Fairyhouse fairytale for Sheila Mangan

RACING Equine therapy an antidote for depression

It's early on a Thursday afternoon and trainer Dermot McLoughlin's immaculately-clean, sun-splased stableyard between Skryne and Ratoath is quiet.

There's nobody about, the only sound is provided by crows, busily building nests in nearby trees.

The morning surge of activity that is invariably found in such places is over. It's the lunchtime lull before work resumes again in the evening.

Out in a nearby field are a number of horses looking like they are delighted to be in the pleasant, early spring sunshine.

Among them is the current star of the show, Freewheelin Dylan, the horse which, on Easter Monday, became famous when winning the Irish Grand National. Freewheelin is brought into the yard for photographs and poses like a Hollywood veteran.

Fairytales don't happen often in the hard, unforgiving world of professional sport - but from time-to-time they do. The story of Freewheelin Dylan proves it.

Trained by Dermot McLoughlin - whose father Liam won the Irish National on Kerforo in 1962 - Freewheelin Dylan was guided around Fairyhouse by jockey Ricky Doyle who was riding in his first national.

To add another layer of intrigue the horse belongs to Sheila Mangan one of the few female owners to win the big race.

Then there was the winning price, a remarkable 150/1. You couldn't make it up.

Mangan is one of the first to arrive back into the McLoughlin yard after her lunchbreak. This is familiar territory for her. She works with Dermot McLoughlin Racing looking after the yard and the horses; as well as being the owner of Freewheelin, as she calls him.

The fact that the owner also works in the yard is in itself an unusual set-up, another twist in Freewheelin Dylan's and Mangan's amazing stories.

"It was a crowning moment. It's like the gods were looking after me," she said as she seeks to put into words what it means to her to claim the most unlikely of victories.

She talks about how she watched the National at Fairyhouse on television (owners didn't get a pass for the race) and the incredible joy she felt as she watched Freewheelin Dylan - HER horse - take an early lead and sustain it until the glorious finish.

"There were a few prayers said and my mother and father, God bless them, I believe were looking down at him, looking after him, so I was very lucky."

Moments of such unbridled joy and high achievement are rare in any life and it is understandably treasured by Mangan who has had to endure her unfair share of ups and deep downs, twists and turns, along what has often been a rocky road.

She has endured depression, compounded by heavy drinking that left her floundering in a very dark place where she found little light or hope - and from which she nearly didn't emerge.

She attempted suicide, overdosing one bleak day.

"I've had depression for the last 20 years I suppose. I was very bad at times. I did try suicide, but lucky enough I'm still here," she says.

"I overdosed and they pumped me out although I wasn't very grateful to them at the time, but yeah I'm very careful as regards alcohol in the house, tablets in the house, there is only ever the minimum amount around.

"I was very down at times, couldn't get out the front door, literally could not get out of the house. I was in that black place."

Yet helped by her love of animals (particularly horses and dogs), family, friends and a counsellor she has clearly great respect for, she has found a way out.

A way back to a better life with Freewheelin Dylan's success the completion of a glorious chapter in a life that started 55 years ago.

BORRANSTOWN

Sheila Mangan has always lived around horses.

"My dad (Tom Mangan) was master of the Ward Union, he was very involved in hunting and he loved racing," she said.

"Himself, mum (Nan) and myself used to go racing just about every Saturday, that was our pastime.

"I grew up amongst horses. My grandfather had point-to-pointers as well as my mother's side of the family, they were all heavily involved with horses too."

Sheila grew up in Borranstown near Ashbourne with her siblings made up of three brothers - Raymond, Patrick and Simon.

She went to Garristown NS before attending boarding school in Celbridge.

No matter where the school was or what exams she passed, young Sheila wanted only to pursue one career - and that was working with horses, in some shape or form.

She found employment with a host of people in the business starting with Tommy O'Neill and later with others such as John Oxx, Eddie Lynam, Jim Dreaper, Tony Martin and now Dermot McLoughlin where she says she has found a new contentment.

She is at her most content around horses. She trusts them, they trust her, and that's a big thing; something worth treasuring.

"I have a connection with them, they just bring so much to me, they give me so much, they make me feel worthwhile.

"The things I do for them, whether it would be feeding them, looking after their legs, it's me giving something back. but I get a lot from them too.

"Here in the yard, with one or two exceptions, I wouldn't have to put a head-collar on a horse.

"I can do anything I want with them without putting a head collar on because they trust me and I trust them.

"They sense affection, that you are not going to do them any harm.

"If you were treating them for a wound the first day they might get a bit scared, after a day or two they are very accepting of you.

"Again trust is the bridge; the balm that cures all ills," she stated.

