SITUATED in Foulksmills, Co Wexford, Garryrichard Stud is a name synonymous with National Hunt success and now, more recently, sport horse success. Owned by the Hickey family, this business began in the 1870s and boasts an enviable record. A family of stallion masters, these stables were home to top stallions such as Arctic Slave, Over The River, Callernish, Lord Americo and Jeremy. The late Michael Hickey laid the foundation in Garryrichard and this level of excellence and success continues today, with his son, Denis and his grandsons, William and Patrick.

Although the fundamentals remain the same, there is a new look in Garryrichard Stud, as Denis, William and Patrick have also developed a very successful sport horse breeding line, which has seen them produce horses to compete at the highest level. GRS Lady Amaro is a prime example. One of the first sport horse foals born in Garryrichard, by Amaretto D’Arco and out of a thoroughbred mare, Legal Lady, who was by Over The River, GRS Lady Amaro was campaigned successfully by Patrick up to two-star level. She was then sold to his cousin, Mark McAuley. She has gone on to represent Ireland on Nations Cup teams in Hickstead and she finished second in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva and more recently was third in the Global Champions Tour in Doha.

Patrick Hickey competing GRS Lady Amaro in Oliva 2021

If all be known, this change of direction was not unexpected, as the boys’ grandfather, Michael, also had an interest in sport horses. He was the founding member of the Wexford Show Jumping Association and he served on the RDS Equestrian Committee. His record in the hunter championships at the RDS is second to none, winning the Supreme Hunter title on six occasions.

On their mother’s side, William and Patrick’s grandfather, Billy McKeever, was Master of the Louth Foxhounds and competed at Badminton.

Denis Hickey Issues instructions to Sean Flanagan \ Healy Racing

Good foundation

Both William and Patrick and their sister Anna, competed successfully on ponies. After school, William went to work for Alex Jayne in America. This position was secured by Declan Orpen. There, he broke and rode young horses and competed on the circuit. He remained with the Jaynes for three years. He then went to the Jacob family before returning to Ireland with the outbreak of Covid.

Patrick also gained valuable experience abroad. He spent a summer with Dave Quigley. In that time, he represented Ireland on the Junior European team in Slovakia and was a member of the Junior team that finished second in Hagen on Quandrina, who is now one of their foundation breeding mares. He then spent nine months with his cousin, the aforementioned Mark McAuley. Having spent another six months with Shane Breen, he then returned home to Garryrichard to set up business with William. In working abroad, the two brothers have gained valuable experience and have built up many contacts in the show jumping world.

Quality mares

The business continues to expand every year and the stud is now home to 17 quality mares. There is also an exciting bunch of young horses, some home-bred and others bought in. The aim is to build up a strong base of dam lines. The brothers are believers in the embryo transfer method, as it allows them to keep competing good young mares, while breeding from them at the same time.

They have much success in producing and selling young stock. The best of these is the already mentioned GRS Lady Amaro.

Another success is the Emerald mare Emelle, owned by Catriona Redmond. She had much success on the home front and competed up to four-star level and also won a two-star Grand Prix on the Sunshine Tour last year. On the strength of this, she was sold on to compete in America. The mare Silverteal Indigo, also by Emerald, finished third in the six-year-old final in the RDS. Based on this result, she was chosen to represent Ireland at the World Young Horse Championship in Lanaken, where she finished second in the six-year- old consolation class and has since been sold to compete in Denmark.

High standard

For William and Patrick, Ireland is the best place to produce young stock and to do it slowly. You are never too far from a good show jumping centre and there are plenty of competitive classes and leagues. Recently, they have opted to travel to the Sunshine Tour in Spain in January/February and return to Ireland in March, when the season kicks off.

William believes: “In Spain, we can jump so many different classes with the young horses and older horses alike. It is also a good shop window, as there are lots of clients there. When the season gets going in Ireland, we have lots of classes to choose from, starting with the Studbook series, right up to the Premier level,” he adds.

“The standard of producing Sport Horses in Ireland has risen dramatically in the last 10 years. You need only look at Irish produced horses competing at the top level and on the Nations Cup teams around the world.”

William Hickey with the first sport horse to stand at Garryrichard Stud in Co Wexford: Casago II, who was fully approved at Cavan \ Susan Finnerty

As already mentioned, Garryrichard has been known for its stallions over the years. At the moment, Hillstar and Almighwar are the resident National Hunt stallions. Now, for the first time in decades, it is home to a sport horse stallion, Casago 11. He came to Garryrichard as a breeding stallion and has recently returned to the ring. This horse boasts an impressive pedigree by Casall Ask x Carthago x Caletto 1. He is a full-brother to the five-star Grand Prix horse, Scuderia 1919 Casago. His dam Larthago competed successfully to 1.50m level, winning 33 FEI classes.

Casago 11 is a very talented horse in his own right. He was overall seven-year-old Belgian Champion in 2020, before being sold to Shane Sweetnam. Under the command of Patrick Hickey, he is competing at the Sunshine Tour at the moment and recently finished fourth in a 1.45m and third in a ranking class. It is hoped to step him up further, before he comes home for the start of the breeding season. Last season, he covered a nice book of mares and the Hickeys are looking forward to seeing his foals this year.

For sure, all the ingredients are there to see continued success at Garryrichard. The breeding knowledge that the family have, along with the fresh eyes of William and Patrick, will see this side of the business grow. Their awareness of what makes a top sport horse, along with their contacts, will no doubt see them produce many more champions. Without a doubt, the future of Garryrichard is in safe hands.