From its tentative beginning back in the post War of Independence days of 1926 right to the present, the Irish Army Equitation School has been assigned what has been termed the “most extraordinary mission impossible” - of plucking raw young recruits from within the Cadet Corps, training them to the highest level of horsemanship, mounting them on jumpers bred on the farms of Ireland and sending them out to compete against the international stars of equestrian sport at events around the world.

Here, recounted in great detail and with stunning photographs, are the great highs and lows; the heartbreaks and excitements of top flight international competition in which the Army riders have always endeavoured to punch above their weight.