Most breeders dream of having an international horse, but Co Wicklow breeder Vinnie Cousins, together with his late wife Clare, have been lucky enough to have three such campaigners on the event circuit this season. Most run under their prefix of Kilcandra, with German eventing ace Michael Jung showcasing the name with Kilcandra Ocean Power. The remaining duo are the Nations Cup event horses Kilcandra Capitol, and Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (now known as Clever Trick) both of whom are ridden by Ireland’s Susie Berry.
Wicklow native
Modestly, Vinnie would describe himself as a small, part-time breeder, and has seven broodmares at his home in scenic Glenealy in Co Wicklow. Vinnie is no Wicklow native however, as he grew up with his two brothers Maurice and Nicky at the family home in Barnadown, Co Wexford. All three have since made their names in the equestrian world, with Maurice developing his renowned competition centre at Barnadown and successful stallion man Nicky at Tullabeg.
Aoife Quigley and Clare Cousins. Vinnie Cousins together with his late wife Clare have been lucky enough to have three international campaigners on the event circuit this season.
“We all rode ponies together and hunted before going our separate ways,” recalled Vinnie. “I went to Australia for a couple of years then bought this farm which was a green field site. Clare and I built it up from nothing, and now the 50 acres are divided into paddocks and we make our own haylage and buy in the feed. We’ve a construction business as well as a quarrying business, sand and gravel – horses are a hobby.”
Traditionally bred
Having started from scratch, Vinnie and Clare built their mare herd up to seven, all of which were bought in. The two foundation mares Beavers Bugsy Malone (by Hallodri) and Bonnie Dolly (Bonnie Prince) were both traditionally bred, with the former sourced from John Holohan in Tipperary. Her first foal (bred by Holohan) was the event horse Harbour Pilot C by Coolcorran Cool Diamond who progressed to compete in the five star showcases at Badminton and Burghley.
“Our first foal out of her was Kilcandra Orestus by Orestus.” Said Vinnie. “He qualified for the event horse championship at the RDS and is currently eventing in Italy at CCI3*.”
Aoife Quigley and Kilcandra Vanessa, winners of the five year old Event Horse Class at RDS 2018 on their victory lap \ Louise O'Brien Photography
Another progeny was the top UK based show horse Mousa Kousa, while the next prominent international event star was Kilcandra Capitol by Orestus. Having sold well as a three-year-old, the gelding was subsequently produced by Susie Berry who piloted him in the world young horse championships, and last year was placed fifth in the CCI4* at Blair Castle.
Hugely promising
The second of these original mares was Bonnie Dolly, a traditionally bred mare by Bonnie Prince. She was another lucky purchase, with her first foal for the couple being Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (now Clever Trick) by Financial Reward. Initially campaigned here by Luke Drea and latterly by Alex Donohoe, she found her way to the British-based Susie Berry at the start of last year. A hugely promising partnership, the duo delivered a double clear round for Ireland in the Nations Cup at Boekelo (CICO4*).
Alex Hua Tian riding Harbour Pilot C CHN on cross-country day at the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials \ Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors)
The mare also produced Kilcandra Ocean Power, a raw backward gelding by the traditionally bred jumping stallion BGS Ocean View.
“As a three-year-old he was four inches higher behind than in front and needed time to mature.” Recalled Vinnie. “He always jumped well but needed the time. Luke Drea broke him as a four-year-old, and it was Luke who kept telling me he was going to make it.”
The big chesnut was selected for the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale in 2018, and it was here, under the sympathetic riding of Aoife Quigley he caught the eye of Michael Jung. Since changing hands that November night, he has won several international classes for Jung, and indeed was ranked the world’s top eight-year-old in 2021. He also made his Nations Cup debut at Aachen last year – one of the few Irish breds to grace a German team.
“He’s really put us up there in the lights, and to be ranked the best eight-year-old in the world was very special to us”, remarked Vinnie. “Kilcandra Capitol also has to be mentioned here in this capacity because he was our first major international winner.”
Good yards
Of course, Vinnie considers himself extremely lucky to have sold his horses into good yards where their potential has every chance of being fulfilled.
“After breeding them, that’s the next most important thing,” he said, and in this regard he has been delighted to see that the current world champion Yasmin Ingham has been charged with producing yet another Kilcandra graduate, Kilcandra Vanessa (CCI3*).
Bred by Clare out of Kilcandra Lily de Noche (Orbis) Vanessa landed the coveted RDS young event championship under owner Aoife Quigley.
“Winning at the RDS is right up there among our proudest moments,” said Vinnie. “Aoife does them really, really well. She gives them breaks and then asks them the questions when they are mature enough.”
