For rising Irish talent Tom Wachman, there is one event that stands above all the others. Having competed at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) since his pony days, the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show remains the competition every Irish rider dreams of winning.

"Dublin is one of my favourite shows of the year. I've been riding here since ponies and it's always the show you target throughout the season. It's a brilliant event and a very special show for an Irish rider."

This year's Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, now offering a €1 million prize fund, promises another exceptional contest.
"It's one of the biggest Grands Prix of the year. With the prize money now up to a million euros, it's going to be a huge test. Last year the sport was incredible, with only one clear round, so I'm really looking forward to the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland again this year."

Although his profile continues to rise on the international stage, Wachman knows that consistency is the key to success.
"In this sport, things are always up and down. You can be good one week and not so good the next, so you just have to keep your head down and keep working. I'm lucky to have a great team around me that supports me, and I have a fantastic group of horses. When you have that behind you, you come into a week like this with confidence. Hopefully we can get a few nice results early in the week and build towards the Grand Prix."

Competing in front of an Irish crowd provides an extra source of motivation.
"The atmosphere really motivates you when you ride into that arena. Whether it's the first class on Wednesday or the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday, you want to win every class. Jumping in the Nations' Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy for the first time last year was an amazing experience. Having the home crowd behind me made it a really special memory, and hopefully I'll get to experience that again in the years to come."

For the young Irishman, the Rolex Series also offers a unique opportunity to learn from the very best riders in the world.
"The Rolex Series is brilliant for our sport. All the best riders want to compete at these shows. In Dublin, you get to watch riders like Steve Guerdat, Kent Farrington and Cian O'Connor. You can learn so much from them. Whenever I'm not jumping, I watch them in the warm-up ring, pick up little things, or even ask them questions. It's a fantastic opportunity."