Conor McGuinness
Conor has worked with horses all his life, cutting his teeth at a young age hunting and pony clubbing and eventually getting his first start at the age of 9 with neighbour, friend and renowned horseman Mickey Flynn who won over 600 races as a jockey including the Irish Grand National. It was here Conor got a serious education in breaking, training, riding and caring for young horses. "Leave no stone un-turned" was a phrase repeated day in and out by his mentor which is a motto Conor carries with him to the present day in his own dealings with young horses. Conor stayed with Mickey until finishing secondary school taking every opportunity to ride for numerous sports horse yards along the way.
After leaving secondary school Conor enrolled in an Equine Business Degree Course at Maynooth University where he graduated with a first class honours Bachelor of Business Studies. During his 4 years at University, Conor worked and rode as an amateur jockey for racehorse trainer Tom Taaffe, riding horses such as Finger On The Pulse (Galway Plate & Cheltenham winner), Ninetieth Minute (Cheltenham) and the prolific Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King. As an amateur jockey, Conor rode a number of winners on the point to point scene in Ireland along with riding in many bumpers and hunter chases on the track. Conor experienced training success when Glenfinn Captain, an ex JP McManus horse, was gifted to him by his owner after retirement and who Conor managed to train and win 2 point-to-points aboard.
Conor spent Summers working in the US as a work rider for US Champion flat trainer Todd Pletcher in New York, riding world class horses such as breeder cup winning filly More Than Real, Stop Shopping Maria, Shanghai Bobby as well as one time Kentucky Derby favourite Uncle Mo. In America, Conor used the afternoons to ride for a number of sports horse barns who produced some of the finest animals in the States. Conor still maintains active American connections when it comes to selling a well-produced Irish horse.
In recent years Conor and Abby have been working together to develop Kildare Equine Services into a successful and viable business. Conor and Abby are thankful to the wonderful people that have loyally supported them for many years and continue to send horses to produce. Abby and Conor look forward to welcoming old friends and new faces through the doors of Kildare Equestrian Services.
Abby Clancy
Abby hails from Moycullen in County Galway where she spent her childhood hunting and competing Connemara ponies in Showing and Working Hunter classes in shows such as Oughterard, Clifden and Roundstone to name a few. She owes her obsession with flatwork to Sandra O'Donnell of Moycullen Riding Center who instilled it's importance in her from a very young age, and also to her mother Emma who would often remove the jumps from the arena at home in order to stop her from jumping and make her improve their footwork. While in school Abby worked for Sandra, bringing tourists around the old bog roads and scenic hills on Connemara ponies and Irish cobs and later teaching lessons of all levels there. However once she discovered her love of Showjumping, she was determined to learn all she could in the hopes of someday competing some talented horses, with Jessica Kurten being her idol!
When she finished school Abby studied at CAFRE Enniskillen where she gained valuable knowledge, contacts and experience.While in college she rode for Aghalan Stud competing everything from their youngsters to their Grand Prix stallions in various competitions nationally. After moving on from here, she settled with the great Ronnie Smith in Omagh to gain more skills and knowledge in Showjumping, through these efforts she had opportunities to train with some of the circuits most successful riders such as Dermot Lennon, Greg Broderick , Gabriel Tunney and of course the Smith brothers. Hungry for experience and development, she then decided to try her hand at riding Thoroughbreds and started to ride out for Tom Taaffe in Kildare. She became hooked on the thrills and spills of racing and rode out in various yards for different trainers such as Alan Fleming, Ross O'Sullivan, Philip Dempsey and Peter Maher. She also worked with Cian Hughes of CH Thoroughbreds and describes him as "an absolute genius".
Since deciding to put down roots in Kildare, Abby has worked with Conor to develop the yard and produce the horses to a high standard. She also regularly rides for and receives training from James O'Haire , International event rider for Ireland. She is always on the lookout for a good youngster and is excited to see what the future will hold for KES and the horses and clients of the present and future.
