BREEDERS are invited to join an online discussion on Thursday, December 16th which will cover important topics ahead of the 2022 breeding season.

Organised by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the workshop is free to attend and will feature contributions from breeder Patricia Markey, veterinary surgeon Andrea Ryan, nutritionist Lorraine Fradl and stallion master Micheál Orlandi.

The session will start at 10am on finish at 12.30pm. Those wishing to dial in should register by emailing kryan@itba.ie

Patricia Markey will offer advice on how to assist mares during foaling. Andrea Ryan will talk about preparing mares for foaling and postnatal care: Lorraine Fradl will cover the best nutritional plan for pregnant mares during and post-foaling, and a nutritional plan for foals, while Micheál Orlandi will express his views on smart approaches to getting mares back in foal, and the importance of selecting the most suitable stallions.

The ITBA’s Kerry Ryan said: “Breeder education is one of our key roles at ITBA. Over the last numbers of years, the ITBA Breeding Season Preparation Workshop, supported by the Department of Agriculture, under its Equine Technical Support & Breeding Scheme Project, has become a key fixture in the ITBA’s educational programme.

“If there are topics you feel should be included in future ITBA educational programmes, please contact the ITBA on 045 877543 as we would love to hear from you. We wish breeders every success in the year ahead.”

LORRAINE FRADL: Lorraine has worked with Connolly’s Red Mills since 2016 after spending a number of years working with thoroughbred studs, racehorses and elite sport horses. Lorraine’s role as a senior equine nutritionist involves work at home and abroad. Her technical support schedule has brought her to many parts of Ireland and numerous countries across Europe and the Middle East region.

PATRICIA MARKEY: Based in Co Carlow, Patricia is very experienced with foaling and much respected by mare owners. Last year Patricia joined the panel of ITBA Breeding Season Preparation Workshop. With many years of foaling under her belt, those breeders who attended the workshop said they picked up great practical advice from listening to Patricia.

ANDREA RYAN: Andrea qualified from UCD veterinary college in 1994 and since has accumulated almost 20 years’ experience in equine practice. During this time, she has worked in England, New Zealand and England again before returning to Ireland to set up her own veterinary practice. In 2001, she was awarded a certificate in equine practice by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She then went on to specialise in equine reproduction and stud medicine and in 2009 was awarded a certificate in stud medicine by the Royal College. She now jointly runs Kilcash Equine Clinic with her main areas of interest being stud medicine and reproductive problems in barren mares.

MICHEÁL ORLANDI: A proud Mullingar man, Micheál established his burgeoning stud farm, Starfield Stud, on the shores of Lough Owel in Co Westmeath. There he stands exciting flat stallions Far Above, Kuroshio and Smooth Daddy, along with the 2020 St Leger winner, Galileo Chrome, as a National Hunt sire. Once the covering season is over, Micheál attends all the major European Yearling Sales, purchasing under his Compas Equine agency.