WE live on a farm in Co Limerick where we combine a calf to beef enterprise, tillage, forestry and horses. The prefix Ballycahane came from the farm name, it’s a growing business that seems to be going in the right direction.

As I’ve always had an interest in riding, the horse enterprise has grown to include a large all-weather arena and a cross-country course where we host one-day events for Eventing Ireland, SJI, Pony Club etc. We get good numbers at events, including a few point-to-points, which we’ve held with great success with runners being sold very well in Aintree and Cheltenham afterwards, topping the sales in 2019 and 2020.

My paternal grandmother Marigold Furnell was always interested in horses, having been a keen breeder. She was also involved in the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) and the Limerick Lady championship at Limerick Show. On my mother’s side, Corney Grogan, her paternal grandfather, hunted the Carlow hounds and her grandmother was a great showjumper.

We have the land, my father Gerald has the talent to make any fence he wishes. I have the experience of riding around tracks, my sister Amelia does all the office work and Mum, Carolyn does the decoration and catering. So it really is a family enterprise that we all enjoy.

1. Proudest moment as a breeder?

We have only been involved in the breeding industry for the last few years but getting a live, healthy foal always puts a smile on your face. As everyone knows, it cannot work out so rosy all the time.

2. Tell us about Ballycahane Flower Power (Diamond Clover – Beverly Hill, by Euphemism. Breeder: William White), one of the few Irish-based broodmares to have completed Badminton?

‘Flower’ came from Danny and Michelle Dulohery from Kilguilkey as a six-year-old. To my knowledge she came through Goresbridge and didn’t break the bank at the time I purchased her. She was a weak, raw six-year-old that wasn’t broken too long.

She was your typical traditional Irish Draught-thoroughbred cross; tough as nails with a heart of gold, the type that is hard to get anymore. Her best result would have been sixth place at Tattersalls 2016 in the four-star long.

Badminton (2017) was probably the one of few events she really enjoyed. From start to finish, you could tell she just loved being there. She had the heart to dig deep when you needed it, and the toughness to get up and go.

I have a Pointilliste two-year-old filly off her, a yearling by Diarado and waiting patiently for a Vivant. The two-year-old may be kept and put in foal, depending on how she turns out as a three/four-year-old.

We’re looking to go back to a thoroughbred this year, just to keep the TIHA going and blood in her breeding.

3. How many broodmares do you have?

I’m lucky to have three very good broodmares that I competed up to a certain level.

Ballycahane Flower Power completed two five-star events; Pau and Badminton as well as her sixth place at Tattersalls. Traditionally bred, she is by a Draught stallion out of a thoroughbred mare so breeding-wise, you have a brain, heart and soundness. You can go anyway you would like.

She has a smashing Diarado yearling that looks to tick a lot of boxes.

Ballycahane Lucy (Harlequin Du Carel - Ringmoylan Beauty, by Coevers Diamond Boy) is a half-sister to Willunga, competed by Kevin McNab (AUS) and on the list for the Olympics this year.

She herself competed at Le Lion d’Angers as a seven-year-old in 2017 and won a couple of national intermediates. She has a couple of very nice youngsters, the best being a Jaguar Mail two-year-old that looks the business.

Ballycahane Silver Vixen (Gurraun Zidane – Maggy’s Diamond, by Crosstown Dancer) is the third mare. A full Draught that competed to intermediate, did a few FEI events and won at novice level.

She wouldn’t be your typical Draught type being a big, blood but strong type that galloped and jumped. She won a lot of showing and working hunter classes before taking third in the Draught performance class at Dublin Horse Show. She has a smashing Lucarelli yearling that might be kept for breeding, depending on how she turns out.

My plan for the future would be to keep and breed quality over quantity with three premium broodmares like these. The oldest youngstock are two-year-olds so I’ll more than likely hold onto them until they are four-year-olds to see how they turn out.

Dominic Furnell and his champion Ballycahane Silver Vixen at Charleville Show in 2017 \ Susan Finnerty

4. Favourite broodmare?

Favourite would have to be Flower, but in saying that I would be equally fond of all three as I have competed all of them right from the start to finish. So you do get sentimental about them, and it is nice to breed a proper foal from something you know has guts and jump because you have sat on it.

5. Embryo transfer, ICSI, etc. What’s your views on such technology?

I did look into doing a few embryos off Flower last year and weighed everything up at the time. I was looking for a few recipient mares and in the end, I just said it would be easier and cheaper to put her in foal. I might try a few this year as she is 20 years young now.

I do think it is great for the business as you can retain good breeding and try to get the best out of a certain dam line that has competed to a high level.

6. How does breeding horses fit into your competition yard/hosting events?

They do clash coming up to certain events, but nothing too stressful.

Autumn would be the best time to fish around looking at videos of stallions. I’ve crossed the three mares with a good few different stallions and there isn’t one yet that I would give away. I am delighted with every foal so far.

You look at the shape, type, blood, temperament and try to breed it in or out of the mare. But most of the time you just don’t know.

For handling stock, I’ve all my two-year-olds driven and backed, they were bitted and driven for two weeks before I sat on them for three times. And I will do that with every one I breed as two-year-olds so they get the proper handling from the beginning. I can go out to any of them, put on a headcollar and lead three in at a time or pare their feet in the paddock.

As someone who does a lot of breakers, there is nothing worse than a person dropping a three/four-year-old in to break that has barely had a headcollar put on. And once you wrestle with a 17hh beast for so many extra weeks, they can be more shy at paying the full livery! In my eyes, it makes more sense to handle them younger, before they get too big. The majority of breeders know which ones will be sharp or hard.

7. You’ve won the Euromillions jackpot. How would you spend the money on horses?

Build a few more arenas and expand the whole enterprise.

8. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

It’s a real family enterprise, we all do our bit when it comes to running events or doing foal watch. The only time I wouldn’t get too many volunteers is when I have to pare a hard one or catch a difficult hard fella! The breakers are very much less appealing to them. I have a very loyal yard manager called Evan who looks after the yard for me and I would be lost without him.

9. Best advice you were given?

Horse related, have them riding like clockwork from the ground before getting on them. “No horse is born nappy.” That was quoted to me by the late Billy Flavin who was a good mentor to me and in how to train a horse right from the start. He taught me a lot on how to get the best out of a difficult horse and to put them on the right track.

10. Would you expand on the number of horses you breed?

No, I think as a breeder you have to breed quality over quantity. At the end of the day, it has to pay and not run at a loss. As a country that produces a lot of horses for export, you have to keep the quality high, if it’s racing, SJI, eventing, etc.