Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Billy Twomey
Leading showjumper Billy Twomey, is well known for his natural talent, determined riding and many success' on the world's competition circuit. With a top class string of horses, Billy has worked extremely hard to follow his ambition to compete amongst the best on a global scale.
Getting to know Billy Twomey
Without doubt Billy Twomey has experienced the highs and lows that competing at top-level showjumping can throw at you.
Riding for Ireland he is currently ranked as one of the best show jumpers in the country and ranks highly in the prestigious Longines World Ranking league.
Based in Gonalston near Nottingham, Billy works hard juggling a top show jumping career and busy family life.
Billy took up riding in Cork, Ireland, and began competing age six, a natural progression with his parents heavily involved in the sport.
His mother Jill and his aunt ran a riding school near Cork while his uncle Kelvin Hitchmough was a leading National Hunt trainer, with an Irish Grand National winner to his name.
His aunt Avril was a well-known showjumping trainer, and his grandmother officiated on the appeals committee for major shows.
Working as Michael Whitaker's stable jockey in his youth proved a key opportunity to learn and since then, Billy has gone from strength to strength in his chosen sport.
Tell us about the horses on the yard?
I currently have a very strong string of horses headed up by World Class stars such as Tinka's Serenade, Royale Du Rouet, Diaghilev, Codarco and Ardcolumn Duke. These are backed up by some super younger horses such as Codarco, Arkol and Animore Luis. He also has his super star stallions Luidam and Je T'aime Flamenco standing at stud.
What is your daily routine?
We only have 15 stables at the yard as I like to focus on the horses rather than have large numbers of them.
Beth Vernon rides the horses that are not competing at the top level or are having a break from the major league shows.
I normally take the children to school every morning before I start riding as it's my best opportunity to spend some quality time with them, I also like to collect them from school, time permitting, and then ride between 9am and 3.30pm.
As you might know, I have suffered well documented back injuries, so the work routine always includes personal fitness to ensure I am in peak fitness as well as the horses.
What do you do to make sure your horses are in good health as well?
I like to ensure I have explored every avenue so that my horses can perform to their best on every occasion.
My horses travel all around the world by plane and lorry and quite often the air quality is not best suited to them.
We have used Flexineb on all the horses to ensure their airways are clear after long journeys and they are feeling at their best after periods of travel.
The Flexineb is a silent, portable equine nebuliser that produces a very fine aerosolised mist for fast solution administration.
Great results are being achieved using Flexineb as a preventative measure on horses that are doing a lot of travelling, which creates an unnatural way of standing for long periods of time. Flexineb helps to maintain clean airways.
It is robust yet flexible, lightweight and comfortable so well tolerated. The Flexineb is easy to use and can be used anywhere as it is rechargeable battery powered.
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