Cork teen turned rescue pony into a star at the RDS Dublin Horse Show

A Cork rescue pony has defied the odds by competing at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS this year - thanks to the care given to him by 16-year-old Samantha Hickey and her family.

Charlie’s Freedom was originally found a decade ago in a shed in Wexford by Joseph Ahern Murphy from Charlie’s Equine Rescue, which was the inspiration for the pony’s name. Back then he was completely emaciated with a belly full of worms.

He was taken in by Cobh Rescue Horses, which is where Samantha and her mother Lilian Gash, from Robert’s Cove, first met him.

“We wanted to get involved with rescue horses, helping out in any way we could,” explains Lilian.

“So we visited Cobh Rescue Horses, where we met Kelly Mellerick, who was working there at the time. She was showing us around when we saw Charlie in the field and felt the connection straight away.

“Samantha was only about six at the time, but she bonded with him instantly, so we adopted him.”

“I was very young when I met Charlie, but I feel like we just clicked from the start,” says Samantha, who is now a fifth-year student at Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara Crosshaven.

“When we brought him home initially, I used to brush him, but as I got older I gradually started taking more care of him.”

Samantha had been riding since the age of four when she started doing lessons at Follyfoot Riding Farm in Riverstick. She then joined South Union Pony Club, so it was inevitable she would eventually ride Charlie.

“He was only a year old when we brought him home, so we couldn’t do any major work with him at the start, but we did put in the ground work,” explains Lilian.

“With rescues, there has to be a very deep bond and connection. They have to trust. We brought him to the beach and to the local shows, where we introduced him to all the noise bit by bit. So we broke him in gently.

“We put the saddle on him, learning ourselves along with way. He was cheeky at the start, but he grew out of it!

“Initially I did a bit of work with him. I’m not a trainer myself, but I did some cross-country with him. Then, when Samantha was ready for him, she got up on him and brought him on - but slowly. You have to take your time with rescues.

“You could get an expensive horse that would be very good, very fast, but with a rescue, it’s different. Charlie is as good as any horse or pony now.”

The horse has been competing for a number of years through Pony Club, but it’s safe to say that 2025 has been his biggest one to date.

He reached a career high after qualifying for the Working Hunter classes at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS in August. And right after that, he travelled to Scotland to take part in the Scone Palace International Horse Trials.

This came about when Samantha applied to take part in the Tiggy’s Trust Rider Development Programme - a foundation that was set up in memory of Tiggy Hancock, a young rider who died in 2021 at just 15 years of age.

“I knew some people who had taken part in it last year, and then I saw some social media posts about the 2025 one, so I decided to apply for it,” explains Samantha.

“I didn’t know if I would be accepted, so I was delighted when I was. It was the first time Charlie went abroad. Getting to the RDS was a big deal, and then going to Scotland was an even bigger one.”

Meanwhile, back at home Charlie is a member of a household that’s no stranger to all kinds of animals.

As well as working as a care assistant at Kinsale Community Hospital, Lilian is a qualified farm manager and has been running her Kitty Cove Boarding Cattery business for the past 20 years.

She’s also reared Shauna the sheep, who has become known for her festive visits to the elderly at Christmas. The retired ewe gets dressed up every year to accompany Lilian to the hospital and other day centres and nursing homes.

As well as Shauna, there’s a rescue goat from My Lovely Horse Rescue, and a cat and dog from Munster Lost and Found.

“Charlie was our first rescue animal, and after we adopted him I got more involved in rescuing,” she says.

“For instance, I help to rehabilitate horses to get them ready for rehoming. To get to know more about how rescuing works, you have to get involved with the organisations. They all do amazing work, but Cobh Rescue Horses, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Munster Lost and Found are the three I do most with.”

Cobh Rescue Horses couldn’t be prouder of Charlie and his achieve-ments.

“When he first came to us, he was just a young, backward pony, full of worms and with very little experience of the world,” says Tara Murphy from the centre.

“But thanks to the love, patience and dedication of Samantha and her family, Charlie’s life has been completely transformed and he has grown into a superstar.

“He’s excelling in his career, but most importantly, he’s giving his family endless fun, joy, and memories.

“Charlie is the perfect example of what rescue ponies can achieve when given a chance.”

Samantha is equally proud of him.

“He’s come so far,” she says. “I never thought he would compete at these levels, so he has exceeded all expectations.

“Every rescue pony deserves a chance. There’s nothing wrong with them, they just haven’t been treated well in the past. All they need is to be given an opportunity to shine.”

And, despite his huge success, fame hasn’t gone to Charlie’s head, she adds. “Not at all - his personality hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still the same sweetheart.”