CHARLOTTE and Nigel Moore met when studying at Queens University Belfast where they both participated at riding club competitions in Ireland and abroad. Prior to retirement, both worked in the agricultural industry and Charlotte now works part-time for Aberdeen Angus Quality Beef Ltd - a farmers’ co-operative.

From their small holding in the townland of Tully, Co Antrim they have enjoyed breeding horses and participating in eventing, riding club, showing and hunting activities and have interesting stories to tell from their travels on horseback in many countries including Kenya, Botswana, Israel and South Africa. Nigel now prefers travelling with camera gear as an enthusiastic bird and wildlife photographer.

1. Why did you start breeding Irish Draughts?

It was the natural thing to do as Charlotte’s father had worked with Irish Draughts before the tractor arrived. Charlotte rushed home from university to buy her first ID mare, Silver Dawn, on hearing that she was for sale.

We did everything with her – hunted, pulled timber, she even transported us on our wedding day, put to a phaeton. We showed Silvo with her foal by Cornelscourt (TB) to win a class of 19 mares at Balmoral Show when the ID mare class was first held in 1979. Later that year at Castleblaney show, we met Marily Power and Susan Lanigan-O’Keeffe. A trip to Suma Stud the following year was the start of our small purebred breeding programme.

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

How do you pick just one! Nigel’s highlight is winning the best young mare at Millstreet and later the ID mare championship on two occasions at the RDS with April Storm, closely followed by winning the broodmare championship at the National Breed Show.

Charlotte’s highlight is winning the broodmare championship with Silver Dawn at the first ID National Breed Show in 1985. Tullys Cherry winning the ID performance championship at RUAS Balmoral in 2021 was a really special moment, as Cherry represented the fourth generation of Tully mares to win at Balmoral.

3. Favourite broodmare?

Nigel’s favourite was April Storm (Blue Peter). She was our first purebred foal and became a prolific broodmare and great hunter. Her progeny included Tullys Sarah, who evented to Advanced level in Great Britain, and a number of purebred fillies by Western Light which were winners in all-Ireland championships and at the RDS, including My Hilltop Lady, Tullys Mist, Western Storm, Tullys Lass and Tullys Dream. She is also the grandam of the GB-based stallion Tullys Court.

Charlotte has a particular soft spot for Tullys Valley (Crosstown Dancer) who, at 21, is still going strong. Tullys Legend, her first foal and by VDL Arkansas, won at the RDS, was sold to Wales and evented to Advanced level. Her 2008 filly, Tullys Sasha, by Creevagh Grey Rebel gained gold merit in eventing for her enthusiastic owner Jane Huey.

‘Val’ herself won the All-Ireland ID filly championship as a two-year old and was reserve champion broodmare at the National Breed Show in her day.

Her half-sister, Tully Lane, by Supreme Edge (TB), brought home a bronze medal from the Junior European Eventing Championships for Great Britain. Tullys Cherry, ‘Val’s’ last foal by Skip And Sea, was the aforementioned performance Irish Draught champion at Balmoral last year.

4. The current market for Irish Draughts is particularly buoyant. How does that compare to, say, 20 years ago?

When we started there was little interest in purebreds, so it is great to see the current demand. For many years we could see the tremendous enthusiasm for ridden purebred geldings in Great Britain and the value placed on Irish horses in North America.

Twenty years ago there was virtually no interest in colt foals. Now they are worth as much, if not more, than fillies, which is wonderful.

5. The phrase ‘true to type’ is often bandied about. What’s your template of a ‘true to type’ Irish Draught?

Our true to type Irish Draught is a horse with a clever brain and a robust constitution. They should be strong and sturdy with athletic movement and ideally not over tall with a deep body, good spring of rib, a kind eye and willing attitude. They should have sufficient bone and substance and be in proportion. If given sufficient time to mature, they are durable and give their owners years of enjoyment.

Nigel Moore with his favourite Irish Draught mare, April Storm, the dual Irish Draught broodmare champion at Dublin

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

The role of the Irish Draught in the production of Traditional Irish Horses is often overlooked, because the ID often appears in the second generation of the pedigree, so may not be evident to the casual observer.

Maintaining the strength and substance, whilst retaining the quality and movement for today’s marketplace is an ongoing challenge. If all those who have an interest in the breed could agree to work together they would be a mighty force.

7. Are there any incentives you’d like to see introduced for Irish Draught breeders?

Traditionally, the Irish Draugh contained occasional infusions of thoroughbred. Perhaps more of the mares which are eligible for inclusion in the grade-up (Appendix) register could be identified and encouraged to come forward for inspection and then suitable mares encouraged to breed to ID stallions, as this is seldom practiced.

8. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

We are very fortunate to have two great family teams. Emma Brown, living local to us, has been competing on Tullys Tina and Emma’s Mum, Roberta, provides great support, hacking out along with Charlotte and participating in Endurance Ireland rides on the Tully mares. Currently Sammy Weston is doing a great job with Tullys Cherry. The team includes her partner, James Hammond, who broke Cherry and did the early work under saddle.

Sammy’s mum, Hilary, is the ultimate multitasker being chief lorry driver, groom and child minder. We couldn’t do it without them. Nigel enjoyed great success with his cousins, Sam and Stephen, sadly no longer with us, and his eventer Culnagrew by Imperius.

9. Breeding Irish Draughts – would you do it all over again?

Absolutely. We have enjoyed great times and made many wonderful friends in Europe and North America through selling our horses.

10. Your travel bucket list?

Nigel has many trips lined up, including one to Spain to photograph Golden Eagles in May.

Charlotte has been successful in securing a place on the ‘Gobi Gallop’ – the longest annual charity horseride in the world. The funds raised support the Children of the Peak Sanctuary in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This is a challenging 700 km-ride to be completed in 10 days.

Charlotte Moore was in conversation with Susan Finnerty