MY love of ponies started after my grandad Bob McConnell bought me my first pony, Mountcaulfield Lady Ruby, when I was two. Lady Ruby and I finished my lead rein days in style by winning the first show pony lead rein class held at Dublin Horse Show.

From then, I went through all the show pony ranks up to 14.2, with the 13hh show hunter pony Oakley Spring Rhondo being my pony of a lifetime, winning everything possible all over Ireland.

My parents couldn’t find me a 15hh, so that’s when I decided to start breeding show ponies as ponies were in my blood. They were all I lived for and I couldn’t give up the passion I had for these special animals, resulting in Parkhill Stud being formed.

1. Tell us about the Parkhill line?

Currently, we have three broodmares, all home-breds. Two of them – Parkhill Little Arioso and Parkhill Araminta – are both covered each year with our resident stallion Centurion Bolero. We bought him as a yearling due to him having all the Cusop bloodlines that we desired and because at that time, there was no suitable stallions standing in Ireland.

These mares have big shoes to fill in keeping up with the successful progeny of their dams, who produced the likes of Parkhill Beckham, Parkhill Ronaldo and Parkhill Di Maria who, between them, have won the 13hh show hunter class at Royal International Horse Show six times in as many years and consistently placed in the top-three at HOYS.

Our third broodmare is Parkhill Anastasia (Centurion Bolero) resulting in us having to introduce new bloodlines into the stud. Her first foal is by the Cuddy winner Rendene Royal Charm and her second is by Heavenly Boy Blue. A first for both of these sires to be used in Ireland.

Last year, we bought a yearling colt, Brideswood Quizzical to eventually stand alongside Centurion Bolero to keep the Parkhill line progressing.

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

Parkhill Cantona is the pony who put my name out there across the water. This 13hh show hunter pony has won everything possible in-hand and ridden. As a two-year-old, he took supreme champion at the IPS Annual Show and at the following year’s show, he was champion of champions youngstock.

As a four-year-old, he won the open show hunter pony championship at Dublin Horse Show and the Freshman Award at Thomastown.

He was sold to England, where he won every big title going, culminating in ‘Eric’ winning RIHS and HOYS, the pinnacle of his career. I was one very proud breeder and, as luck had it, I was there to cheer him on.

3. Favourite broodmare?

We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time when we purchased our foundation broodmares - Iorsa Solitaire and her two-year-old daughter Iorsa Little Gem - from Scotland.

Iorsa Solitaire proved to be an invaluable mare, as she produced winner after winner. Covering her with Nigel Cathers’ late stallion Cusop Jacamar was a match made in heaven. Between them, she produced 12 quality ponies with tremendous temperaments and movement.

4. Breeding for the pony market – labour of love or profitable?

Breeding is definitely a labour of love. It takes a lot of time, work and dedication. Sometimes I wonder why we do it, but when you see a newly-born foal get to its legs and watch its progression to adulthood, it’s definitely worth all the blood, sweat and tears, plus working full-time to keep my ponies on the road.

Tim Morton on the Elaine Sherrard-bred Parkhill Crackerjack, pictured with his sisters, Kathryn and Abbey, who train him, following his win in this year's Balmoral 128 85cm Under 10s qualifier at Cavan

5. If you could have bred any horse/pony?

I would have loved to have said I bred Valegro. He’s such a powerful, athletic horse. When Charlotte and he were on their game, they were just mesmerising to watch.

6. Parkhill is your prefix, your thoughts on prefixes?

Park is the beginning of our village name (Parkgate) and we live at the top of a hill, thus the Parkhill prefix, registered with the IPS and Central Prefix Register. Our stud is not large, but we aim to breed quality, not quantity, show ponies as it’s a hobby.

My ponies are all registered and approved by the appropriate society before being sold to their new owners. I love keeping track of all their progress and success.

It’s the new owner’s prerogative and expense to change their name, but I’m not aware of any having done that.

7. Any incentives you would like to see introduced for pony breeders?

There needs to be a bursary/sponsorship to keep breeders breeding plaited ponies in Ireland. Nobody wants to buy a young pony here, but are happy to purchase them from England.

All my ponies are bought by English owners and they go on to be very prolific winners for them, so why does an Irish owner not want an Irish-bred pony? To date, I have bred 14 ponies that have qualified for HOYS and 16 ponies for RIHS.

8. It takes a team - who’s on yours?

Parkhill Stud is purely family-run. Mum and Dad are top grooms, giving advice and support when required.

My nephew Jack, since passing his HGV, is chief driver to the shows and is also now leading some of the ponies in their classes.

It’s great fun on show day to decide who leads which one, with everyone always wanting to lead the winning pony. Makes it great craic on the way home, as to who beats who between us.

9. 2024 Olympic Games - any medal predictions for Paris?

I think the gold medal will be between Great Britain and Germany in dressage. GB also have a great chance of gold in three-day-eventing.

Ireland have such a depth of great show jumpers at present that, on the day, I would say they are in with a fab shot of a medal.

I was a great fan of show jumping when Nick Skelton was competing. Recently, my interest has been rekindled with six-year-old Tim Morton now competing four of my ponies that I bred. He is the youngest-ever child to have qualified for the under 10s class at Balmoral riding Parkhill Crackerjack, proving how versatile show ponies can be.

10. Best piece of advice you were given?

That ponies grow into their names! As everyone probably knows, I’m a huge Man United fan, so between us we decided to name the quality colt foals after Man Utd players.

Although I was warned they had to fill the correct criteria: drop-dead gorgeous with a catchy name!