SOME 30 years ago, Michael Walsh and his son Martin travelled from West Clare to Goresbridge, where they spotted and secured a three-year-old chesnut filly.

Traditionally bred by local man John Doyle, their new purchase was a daughter of the great Laughtons Flight, and the first recorded foal out of the Sky Boy-sired Kyle Flower. This foray proved to be a fortuitous one, as not only did the filly turn out to represent Ireland as a show jumper, she significantly generated the now famous Shannondale prefix.

Named Shannon Dale, given that the Walsh family home is situated on the mouth of the River Shannon, and in a dale or valley between two hills, the mare her bestowed title to a raft of international performers, as well as the stud which produced them. At the time of writing there are now well over 100 Shannondale horses registered on the British Eventing website, while a further glut of their exports feature in America.

The Walsh family have farmed in this idyllic place on the scenic Loop Head peninsula for three generations. Like most farms in Ireland at the time, horses were purely there to do the work and it wasn’t until the middle of the last century that young Michael Walsh garnered a passion for sport horses.

According to his son Martin, his father had caught the horse bug from a young age, and as soon as he was able, was travelling the country sourcing foals, both privately and from Goresbridge. “It wouldn’t have been unusual for him buy 10 or 12 at a time,” commented Martin. “Importantly, he was always a progressive breeder and producer and, recognising their potential market, was one of the first to start buying foals by Cavalier Royale.”

Michael’s wife Mary (nee O’Shea) from nearby Kilkee, was also steeped in equestrian history, being the niece of Sonny Conway who stood the great Irish Draught sire stallion Tara (the damsire of Clover Hill). The couple had three children, Ciara, Martin and Brian, who all worked on the farm and helped with the dairy herd. In addition to raising her family, Mary milked the cows, and according to Martin, “kept the home fires burning while Michael was on the road, and is an invaluable part of the place to this day.”

While there were a few broodmares around in the 1980s and Michael bred and stood the young stallion Atlantic Cruise, his love remained firmly with show jumping, and he was (and still is!) an astute spotter of talent. Of course, the original mare Shannon Dale stands out, and Martin recalls the day at Goresbridge when they saw her for the first time. “My father was in love with her from day one,” he said. “We liked everything about her – especially her quality and her jump.”

Once broken in by Martin, the mare enjoyed a great competition career with Joan Greene, and later when leased to the Irish Army Equitation School, she represented Ireland in numerous Nations Cup teams under Lt Shane Carey. At the same time, her pedigree was also strengthening as her three younger siblings – Mrs Quinn, Laughtons Dale and Laughtons Elite – also reached international status. Since retiring, she has bred five foals, with the Walsh family retaining the only filly.

Among Michael’s other purchases from those times was the smart Day Dream St. Ghyvan Z, who was sourced at the Zangersheide auction in Holland. Well-bred by Darco out of a Ramiro Z mare, Day Dream was campaigned for Michael by Paul O’Shea, as was the smart Shannondale Macalla (1.50m) by Cavalier Royale. Other good buys of the time by the same sire include the American- based Shannondale Truman (1.60m) as well as the Irish Olympic event horse Shannondale Legend (aka Kilkishen), who was piloted in Beijing by Geoff Curran.

The story gathered pace when, two years after that first visit to Holland, Michael got back in touch with Frank Ghysens who had bred Day Dream St. Ghyvan. He travelled to his farm to see his stock, and despite being told that there was a waiting list of several years, Michael booked a colt foal from a stunning mare named Scarlette Van Het Meerveld (Voltaire x Ramiro Z).

Picking up the tale, Martin explains: “When the foal was born, we made the journey back to Holland together and decided instantly to buy him.” This foal became Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan Z or just Sarco as he is known at home. The pair also bought a grey colt by Cassini named Cascaletto St Ghyvan Z and both travelled to the Shannondale Stud in September 2001.

The plan for the duo at that time was initially to ride and produce them, and as three-year-olds, both were sent forward to the HSI stallion inspections where they were accepted and approved for use as stallions in what was then the S1 (now NA1) category (stallions who passed the inspection, vetting, and X-ray criteria).

