RHS Strings Attached, Aidan Flanagan’s recent buy, proved to be the big winner at the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) performance championships, hosted at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

A clash with the national eventing championships and other competitions, Burghley and the ongoing Goresbridge sales, had an impact on the day’s entries. Nor were the weather gods as kind this year, with a murky start to last Sunday, when the eventual supreme champion started off her day with a win in the opening class.

This was the Westmeath County Council four/five-year-old ridden class, won by this Gortfree Hero mare. It was the second year that Maura Rooney was the winning jockey, having taken the red ribbon in the same class last year aboard Una O’Donnell’s Kipling, later bought as a birthday present treat for his current owner, Alice Copithorne.

There’s a closer connection to Sunday’s winner, as RHS Strings Attached is the third generation of this family bred by Maura. By the triple Dublin Irish Draught champion Gortfree Hero, RHS Strings Attached is out of the Dock Leaf - Flagmount King mare Moyvore Princess. She also features Sky Boy - surely the most successful Croker Cup champion - in her pedigree.

Low mileage

A five-year-old, “but with the mileage of a four-year-old”, the slowly-produced mare was sold to Brian Egan, the popular steward at Athlone and Moate agricultural shows, and he sold her to accountant Aidan Flanagan this summer. “The plan is to keep her on and do some jumping with her,” said her delighted new owner.

Second to the eventual supreme champion was another five-year-old in Ali Keating’s Ballycoskerry Fully Fruity, by the late thoroughbred Fruits of Love out of a pure-bred Draught dam: Kilruane Dancer (Clonleigh Dancer). While such TB x ID crosses are becoming increasingly rarer, the flip side is the boom in the Irish Draught and Connemara markets and both component breeds of the Traditional Irish Horse were well-represented in the Mullingar classes.

In the other flat class, for six-year-olds and over, the winner is another versatile TIH poster child.

Paulank Easter Bunny, by Nazar and out of the Billies Bank mare Paulank Havannah, was bred by Louise Lynn’s future in-laws, Frank and Paula Cullen.

“I’m engaged to their son Owen and Bunny was a Christmas present. She has been the most amazing horse.

"She won her first-ever little event I brought her to and qualified at the Tattersalls July show for Hickstead 2025 in the amateur lightweight hunter. She won her working hunter class yesterday at our local riding club show and picked up champion before we left.

“Next week, we’re entered for the riding club eventing championships in Killossery. She has the most amazing temperament, very chilled out and always in the ribbons, particularly at dressage, as she moves so well. Next year, she will start a little side-saddle and we are excited for the future ahead.”

The Easter-Christmas Gift: Louise Lynn’s Paulank Easter Bunny, the TIHA reserve supreme champion at Mullingar EC \ Susan Finnerty

Second in this class and also claiming his place in the afternoon’s supreme championship was Chris Carter and Damien McCormack’s Cloonan Hector (Clewbay Bouncer x Crannagh Hero). This pure-bred Draught has already ticked off a lot of Paulank Easter Bunny’s ‘to do’ list.

The TIH performance classes always work well in the spacious Mullingar arena, as once the entries had completed the required flatwork phase, judged by Philippa Scott, they moved on to the jumping section and immediately afterwards to the far side of the arena for conformation assessment, judged by Gerry Flynn and James Murphy respectively.

Winner of the four/five-year-old class was Amy Grady’s The Countess of Murrisk, bred by her father Michael.

Murrisk, under the shadow of Croagh Patrick, is on the Westport-Louisburgh coastal road, however their location and mileage put up was no deterrent this year.

“We call her Gigi at home. Michael bred her out of his own Rockrimmon Robusticus mare Amber Light and she’s by the Hallinan family’s Dublin-winning Irish Draught stallion Farmhill Highlander.

“She was aimed at the performance classes in Balmoral and Dublin this year, jumping clear in both and taking third in Balmoral. If she’s not sold or if she doesn’t go on maternity leave, the plan will be the same for next year,” said Amy.

