Zoe Kirkpatrick

Zoe’s love of horses started from a very early age and despite her parents’ best efforts to put her off she successfully brought her own horse at 14 years old. After spending many years helping out at local riding schools as well as beg, borrowing and stealing rides where she could. Upon leaving school Zoe attended Easton College taking part in a 2-year National Diploma in Horse Management where she also obtained her Stage 1,2 & 3 BHS exams. Determined to pursue a career with horses she landed a job with showjumper and dealer Susan Cox alongside studying at college which then lead to a full-time position. Quickly she progressed to yard manager and lead rider, sometimes riding 8- 10 horses per day. Gaining a huge amount of experience backing and producing Irish sport horses as well as competing her own horses alongside. After 4 years Zoe then took the plunge into freelance riding and grooming for various professional riders as well as undertaking yard work too. During this time, whist living in Devon, she was given the ride on her younger sisters’ warmblood whilst she was away at university. He was super quirky but had so much talent in the dressage arena, Zoe persevered with him, catching the dressage bug. Since then, she has produced many young horses for the dressage arena with great success winning Inter regional, Home International and Area Festival titles as well as numerous top 10 placings at regional and national championships up to advanced medium level. During lockdown because of the covid pandemic Zoe decided to take a change in direction and set up Heartbreaker Stud.