MY love for the pony began where I grew up on a small farm in the west of Ireland and the admiration I had for the way my father worked the Shire horse, ploughing, bringing in the hay and all the other jobs on the farm.

There was a connection between them both that was special and I always had a ride on Rosie, the beautiful coloured mare that worked so hard for her owner. Quite a number of our neighbours had Connemara ponies and I just loved them. I’d sit for hours on the stone walls watching them graze and pretend they were mine.

I spent my evenings after school in the field talking to them, I think they always knew the time I would be home! My dream was to have one of those beautiful creatures with a kind eye and placid nature.

In the 1970s after finishing school, I emigrated to the UK and returned home some 25 years later with Charlie and my daughter, Emma. We settled in Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath, and after only a few months my journey began with breeding ponies. Our four grandchildren – Michael, Colette, Charlie and Patrick – all help out with the ponies too.

1. Proudest moment as a breeder?

I’ve been very fortunate to have bred ponies that have had success in various disciplines but my proudest moment as a breeder is every time a healthy foal is born.

2. Tell us about Tyrellspass Stud?

This is my hobby and my first purchase was a little coloured pony, named Rosie after the Shire horse Rosie from my childhood. My next buy was a Connemara mare, a beautiful dun called Tyrrellspass Mystery Lady, I bred her to Monaghanstown Fred and Monaghanstown Fionn and had some smashing foals. One of those went on to win in the RDS for a UK team, the shivers in your gut to see a pony you bred on the winning team was great.

By then I had Ahane Magic who I bought as a yearling in 1997. I breed ponies for children, I feel temperament and quality are very important characteristics in a child’s pony. Years ago, too many ponies were bred by chance, thankfully now a better quality pony is being bred.

Winning the IPS broodmare championship in 2012 with Lady Venture and her foal Tyrrellspass Ruby, who went on to be a 128cms Grade A show jumper, is one highlight.

Another pony I bred, which I named Tyrrellspass Fairytale, was an in-hand champion. She later placed fifth in the RDS leadrein class for Shirley Hurst before being sold to the USA and where her name was changed to Tinkerbell.

She appeared on the front cover of the USA publication The Chronicle of the Horse on August 3rd, 2020 and even has her own Instagram page: tinker_thewonderpony

3. Favourite broodmare?

My favourite broodmare has to be Ahane Magic, now retired at 26 years and living out her days with me as a babysitter to my youngstock. She produced 10 foals for me, including Tinkerbell, another of her foals who completed in the RDS, in the junior equitation class with Emily O’Neill.

Lisa Gilmartin bought quite a few of Magic’s foals, amongst others, which she showed successfully in-hand including championship wins. Tyrrellspass Magic, her last foal, is now a five-year-old and has started her competition career with Lucy Headen, jumping a double clear last weekend.

I cannot forget my current broodmare Megland Mooncharm, bred by the renowned UK breeder Jean Redpath and after a successful ridden career, she has now replaced Magic as my broodmare.

I’ve covered her with my own part-bred Welsh stallion and in-hand champion, Chinook Limelight. Marian Judge has her first filly and I’m looking forward to seeing this now four-year-old in the show ring. I’m keeping Mooncharm’s two-year-old coloured colt as my future stallion and hope to show him this coming season.

4. Breeding for the Irish pony market – labour of love or profitable?

I don’t breed for a monetary income! I breed because I love seeing my foals being born and following their success is better than winning the lotto. The right home is more important than the big price.

Thankfully, the prices of ponies have increased though. Before this, we had to sell ponies at less than it cost to breed them. Hopefully the price will keep going up and we can breed more and not lose money.

5. Describe your winter regime for keeping broodmares/youngstock?

My broodmares and youngsters winter out, with ad-lib hay and well rugged, in sheltered fields. Two months prior to their due date, they come in at night. I use various feed, mainly Baileys and TopSpec and I swear by Sid’s Seaweed.

6. Any incentives you would like to see for pony breeders?

One great memory in 2016 was opening a letter from the RDS and finding a cheque enclosed as the winning breeder of Garry Knight, who jumped on the UK International team in the RDS twice and also at Hickstead. His sire was Monaghstown Fred, owned by Mary and Pat Rabbitt of Monaghanstown Stud in Co. Westmeath. That was a nice incentive!

7. Best advice you got?

Best advice followed a chance meeting with Sinead Healion, as a result of needing Mooncharm plaited and turned out for the All Ireland broodmare final, which she won. Sinead was recommended to me and since then, she has advised me on everything, from feeding to breaking and selling ponies for me.

Sinead has experience and a natural way with stallions and advised me to bring home my Welsh Section B stallion Mynach Oracle, shown successfully in the UK. Sinead schooled him brilliantly; her niece Ella Healion, only 10 years old, could ride him.

Unfortunately Ella is too young to ride in ridden competition classes with Oracle so he is now in the capable hands of Louise Marie Slevin for this coming show season. Then he’ll stand at stud next year in 2023. I wish them both all the best, I’m so excited for them and they already have a partnership.

8. If you could have bred any horse or pony, which one would it be?

Eddie Macken’s Boomerang.

9. The best part of breeding ponies?

I love getting updates on my ponies; it’s all part of the sale. Following their journey from foal to the show ring, knowing they’re cared for and bringing joy to the children is something for me to cherish.

10. The frustrating part of breeding ponies?

I wish ponies’ names could not be changed and their prefix removed. The pony has a lifetime passport and I just don’t know why people do it. As breeders, we need recognition and this is easier with our prefix kept.

Getting to know you - Catherine Boylan's grandsons Charlie and Patrick with Tyrellspass Louis, now a four-year-old with Sadbh Taylor