I LIVE in Ballyvourney, a village on the Cork side of the Cork-Kerry border, near the Derrynasagart mountains. I worked for Grainger Sawmills in Enniskeane for over 40 years, buying timber from farmers and Coillte.

I bought my first Irish Draught 50 years ago, a yearling filly by Mountain View and out of a mare named Coolbay Lady. She was by The Conqueror and her grand-dam was by Gortlee.

The new buy was named Derrynasaggart Queen, she was 15.3hh and I won at a lot of shows with her.

Derrynsaggart Queen bred about 19 foals in total, nearly all were colt foals and two of them became Class 1 stallions. One of them - Crystal Crest, by Coolcronan Wood - later went to America.

As well as going to shows throughout the summer, I helped out organising the horse classes of our local agricultural show Ballyvourney-Coolea and was show chairman too for a number of years.

1. Congratulations on breeding another Class 1 stallion: Hollyrock Grey Hero (Killountain Cross - Gentle Shauna, by Gentle Diamond), approved at this year’s Horse Sport Ireland inspections at Cavan for owner Emma Hynes. Tell us more about him.

Hollyrock Grey Hero, the latest stallion passed at Cavan, is out of a beautiful Class 1 Gentle Diamond mare who sadly passed away last year. She was a multiple show winner. He is now owned by Emma Hynes and will stand at Hollyrock Stud in Gort, Co. Galway. Gentle Shauna’s last foal on the ground is a full-brother to this newly-approved stallion and he was sold to Gillian Black over in England.

Proud owner moment: Emma Hynes, owner of Hollyrock Grey Hero and Jack Connors at Cavan in March when the Sean Scannell-bred was approved as a Class 1 stallion \ Susan Finnerty

2. Why do you breed Irish Draughts?

I have a passion for the breed and if we don’t keep breeding Irish Draughts, they may be in danger of becoming extinct. I’m from that generation that grew up working with horses, either taking timber from the forests, turf from the bog or working the fields. So I suppose this love of the Irish Draught is a form of loyalty too, to the breed that we depended on for making a living.

3. Proudest moment as a breeder?

It would have to be winning the All Ireland Irish Draught colt foal championship in Ballinasloe in 2022 with a colt foal by The Bachelor out of Derrynasagurt Rose, by Cappa Cassanova. We had been knocking on the door several times and had been second 10 years ago in the colt foal final with a Coolcronan Wood - Star Kingdom colt. Last year was that first win in the All Ireland foal finals.

4. Best advice you ever got?

Always pick the right stallion to suit your mare.

5. Favourite mare(s)?

My favourite mare is a Star Kingdom mare called Ruby Steele, a multiple show winner all over the country. One of her fillies, by Coolcronan Wood, was sold as a foal to Padraig Bohan and she won the young Irish Draught mare class at Dublin in 2017 for her owner Padraig Bohan.

Ruby Steele’s dam Nancy Steele, by Holycross, was a big winner too for her owner Suzanne Finlay.

At present, we have five top-class breeding mares, all breeding show quality foals.

6. What is your template for an Irish Draught?

The Irish Draught has to have good bone, be light on the ground, have a nice head and a short cannon bone.

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

A father and son team, myself and my son Freddie have gone to shows together since he was seven years old. We travel the country together.

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

A lack of bone and movement, plus I feel that the Irish Draught is getting too big. To me, an Irish Draught should be no bigger than 16.1 or 16.2 at most.

9. Describe your regime for keeping mares/youngstock?

All the mares are kept outdoors during the winter, they’re well rugged-up and we keep them on sheltered ground. About a week or so before they’re due to foal, they’re brought in for foaling and we have three foals already arrived this year. Foals are stabled and rugged for the winter.

10. Will you continue to breed Irish Draughts?

I will continue to breed Irish Draught horses as long as I live, I could not live without my Draughts.

We have made a lot of friends all over the country, from breeding Draughts, through to going to shows each summer and then the sales every year in Cavan Equestrian Centre.

Proud owner moment: Emma Hynes, owner of Hollyrock Grey Hero and Jack Connors at Cavan in March when the Sean Scannell-bred was approved as a Class 1 stallion \ Susan Finnerty