Ronnie hopes to race to the finish line at the Toyota Easter Festival
He won in 2022 and he is working towards history repeating itself.
The winner of the 2022 Toyota Easter Festival, Ronnie Healy is going back for his second win by competing in the 2024 Toyota Easter Festival. He said he was so close to winning last year but unfortunately, he did not due to time faults. “I was not fast enough but I have been practising and doing really well. I am hopeful that this year I will get the same results as 2022, if not better.”
He said he does not give up easily. “I am going into this race with an open mind. I have been preparing well. I just had a big show last weekend and I believe I am ready for the Toyota Easter Festival. The 40-year-old said he loves the sport and is so happy to be doing something that he loves as a career.
Healy said when he won the 2022 race he was using his wife’s horse. “My wife was pregnant at the time with our second baby and my one-year-old was also present. That motivated me and kept me moving to the finish line. I had to make them proud and I knew I could do it.” The father of two from England is driven by his biggest supporter, his mother. “She is like a cheerleader. She comes to most of my races and it is wonderful to see.”
Healy will be competing in the festival at Kyalami Park Club from March 26, to March 31. After the festival, he will be on the road because of the upcoming world cup shows. “They take place on Sunday afternoons. We compete in different countries. The winner of the series by gathering the most points in the different races will compete in the final which usually takes place in Europe but sometimes takes place in the United States. It is quite thrilling and very difficult to win. It needs a lot of consistency and I will be putting my best on the table.” He said a hobby turned him into a professional racer and this is very surprising even for him but he will continue doing it because it is something he loves.
“Horse riding is a sport that is very time-consuming and I want to spend time with my boys. I prefer they do not go into the sport. I would love for them to partake in something else like golf, soccer or tennis. Anything but riding. It is quite a hectic life and I hope my boys do something else so we can have more time together.” Healy owns stables in Blair Atholl and in Kyalami and dearly thanks his mom for introducing him to horses and he is passing the love for horses down to his children. “They do have a little pony they ride called Cupcake. My boys Tommy (3) and Hudson (2) are really showing interest and love for horses and that warms my heart.”
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