Trail riding leads to trail blazing for Nicky Galligan at WEF
Ireland’s Nicky Galligan’s first full season at the Winter Equestrian Festival was crowned today with his best win to date at Wellington International in the $62,500 FEI 2* Grand Prix aboard VDL Nikita Van De Leeuwerk.
Earlier in the day, he was out trail riding – something that ranks highly in his training program. “One of the benefits of being here in Wellington is having so many bridle paths and canals to ride on,” Nicky, 33, said. “So we do a lot of cross training and spend very little time in the arena on the sand. We do a lot of trotting and canter work along the canals for conditioning and for stimulating the brain.”
It was a year ago that Nicky’s partnership with the 11-year old Belgian Warmblood mare began and this afternoon in the International Ring, the investment of time and training paid off. “I just felt that my horse gave me every centimeter that I asked for,” Nicky said. “And regardless of where I finished or what happened I could not have been prouder of how much she’s learned over the season. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings as a rider when your horse understands what you are asking of them.”
Nicky’s sister Gemma was in Wellington to witness the victory having flown in from County Meath, Ireland to see her brother – 16 months her senior – fulfill a childhood dream. “Getting him to see his little boy dream he had growing up and actually getting to see him do it over here – it’s surreal and exciting,” she said. “I was nervous, but I had a good feeling today.”
Gemma was just one of a small entourage of spectators that had come to cheer him on including his client Stella Buckingham and her mother Kristen Buckingham – owner of the horse. Sophie Dewaal, also a client, was among the cheering squad.
“We were so excited,” Sophie said. “It’s a big family over [at Guardian Stables]. It’s really exciting because I see how hard he works and he has such a sense of the horses in the true horsemanship sense.”
Nicky was appreciative of the support. ”Without the team, you can’t do this,” he said. “It takes a village. I can’t say enough thanks to the Buckingham family for their support in producing and developing this horse and I am so thankful for the opportunity that they have provided me with.”
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