Nina Carberry: Dancing with the Stars has been very, very tough 

'Don't let fear take something you've always wanted to do'

Jockey Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca took home the glitterball trophy last night. Picture: KOBPIX.

I grew up in a small village called Ratoath in Co Meath with my mum, dad, and five brothers — four older and one younger. I married my lovely husband Ted in 2012 and we have two girls of our own now, four-year-old Rosie and two-year-old Holly.

I’ve been around horses my whole life. I don’t remember the first time I got on a horse, I don’t even remember learning to ride a horse. My mum had us on ponys from a very young age and it all progressed from there. I always wanted to compete and do shows but I didn't know if I was going to be able to make a career out of it. When I started competing and realised I had the ability, that's when I really started getting the bug for it. The Carberry name definitely helped get me along my way… but I also had a name to live up to.