I’VE lived in Grange, Killinick, Co Wexford since I was four. My father, Jack Lambert, has had stallions since he married my late mother, Ann Lambert (née Hickey). Dad had a great association with mom’s uncle Barty Hickey. Barty won the Croker Cup with two thoroughbred stallions: Knocklong Boy (1933) and Prince Rois (1964).

Father took over the reins then with the stallions Prince Rois and Kilmore Heather. Kilmore Heather covered Casting Vote (purchased while on holidays in Clare) and produced a mare called Grange Heather.

Grange Heather was covered by Prospect Pride, hoping for a filly, but instead produced Grange Bouncer. From there it all started for me.

1. Congratulations on winning the three-year-old performance final with Ashfield Bouncer (Killinick Bouncer – Derrane Lady, by Ard Grandpa. Breeder: Greg Conway), a grandson of Grange Bouncer. Was breeding Grange Bouncer your family’s proudest moment as horse breeders?

Yes, Grange Bouncer has changed our family’s lives. He has brought us to places we would never have dreamed of going otherwise.

2. Tell us more about Grange Bouncer.

The grandam of Grange Bouncer was Casting Vote. She was bought in Co Clare while we were on holidays there many years ago. Father brought her home and covered her with Kilmore Heather, an Irish Draught stallion he hunted and covered mares with for many years. The offspring of that cross was Grange Heather (1979).

Grange Heather produced a few nice performers by Loftus O’Neill’s stallions before Jack decided he would like another Irish Draught filly. Grange Heather was crossed with the Redinagh Stud’s Irish Draught stallion Prospect Pride. The resulting offspring was a colt called Grange Bouncer (1992).

Family and friends rode him up the ranks, doing everything, from eventing one week to hunting or hunt chasing another. He was so versatile anyone could ride him.

3. Unfortunately you lost Grange Bouncer’s son Killinick Bouncer earlier this year, however you now have a worthy successor in Ashfield Bouncer. Apart from him do you have any other stallions?

We have a home-bred six-year-old thoroughbred stallion called Jack The Robin, by Robin de la Maison out of a Gothland mare that has some great Cheltenham National Hunt pedigree.

We also have a 21-year-old Irish Draught half-brother to Grange Bouncer called Killinick Rebel (by Huntingfield Rebel). He is father’s pride and joy and he has hunted him since he was a young horse. Rebel does all the teasing. My father’s routine was to ride him around the farm, jumping banks and teasing mares.

4. How many broodmares do you currently have?

Many of the mares are related to the stallions standing at Grange, so I was in the process of changing my breeding herd. Due to the change I only had two broodmares in foal this last breeding season.

One is a Presenting mare, which has bred two winners and foaled a quality colt foal by Killinick Bouncer. The other mare is a half-sister to Killinick Bouncer, by Robin de la Maison. She had a filly by Killinick Rebel.

This year, I have a new breeding herd of mares. Four of them are thoroughbred mares in-foal to Ashfield Bouncer and four are traditional Irish mares (TIH) in-foal to Jack The Robin.

5. What type of horses do you aim to breed?

I love the traditional half-bred horse. A quality Irish Draught stallion crossed with a thoroughbred mare with a good temperament. The cross has a great temperament and are very versatile.

Some can come with a lot of quality for eventing and show jumping to a high standard. Some are more suited to hunting, riding club or pony club horses for the everyday rider.

6. What are your favourite bloodlines?

Grange Bouncer, Ard Grandpa, Puissance, Master Imp, Presenting, Stowaway and Luso.

7. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

Ado Moran has worked with us for many years when Grange Bouncer was standing at Grange. He is out in his own yard in Borris now, near Vincent Byrne’s yard, another great help. Ado does all my breakers and sales horses.

I also have family and close friends. We love bringing the young horses out, lunging over the banks – it’s great craic.

8. How do you feel sport horse breeding has changed since the days of Jack Lambert standing Prince Rois and Kilmore Heather?

Many in the industry are led astray with the foreign horse type; big foals, big trot and they develop early for quick money.

Not everyone is able to ride these horses. We need to get back to the traditional Irish horse from years ago, like Boomerang, Ryan’s Son, Cruising and Flexible and to get back to Irish Draught, thoroughbred and Connemara bloodlines.

The Traditional Irish Horse is nearly extinct.

9. What advice would you give a young breeder starting out?

Start out with a young mare that is quiet and a good temperament and easy to catch in the field.

I’ve spent hours trying to catch mares out in the fields and more jumping out of the crush when handling them.

Make sure she is light on her feet and it’s very important to have good hock action. Good breeding is a bonus.

10. Does Horse Sport Ireland do enough for breeders?

We need a person in Horse Sport Ireland that genuinely understands the Irish horse to get this show back on the road and stop entertaining the foreign horse at the expense of the traditional-bred.

They need to do more for the traditional Irish horse and Irish Draught breeders. They made Ireland famous and were the backbone of Ireland. The Connemara Pony is too. They are part of the old Irish Draught and one breed is as versatile as the other.

I would like the Traditional Irish Horse and Irish Draught to have a green passport with the Irish tricolour flag logo on it, and other breeds to have a different colour passport.

We need to make it easier to pass the traditional Irish stallion which are near extinction.

There are TIH/ID stallions that are not fully approved but should be approved over time as soon as they or their progeny prove their ability at a young age.

Automatic approval needs to happen sooner when a high percentage of these sires young progeny excel in their age group.

Sires that come to mind locally, that I love, are BGS Ocean View, Tullabeg Fusion and Masters Choice.

HSI don’t do enough for traditional Irish horse or Irish Draught breeders. I think HSI need to revise the schemes they have on offer for breeders and how they manage them. They need to better support the thoroughbred, Traditional Irish sport horse and Irish Draught mares and stallions.

The Traditional Irish Horse will be back if the genuine people work together and get proper breeding back on the road.