The Countess of Murrisk, bred by Amy Grady’s father Michael, pictured with judges James Murphy (left) and Philippa Scott (right), and TIHA Council member Liam Lynskey \ Susan Finnerty

Diarmuid Ryan’s second-placed Cummer Dubh (Heigh Ho Dubh x Crannagh Hero), was the highest-placed of three of the Kilkenny vet and producer’s prize winners in this class.

Sixth in this class was last year’s supreme champion, Jess Murphy’s Killinick Sky (Jack The Robin x Killinick Bouncer), who had won the loose jumping class here in 2023 and is now being produced under saddle.

Busy day

The young producer had a busy day, as Jess also competed Ann Lambert’s Ashfield Bouncer, winner of the following class for six-year-olds and over.

“He’s just starting to develop this year, so that’s why we’ve been taking him very slowly,” Ann commented about the Greg Conway-bred.

A pure Irish Draught, Ashfield Bouncer won the Dublin performance loose jumping final in 2021, against all denominations of breeds.

“It’s lovely for Jessie that they’ve just grown up together so well. She’s put a lot of work in to him and it’s a lot of responsibility.”

The six-year-old stallion is the third generation of the ‘Bouncer’ line to stand at Grange Stud, as Ann and her late father Jack, the famous Wexford horseman, also stood his sire Killinick Bouncer and grandsire Grange Bouncer.

Ashfield Bouncer is out of the Ard Grandpa - Lake View Pride mare, Derrane Lady.

Ashfield Bouncer with owner Ann Lambert and rider Jessie Murphy \ Susan Finnerty

Second in this class was another Wexford owner, Abbey O’Driscoll, who has enjoyed a great run with her seven-year-old Connemara Caoranbeg Commanche, bred by Caoilfhinn O’Malley.

“It was lovely to finish up Caoranbeg Comanche’s 2024 competition season with a second place in a competitive TIH performance class. He was physically the smallest animal in the class at 14.1 hands, but it didn’t hinder him. It was nice to compete with a variation of people and horses, as opposed to competitions restricted to Connemaras.”

And she intends to defend her Dublin title with another Connemara ambassador.

“After the thrill of winning the five-to-seven-year-old Connemara performance class at Dublin, I will be aiming my rising five-year-old, Marconi’s Arthur (Bunowen Paddy) at the class for next year,” added Abbey, from Bridgetown.

Caoranbeg Comanche is by Mountain Cascade out of the Commanding Hero mare, Gallowstown Bibi.

Loose jumping

Connemara entries were also seen in the three-year-old loose jumping class, where Dylan Stronge’s Castleside JJ-sired Liskillen JJ placed second. Darragh Duggan and Michael McGaffin (the earlier classes’ ride judge) winning choice was another Ballinasloe entry in Pauline Flynn’s Saoirse Cara.

Pauline and Jimmy Flynn with Saoirse Cara, winner of the TIHA three-year-old loose jumping final \ Susan Finnerty

Produced by Keith Clogher, the bay filly is by the thoroughbred Steppe Dancer out of the Draught mare Saoirse Jilly, by Grosvenor Lad.

“Our address is Liberty, Ballydangan so that’s why we use ‘Saoirse’,” said Pauline, whose next planned outing for their home-bred is the Horse of the Fair lunging competition during the upcoming Ballinasloe Fair.

Fillies placed in the loose jumping class are eligible to enter the TIHA performance mare scheme, whereby a €300 incentive is available, if they produce a Traditional Irish Horse foal.

Another incentive by a committee that runs on true volunteerism, a shoestring budget including zero expenses claimed by its committee members and endless reserves of good humour. An admirable base, however there is much more work that could be done by the association with an increased budget.

Duggan and McGaffin, who were pleased with how the owners had prepared their three-year-olds for the class, held in Mullingar Equestrian Centre’s indoor arena, then joined their fellow judges for the overall supreme championship.

Louise Lynn’s Christmas gift Paulank Easter Bunny was the first to be called forward as the reserve, before their champion choice: RHS Strings Attached, who demonstrated her kind temperament when posing with Aidan Flanagan’s children, Lily Mai and Annabelle.

“The day began under an overcast sky, but it soon cleared up, allowing everyone to enjoy a highly successful event. The championships would not have been possible without the hard work of the TIHA Council, especially Jennifer Haverty and Liam Lynskey, who were the main organisers and Liam also brought along his family, with Katie and William busy all day as scribes and runners,” Kevin Noone said afterwards.

