Julie Donaghy Simpson
Email: juliedonaghy79@gmail.com
Tel: +44 (0)7508 938236
Address: Lios na Gror, Banbridge, Co Down.
From a showing and bloodstock background, Julie’s father produced and showed young horses in hand with great success. Many a day was spent in the ring with him judging and trying to learn as much as she could about conformation and what to look for in a young horse.
Her first horse coming off ponies was an ex-racer “to me he was just a good jumping horse”, and back then there were no established classes for the ex-racer.
She enjoys training and schooling all types of horses and ponies but her passion lies with the thoroughbreds.
She has owned, ridden and competed many ex-racehorses over the years, but the most successful to date was Shawstown (sold just last year). He won the All Ireland Novice RHRH championship final in Iverk in his first year out in 2018. He the won the Open class and went Champion at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan in 2019, qualifying for Dublin. He then proceeded to win the prestigious Down Royal Corporation League Championship in 2019 as well amongst many other wins and championships. What he lacked in racing ability was far outweighed by his ability to turn the judges’ heads in the show ring in ex-racehorse classes and as a riding horse.
“I enjoy competing regularly in showing, working hunter and show jumping. I ride various other breeds including Connemara ponies, Draughts and half-bred horses. I thoroughly enjoy watching the horses I have trained progress in their various careers either with me or their owners. I’m lucky to have my own training facilities at home where the horses gain a great education.”