At the five recent Horse Sport Ireland Mare Inspections there was an overall entry of 84, of the 65 Irish Draughts a total of 36 were judged Class 1. There were 19 presented in the sport horse section and 12 of those achieved Select status. One of those was declared Two Star on the basis of performance while another two were designated One Star Select.

All of the sport horses were tested for veterinary, conformation, movement and athleticism. While a good deal of continental bloodlines were evident in the 12 Select sport horse mares it was gratifying to note that 75% of them were bred along traditional Irish lines.

Traditional input

For example, Leeann Bryan’s mare Caricell Supercharge, who achieved Select Two Star status, was bred by Tom Rowland, she is out of a Cruising dam crossed with the Holstein stallion Caricello.

William Boland of Co Clare bred the One Star Royal Chip out of a Clover Hill dam and sired by Marie Burke’s international performer Chippison. The Deirdre Connolly-owned and bred Fairytale, who also achieved One Star, is by the Irish thoroughbred Robin De La Maison and crossed with the KWPN sire Maltstriker.

And so it goes down the line, the following Sport Horse mares that were classified Select all have good Irish bloodlines in their background:

• John J. Coughlan’s Cailim Chuil Bhui by Rockrimmon Silver Diamond and out of a Yasgan (TB) dam.

• Brian Cleary’s Cooga Cavalier by Cavalier Royale and out of a Master Imp dam.

• John J. Coughlan’s Coolbay Grey Lady by Berkley Cruise (ISH) and out of a KEC Diamond Dynasty dam.

• Carla Ester’s Kieltys Lucky Penny by Lock Key (ID) and out of a Lightening Diamond dam.

• Michael Joe Barrett’s Logmore Alo is by Belgian-sire Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet but out of a Clover Hill dam.

• David Hickey’s Pleasntly Special is by I’m Special (MEWP) out of a Luso (TB) dam.

With continental input on both the dam and sire side these three mares were also classified Select:

Nial Egan’s Cloonbarry Kannalilly by Kannan; Dermot Gormley’s Kannan CK also by Kannan and James and John Meade’s Sea Paris Blue by Christian (Holst).

Good initiative

Mare inspections are one of the best initiatives undertaken by the breeding sector within Horse Sport Ireland. While it is very well supported by the Irish Draught sector, it can only be hoped that more sport horse owners and breeders will participate in the programme as the years go on.

Now that Irish internationals are again winning on home breds, like at Calgary recently, let’s keep searching for our best mares.

Quinn wins at Spancil Hill

It’s a long way from Madison Square Garden to Spancil Hill. But Jimmy Quinn makes the transit with dignified ease. As part of the 60s Army team he competed at the New York venue. An Ennis native, he has been a great supporter of local shows including the showing at Spancil Hill.

Last week he had the best of it, as his 148cm pony took the Pride of Spancil Hill sash and the Championship Mike McMahon Cup. Jimmy O’Brien of Tulla had the best Connemara, Sarah Carey of Doolin showed the 138cm winner, while Roisin Kelly of Ennis and Shane Kerin of Clarecastle had respective wins in lightweight and heavyweight Cob.

More on Rainbow

In Tom Moloney’s appreciation piece here a few weeks back we mentioned the beautiful show horse and jumper Rainbow. We now have more correct information on his breeding.

He was bred at Park House Stud in Tullow, Co. Carlow by Edward J. Byrne from whom Tom bought him.

He had wonderful traditional Irish breeding by the great thoroughbred Bahrain out of an Irish Draught mare by Errigal. Both of these good sires stood at Park House Stud. In fact Edward J. Byrne won the RDS stallion class eight times.