Thoroughbred
Although Vinnie has been incredibly lucky with his traditionally bred stock, he is commercial and is aware of the trends. “The trouble with going the full Irish way is that they need to be broken to get the best results,” he reflected. “There is no doubt the Thoroughbred covers the ground across the country, however, breeding has changed. We now have a great selection of stallions and the standard is better.”
That said, Vinnie still likes the traditional damlines. “The Thoroughbred mixed with those old lines is my idea of the ideal broodmare to send her to a top jumping sire. I like the Holstein bloodlines, because I think they have more Thoroughbred blood and more movement in comparison to some of the other continental breeds.”
I asked Vinnie what he looks for in a breeding mare. “I look for the physical correctness, with a good outline, a good shoulder and a good front leg.” He explained. “You need a good hind leg too, but I wouldn’t be over-critical in that regard. As long as they are powerful and move properly. My mares are all good, free-flowing, athletic movers. Some foreign sires lack a bit of quality in the shoulder, so the main thing for me is the way they carry themselves, a good rein and a good shoulder.”
With this in mind, Vinnie also has three thoroughbred mares, some of which he has covered with the young Holstein sire Soco Blue by Zirocco Blue VDL: “I have good foals by him. I like him very much, and also Colandro.”
Vinnie and Clare always produced and sold their stock themselves, and usually as three-year-olds. “However, as Clare was sick, last year we sent them to Thomas Quigley at Kellistown, Carlow to produce for us,” explained Vinnie. “Since Clare’s passing, I have to do things differently, so now I lunge them, have them so they trot up and jump a small fence, then I send them to Thomas who brings them to the next level.”
Discussing the emotive subject of prefixes, Vinnie comments. “If I buy in a mare with a prefix I don’t change it, but if they are unnamed I will add the Kilcandra prefix. I think when breeders go to the bother of paying the money to have the prefix then it shouldn’t be changed unless it is agreed. You have to respect the breeders. If they are born on a farm or a stud, then the prefix shouldn’t be changed. As regards Clever Trick (formerly Kilcandra Bonnie Reward) I have to say I don’t really agree with that and if I had been approached about it I would say I’d rather you didn’t.”
Looking forward Vinnie would like to see breeders have more help from the governing body, especially to receive incentives for proven breeders to go to the best stallions. In the meantime, he has much to look forward to, and with two horses considered serious Olympic prospects, 2023 will be exciting.
Most breeders dream of having an international horse, but Co Wicklow breeder Vinnie Cousins, together with his late wife Clare, have been lucky enough to have three such campaigners on the event circuit this season. Most run under their prefix of Kilcandra, with German eventing ace Michael Jung showcasing the name with Kilcandra Ocean Power. The remaining duo are the Nations Cup event horses Kilcandra Capitol, and Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (now known as Clever Trick) both of whom are ridden by Ireland’s Susie Berry.
Wicklow native
Modestly, Vinnie would describe himself as a small, part-time breeder, and has seven broodmares at his home in scenic Glenealy in Co Wicklow. Vinnie is no Wicklow native however, as he grew up with his two brothers Maurice and Nicky at the family home in Barnadown, Co Wexford. All three have since made their names in the equestrian world, with Maurice developing his renowned competition centre at Barnadown and successful stallion man Nicky at Tullabeg.
Aoife Quigley and Clare Cousins. Vinnie Cousins together with his late wife Clare have been lucky enough to have three international campaigners on the event circuit this season.
“We all rode ponies together and hunted before going our separate ways,” recalled Vinnie. “I went to Australia for a couple of years then bought this farm which was a green field site. Clare and I built it up from nothing, and now the 50 acres are divided into paddocks and we make our own haylage and buy in the feed. We’ve a construction business as well as a quarrying business, sand and gravel – horses are a hobby.”
Traditionally bred
Having started from scratch, Vinnie and Clare built their mare herd up to seven, all of which were bought in. The two foundation mares Beavers Bugsy Malone (by Hallodri) and Bonnie Dolly (Bonnie Prince) were both traditionally bred, with the former sourced from John Holohan in Tipperary. Her first foal (bred by Holohan) was the event horse Harbour Pilot C by Coolcorran Cool Diamond who progressed to compete in the five star showcases at Badminton and Burghley.
“Our first foal out of her was Kilcandra Orestus by Orestus.” Said Vinnie. “He qualified for the event horse championship at the RDS and is currently eventing in Italy at CCI3*.”
Aoife Quigley and Kilcandra Vanessa, winners of the five year old Event Horse Class at RDS 2018 on their victory lap \ Louise O'Brien Photography
Another progeny was the top UK based show horse Mousa Kousa, while the next prominent international event star was Kilcandra Capitol by Orestus. Having sold well as a three-year-old, the gelding was subsequently produced by Susie Berry who piloted him in the world young horse championships, and last year was placed fifth in the CCI4* at Blair Castle.
