Since the age of nine, it was Stephanie Barrington’s dream to win the Garryowen at Melbourne Royal. At 20, she did just that with a Thoroughbred named LA. Thirteen years later, she claimed the prestigious trophy for a second time with six-year-old Global PPS.
Steph first competed in the class in 2009 with LA, and she recalls learning so much from that experience. “I wanted to enter just for the fun of it; for the experience, to be a part of something that I had looked up to as a young child,” she says.
“I had a beautiful horse in LA; I knew he was a Garryowen-quality horse, and I still truly believe the most important thing is having a top-quality horse. However, the magic of the Garryowen is the fact that it is not just the horse – and it’s not just the rider either – it’s a combination of both, plus of course all of the traditional turnout costume and saddlery.”
For her first Garryowen attempt, Steph pulled together borrowed gear to give it a crack. She was the best-performed first-year competitor and just a handful of points off the overall title.
“From there, we went away and really learnt what you actually needed to win. It took my family and I the next two years to make sure we had the right gear to ensure we were going in with the very best possible preparation that we could. And we won.”
Since that first win, Steph has partnered with several beautiful horses and made a number of strong attempts at a second victory – notching up three seconds and two fifths.
WATCH: Melbourne Royal Show’s ‘Horses in Action’ can be watched live via Equestrian Life, as well as live and on-demand via ClipMyHorse.TV. Tune in to watch the Garryowen from 9.30am AEST, Friday 3 October.
Second win
Then along came Global PPS, aka ‘Harry’. Found by Greg Mickan and Terry Van Heythuysen as a yearling from Parnell Park, Global PPS is by the well-known dressage sire Fürstenball out of PPS World On Ice (Weltmeyer x Thoroughbred). On the lookout for her next Garryowen mount, Steph purchased him. After some time in the paddock to mature, he was started under saddle by Greg – who also introduced him to the world of showing.
During a very successful 2024 season, Sue Thompson took over ownership following Sydney Royal. With Steph in the saddle, Global PPS took out the Garryowen just a few months later at only six years of age.
Global and Sue make their debut
At 38 weeks pregnant, Steph won’t compete in this year’s event – however Global PPS will return, this time with Sue in the saddle.
It’s a moment Steph has envisaged for some time. Following her 2024 win with Global, she said she’d love nothing more than to see the horse enjoy continued success with Sue.
“He is the perfect horse for her!”
‘More than just an event…’
“The Garryowen to me is more than just an event,” reflects Steph. “Riding in memory of Violet symbolises everything I love about the sport – in particular the very special bond that we have with our horses, which is very hard to put into words.
“It is the pinnacle of the show calendar, and a magical experience to be a part of. To ride out there on the main arena, with your best friend, on Garryowen Day is a feeling unlike any other.”
