I’M from Kilmovee, near Ballaghadereen in Co Mayo and work as a shuttering carpenter. Like a lot of breeders and my father James, I’ve had a lifelong interest in horses and would hope that my two sons - Lee and Robbie - would continue that tradition here at Kilmovee Stud.

1. Congratulations, you bred Kilmovee White Lion, another Class 1 Irish Draught stallion at Cavan this year. Tell us more about him.

Kilmovee White Lion is a three-year-old quality Irish Draught stallion. His sire is Lionwood Kinsales Lad (O’Learys Irish Diamond – Bonnie Belle Supreme, by Lake View Pride. Breeder: Elizabeth Freeman), a Gold Merit (dressage) and Silver Merit (show jumping) stallion.

Kilmovee White Lion’s dam – Beechmore White Carnation – is by Moylough Bouncer (Grange Bouncer – Another June Day, by Grey Macha. Breeder: William Bourke) and she bred two RDS champions for us in 2019.

She was bred here, as was White Lion’s granddam Kilmovee White Carnation (Carrabawn View – Knockatoher Lass, by Knave of Hearts).

At the recent inspections in Cavan, Kilmovee White Lion gained Class 1 with excellent scores: 85 (conformation), 80 (Irish Draught type and walk/trot) and 75 (athleticism).

He will stand alongside two other Irish Draught stallions here: Kilmovee Lionhawk (Harkaway Lionhawk - Kilmovee White Carnation) and his half-brother Kilmovee White Hero (Crannagh Hero - Kilmovee White Carnation), approved as a Class 1 in 2016. Both were bred by dad, James.

An All-Ireland Irish Draught champion as a foal, Kilmovee Lionhawk won the RID stallion class at the Equifestival in Cavan and has 43 SJI points.

His first crop of foals were born in 2022 and they include Seamus Sloyan’s third-placed filly at Dublin Horse Show and the Western Region Irish Draught foal champion at Oughterard.

Kilmovee White Hero bred our All-Ireland Irish Draught colt foal champion in 2021: Kilmovee Castana Hero and he went on to stand the overall Irish Draught champion foal that day.

2. Proudest breeder moment?

That was probably winning my first All-Ireland in 2012 with a colt foal by Creggan Emperor out of Moneenroe View, by Carrabawn View.

Another proud moment was Dublin Horse Show Week in 2019 when Beechmore White Carnation had two winners: her filly foal by Harkaway Lionhawk won the Irish Draught filly foal class and her Diamond Discovery yearling filly won her class too.

A Good Dublin: Seamus, holding Kilmovee Lady Hawk and James with Beechmore White Carnation at Dublin in 2019 when they had two winners \ Susan Finnerty

3. Your template for an Irish Draught?

We aim to breed nice, quality well-bred Draught youngsters and then try to get them good homes where they can reach their full potential.

4. Biggest challenge facing Irish Draught breeders?

The uncertainty of the market. It’s hard to know if the foals will be in high demand or not at weaning. We sell both from home or at sales, such as Cavan or the Ireland West show/sale.

5. Kilmovee is yours, thoughts on prefixes?

I think prefixes are a good job as it’s nice to be able to follow horses that we bred in their new homes.

We’ve sold Irish Draughts to the UK and France, so it’s a big help when the new owner keeps the prefix and their name to track their progress.

6. Internet – a good or bad servant?

For me, I think it’s a helpful tool for advertising stallions at stud and horses for sale.

It has its fun side too, like when we put up a post on the Kilmovee Stud Facebook page in July 2022 that Dallas actor Patrick Duffy had called looking for a foal!

He was in Co Mayo looking for his family roots, as his family emigrated from the area in the 1800s, and he saw a Lionwood Kinsales Lad colt foal in the field. We named the foal Bobby after his famous character Bobby Ewing and that foal is now Kilmovee White Lion!

Lee was the ‘tour guide’ that day and then Patrick invited us all to the local pub, also called Duffys, for a few drinks.

So that’s one way the internet can be a bit of good craic, instead of all the negative side.

7. If you could have bred any horse - Irish Draught or any breed - which one?

It would have to be the Irish Draught stallion Carrabawn View (Mountain View - Sea View Lass, by Colman. Breeder: Sebastian King).

He was a real quality stallion who passed on his exceptional temperament to his youngsters and bred some lovely mares. Several of the mares here at Kilmovee are from the Carrabawn View line.

8. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?

There’s my father James, myself, my wife Aoife and then, over the last few years, my sons Lee and Robbie have taken a keen interest in the horses. Lee started off showing in a young handler class with his pony at Ballina Show in 2023 and then had his first day showing an Irish Draught at the Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) show in Ballinasloe.

He showed Lackagh Windgap, a very gentle mare and she went great for him. They came third in the class, so hopefully that’s the third generation of Duffys that will carry on breeding and showing Irish Draughts.

9. Breeding Irish Draughts – would you do it all over again?

Yes, of course. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my spare time. It’s a way of life at this stage with plenty of challenges but also always something good to look forward to.

10. Each week’s guest breeder’s own question – what’s yours?

Is the price of everything associated with keeping horses driving out the smaller breeders?