TULLABEG is where I live with my wife Wendy, Ruby (9) and Jake (7), who have just finished their first Island Pony Club Camp this week. I was born and reared in Barnadown with my younger brothers, Maurice, (himself and Felicity run Barnadown Showjumping) and Vin. He and wife Claire breed and produce successfully under the Kilcandra prefix.

My father was a great lover of horse breeding and in the early days, we walked our mares to the local stud, Darcys of Moneycross, where the great thoroughbred stallion Ozymandias stood. We also used Slyguff Stud, where Hattons stood King Of Diamonds and after that, we stood Kildalton King at Barnadown and we bred a lot of nice blood mares to him.

As children, we always had ponies, did a lot of hunting and went on to show jump. I always had an interest in horse breeding and when I moved to Tullabeg in 1986, I always kept a few stallions for my own use. So… that is where it all began, I suppose.

1. Congratulations on breeding Tullabeg Flamenco, a dream come true?

Oh yes, a breeders dream to breed a top horse to represent our country at the highest level. Flamenco was born in the early hours one misty morning, he was a big, long-legged, flashy boy from day one. His dun colour and white socks were an added bonus.

I loved him, anyone who came to the yard had to visit the field for me to show him off. I admired him playing in the field, an elegant, playful, balanced cheeky foal.

2. A double bonus as you also stand his sire, Tullabeg Fusion?

We are very proud of Fusion. He produces very special, brave, intelligent horses. I bought Tullabeg Fusion at Goresbridge from his breeder Wilfred Atkinson and he stood out for me on the day; a lovely model, not too big and a really nice pedigree.

His sire Remington Clover is by Rimilis xx out of Clover Di, by Clover Hill, who, incidentally, is a full-sister to Ballinakill Clover, who bred many Grand Prix show jumpers. The grandam [Paddies Pride] was a King Of Diamonds Grade A mare out of a Final Problem xx mare.

Fusion’s dam, Ballygarvan Flight, is a dun mare by Errigal Flight, himself by King Of Diamonds too.

Fusion is here since a foal. I’ve had to turn down many a euro for him but never contemplated selling him. He jumped several gates as a two-year-old to get to mares and that was the start of his stud career. I covered away on my own mares and never advertised him at stud, until I was approached after his offspring started to compete.

He covers naturally. We have tried every trick in the book to succeed down the AI route. He has tested our patience but was always forgiven! It’s the clever Irish brain, I think. He just prefers to be left alone and we are quite happy. If mare owners really want him, they will travel.

Fusion winters out with one or two of his mares and is a very easily kept boy.

3. Tell us about Flamenco’s dam.

Tullabeg Heidi was bred here. She is a blood type, super-moving 15.3hh mare. Her sire Ardenteggle Sir was also bred here out of a thoroughbred mare. Heidi has proven herself to be a great little broodmare. Some of her very successful offspring by Fusion include Tullabeg Vision and Tullabeg Tango. Both competed at three-star level. Tullabeg Bolero is moving up the ranks as a top dressage horse in the USA. These are all full-siblings of Flamenco.

4. Proudest moment as a breeder?

Well, sure this is it. I don’t think I could be any prouder. Anything from here on is just out of this world and an added bonus. We’ve been very fortunate that from day one Flamenco has found himself in professional hands.

I broke him myself, Marie Bagland backed him and got him going nice and slowly. Neilus O’Donoghue then approached me to see if I had any event types, he subsequently rode him and told David Bogossian about him.

David bought him from me and Meabh Bolger started the roll of success with five one-star wins on the trot with Flamenco. Sam then took up the reins, and, together with wife Sparkles, has produced him professionally and carefully to date.

We are very grateful to everyone who played a role in getting Flamenco to this level. Myself and David have enjoyed lengthy conversations along the journey since Flamenco left Tullabeg and will enjoy many more, please God.

5. Are you going to Tokyo?

No, unfortunately not, but we will be there in spirit and wish Sam, Sparkles, Flamenco, David and the Bogossian family a safe and successful trip. They are a super team and we will be watching closely.

6. How many mares and foals do you currently have?

We breed 10-12 mares every year and usually keep the youngstock until three-year-olds. Alongside Tullabeg Fusion, we stand Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet, Hiello and for 2021, Jacadello. The horse breeding season is very busy for myself and Wendy but we really enjoy it.

7. Science, narrowing the odds, luck, good choices – what are your thoughts on horse breeding?

Horse breeding, in my opinion, is a lot to do with correct decision making, deciding what you wish to breed, deciding on a nice mare, matching her to the correct sire, looking after them as best you can and then hope that luck is on your side, they turn out well and fall into the right hands, etc.

8. “It takes a team.” Who’s on yours?

Myself and Wendy run the yard together. It is very, very busy during the breeding season. We have brilliant support from Wendy’s mother, who is always on hand to deliver semen, do school runs, cook dinners or absolutely anything at the drop of a hat. We wouldn’t manage without her.

Rose O’Connor is helping us with yard duties this year, she is great with the stallions.

We are very lucky and grateful to have Austin Fanning as our reproductive vet. He provides the best possible service and is an integral part of our day here every day during the season.

9. Best advice you ever got?

Be critical and realistic about your stock and judge them as if you wanted to buy them. And don’t always follow the crowd.

10. What is the most frustrating aspect of breeding sport horses in Ireland?

Going to the trouble of breeding and carefully naming your foals, only for their name to be changed without your consent, prefix or not.

This, in my opinion, should not be permitted. We have paid for the naming and this should be the name for life. HSI should not permit this unless by consent of the breeder.

Often, by accident, you find out that your horse has been renamed, why name them in the first place if this is the practice?

Best of luck Sam and Flamenco, the ‘Big Yellow Horse for Tiggy’ in Tokyo.