DERRYRONANE Stud is based in Swinford, Co Mayo. We are nicely located, approximately two hours from Enniskillen, Cavan, Limerick and Tullamore and just five minutes from Knock airport.

It’s a mixed stud farm with Irish Draught, Connemara, Irish Sport Horse and Traditional Irish Horses. We stand two Irish Draught stallions: Moylough Bouncer and his son DS Ballagh Bouncer. We also have Black Shadow (Connemara); Hans (ISP); the coloured A Western Warrior (KWPN), Cruising For Chics (TIH), September Storm (TB) and two warmblood stallions: DS Are You With Me and DS Shotgun.

Previously, we mainly focused on the show and working hunter rings, but in more recent years have branched out into show jumping, young event horse classes and dressage. We also produce stallions for inspections.

1. Proudest moment(s) as a breeder?

One of my most memorable moments as a breeder was at Balmoral. I had won the filly championship with Greenhall Carrera and as I left the ring, I heard my name being called out in the ridden ring as the breeder of DS The Chic Magnet, owned by Niamh Grimes and Samantha Fitzsimons, who had just placed in the small hunter class.

It was the first time I had heard my name announced as a breeder at a prestigious show.

Most recently, DS Shotgun passing Stage 1 at the HSI stallion inspections was a proud moment for me as a breeder. One of the selection panel was Comdt. John Ledingham and I would consider him to be a childhood hero. I can recall watching him jumping for Ireland and to breed a horse that he thinks is good enough to stand as a stallion, made this achievement extra special.

2. DS Shotgun was one of the home-bred stallions that passed at Cavan this year. Your thoughts on the HSI stallion inspections?

DS Shotgun is the first Irish Sport Horse stallion that I have bred myself and presented for the inspections. However, over the last few years, I’ve presented a lot of stallions for inspection, both my own and for other owners.

I think the system is tough but very fair. I felt this year the standard and pedigrees presented was very high and going in the right direction.

I would like to see it being more of an occasion for the breeders.

It could become a Festival of Breeding, run over a longer period, with public attending and stallions individually showcased. This would give breeders the opportunity to see the young stallions being approved.

Obviously, this isn’t possible in the current circumstances, but it would be nice to see it being developed in future years.

3. Favourite broodmare(s)?

Without doubt, Lady in Red Star (Grosvenor Lad) holds a special place in my heart. She is my first Irish Draught mare and was bred by Eddie Murphy. We had great success together, winning 18 major championships.

Presently, a mare I show for Sean Ruane, Strictly Come Bouncing (Moylough Bouncer) is a very special mare. She has given us many great days out.

Liam Lynskey with Sean Ruane's Irish Draught mare champion at Dublin: Strictly Come Bouncing \ Susan Finnerty

4. How many broodmares do you currently have?

We are breeding from over 20 broodmares: Irish Draught, Connemara and sport horses. Some of our well-related mares include:

  • Caluna G (Cartani x Caretino), jumped 1.40m with Jonathan Gordon, in foal to Forlee (For Pleasure x Comme Il Faut).
  • Kioletta M (VDL Douglas x Indoctro), sister to Casanova (jumped 1.40m), in foal to DS Are You With Me (Corrado I x Contender).
  • Vaillante Z (Vaillant x Argentinus), dam of Fortuna ES (jumped 1.45m), sister to Valentia (jumped 1.45m), in foal to DS Shotgun (Comthago VDL x VDL Harley).
  • Heart of Princess (Heartbreaker x Guidam) jumped to 1.25m, in foal to Cruising For Chics (Cruising x Clover Hill).
  • Greenhall Carrera (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Porsche) foaled to DS Are You With Me this year and covered by September Storm (Monsun x The Minstrel).
  • DS Murchu’s Chic (TIH) (Cruising For Chics x Rakish Paddy), half-sister to Murchu (jumped 1.60m), in foal to DS Are You With Me.

    • The other mares are two by Haarlem, five by Moylough Bouncer, Cobra, Shannondale Sarco, Connemaras and Irish Draughts.

    5. What are your long-term goals for Derryronane Stud?

    We changed our breeding plan five years ago to bred event-type horses. The aim is to breed good models with good temperament, conformation and step, using mares with good pedigree to produce foals with a high percentage of thoroughbred blood. We’ll increase our thoroughbred percentage, where needed, with our new thoroughbred stallion, September Storm.

    DS Are You With Me’s first crop are now four-year-olds. Very trainable and showing good ability, they are being produced by Matt Gordon, Nicola Ennis and Paul Beecher.

    6. Embryo transfer, ICSI, etc. – what are your thoughts on modern breeding techniques?

    Embryo transfer is a great tool when used in the right circumstances. It is very expensive and should only be used on exceptional mares. As for ICSI, it is a promising development, particularly for stallions and mares with rare bloodlines.

    7. Irish show jumping breeding – on the rise?

    I do think that Irish show jumping breeding is on the rise and should continue to do so. The standard of mare is improving all the time and we are seeing more mares being used with performance pedigree. This will continue into the future; mare owners have greater access to well-bred stallions improving the mare herd all the time.

    Using myself an example, I bought a filly foal eight years ago from my uncle, Sean Murphy. She is a half-sister to Murchu, who jumped 1.60m and her first foal by DS Are You With Me took part in his first competition last week. It is a long game but I feel it was worth the wait as he looks promising. He is being produced by Nicola Ennis and she is very happy with him.

    Horse Sport Ireland has been working hard on educating and incentivising breeders to improve their mares and to think more about their sire choice. This is also evident in the sales ring as foals, people are getting paid more for the better pedigree.

    I also think we have some very good, well-bred sires in Ireland and they should be supported. If they don’t get the good mares, they have no chance of breeding a good horse.

    We are very lucky in Ireland with the amount of very good riders we have based here to produce our young horses, but if we don’t breed them, they can’t ride them.

    8. Proudest moment as a producer?

    The day Hannah Gordon and Black Shadow won the RDS Connemara performance championship was a day that I will never forget. My second proudest moment was when myself and Shaun Murphy showed Strictly Come Bouncing for Sean Ruane to win the RDS Irish Draught mare championship.

    9. Best advice you ever got?

    From Matt Gordon: “It doesn’t matter how big the horses is, if he has the heart to win”.

    Another quote that sticks out for me was from Alex Duffy. He said: “When you go in the gates of the RDS main arena on a horse, you don’t want to get to the middle of the arena on a pony.”

    What I took from this was that some horses buckle under the pressure of a big day and atmosphere. Why this is memorable is it reminds me of when our Connemara stallion Black Shadow, bred by Raymond Conneely, entered the RDS ring with Hannah Gordon, he grew with the atmosphere and was a horse by the time he reached the middle of the arena.

    10. Best advice I can give?

    There is a job for every horse. Your job is to find it and don’t be afraid to ask. I found this out when I went to Arena UK with my good friend, the late Deirdre Scott and we saw a wall-eyed, red and white pony win a championship.