hard to make sure that the show horses ride well of the leg and light in the hand for the judges. It’s always difficult at this time of year to make sure their coats look well and shine as the seasons change, FlyAway products made them shine beautifully. All competitors and their horses were turned out immaculately for the most prestigious show. Crack the Code competed in the Small Hunter class, Kenlis Caruso in the Heayweight Hunter class and the Working Hunter class, Kenlis Countryman in the working hunter class and Cabra West in the Heavyweight Hunter class. Cabra West went through to the final judging and was placed 4th in the Heavyweight Hunter class.

Show Horses - Kenlis Caruso and Cabra West have now gone home for the winter. Cabra West will be hunting with the Atherstone and Kenlis Countryman has been turned away for a rest.

We used the FlyAway colour enhancing shampoo, Illuminate for their muzzles and Show Shimmer for their coats at all of the prestigious shows. We were delighted with how well their coats shone under the lights and the highlighter really enhanced their muzzles.

Show Jumping - Now that the showing season has finished, there are some horses in the yard that we will take show jumping.  Crack the Code has had several double clears in the British Novice. Trinity II is a new edition to the yard and has completed some double clears at the New  Comers level. Shortly she’ll be stepping up to the Fox Hunter level.

Rory uses Fly Away and Groom Away products and will continue to do so through 2012.  Keep an eye out for him at the shows.

All the best for the coming year Rory from Team Fly Away.