“They were ably assisted by Samantha Fitzsimmons, who handled the paperwork on the day, and Niamh Grimes, who, as always, kept the event front and centre on social media.

“A big thank you to everyone who helped out, especially those who contributed on the day itself, making the event such a success. Mullingar Equestrian Centre, with their excellent facilities and preparation, made the event run so smoothly and we extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, Horse Sport Ireland and Westmeath County Council, whose continued support makes events like this possible.

“It is immensely rewarding for us as an Association to witness the growth of this event, which culminated in two outstanding horses being awarded supreme and reserve champion.

“A special thanks to all the participants who brought out their horses for the day. Without you, this event would not happen,” acknowledged Noone.

What they said:

“The other horse I had for the class, another Farmhill Highlander four-year-old, bred by Mike also, pulled both front shoes the day before, so we had to meet [the] farrier on the way to Mullingar!”

New shoes for Amy Grady’s entry.

“He’s getting all sorts of mares; from people wanting their next Riding Club horse or pure Irish Draught, to me wanting my five-star eventer!”

A varied customer base for Ann Lambert’s Ashfield Bouncer.

“As the equestrian calendar becomes busier each year, we are aware that our event coincided with several others this year, something we will need to consider for next year.

“We always welcome any ideas on how we can develop the show further. If you have suggestions or thoughts on how to advance the Traditional Irish Horse too, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we would love to hear from you.”

Kevin Noone, TIHA chairman.

“Having a nice venue like Mullingar Equestrian and Horse Sport Ireland to sponsor these classes with some brilliant prize money, makes going to these shows worthwhile for an amateur competitor like myself.”

Abbey O’Driscoll speaks sense.

“Imagine getting a horse for a Christmas present, I got a heifer!”

A pedigree one too for one onlooker, hoping for a Yuletide upgrade this December.

William and Liam Lynskey with Jennifer Haverty at the TIHA performance championships at Mullingar EC \ Susan Finnerty

Valkenswaard venture

The ranks of Traditional Irish Sport Horse stallions with international performance records were depleted this year, with the loss of Joe Flynn’s Ardcolum Duke. Good news is that his son, Susan Malee’s home-bred Carrabeg The Full Irish, and Katharina Wilding have been selected for the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy (September 25th-29th).

First held last year, two dozen Irish Sport Horses were picked this week by chef d’equipe Taylor Vard, with Carrabeg The Full Irish on the five-year-old squad.

By Ardcolum Duke and out of the Flexible dam Carrabeg Flash, Malee’s grey jumped well in Dublin this year and, just last weekend, won the HSI 1.20m class at the Mullingar Summer Series championships with his Austrian rider.

To mark the TIH flagbearer’s selection, the TIHA will be supporting the Mayo family’s Valkenswaard venture.

Traditional-bred?

Hippomundo’s ‘Traditional Bred’ label has caused interest amongst Irish breeders. However, the new initiative is not related to traditional Irish breeding with its thoroughbred, traditional sport horse, Draught and Connemara building blocks, but is designed to ‘pay tribute to tradition in warmblood breeding’.

“Many traditional breeders are concerned about these developments [embryo transfer, ICSI et cetera] and oppose the mass production of foals, via ICSI. Some have even decided to throw in the towel. Some studbooks, including the Swedish studbook, have also taken steps to exclude ICSI foals.

“Hippomundo aims to remain neutral at all times and does not make any judgments regarding ICSI,” continued the press release.

“However, Hippomundo stands for complete transparency and criticises the lack of information about whether a foal is traditionally-bred or not. In this light, Hippomundo is introducing the ‘TRADITIONAL-BRED’ label, an initiative aimed at ensuring complete transparency and paying homage to traditional breeding methods. The label guarantees that a foal was conceived naturally and was given birth by its own mother, without the use of surrogate mothers. If the mare was inseminated with fresh or thawed frozen semen, this is also considered a natural conception.”

Warmblood or traditional Irish, it seems both areas have their own set of challenges.