JULY is a particularly busy period of the year for all of us at Weatherbys Ireland as we approach the deadline for foal registrations. We have over 6,500 active breeders in Ireland and the foal crop has been increasing in recent years. As operations manager, I oversee the day to day running of the business as well as being a regional reviewer for six international stud books.

I grew up in rural County Offaly; an area which could hardly be considered as a thoroughbred stronghold! Most of our neighbours had cattle or cut turf for a living but my dad did keep a few half-bred horses. I learned to ride when I was eight or nine and got my own pony a few years later. I tipped away at shows and hunts throughout my teens but I was no magnificent rider. I knew I was never going to make a living out of doing it. Dad was into racing, so brought us to our local Kilbeggan meeting, as well as the Galway Festival every year.

As I got older, I spent my summer holidays working for Captain Con Power in Summerhill. I learned a great deal during my years there and it certainly made me a better horsewoman. I also worked for Tim Conroy, who is based just outside Tullamore. He bred Glebe Lad, who went on to win the 1999 Irish Grand National for Michael O’Brien. Unfortunately I suffered a bad riding accident when I was 18 and had to spend three months in hospital. This forced me to hang up my boots and end my riding career.

After finishing my Leaving Cert, I did an Equine Course with John O’Sullivan in Kildare. I specialised in Stud Management, later going on to work at Rathasker Stud for a time. Weatherbys would get in touch with John whenever they had a job available and on one such occasion he very kindly put my name forward for an interview.

I was offered a nine-month initial contract in an admin role, at the same time that DNA was first introduced. I later moved over to micro-chipping, working my way up to head of that particular department. From there I moved on to the Naming and Identification Department. In 2006, I took charge of the Registrations Department, at a time when foal numbers in this country were at an all-time high. We registered a crop in excess of 12,000 foals that year and the subsequent two years.

In 2012, I began a new business analyst role, while also continuing to oversee the foal team. I remained in that position until 2015, when I moved away from horses for a time, moving to a beef data genomics project. It was the largest of its kind in the world at that time, being responsible for over one million cattle. In February 2017, there were a number of role changes at Weatherbys Ireland and the job as Head of Operations became available and I was offered the position.

I now oversee a team of eight people. We work very well together and I am well aware that I couldn’t do the job without their full backing and support.

I am responsible for a wide range of departments; HR, IT with particular focus on our recently launched digital platform which allows breeders to complete all registrations online, industry support, and compliance. This year we are focusing on the recently approved 30-day foal notification which will be implemented for 2019.

We manage the day to day foal crop and liaise closely with the Department of Agriculture. There is also an extensive race sponsorship programme which I help manage and organise, including the National Hunt fillies scheme, Greenlands Stakes, Punchestown and many more events throughout the year.

Sharon O'Regan and Paul Flynn pictured at the Equine Summit, Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, November 2017 Picture: Caroline Norris

I was recently ratified as a European and South African Regional Reviewer for stud books; taking responsibility for four countries (Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania and Czech Republic) as well as another two emerging countries, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. I work closely with the stud books in these countries to help maintain their stud book records, pedigrees and check compliance/regulations. All of this leaves little time for outside hobbies and interests. However, I inherited a love of gardening from my mother, so enjoy planting flowers and seeing them blossom. I still retain my love for racing, especially National Hunt, being a Kilbeggan regular as well as the occasional visitor to the Curragh.

Sharon O’Regan was in conversation with John O’Riordan.