Young horses enjoying life at Shannondale Stud on the Loop Head peninsula

Injury strikes

Shortly after these inspections, disaster struck, when Sarco injured himself badly on the horse walker. “He had kicked back and put his hind leg through the heavy grade steel mesh,” explained Martin. “It’s a testament to his temperament that he stood still to allow himself to be cut out of the paddle. He did so much damage that day it precluded him from ever having a competitive career.”

Sarco’s recovery was aided by veterinary surgeon Fergal Hennessy, and making use of the ocean on their doorstep, Martin stood with him in the sea.

“This was before the days of wetsuits,” he recalled. “I stood there every day in a pair of shorts in the worst weather imaginable, but he did get better to the point where he could have a covering career. We decided to let him cover at the back end of the summer in July, and Shannondale Oso (out of a Chopan mare) was the very first Sarco son born on the farm.” Oso went on to jump to 1.45m with British international Holly Smith (GB), and was still eventing in England well into his late teens.

The family were so delighted with Sarco’s first crop of foals they made what proved to be a life-changing decision to expand their breeding operation. “If Sarco hadn’t been hurt, we probably would never have started breeding,” confirmed Martin. “Now it’s a passion – we have around 20 broodmares and its crazy!” Sarco’s travelling companion Cascaletto also had an active covering career for a few years before going on to become a 1.60m horse with Paul O’Shea. Among his successful progeny are the five-star event horses Kiltubrid Rhapsody (Mark Todd) and Shannondale Quest (David Doel), as well as the four-star performer Shannondale Vintage and the puissance show jumping specialist Shannondale Linnet.

Elizabeth Power and Shannondale Mari (ISH) on their way to eighth place in the six-year-old competition at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2019 at Le Lion d’Angers in France. The horse was bred by Martin Walsh and is owned by Sarah Hughes \ Pam Cunningham Irish Eventing Times

Expanding business

Back home in Co Clare, the operation at the home farm was expanding. Having inherited his father’s love of horses, and having ridden ponies, broken and produced and showed the four-year-olds, Martin was by now a vital cog in the business. He had also completed a degree in Equine Studies in University of Limerick, and having enjoyed a two-year travel break, during which time he journeyed to Asia and Australia, he returned to take over the reins from Michael and Mary.

Within a few years, Martin met his future wife Pat, who as a purchasing executive, had just returned from working in America. A local girl from a farming background in Miltown Malbay, the two families had known each other for years, although Martin admitted, “Although I knew her sisters, I didn’t know much about Pat.” He said: “It wasn’t until one day I was picking up a three-year-old we had bought from her father, that we met in the yard.”

When the time came for Michael and Mary to retire, Martin and Pat moved into the family home. Bearing little resemblance to the farm of their ancestors, what is now known as the Shannondale Stud boasts a large sand arena, loose sheds for the mares and young horses, and a slatted house for the cattle. In addition, there are four stallion boxes, 20 stables built in two American barns and a purpose-built lunge ring, scanning shed and washroom.

“We also have four foaling boxes but when weather allows, we prefer if possible, to foal outside in the paddock which is floodlit,” added Martin.

Like his parents before him, Martin and Pat work hand-in-hand. They are still assisted by Michael, but it is Pat who actively deals with all the paperwork, the marketing side of the business and the all too important videos of the young horses.

The couple have a clear business plan, and while Michael’s first love would have been breeding for show jumping, Martin and Pat chose to develop the eventing breeding aspect of their business. “Our aim is to breed top-class event horses,” confirmed Martin.

“To this end we have built a robust selection of top-class broodmares with proven bloodlines and with as much thoroughbred blood as possible.” By necessity, the couple have a strict selection process for the mares they breed from. “They must be correct, straight, blood and have presence,” added Martin. “We buy them based on the mare themselves, usually looking at the book second. We are vehement that they have got to be gorgeous or it is pointless; no stallion can fix everything. You’ve got to be super critical of your own stock and identify the traits you want to grow. There are many attributes that make the Irish event horse the best in the world, and we are proud that our customers return for our proven sound families that we have developed over many years.”

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind, that social media and the internet has revolutionised the horse sales and from the Walsh’s perspective, online selling has made a major difference to their business. “Information is instant and long gone are the days of making videos and posting them to another country,” said Martin.

“The vetting environment has also completely changed. And now with copious amounts of X-rays being de rigueur, many good horses are getting lost along the way because of minor issues. We consider we have been lucky, given that Sarco breeds very sound, correct horses with good X-rays. It’s imperative to have it so when selling young horses with top potential.”

