I live in a village called Crusheen, in Claregalway, Co. Galway, hence the Crusheen prefix.
I work as a fitter with the Office of Public Works (OPW) in Headford, Co. Galway, and for almost the past 40 years, most of my spare time is spent breeding and rearing Connemara ponies.
Married to Bernie, both of us are involved in the Claregalway Agricultural Show - me being the show chairman. Naturally, Connemara pony and Irish Draught classes are most important at the show.
Organising the show takes up a lot of time. Even at the moment, as we prepare for Christmas, some of the committee members are busy around the kitchen table making Christmas wreaths and centrepieces to raise funds for the show.
We have two sons, Christopher and Padraic, the former living in Australia with his partner Claire and our grandson Lorcan, the latter working locally after spending almost 10 years there.
My love of Connemara ponies began as a child, when my late father, Jimmy, bred and owned a stallion. Crusheen Jim was out of a mare called Blaithin Donn and his sire was Athenry Ben. I have fond memories of working with and riding around the fields in Crusheen on Blaithin Donn.
He also kept Irish Draught horses and my brother, Jimmy, continues with that tradition.
I bought my first Connemara foal in Polnacloch, Moycullen, from Michael Keady (known locally as Boo), when our first son was born. We named her Stoney Princess (Abbeyleix Dolphin) and she became our first broodmare. Later on, we bought Crusheen Connie (Corbally Con) on the Fair Green at Ballinasloe Fair from Thomas J Faherty and they became our foundation mares.
Both mares were hugely successful in the show ring.
Val at Ballinasloe Fair in 2018, beside the Fair Green where he bought one of his foundation mares Crusheen Connie \ Susan Finnerty
1. Proudest moment as a breeder?
I’ve had many proud moments as a Connemara pony breeder, some of my most memorable are:
Crusheen Connie winning the two-year-old filly class in Clifden in 1993 and then going on to be reserve junior champion. She won again in Clifden as a six-year-old mare.
Another Clifden winner in 1999 was my colt foal by Westside Mirah and out of Stoney Princess.
Another great memory I have is of the 1999 Galway County Show, held in Clarenbridge in those days. Stoney Princess took first in her class and Crusheen Connie also won on the same day.
Their colt foals (by Westside Mirah and Cloonisle Cashel) came first and second in the colt foal class and to top it all, Crusheen Connie won the overall champion of the show and Stoney Princess took reserve champion. It was an exceptionally proud day for Crusheen Connemara Ponies!
2. How many broodmares do you have?
I currently own five broodmares, all of whom are in foal this year. They are all descendants of those two foundation mares: Stoney Princess and Crusheen Connie and continue their success.
The five are Crusheen Katie (Monaghanstown Boy - Crusheen Connie), Crusheen Bay Sheila (Bay Shadow - Crusheen Connie), Crusheen Dara’s Nancy (Gurteen Dara - Crusheen Gipsy), Crusheen Dara’s Blaithin (Gurteen Dara - Crusheen Gipsy) and Early Dawn Angelina (Glencarrig Lexus - Early Dawn Sunrise).
Sadly, we lost Crusheen Gipsy this year. I’m sure she’s in a heavenly show ring
I also own and stand a stallion, Crusheen Hazy Con (Hazy Match - Crusheen Katie).
As well as successful in-hand ponies, I’ve also bred ponies that are successful in performance. For example, Carraig Eibhir and Glassóg (Cloonisle Cashel - Crusheen Connie), Comical Con (Crusheen Comet - Crusheen Connie) and Crusheen Shadow (Bay Shadow - Crusheen Scarlet), plus many more.
Val with his prize winning Crusheen Dara’s Blaithin at Athenry Show in 2022 \ Susan Finnerty
3. Favourite broodmare?
It would be impossible to name a favourite mare, but the two foundation mares – Stoney Princess and Crusheen Connie – left a wonderful legacy and their offspring are now following in their hoofsteps.
4. As well as breeding Connemaras, you’re also a judge. Your template for a Connemara pony?
There are a number of things I like to see when I’m judging:
1. I prefer the old-type Connemara pony with plenty of bone
2. Good conformation
3. Nice head
4. Correct movement
5. Good temperament/ well-behaved.
5. Describe your regime for keeping Connemara ponies?
Because of the weather being so harsh in the last few years, the mares are stabled in winter and turned out when the weather permits. In the last three years, all mares have foaled successfully indoors and are bedded down with a deep bed of good quality straw.
Their feet are tended to regularly by master farrier Cecil Fitzgerald and ‘Supervet’ Philip McManus takes care of any health issues. They are also wormed regularly and fed a diet of haylage, hard feed and good quality, whole oats.
6. Any famous horse/pony you would like to have bred?
I always liked the Carna Bobby line.
7. What do you think are the greatest challenges facing Connemara breeders?
Maintaining the breed standard. I believe the Connemara pony’s height should be no more than 14.2hh (148cm). I also feel that the breeders should have the opportunity to promote and have an overseas as well as a local market for their ponies.
8. Breeding Connemara ponies, would you do it all over again?
A lot of time, effort and hard work goes into breeding Connemara ponies, as well as sleepless nights during foaling season. This is a very busy time, but very rewarding. When the foals are born, the first question is “Is it a colt or a filly?” and to watch the bonding of mother and offspring outweighs the lack of sleep. To see the foals on a sunny summer’s morning as they play, is a sight to behold. Yes, the pros totally outweigh the cons and, without a shadow of a doubt, I’d do it all over again.
9. Best advice you ever got?
My uncle, Malachy, always said that “An ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding”.
On a lighter note, I was also told that, “When you go to confessions, tell the priest your sins, not your business!”
10. A special year for the Connemara pony?
In this, the centenary year of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society (CPBS) and with the election of the new president (Daragh Kevin Ó Tuairisg) and executive, I hope the trojan work done by the founder members of the society will continue and so, ensure the continued successful breeding of the Connemara pony.
As a breeder, exhibitor and judge, I am very proud to be part of, and involved in the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society.
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