LISSAVA Stud Farm is a family-run business, based in Cahir, Co Tipperary, run by myself, my partner Liam and sons, Jack (17), Alex (14) and Ryan (5). I run a number of businesses on the farm, mainly breeding and producing show jumpers.

I also run a livery business, mainly targeting professional clients, i.e. trainers/riders who wish to rent a stable barn run their operation from here, as we have top facilities to do that.

I’ve always been heavily involved in horse breeding from a young age. I suppose the love for it was passed down from my father, who also enjoyed horse breeding, and buying and selling a few.

I follow the show jumping sport regularly and take a mental note of different bloodlines. I’ve had some of the most sought-after bloodlines in the world, and have had great success in the show jumping breeding game, such as LVS Vigo who sold at PSI Auctions in 2022 for €1 million and is a half-brother to my current RDS champion Cutting Edge Too.

Also, I bred Ollie Fletcher’s horse Hello William, formerly known as Willie Wonka LVS Z. He’s by our own stallion Waldo Van Dungen out of a Stakkato mare.

I travel every weekend to shows with my son Alex, who is competitively show jumping in the 148cm pony ranks and Alex hopes to make a career in horses in the future.

1. Congratulations, a great run for Lissava in recent weeks. Firstly, Cutting Edge Too, winner of the Dublin five-year-old final and on the Irish team at Lanaken this week - tell us more about her?

The RDS this year was a great achievement, Cutting Edge Too (stable name Diva) is a very special mare indeed. Her dam Cutting Edge competed to 1.50m herself before retiring to breed.

Looking back on her record, she was competed by some very famous riders - Henrik Von Eckermann, Cian O’Connor and Roelof Bril - up the ranks.

Her daughter Cutting Edge Too, won both the RDS five-year-old championship and the Broodmare Futurity Championship in Dublin this year. She has now arrived in Lanaken for the World Breeding Championships this week, so fingers crossed for a successful and enjoyable show.

2. “Going to Lanaken” is a near-rite of passage now for connections of young Irish-bred show jumpers.

Lanaken is a fantastic show, well-run, and gives the Irish breeder an opportunity to see what’s out there! I had a horse compete there before and it has always been one of my favourite shows to date.

3. Another successful home-bred this summer has been Hello William. What’s his background story?

Hello William was bred from a Stakkato mare, only a four-year-old when she went in foal to Waldo Van Dungen. The dam was not a proven mare in the sport, but really showed serious jumping ability herself and I decided to enter her into the breeding programme early.

He was not the most handsome of foals. I remember the huge ears, he definitely wouldn’t have sold in a foal auction for large money! He was broken as a three-year-old, sold then at four and went to the UK. A quirky individual to break, always looking back suspiciously at the rider! But kind and willing and showed plenty of talent.

4. Last but not least, Cavalier Crystal was best of the Irish-breds at Burghley CCI5* recently and is by a Lissava stallion.

It was fantastic to see Jack Of Diamonds, our former resident stallion (the son of Irco Mena), sire another eventing success story: Cavalier Crystal, bred by Thomas Horgan.

He always crossed well with Cavalier mares and here again, it worked its magic. Jack also sired Rioghan Rua, competed by Cathal Daniels and stood with us for four/five years before returning to his homeland in Sweden to his breeder.

5. Out of all those, that proudest breeder moment?

Proudest breeder moment was probably this year with Hello William winning the gold at the European young rider championships and also the RDS win with Cutting Edge Too meant a lot also.

6. Sourcing horses - another part of the business?

I also purchase young horses to produce and sell, such as Guinness (Harry Allen) and Glengarra Wood (Irish Army Equitation School), to name but a few. Buying and selling horses and ponies are a large part of this jigsaw also.

7. Prefixes, your opinion?

Regarding prefixes, I’ve had them in the past, but to be honest, a lot of my horses were lost in translation, especially in the USA. Once they went FEI, the name was changed and they were harder to track. So I don’t get to hung up on the prefixes any more.

They can change the name, but they can’t change the breeder on the passport and that’s what counts. I didn’t put one on Cutting Edge Too, and maybe I should, but I’m still her breeder and owner, so that’s good enough for me.

8. If you could have bred any famous horse, which one?

At the moment, I think United Touch S has to be a horse I wouldn’t mind having in the yard! I’d like to have bred him or Ermitage Kalone, and I do like Kim Emmen’s horse, Imagine.

9. It takes a team - who’s on yours?

My team is my family. Liam and the boys are a great support - we kill each other at times, but we are all in it together.

I always get great advice from my friend Tina Roche, a vet in Athenry. She is always there for advice, or reads x-rays and it’s nice to have her in my corner!

I have to thank Shane Goggins and the incredible ride he gave the mare in the RDS. He has produced her so professionally throughout the year, it’s a credit to him. And Coen Williams, who produced her in 2023, when she qualified for the RDS as a four-year-old and was placed in Simmonscourt.

10. A special arrival at Lissava shortly?

We’ve an exciting embryo coming from Holland next week and, please God, will be born alive and healthy next year. It’s a filly by Chacco-Blue from a half-sister of Explosion W.

The plan is that this will be added to our future breeding programme for Alex and his brothers to build on going forward. Bit far away to plan, but good to have one coming to add to the bunch!