I first got into horses when I was a young lad, around seven or eight years old. P.J. Tonery worked in the County Council and he had a horse called Jack, which he allowed me to ride. I used to wait all day for him to come home from work, so I could jump back up again. P.J. was my first real influence I suppose and, from there, I never looked back.

I broke and competed horses for years, starting many of them off show jumping in the winter leagues, then competing around the country. I’d have to say Dublin was my favourite show and the aim with many owners was to qualify a young horse for Dublin. And to hopefully sell that horse there too!

I was second, third, fourth and fifth in the Dublin main arena, never quite just got to the top of the line-up!

My favourite horse was Magilla, who won five Grands Prix for me and a IR£20 note from Gerry Mullins, after he bet that he’d beat my time in the Grand Prix at Ballinasloe. I won that bet too!

We started breeding horses here at home in Claregalway and the next stage was to stand a number of stallions.

I currently have a very promising pony stallion called HSF Lucky Boy (VDL Good Luck - Archady Ivy, by Modesto. Breeder: Thomas Jarlaith Walsh). Then there’s a young three-year-old stallion called HSF Cornet Nabab (Cornet Obolensky - Kigali van de Bisschop, by Nabab de Reve. Breeder: John Lowry). HSF Cornet Nabab’s motherline is from the top sales family in Europe.

And I have a 10-year-old stallion called HSF Cardento Royale (Cardento Royale - Beechfort Beauty, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Patrick Harvey), who has competed up to 1.40m level.

Owen Horan

1. Proudest moment as a breeder?

A few years back, a lady came to me with a mare. Unfortunately, the mare didn’t have a great look, she had sweet itch and many other problems and the lady asked if I would be willing to take the mare for free, because she didn’t want her to end up in the factory.

I agreed and covered her with my stallion HSF Boswell Mr Heartbreaker (Guidam - Whitney van de Nordheuvel. Breeder: Gerrard John Gorman). She had a colt foal, which was brought to the sales, but nobody would buy him, because they didn’t like the look of him.

However, I could see there was great jumping ability there. Eventually, he was bought by Mark Sullivan, who later re-sold him and that colt foal, by the name of Cooley Network, went on to great success in England. Amongst his wins was the seven-year-old final with Adrian Whiteway at the Bolesworth young horse championships. He also qualified for the seven-year-old final at Lanaken in 2019 for Selina Milnes (GBR).

2. You’re based in Claregalway, another of those Irish areas with a strong equine heritage?

You can’t mention Claregalway’s equine heritage without mentioning the Duffy family. Both Paul and Mark are very good riders and it’s great to see the genetics running strong, as Mark’s daughter Isabel is a talented up-and-coming rider. And, of course, Paul’s son Michael, who is competing at the very top level internationally.

Yes, I remember Mike Kenny riding Tell Of Clover at the Rockmount winter league. She was a very good Clover Hill mare that later went to Switzerland and is the granddam of James Kann Cruz, bred just down the road in Cummer.

He’s not from Claregalway, but I’d have to say I’d rate Francis Connors, who rode James Kann Cruz before he was sold to Shane Sweetnam, as a great horseman. Stylish too, he just gets results from any horse he rides.

HSF Lucky Boy progeny Creganna Smarty Pants was the champion pony eventing foal at the Horse Sport Ireland foal championships 2023 \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

3. How many broodmares do you have?

Currently, I have four mares, all by top international stallions: Mr Blue, Air Jordan, VDL Cardento and OBOS Quality. All the mares are in foal to our own stallion, HSF Cornet Nabab.

4. When do you sell your youngstock?

We sell all the horses off as foals.

5. HSF is your prefix. What’s your view on prefixes?

Prefixes are a good idea, because you can easily follow the progress of offspring.

6. Your go-to website/app/newspaper?

The Irish Field, of course!

7. If you could have bred any horse?

John Whitaker’s Milton.

8. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?

My daughter Cora is my right-hand woman. And I have two enthusiastic young apprentices, who show great promise (and keep me on my toes), my grandchildren: Chloe and Kai!

9. 2024 - Paris Olympics this summer. Any medal predictions?

I think the Irish team will do well and I believe they will come home with a medal, hopefully gold! I also expect CSF James Kann Cruz, bred by my very good friend Patrick Connolly, to make the Irish team.

10. An experience you never had but always wanted?

I would have loved the opportunity to ride in the Grand National... never say never!