I LIVE at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Clonaslee village with wife Imelda and daughters Danielle, a vet, and Louise, a member of An Garda Síochána, stationed in Naas.

The Cusack family came to Clonaslee in the late 1800s from Wicklow to work in Brittas Castle. Albeit there was farming on both sides of my family, I didn’t grow up with horses but have fond memories of sitting on our late neighbours Ned Troy and Jack Blake’s horses when they were working in the hayfields.

When the forestry, opposite my grandparent’s house, was being cut I spent day after day on the timber horses. It wasn’t until later in life I found out my granduncles were great horsemen.

This year was very special for us, as we stood the two stallions Clonaslee Captain Cristo (TIH) and Danielle’s stallion Hollypark Diamond (ID) in Clonaslee. We’d like to thank everyone that supported us.

1. How long have you been breeding horses?

I bought my first filly, by Ballinvella, in 1991. I got her broken and sold her on, then bought an Errigal Flight filly and made the mistake of selling her as well. Back then, I didn’t realise how important these two pedigrees would be.

I bought a thoroughbred mare from my employer Christy Maye for £1 in 1996, she became known as the ‘pound mare’. We went on holidays to Cork that same year and ended up buying a Euphemism mare, Darrara Ruby, a half-sister to Clonakilty Hero and her Regal Sting filly foal.

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

I can’t mention just one as the horses have given me several proud moments. Darrara Ruby’s first foal for us by Ballinvella; the first rosette in the show ring; first Dublin rosette, (I remember Seamus Lehane saying to me that day in 2010; ‘Treasure that rosette, they’re hard won here’); Clonaslee Captain Cristo’s first foal qualifying for the Breeders’ Championship, I’ve kept her, and then standing outside Ring 1, hearing her full-brother being called out as The Irish Field Breeders’ champion foal the following year in 2018. I still get a lump in my throat thinking about that.

3. What type of horses/markets do you breed for?

I’m a passionate Traditional Irish Horse breeder. The last three years have seen most of the horses going to the eventing market. Last year we sold all the foals and I have only one three-year-old left which I think will make a super masters horse or top-class show hunter. He’s by Captain off a thoroughbred mare.

4. How many broodmares/foals do you currently have?

We have eight mares between us all and we hope to increase that to 10. Three have colt foals by Clonaslee Captain Cristo: Ms Cromby (TB. Arakan x Habitat), Ballyshan Claudia (Lux Z x Ballynahia Diamond) and Hallowberry Destiny (Ramiro B x Cavalier).

Two have fillies by Hollypark Diamond: Clonaslee Clonfert Abbey (ISH. Royal Cruise x Coevers Diamond Boy) and Clonaslee Darrara Ruby II (Clover Skippy x Euphemism x Grove Hero).

Queenie (Kings Master x Andretti) has a colt by DS Are You With Me, Clonaslee Loughehoe Lady ( Loughehoe Guy x Colin Diamond) is in foal to Hollypark Diamond and Geluksfee (Winningmood x Animo) will be crossed with Clonaslee Captain Cristo next year.

5. Favourite bloodlines?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Clover Hill, Master Imp, King of Diamonds and thoroughbred crosses, so whether one could call it a coincidence or not that Clonaslee Captain Cristo has those top three Irish sires in his bloodlines. He ticked all the boxes and I am very thankful his breeder PJ Tierney for the vision to breed him. I’m very lucky he suits every type of mare, plus he’s bringing his super temperament, quality, blood and scope to his progeny.

6. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

We look after everything ourselves and we all have full-time jobs. Imelda is the backbone of the operation, she steadies the ship. Both Imelda and I look after day-to-day stuff, feeding, etc.

The covering season was full-on this year. Danielle looks after the veterinary side and enquiries; Louise is a great organiser and is brilliant with the stallions and her husband Padraig Byrne looks after tractor work.

Our farrier Adrian Brennan has been with us since I started in 1991. He was an apprentice back then and is a pivotal part of the team. I’m very lucky that Pat Corbett and PJ Tierney are always there when under pressure to help out with coverings, they’ve always given me very sound advice.

My father Noel keeps an eye on the horses and cattle too.

7. How do you feel sport horse breeding has changed for farmer-breeders?

Farming has become so intensive over the last three decades that the idea of a farmer having a couple of broodmares has almost ceased to be, can I say or use the words, feasible or viable? It started out as a hobby/interest for most farmers but not anymore.

8. What advice would you give to a young breeder starting out?

Every day is a learning one where horses are concerned and believe me, I’m still learning.

Make sure wherever you start, that the pedigree is one that you can sell or breed from: ‘an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding’. Don’t get carried away with the big sales figures as an influencer because that’s not always the case.

Don’t be afraid to seek advice. Don’t breed your mare just to breed a foal – breed to type.

9. Sport horse breeding – would you do it all over again?

Seriously, of course I would, there’s nothing like spending a couple of hours with the horses unwinding. They are of a caring nature and never judge you. My pension is on four legs. Imelda says if it’s not on four legs in our house forget about it!

10. Where do you see Irish breeding going in the future?

The Traditional Irish Horse will be subsumed into the European genepool, unless those that hold the power and the various organisations that have the responsibility and a duty of care to stop this happening, come together and prevent this unique gene from disappearing. There’s no point in closing the stable door when the horse is gone.

Interestingly, recent Breeders’ 10 articles have highlighted the importance of the Traditional Irish Horse.

In this island of ours we find it difficult to come together for the common cause unless there’s an economic gain.

Leo Powell, John Cusack and Michael Slavin at Dublin, 2018 \ Susan Finnerty