I LIVE in Leap, West Cork, a few miles from the beautiful, picturesque Glandore harbour.

My main enterprise is dairy farming and I breed some horses with my parents Carmel (Nyhan) and Sam Jennings on the family farm. My sister Aoife and brother Conor also support me.

I’ve always had an interest in horses since I was a very young child as my parents always kept horses, so we just grew up around them.

1. Congratulations on breeding Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Supersonic (Carrabawn Cross - Gairdín Mór Fáilte), another of this year’s Class 1 Irish Draught stallions at Cavan. Tell us more about him.

Greenhall Supersonic was born in 2020 at the beginning of the lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricted us from exhibiting him as a foal at horse shows.

We took him to the only show and sale that year, the Ireland West foal show and sale in Claremorris, where he was reserve champion that day. It made the long journey from West Cork worthwhile!

He comes from a very long line of pedigree Irish Draught horses: his dam is Gairdín Mór Fáilte, by Coolcronan Wood and her dam is Gairdín Mór Silver, by Fast Silver. Gairdín Mór Fáilte won first prize at the RDS Dublin Horse Show.

Greenhall Supersonic’s sire is Carrabawn Cross and we selected him as a good bloodline for our own breed. Carrabawn Cross was exhibited at Dublin Horse Show in 2015 and the following year he was the champion Irish Draught stallion there.

We also bred a full-brother to Greenhall Supersonic in 2017 and he is now competing in the UK.

2. Why do you breed Irish Draughts?

I want to keep breeding traditional Irish Draught horses as it’s a family tradition going back for a number of generations. My uncles and aunt also breed Irish Draught horses; my grandfather Tom Nyhan Snr. bred and worked Irish Draught horses on his farm “An Gairdín Mór” in Ballineen, Co Cork, for a number of years and that’s where the prefix came from.

3. Proudest moment as a breeder?

My proudest moment was when I got the phone call about Greenhall Supersonic being approved as a Class 1 Irish Draught stallion.

4. Best advice you ever got?

We always breed very good quality horses and my uncle would say, “Your horse is as good leaving the ring as it was being exhibited, regardless of the position in the class.”

Bred by Eoin Jennings and owned by Derry Rothwell, Greenhall Supersonic attained Class 1 status at the H.S.I. Stallion Inspections at Cavan 2023 \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

5. Favourite mare?

Favourite mare has to be Gairdín Mór Silver as she won a number of times at the Dublin Horse Show; was the all-Ireland champion Irish Draught mare when it was held in Ballybrit and she also won at numerous shows up and down the country.

Gairdín Mór Silver was bred by my aunt Helen Nyhan O’Driscoll, who bought her dam Gairdín Mór Duchess from Billy Cotter.

At present we have two broodmares: Gairdín Mór Fáilte, Greenhall Supersonic’s dam. It’s great to see her progeny doing well here in Ireland and in the UK.

The second is Gairdín Mór Spirit (TIH) by the thoroughbred Spirit House and her dam is Gairdín Mór Munter (Munther). Another favourite, her grandam is Gairdín Mór Silver, so both have come from the Gairdín Mór bloodlines and both mares have given us great fun and days out in the showring.

6. What is your template for an Irish Draught?

The Irish Draught is athletic with quality, good conformation, a pleasant head, short shin, good bone and temperament. Excellent movement is essential with an active, powerful stride showing good flexion of joints and freedom of the shoulders.

7. It takes a team - who is on yours?

It’s a real family effort! There are five of us here between my parents Sam and Carmel, Aoife, Conor and first cousin Jason O’Reilly who is also very supportive.

My aunt Helen Nyhan O’Driscoll, uncle Thomas Nyhan and first cousin Denis O’Driscoll are always available to advise and help me.

8. What do you think are the greatest challenges facing Irish Draught breeders?

There is a decline in the number of Irish Draught mares breeding purebred and/or Traditional Irish Horses, there are too many Irish Draught mares and sport horses being crossed with warmbloods rather than traditional-bred horses.

I feel that Horse Sport Ireland could do a lot more to promote and encourage breeding traditional Irish Draught horses.

Breeding should be well monitored to avoid inbreeding.

It’s important to maintain the traditional characteristics of the breed. Its decline causes a threat to our vital source of best show jumpers, eventers and hunters as the pure-bred Irish Draught Horse is sought after for its strength, stamina and good temperament.

9. Describe your regime for keeping mares/youngstock?

My horses are kept outdoors on grass most of the year. My father Sam does most of the feeding and nutrition plays a significant role in the production of a strong, sound Irish Draught horse.

Good quality grass and an adequate diet to include high quality forage, grains and feed with concentrated sources of protein, vitamins and minerals is the key.

Feet are regularly maintained by our farrier as that is very important.

Soon after a foal is born, its haltered and gently introduced to training.

10. Will you carry on breeding Irish Draught and traditional-breds?

Yes, I wish to continue breeding and exhibiting some purebred Irish Draught horses and traditional Irish Sport horses for years to come, as we’re on the verge of losing these valued bloodlines forever.

I’ve made a number of great friends and contacts through my interest in horses and hope to have many more memorable days and occasions in the future.