Jess Kiernan: 2024 PSI Jumping with the Stars 4yo Champion

Jess Kiernan recently had great success at the PSI Jumping with the Stars, taking out first and second place in the Jumping 4yo Championship with her young showjumpers Glenara Argyle and Cera Cassius. Horse Deals spoke to this unassuming and popular rider to learn more about her story.

Significant others? Mark Kiernan, husband, supporter and occasionally sideline coach.

Jess, congratulations on taking out the PSI Jumping with the Stars 4yo Champion on Glenara Argyle and placing second with Cera Cassius. What did these results mean to you? It is so lovely to warrant the blood, sweat and tears that come with young ones. Also, being a part-time rider, riding against some of the country’s best professional riders gives a sense that I am doing something half-right.

Coming into the PSI Jumping with the Stars, did you have expectations? I was hoping for a top 10 finish with Glenara Argyle (Andy) and Cera Cassius (Brad), but the results that came about were unbelievable.

How do these two horses ride? Andy is fearless, bold and super clean, although he loves to be athletic and sometimes too athletic with the occasional handstand in front of the fences. Brad is a colder ride, a little bit spooky and very balanced in the canter. I am often gripping, just hanging on.

They say it takes a village for success. Has this been the case for you? Absolutely. I have Jamie Coman to help me with the jumping, Kelly Van Den Berg with my dressage and sports psychology, Brian Cheffers when he is in Australia to help with the grid work and Billy Raymont when I was first stepping up into the higher classes. My father, John Embling, also deserves a mention as he is the one who helps with the groundwork and any small issues that come with babies having moments and waiting for me to return from a ride alive…

Let’s take a step back to your childhood years: Were your family involved with horses? Very much so. Mum, Jan, ran riding schools for children around the area in Longford/Sale, and Dad is an equine dentist, having travelled the world, and a breaker in his earlier years.

How did horses feature in your childhood? With the riding school at home, I was on a pony from the moment I could walk. Then, like most kids, I started in pony club and then gravitated towards jumping, as it was more thrilling than dressage. I was fortunate to have a number of cool junior horses; the two standouts were Take a Risk, a Quarter Horse that we purchased from Brook Dobbin, and Midnight Flight from Darcy Neal, I believe a half-brother of Mister Midnight. 

Leaving school, what were your ambitions in the saddle and out? I was originally keen to enter the horse industry as soon as I finished school, so I went to Marcus Oldham and did Horse Business Management. I realised very quickly to work overseas in the horse industry you had to be exceptional at the job and I wasnt at that level yet. Hospitality was my next choice, so decided that was a safer option at the time.

You travelled the world in your early 20’s. Was that an easy decision to hang up your saddle? I went to Sydney and studied at the Swiss Hotel Management college for three years, and with it being an international college, the gateway to travel with employment was an easier step to take for me. 

I headed off to Canada backpacking, and I looked after chuck wagon racing teams, worked in a Harley Davidson bar (a nice one) and worked on a farm. I headed to Scotland for a little while and caught up with family there. I then had an epiphany and knew I had to go to Italy to study Italian food. I was lucky to find a fantastic college in Florence and spent an amazing year learning and working in Italy. Hanging the saddle up is never an easy decision, and it always sits in the back of your mind.

Was it the right decision? Timing is everything, and travel was my way of investing in myself.

We hear you have a master’s in Italian cuisine. Was that always part of your plan? Not when I left Australia. When I got to Scotland, I knew for some reason I had to get myself to Italy.

Adrenaline sports must be your thing, as you worked as a Kite Surfing Instructor. How did that come about? I had decided to move to Noosa, as it’s a massive food destination. While I was there, I had a bit of hospitality burnout and wanted to try something different. A lot of friends were talking about this new sport that was fast, and you could jump…You had me at the jump part, so I learnt how to kite surf, found I was helping keen people with a relatively new sport, and then decided to get myself qualified. I also did a bit of snowkiting in NZ as something different.

After the nine-year hiatus from horses, what made you return to the saddle? I returned back to Gippsland, and when I met my husband, I had told him of my riding escapades, and he then encouraged me to look for a horse and just dabble in the sport for a hobby. Little did he know, but he reignited my love for jumping, and the rest is history.

What had changed during that time within the sport? The first thing I noticed was cost, and then followed by the seriousness that competitors had for the sport and their horses. Also the breeding. When I left showjumping, Thoroughbreds were still the major breed, and Warmbloods were very new. The technology of the gear and the range available was a nice change from the few options available in Australia back in the day.

As a returning rider, what changes did you have to make to get your skill level back? Getting my eye in, I thought that I would be just able to get on and go…How wrong was I? I have realised that lessons and the eyes on the ground are crucial. Everyone brings something to the table; you can choose to take it on board or just simply smile and let it go; it just isn’t for you.

How did it feel entering the competition arena again after such a long break? A million emotions. Anxious, thrilling, belonging, why am I doing this to myself? You name it, I felt it, and even now, I still feel this way.
What advice can you give to others who could be contemplating returning to riding? Run your own race, find a good horse and coach, do your homework, join your local club. Take your time, and you’ve got this. Fake it till you make it. Just remember it’s a hobby, and we’re not competing for sheep stations.

You are clearly in the winner’s circle now. What are your plans moving forward? Lol… Nothing more grounding than showjumping. One moment you are a rooster and next class, the feather duster. I never take it for granted, although I have an amazing team of horses. 

I have my good horse that I have just started Mini Prix with,and the young ones we play by ear. It’s all about depositing into the confidence bank, but I would love to compete internationally.

What satisfaction do you get out of bringing young horses on? The progression is amazing and also generally quicker. Scrolling through videos from 6 months, 12 months and longer, you giggle and realise that the improvement is huge.

Describe the showjumping community. Grounding, supportive, hilarious. We love them and the joy they bring for Mark and I; we are simply grateful to be a part of it.

Showjumping is a family affair for you and Mark. What benefits does Mark get from your sport? For Mark, it is time to switch off from our earthmoving business. He gets to be 100% social and gives the occasional coaching advice on how to build an arena. He does get major FOMO when we leave without him for a show.

What are your plans for Glenara Argyle and Cera Cassius? Andy and Brad are very special horses, and we have high hopes for both of them. Like all good horses, we will monitor and see how they travel with their progression, and hopefully, we will be seeing them in a few years’ time on the big stage…

3 Things we don't know about Jess Kiernan:
1. Love my fine dining and arts
2. In the midst of getting my pilot’s licence
3. Was Sunshine Coast Winner for Kitesurfing Long distance (32km).

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