Eventer Michael Ryan tells H&H about the horse who gave 100% but won’t be caught.
Fact file
Stable name: Sir
Age: 18
Height: 17.1hh
Breed: Irish sport horse
Sire: Puissance
Dam: Fairy Fort
Discipline: eventing
Owner: John Butler
Groom: Marion Donegan (Michael’s sister-in-law)
Best results: runner-up in two World Cup qualifiers (Ballindenisk in 2007 and Tattersalls in 2009)
Five things you didn’t know…
- His ears must be washed with warm water; he doesn’t like cold.
- He hates pigs. Ballindenisk used to have a black pot-bellied pig roaming free, which terrified Old Road.
- He has competed at three Badmintons, three European Championships and a World Equestrian Games.
- He didn’t start eventing until he was seven and moved up to three-star within 18 months.
- Michael has not been able to catch him for the past three years, but he does allow the groom to bring him in.
To read the full interview with Michael Ryan about Old Road see 28 June issue of H&H
Do you want to read all the latest eventing news?
Are you looking to buy an eventer? View our online database of horses for sale