The large majority of the youngstock are sold as three-year-olds. Most usually they change hands to previous customers or through word of mouth, although some may go to the special event horse sales in the autumn.

Bill Levett (AUS) riding Shannondale Titan at Badminton in 2015 \ Kit Houghton Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Brexit challenges

One of the pleasures of the job is the ongoing relationship with their customers. “We are always happy to hear from clients or new owners of horses that have passed through Shannondale Stud – and we have happy owners at all levels,” said Martin.

“There are the stars, but also many successful and happy Shannondale horses at novice, one-star or below. Many of them have the capabilities to be four-star horses, but their riders don’t. These horses have wonderful lives, with very loving owners who have a great time with them week in week out, and we love to see this end of the market too. Statistically, not all horses can be superstars, but we are enormously proud of the ones that are.

“When you have foaled a foal, raised it, produced it as best you can to a three-year-old, you like to see them get every opportunity to be as special as they can be. We have a connection to every horse that we produce, it’s special.”

Looking forward to the years ahead, Brexit, for the near future at least, will be a challenge. “Little thought was given to the proper shipping and sales of horses to the UK which for the sports horse sector are in excess of 50% of the export business,” said Pat. “However, the industry will continue to need a blood model with step, jump and scope with the ability to compete consistently in all three phases. There is always a market for a good horse and they will sell – it’s just been rendered unnecessarily complicated.”

I asked the family if there were any downsides to living in the far west, as regards to accessing business and clients both for the stud and sales? “The only time that living on the far west coast is a disadvantage is when we have to travel to sales,” said Martin. “None of the horses are well travelled and the selection for elite sales is generally the first time they have left the farm.

“It’s an exhausting process for them and they are understandably less full of pep for performing, than say someone traveling from Wexford. However, on the flip side we feel that the environment they have can’t be replicated or equalled anywhere. Our horses are raised in their natural herd environment. They are allowed to grow and develop without trying or culling, before they are sold at three. We believe that raising our youngsters in this way teaches them to naturally handle the varied terrain and develop into tough, sound horses.”

Yard favourite

Now a youthful 20-year-old, Shannondale Sarco is understandably the firm favourite in the yard. He shares a tremendous bond with Martin and is “more than just a stallion to us.” He is currently ranked 15th in the world, a tremendous achievement to his strike rate given the small pool of mares (528) he has covered. His winning progeny is far too lengthy to list in full, but heading the event group is the five-star performer Woodstock Bennett, ridden for Australia by Ryan Wood.

There are numerous others at four and three-star level, among which is the Le Lion D’Angers silver medallist Capels Hollow Drift (Tom McEwen), and the full siblings Shannondael Mari, Shannondale Percy and Shannondale Nadia. In show jumping circles, Shannondale Rahona (1.60m) stands out, as does the 1.50m horse Grennanstown Sarco Lux Pat (Holly Smith) and Highley Efficient (1.45m), ridden by Tholm Keane.

Sarco has now been joined by the young sire Canturex VDF by Canturano (sire of Upsillon). Beautifully bred, out of the good mare by Casiro 1, Canturex was purchased at the Flanders foal auction in 2017. “He is a stunning grey horse standing 16.2hh,” said Martin. “He’s tons of scope, and we’re looking forward to his first crop of foals.”

While horses take up a considerable amount of their lives, the enterprising Walsh family have a full, active and rewarding lifestyle outside of the genre. By their own admission, they live in a stunning place in an unspoiled part of the country and within half a mile of the beach. “It’s nice to be able to throw yourself into the sea after a long, hot summer’s day,” said Pat. “We have kayaks which we take down to the local beach in our spare time and we surf when possible. We’re an active bunch!”

Indeed, they are, and aside from swimming, Martin goes to the gym, runs and cycles, while Pat, who also enjoys cycling, is actively involved in the local Ladies Football Club – the West Clare Gaels. Their 15-year-old daughter Nell plays Gaelic Football at club and county level as well as enjoying running and dancing. She is a great help with the young horses, as is 13-year-old Ava, who Martin describes as “super interested and with a good eye.” Horses aside, Ava’s main hobbies are art, drama, baking and cycling.

This is a family with their priorities right, and one that is lucky to balance a business with a passion.