MARRIED to Helen, we have two sons, Jack and Max, and live in Toomevara, near Nenagh in north Tipperary.

I work full-time producing and competing show jumpers up to Grand Prix level and my best-known horses would be Cisero (Errigal Flight - Bellfield Lady, by Ballinvella. Breeder: Patrick Coonan), Mr Coolcaum (Coolcaum Hill - Ranch Lady, by Indian Ruler. Breeder: Kevin Farragher), Curraghgraigue Jack Takes Flight (HBC Jacomar - Curraghgraigue Errigal, by Errigal Flight. Breeder: Baden Powell), Russel Style (Russel - Cruisings Carol, by Harlequin du Carel. Breeder: Eamon Kenny), Oldtown KC (Cruising - Oldtown Katie, by Clover Fields. Breeder: Martin Coffey) and Lux Trendy (Future Trend - Lucy Luz, by Lux Z. Breeder: Flan Coughlan).

I have been very lucky over the years to have had so many top Grand Prix horses and I won the National Grand Prix league title three years in a row (2017 - 2019). Martin and Pascal Coffey’s Oldtown KC built up the league points that summer (2019) with wins at Galway County and Clonmel. We were also second in the CoilÓg round and we had finished the league on 52 points, enough for the overall win.

I’ve also won the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix title three times, plus two Spring Tour titles.

Something I like to do after a long day at a show is to come home and watch the Sunday Game on the TV, especially if the Tipp hurlers are playing, with tea and biscuits!

1. Congratulations - you bred/own/compete Sir Jim Jim, approved at Cavan this year. Tell us more about him.

Thank you, yes Sir Jim Jim was actually the first foal born into my breeding programme so its lovely to have bred and produced him and now get him fully approved. He also got a one-star merit for his own show jumping results.

Now a 10-year-old, he is by Boherdeal Clover who won the Lisbon Grand Prix, was runner-up in the Millstreet Derby and was on the winning Nations Cup team at Falsterbo during his years in the Army Equitation School with David O’Brien.

His dam Glenaguile Flight is an Errigal Flight mare. She has also bred Sir Jim Jim’s half-sister by Harlequin du Carel: Glenaguile Rose, the dam of Big Dan Du Rouet (Querlybet Hero) another horse I compete on the circuit.

Glenaguile Flight is a full-sister to Cisero, who I won the Dublin Puissance on and this family, going back to Clover Hill and Middle Temple, has also produced the Irish Sport Horse stallion Temple Clover.

Sir Jim Jim is a Traditional Irish Horse, a very modern and blood type. He’s about 17.1hh, has great presence and athleticism and, above all, has a striking appearance.

2. Proudest breeder moment?

I guess having bred Sir Jim Jim to getting him fully approved would be one of the highlights.

3. How many foals do you breed each year?

We usually have between five to six foals per year.

4. Which stallions currently on the international circuit are your standouts?

Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan) and Bond Jamesbond De Hay (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) are the standout stallions for me at the moment.

5. “Fools breed foals for wise men to buy.” Agree/disagree with this saying?

I disagree as a lot of these well-bred foals are very expensive and the majority of them will not go on to be good jumpers, therefore you’re a long time waiting and have a lot of money spent.

6. If you could have bred any famous horse?

It would have to be Emerald (Diamant de Semilly x Carthago Z) or Pacino (Diamant de Semilly x Muguet du Manoir).

7. Your thoughts on prefixes?

I don’t use one but I guess for big breeders it’s handy as everyone can associate where horses were bred without looking it up. Depending on the horses then, that can be a good or bad thing!

8. “It takes a team” - who’s on yours?

It’s a family-run business so myself and my father Martin work out of the yard. My father would buy and sell mostly young horses and my wife Helen also plays a major role in the running of the yard on a daily basis.

Our two sons, Jack and Max, have their own roles within the yard, helping out with feeding, jumps and riding ponies. And lastly, my brother Martin is my farrier. As they say, ‘no hoof, no horse!’

9. Breeding/owning/competing horses. Would you do it all over again?

Yes, I would do it all over again. I have had some amazing results with great horses, money can’t buy those great days and hopefully there’s lots more to come.

10. That special win?

Winning the Puissance with Cisero in the RDS in front of the nation.

That was in 2012 when Michael Hutchinson (Acorad 3) from Co Kilkenny, Mexico’s Juan Carlos Garcia (Olympichorses Oliander) and myself won in front of the home crowd.

I think it’s the one competition that every household will watch, everyone loves that competition!

Winning the Puissance at Dublin Horse Show in 2012 was a special moment for Liam O'Meara