Incase You Missed It: An Unforgettable Dressage Demo at Gransha Equestrian with Abi Lyle
A couple of weeks ago, Gransha Equestrian hosted an exciting dressage demo led by none other than Irish Olympic rider Abi Lyle. The evening was filled with great energy, insightful training tips, and some truly heartwarming moments that showcased both the incredible horses and their talented riders.
If you couldn't make it, don't worry! We've got you covered with plenty of videos from the event over on our YouTube channel. Check out the links below and dive into all the highlights!
Meet the Riders of the Evening
As we all know, an event like this depends a lot on the horses and riders involved. Courtney Akkari, the event organiser did an incredible job ensuring a diverse range of horses, riders, and levels to ensure the audience got the most out of the evening. Here is a little bit about the riders:
- Bernabeo (Barney) – Courtney introduced her new 4-year-old Westphalian gelding, Barney, who’s already making waves in the young horse and prelim tests. Catch Courtney’s interview here to hear more about this rising star!
- Comanche Arrow – A gorgeous 10-year-old Appaloosa gelding owned by Stan and Cindy Cunningham and ridden by Jaclyn Brackenridge. Arrow’s had a stellar year, including winning the Cat 2 Novice Championship. Jaclyn also events so they are proof of multidisciplinary success! Watch Jaclyn’s interview here.
- Kipper – This 11-year-old New Forest pony, ridden by Lucy Adams, has come a long way since being bought from England at five. Competing at Advanced Medium, Kipper’s heart and talent are truly impressive and you can't but develop a soft spot for this little man! You can catch Lucy’s interview here.
- CLS Bram aka Nelson – Owned by David Freeney and Stephen Byrne, Nelson is a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood who has journeyed from Medium level all the way to Grand Prix. Their journey to get to where they are now has been one of rehabilitation and Nelson's form is an absolute credit to David and the team. Check out David’s interview here.
- Romeo – A 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding ridden by Tara Oliver Donohoe, Romeo has climbed all the way to Grand Prix with Tara. This pair have been working together since Romeo was just three and it has been an inspiring journey so far. Their goals are to continue to campaign at International level! Watch Tara’s interview here.
Abi Lyle’s Tips and Q&A
Abi's demo was packed with useful advice on training, competing, and mental strength—plus plenty of funny stories! Whether she was sharing training insights or talking about her Olympic journey, Abi’s warmth and passion for horses shone through. You can watch the full Q&A session with Abi here or catch her interview about returning from the Paris Olympics.
During the audience Q&A, she fielded questions like “Do you have a typical type of horse you go for?” and “When are you going showjumping?”, giving the crowd lots of laughs and some great takeaways.
A Huge Thanks to The Sponsors
This night wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from the sponsors:
- Leskard Equestrian: Sophie and her team at this new equestrian clothing brand played a key role in making the evening a success. You can learn more about Leskard at leskard.com, or watch Sophie’s interview here.
- Topspec Horse Feed: Shirley from Topspec has been a longtime supporter of events like this, sharing her expertise and passion for equine nutrition. Watch Shirley’s interview here.
- Equikleen: Keeping equine transport spotless! Equikleen provides a top-tier cleaning service for busy equestrians. Learn more by checking out the interview about Equikleen here.
A Chat with Adrienne Stuart of Gransha Equestrian
Adrienne Stuart, the owner of Gransha Equestrian, shared her inspiring journey of building this incredible venue which has now be established for almost 40 years! Fun fact: this is where Abi first learned to ride!
Adrienne is also a huge supporter of the Air Ambulance in Northern Ireland, which does incredible work, especially for the equestrian industry as many of our accidents occur in remote locations and without the air ambulance service, vital treatment would be heavily delayed. You can learn more about their service and how you can support at Air Ambulance NI.
Watch Adrienne’s full interview here to hear more about her story and what’s next for Gransha.
Want Equitas to Cover Your Next Event?
We love to cover events of all sizes so if you wish to have us attend your event, get in touch with our head of Media, Muireann O'Toole Brennan, at Muireann@Equitas.ie, who will happily chat through the ways in which we can work together.
