I WAS born and reared in Garryrichard Stud, in Foulksmills, into a life full of horses. My father Michael had stallions all of his life, starting off with half-bred horses. The first serious move into thoroughbreds happened in 1958, when he bought Arctic Slave. He was also very successful in the showring, riding six Dublin hunter champions and producing two three-year-old champions.

The hunter champions were Urney Road (1967), owned by MrsWood from England; Frozen Slave (1969), owned by Mrs Latta, Enniscorthy; St Swithin (1976), owned by Phil Sweeney, Thurles; Foggy Wood (1977), owned by himself; Golden Comet (1981), owned by Willie Johnson,Wexford and O’Shea (1988), again owned by himself.

The two young horse champions were a three-year-old by Daybrook Lad and Hot Scotch, a thoroughbred by Three Wishes.

My two sons, William and Patrick, have taken over the show jumping side of the business here now. William spent five years in America, working for Alex Jayne and then the Jacobs family. He gained valuable experience and made good contacts there. Patrick spent time riding in France, Germany and then six months with Shane Breen.

Mark McAuley with GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) at the Hickstead Nations Cup, July 2023 \ Nigel Goddard

1. Congratulations on breeding GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto D’Arco - Legal Lady, by Over The River), not only one of the top Irish Sport Horse show jumping horses in this year’s WBFSH rankings, but just last Friday, second in the Longines Grand Prix at Lyon. Tell us more about her?

We started breeding show jumpers and eventers in 2011, using thoroughbred mares whose pedigrees were gone light. The first we bred was Lady Ophelia, who is now eventing at four-star level with Padraig McCarthy. She was out of Legal Lady, who was by Over The River, another resident stallion here.

Legal Lady’s next foal was GRS Lady Amaro. My son, Patrick, show jumped her to two-star level as an eight-year-old and then sold her to his cousin, Mark McAuley. From the first day she jumped, she was always ultra-careful with a great attitude for show jumping.

Even though she is a big, strong mare, she is very successful in speed rounds, winning numerous classes with Patrick here and also in Europe. She has continued that winning form with Mark.

2. Although common in eventing, a thoroughbred dam is a rare sight in international show jumping now. Tell us more about Legal Lady, what you hoped to breed from her and her sire?

A thoroughbred dam is indeed a rare sight in show jumping nowadays. In my opinion, thoroughbred blood is a valuable asset in a show jumper, provided they have the right attitude and temperament.

We ran Legal Lady in point-to-points as a five and six-year-old, she was placed on numerous occasions, but was unable to win. She jumped really well and had a very good technique, as most of Over The River’s offspring had.

He was the sire of two Gold Cup winners in the ’90s: Cool Ground and Cool Dawn. Incidentally, he was also the sire of Over To You, bred by Mary Lett, who was a member of the British Olympic and world championship eventing teams with Jeanette Brakewell.

3. How many sport horse mares do you currently have?

William and Patrick are breeding from sport horse and some thoroughbred mares. This year they stood the Holsteiner stallion Casago II, by Casall ASK. He is an exceptionally well-bred horse and was the Belgian seven-year-old champion.

We have 15 mares at the moment and a lot of our mares are in foal to Carthago. Some have jumped to a high standard, including the 1.60m mare Martini van Overis Z (VDL Montreal) and others have high-class pedigrees, including Camina van de Kornelishoeve (Kannan), dam of the Swedish Nations Cup horse, Luikam Q.

This year’s foals are by Eldorado, Luidam, Madges Lane Luidam, Commil Champ Z and Cardento.

4. Describe your regime for keeping mares/youngstock?

Our mares are wintered out and well rugged. They are fed daily on oats and good quality haylage. We fed hay up to a few years ago, but it is too hard to make good hay in Ireland, so we changed to haylage and find it better in every way.

The horses are broken at two or three and ridden for a short while and left off. They then come in for a few short periods, do a little more and out to the field again.

5. GRS stands for Garryrichard Stud? Your thoughts on prefixes?

Prefixes are a good idea, especially if you breed or produce an above average horse. With the prefix, they are easily traced back to their alma mater.

6. Favourite holiday destination?

My favourite holiday is skiing in Les Gets in France.

7. If you could have bred any horse?

It’s everybody’s dream to breed an exceptional horse, that’s what keeps the business going. My personal dream would be to breed a top-class staying chaser or a show jumper to compete in the Aga Khan.

8. It takes a team - who’s on yours?

Garryrichard is very much a family-based business. As well as William and Patrick, my wife Lucy plays a major part in the running of the operation and Anna, my daughter, is also very much involved.

Noel Bradley has been with us since 1989 and Sam Roney joined us in March 2022. Robyn Black and Lizzie Sinnott are recent additions to the roster.

9. Best advice you ever got?

Nobody is indispensable.

10. Come Dine With Me - who’s the first dinner guest on your list?

My number one choice of dinner guest is Lucy McKeever.