As a youngster Mangan rode in point-to-points as well as the odd race.

"I had an amateur licence as a youngster, but I only rode in flat races, national hunt bumpers. My mother couldn't bear to see her only daughter going over fences so it just didn't happen."

Then as she moved into her 20s the depression and the drink took a greater grip on her life.

She drank, she says, as a crutch.

"I had no confidence to meet people so if I had a drink or two I could meet them," she explained.

"I'd have a drink before a point-to-point. If I went to a hunt I'd have a few drinks before and after.

"I used to find that people seemed so happy, but I never seemed to be able to be in that happy place so I used to drink to try and get me into that happy place.

"They always seemed so much happier than me, but I could never be that jolly person."

Recognising she had a problem and going out to get help to deal with it were big steps towards redemption.

She urges anyone who suffers from depression to get help, wherever they can.

FREEWHEELIN TO VICTORY

Five years ago Sheila Mangan sought to buy a horse. The idea was to have the animal to run in point-to-points; for a bit of fun.

Someone who usually had a horse or two down the years, mainly for point-to-points, Mangan had an eye on one particular animal, but it was snapped up by someone else. Then this other horse became available.

"I loved Freewheelin the minute I saw him. He was dropped here (Dermot McLoughlin's yard) for us to have a look at.

"You could see he was an athlete. He had a natural swagger to him, he had a natural suppleness, he was a great walker and they used to say that any horse that can walk well will always gallop well. He had a kind head, I was just drawn to him.

"He has a kind eye, nice ears on him. The horse with small ears is often crabby.

"He is a very kind horse and has loads of personality. When you'd be letting him out in the morning you wouldn't want to have sleep in your eyes, he's all fun and games.

"I didn't buy him originally to win a Grand National. I bought him to run in point-to-points and have fun.

"He was too good for them. He had to go to the racecourse and strangely enough very few people ever offered any money for him so I was lucky."

The part owner of another horse, Mangan recalls how Freewheelin Dylan won a hunters' chase in Listowel four years ago.

"We knew then we had something a little special."

Buying a horse, she says, has a lot to do with recognising the animal's qualities - and other things.

"A lot of it is gut instinct and having the courage to follow your convictions. In terms of paying money for him he wasn't terribly expensive."

By the time we leave McLoughlin's sun-splashed yard Freewheelin is back out in the field with his mates.

Sheila Mangan is also getting ready to go back to work in an environment she knows so well.

She has travelled a long road, experienced some bleak days, but now she's in a much happier place.

Her sense of contentment boosted by the realisation that every now and again fairytales do happen. Dreams do come true.

SHEILA MANGAN ON...

How horses helped her with depression

"Horses were a huge help to me, they saw me through a lot of dark spots especially this fellow (Freewheelin Dylan).

"Even without winning the Irish Grand National he has brought me so much joy to my life, it's unbelievable.

"It's something to get up for every morning, something to look forward to everyday seeing him and working with him. It's a great help to me.

"It was the crowning moment winning the National."

Her drinking

"In the early days I could drink a bottle of whiskey while you'd say boo.

"For the last number of years I was down to drinking four or five pints of Guinness a night.

"I was told that's still too much. I needed to get that down. I got it down to three a night.

"At the moment with lockdown it's great. I'm happy to have a drink with a friend, have a couple of drinks, leave it at that. It's under control and I feel a lot better."

Gratitude to Dermot Mcloughlin

"I'm still on medication, still getting counselling (for depression).

"I was about 25 when I was diagnosed. It was just a long battle after that to get to the good place that I'm in now.

"I have to say a big thanks to Dermot McLoughlin, he's great. If I can't get out the door tomorrow. I'll ring him and tell him I'm not in a good place.

"He will say 'Don't worry, you take care of yourself now.' He would never put you under pressure.

"If I take a nosedive I will go home and say I'll be back in the afternoon and he's very understanding about all that.

Freewheeelin Dylan

"When Dermot kept saying last Autumn that we should be thinking of the Irish National I thought it was a bit cuckoo myself (laughs).

"I would play down myself and my horses a lot where as others can see how good Freewheelin is.

"To me he's just my horse, and he gives me a thrill whether he wins or loses.

"He's at a stage in the handicap where he has to go for some of the big races so I said right, we'll have a go at it."

What's next for Freewheelin Dylan

"The aim is to get to the Aintree Grand National next year.

"What happens between now and then we haven't yet sat down and planned it out.

"He might run in Punchestown if the ground is good, like it is now, but if it came up soft he definitely wouldn't run.

"After Punchestown there isn't much for him now that he has gone up in the handicap."