Doing what he loves best.  Jack Murphy competing with the Irish Sport Horse Gough in a combined driving event at the 2011 Crows Nest Show.  Photo Courtesy Heavy Thunder Down Under.

2/09/2011…Hi Everyone and Welcome to a particularly inspiring blog.  At a recent horse show we came across a very talented junior whom shows horses in harness.  It just goes to show that showing in harness is…

A Great Horse Sport For All Ages

Horses came into the life of Jack Murphy when he was a young boy.  The Murphy family had horses for many years so horses were always, “just there” as Jack was growing up!  But something in the horse driving world caught Jack’s attention…Combined driving events.

 And we might mention it is only over the last 3 years Jack has been interested in and has begun driving horses.   Combined driving events are quickly becoming Jack’s passion as the events are fast, fun and fantastic for people who like to think on their feet…Or in their seat as it were.  And as it turns out, it’s the only sport Jack could find where he could sit down! 

Combined driving events in particular caught his attention as driving their horses was something the Murphy family had always wanted to do.  It  is a great horse sport for all ages. Horse driving is now a disciplined event and one recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale otherwise known as the FEI or the Inernational Equestrian Federation.

 
Many horse shows in the western world now caters for horse driving events. The type of horse show will dictate the type of event, the horses and carriages shown or used.  And there are many different types of horse drawn vehicles in today’s modern horse world. 

The particularly popular combined driving events are a fiercely competitive sport and tests a competitors all round driving ability.  Competition has grown to such an extent events like the Combined Driving World Championships are conducted two yearly whilst the World Equestrian Games are held every 4 years to cater for them.

So learning to drive horses is a skill borne out of practice and patience. And as part of his horse driving experiences, 16 year old Jack is starting to learn not only to drive horses, but to break horses into harness. Jack has two horses he is currently focusing on.  They are two Irish Sport Horses.  A 6 year old Thoroughbred x Irish Draught horse gelding affectionately known as Gough who was broken in two years ago.  Gough is now 6 years old. 

Jack also drives an 11 year old grey mare, Iris, whom has similar breeding and is a supremely quiet mare.  She has been classified as an Irish Draught Horse Stud Book mare and is perfect for any beginning person interested in carriage driving. 

But Jack is a young man with aspirations and he has his sights on driving internationally. And if we don’t miss our guess, one of these ambitions maybe to one day drive horses in either the Combined Driving World Championships or the World Equestrian Games.  These are world class championships that focus on eight amazing horse or equestrian sports…And they are not beyond his reach.

As we all know our young people are our future whether it be in the horse industry or in other areas of life.  And  Jack  has ambitions which are really exciting for both Jack, his family and for Australia.

Jack is currently a student in year 11 at Pittsworth High School in South East Queensland and plans to go to University, but he has still managed to notch up some major carriage driving wins.  These wins include Champion Junior at the 2011 National Carriage Driving championships at Bunndanoon here in Queensland. 

Maybe the great Australian dream is not necessarily just about owning your own home anymore.   But about going that one step further…Maybe it’s about rising to the bigger challenges in life? 

What an awesome thought and one not beyond young people like Jack Murphy whom loves to drive horses.  An interest that started because the horses were, “always there” and the Murphy family just wanted to give horse driving a go.  And why, may we ask, not?  As horse driving is definitely a great horse sport for all ages. 

Heavy Thunder Down Under would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck Jack with your horse driving ambitions.  For other inspiring harness stories  please go to  http://heavythunder.com/

Driving horses in harness is certainly another avenue for you and your horse.  And as you'll all see people on many levels can and do enjoy this particular equine pursuit.

Well that’s it for today and  thank you for joining us…See you all next time.

Cheers

Paul and Jann