Hugely promising
The second of these original mares was Bonnie Dolly, a traditionally bred mare by Bonnie Prince. She was another lucky purchase, with her first foal for the couple being Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (now Clever Trick) by Financial Reward. Initially campaigned here by Luke Drea and latterly by Alex Donohoe, she found her way to the British-based Susie Berry at the start of last year. A hugely promising partnership, the duo delivered a double clear round for Ireland in the Nations Cup at Boekelo (CICO4*).
Alex Hua Tian riding Harbour Pilot C CHN on cross-country day at the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials \ Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors)
The mare also produced Kilcandra Ocean Power, a raw backward gelding by the traditionally bred jumping stallion BGS Ocean View.
“As a three-year-old he was four inches higher behind than in front and needed time to mature.” Recalled Vinnie. “He always jumped well but needed the time. Luke Drea broke him as a four-year-old, and it was Luke who kept telling me he was going to make it.”
The big chesnut was selected for the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale in 2018, and it was here, under the sympathetic riding of Aoife Quigley he caught the eye of Michael Jung. Since changing hands that November night, he has won several international classes for Jung, and indeed was ranked the world’s top eight-year-old in 2021. He also made his Nations Cup debut at Aachen last year – one of the few Irish breds to grace a German team.
“He’s really put us up there in the lights, and to be ranked the best eight-year-old in the world was very special to us”, remarked Vinnie. “Kilcandra Capitol also has to be mentioned here in this capacity because he was our first major international winner.”
Good yards
Of course, Vinnie considers himself extremely lucky to have sold his horses into good yards where their potential has every chance of being fulfilled.
“After breeding them, that’s the next most important thing,” he said, and in this regard he has been delighted to see that the current world champion Yasmin Ingham has been charged with producing yet another Kilcandra graduate, Kilcandra Vanessa (CCI3*).
Bred by Clare out of Kilcandra Lily de Noche (Orbis) Vanessa landed the coveted RDS young event championship under owner Aoife Quigley.
“Winning at the RDS is right up there among our proudest moments,” said Vinnie. “Aoife does them really, really well. She gives them breaks and then asks them the questions when they are mature enough.”
Thoroughbred
Although Vinnie has been incredibly lucky with his traditionally bred stock, he is commercial and is aware of the trends. “The trouble with going the full Irish way is that they need to be broken to get the best results,” he reflected. “There is no doubt the Thoroughbred covers the ground across the country, however, breeding has changed. We now have a great selection of stallions and the standard is better.”
That said, Vinnie still likes the traditional damlines. “The Thoroughbred mixed with those old lines is my idea of the ideal broodmare to send her to a top jumping sire. I like the Holstein bloodlines, because I think they have more Thoroughbred blood and more movement in comparison to some of the other continental breeds.”
I asked Vinnie what he looks for in a breeding mare. “I look for the physical correctness, with a good outline, a good shoulder and a good front leg.” He explained. “You need a good hind leg too, but I wouldn’t be over-critical in that regard. As long as they are powerful and move properly. My mares are all good, free-flowing, athletic movers. Some foreign sires lack a bit of quality in the shoulder, so the main thing for me is the way they carry themselves, a good rein and a good shoulder.”
With this in mind, Vinnie also has three thoroughbred mares, some of which he has covered with the young Holstein sire Soco Blue by Zirocco Blue VDL: “I have good foals by him. I like him very much, and also Colandro.”
Vinnie and Clare always produced and sold their stock themselves, and usually as three-year-olds. “However, as Clare was sick, last year we sent them to Thomas Quigley at Kellistown, Carlow to produce for us,” explained Vinnie. “Since Clare’s passing, I have to do things differently, so now I lunge them, have them so they trot up and jump a small fence, then I send them to Thomas who brings them to the next level.”
Discussing the emotive subject of prefixes, Vinnie comments. “If I buy in a mare with a prefix I don’t change it, but if they are unnamed I will add the Kilcandra prefix. I think when breeders go to the bother of paying the money to have the prefix then it shouldn’t be changed unless it is agreed. You have to respect the breeders. If they are born on a farm or a stud, then the prefix shouldn’t be changed. As regards Clever Trick (formerly Kilcandra Bonnie Reward) I have to say I don’t really agree with that and if I had been approached about it I would say I’d rather you didn’t.”
Looking forward Vinnie would like to see breeders have more help from the governing body, especially to receive incentives for proven breeders to go to the best stallions. In the meantime, he has much to look forward to, and with two horses considered serious Olympic prospects, 2023 will be exciting.
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