I WAS born and reared in Galway City, a stone’s throw from Eyre Square with room for a pony. One of my earliest memories is of a small, dark grey pony emerging from a huge Rice horsebox. My grandmother sprinkled her with holy water and we named her Pepsi. She was part of our family for 35 years.

As a family, we travelled the west of Ireland and beyond, the highlight being the annual trip to the RDS, where in 1984 my brother Mal won the first ever ridden Connemara class with Pat Aengus (Dun Aengus x Village Belle).

My father Sean was the District Commissioner of the Galway Mid-County Pony Club for 10 years and was an active committee member of Galway County and Corrandulla shows. He was also responsible for bringing the Irish Pony Society (IPS) to the West.

The extended family is still very much involved, with my niece Shauna running her own yard in Corrandulla with the help of her dad, Bernard, and sister, Emma.

My brother, Peadar, never lost the bug and continues to produce horses outside Boston. We often catch up with each other after a weekend of shows and realise we are doing exactly the same thing, with just the Atlantic between us.

1. Congratulations on your memorable year with your Creganna ponies.Tell us more about your show season?

The year got off to a brilliant start with Lara and Creganna Kerfuffle qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 143cm working hunter pony (WHP) final at the Northern Ireland Festival. Next was Balmoral, where Creganna Dandini won the 153cm WHP and Kerfuffle qualified for the Clifden High Performance final. Shows took a back seat as exams loomed: the Junior Cert for Lara and college exams for Jane.

As usual, August was flat out starting with a trip to Scotland, where Lara and Kerfuffle were part of the WHP team representing Ireland at the Europeans.

Dublin followed directly afterwards, with Lara and Dandini coming fourth in the 153cm working hunter.

On the road again three days later, this time to Clifden, where Lara was delighted to be second in the High Performance WHP with eight-year-old Kerfuffle, the highest-placed mare.

Home again for a couple of days to repack the truck and both girls and four ponies crossed the Irish Sea for the BSPS Championship Show at Arena UK.

The ponies then went on a well-deserved break until it was time to start preparing for HOYS. Lara thoroughly enjoyed the whole HOYS experience and the amazing atmosphere and was delighted to pick up a fourth place on their first trip to HOYS.

Our last big day out for the year was for the final of the Horse Sport Ireland foal championship, where our most recent addition Creganna Smarty Pants (Creganna Gypsy O x HSF Lucky Boy) won the eventing pony foal section.

Creganna Smarty Pants, champion pony eventing foal at the HSI Foal Championships \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

It’s difficult to pick just one. Jane and Dandini winning the ridden Connemara class again at the RDS in 2018 was very special for the extended family.

Winning the HSI foal championship was also a proud moment. As we’re new to showing foals, it was a real treat. It usually takes at least four years before you see any rosettes; with Creganna Smarty Pants, it was less than four months!

3. Why do you breed ponies?

Seeing my parents breeding ponies and how there was always a supply of ponies on hand, it seemed only natural to follow on, so as to have ponies for the girls. It worked out well and Jane and Lara have had great years in ponies from 12-hands to 15-hands. This year was our first year to breed a horse foal, so hopefully we will be as lucky with horses as we have with ponies.

4. Tell us about your regime for mares/foals?

We’re lucky to have a nursery paddock near the house, where we keep the mares close to foaling. They are out during the day and are in at night, where we can keep an eye on them with CCTV.

Once weaned, the mares are wintered out. The foals are out during the day and in at night. By the time they are out full-time in the spring, they are well handled and used to the farrier.

5. Favourite mare?

It has to be Prospect Suzy (Tulira Robuck x Justice Pet). As often happens with ponies, they find you. Suzy came for schooling and never left. We bought her from her breeder, Lucille Tarpey Smith, with whom there were old family connections, as both families were involved in Corrandulla Show.

Suzy had two foals Creganna Belle (Frederiksminde Hazy Match) and Creganna Dandini (Cashel Bay Prince) before resuming her showing and working hunter career. Suzy was champion ridden pony in Clifden in 2011 with my niece, Shauna Finneran.

Suzy had two more foals: Creganna Kerfuffle (Silver Shadow) and Creganna Milady (Koro D’or). These ponies have served the girls well giving them wins, championships and reserves in Clifden, Dublin, Balmoral, BSPS, IPS, NIF, young event classes and taking them both to HOYS.

6.Your thoughts on prefixes?

I like the idea of prefixes. It helps you keep track of the ponies. We have added an extra level to the naming system starting with A for Creganna Amber, our first foal bred in Creganna. We are on S this year.

Jane Field and Creganna Dandini at Balmoral in 2019 \ Susan Finnerty

7. If you could have bred any horse?

Boomerang. To win the Hickstead Derby four years in a row is some achievement.

8. It takes a team, who’s on yours?

It really is a family affair. Mark and I met in college. Originally from England, he had owned a pony and hunted as a child.

We both competed regularly in AIRC until the girls’ ponies took over.

Mark is now the main driver and groom. However, he has recently been promoted to substitute rider for Jane’s horse when she’s away at university, even picking up his very own sash this season! He has the patience of a saint with both man and beast.

Jane, 22 years old, is currently studying Agricultural Science in UCD. This summer she completed her work experience at Baroda Stud, where she gained valuable experience with the mares and foals. During Covid she worked as a groom for Cathal Daniels, travelling to both national and international events.

Lara, who is 16, has a good eye for a pony and is always looking forward to producing our upcoming youngstock.

9. Best advice you ever got?

Ponies/horses shouldn’t be rushed. They should be given the time they need to mature. They’re usually worth the wait and all have their own particular talent.

10. Favourite holiday?

London before Christmas, taking in a couple of days at the London International Horse Show.