I LIVE in Ballycullen, Co Wicklow. A former Grand Prix rider, I now run John Mulvey Equestrian which incorporates breeding, sales, livery and a training centre in Kilternan, Co Dublin. As well as breeding show jumpers and eventers, I’m also a trainer and show jumper and I’ve produced many horses including Nicola Wilson’s event horse, One Two Many NJ, and competed nationally on horses such as Mr Melody, Igo Two and Ballycullen Hill.

1. Proudest moment(s) as a breeder?

For any breeder, big or small, to have a home-bred horse competing well makes you proud, particularly with Brookfield Inocent. He has exceeded all my breeding expectations. His results include second at Blair CIC3*, Barbury CCI3*, Hartpury CCI4*, he won Blenheim CCI4* and, most recently, was second in Pau CCI5*. I hope Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent get their chance at the Olympics, it would make me very proud to see him in Tokyo. Another proud moment for me was when our Cornet Obolensky foal was the highest-priced colt at the Irish Breeders’ Classic auction in 2018. He was a great foal, lots of blood and presence.

2. Tell us about breeding Brookfield Inocent?

I was breaking his dam Shalie’s Pet (by Kings Servant) for Bill Treacy and she got injured during training so she went breeding. Her first foal was by Don Juan de la Bouverie. I was busy competing at this stage and gave the mare to Michael Lawlor and Gerry Traynor, who took three foals from her, including Birchwood Spring, her 2005 Ramiro B, that went on to jump 1.30m.

I got her back and decided to go to Inocent (I Love You). I really liked him as he performed to a high level and was with Michael Hutchinson, who I think a lot of. Brookfield Inocent had a great temperament. I produced him as a four-year-old and he was sold to Brian Lusk, via Goresbridge, where he went on to compete with Kevin McNab and then to Piggy March.

3. How many broodmares do you currently have?

We currently have two broodmares. One is Tullibards Lux Sensational. She was bred by Hans Kuehnle and is by Lux Z out of Cruising/Clover Hill lines. We retained her 2017 Emerald filly and she will start her breeding career in 2021.

4. Your favourite broodmare?

Tullibards Lux Sensational. She is an athlete, a serious performer herself, there is nothing about her that I don’t like. She has size, strength, blood, ability and if I breed anything like her, I would be so happy.

Her offspring so far are beautiful horses – all scopey, jumpers and superb movers. Luxity (OBOS Quality), her oldest, is seven years old and jumping 1.30m; her 2015 Emerald Van’t Ruytershof colt – Tranquility Bay – was bought by Richard Bourns and jumped on the Sunshine Tour this spring.

Trisha Greer has her 2018 Cornet Obolensky colt and also her 2019 Emerald filly. Trisha is a great producer and also currently has her Ramiro B 2017 filly for Shannon Robinson.

All of Tullibards Lux Sensational’s offspring are athletic and very intelligent. I think so highly of the mare and I’m delighted we have her back in foal to Emerald for 2021.

5. Favourite stallion bloodlines?

I obviously like the Emerald Van’t Ruytershof bloodline – he is currently my favourite stallion. My good friend Kerrie Anderson saw him as a younger stallion and as he was so good in front he was chosen back in 2014 for our first Emerald foal. I visited Eurohorse that year and was very impressed with him in the flesh and he had a great attitude and temperament.

I was delighted with the foal. That’s Tranquility Bay, the one bought by Richard Bourns and now competing in international five-year-old classes.

From an Irish point of view, I would have liked to have used Captain Clover. I always felt he was producing nice horses, an underused stallion.

John Mulvey with Emerald

6. Brookfield Inocent has put you on the map for breeding a five-star event horse. Breeding show jumpers or eventers – any preference?

My own preference is show jumpers, but at this stage high-level eventers have to show jump. If they are nice models and have a nice bit of blood, they can go down both routes.

7. When do you normally sell youngstock?

With the mare we have currently have (Tullibards Lux Sensational), we started selling at auction, primarily at the Breeders’ Classic. We kept her first foal until he was a three-year-old colt to see what type she would breed. Since then, with her two foals selling so well at Barnadown, she has a good reputation and the last two foals have been sold privately off the farm.

I was lucky in 2017 to get Ramiro B embryos from her and I have two lovely three-year-old fillies by him at home.

8. What are your criteria for picking a stallion?

Performance, temperament and depending on the mare, the jumping technique.

9. You’ve won the Euromillions jackpot. Which stallion/broodmare/embryo would you buy?

Emerald, Ratina Z and an embryo from Caretina, (she competed with Cameron Hanley and Edwina Alexander).

10. If you were not in the horse industry, what would you have done as a career?

A detective in the police.