I GREW up in Enfield, Co Meath, with my parents, Michael and Blaithin, two brothers, Aidan and Diarmuid, and my sister, Deirdre. We weren’t the typical “horsey” family, but I always loved spending time on the farm with my dad, checking on the animals.

He spent weekends judging cattle classes at various shows, and I travelled with him, watching him judge. Afterwards, he always took the time to bring me to see the horse showing rings.

I started horse riding lessons around seven years old, and my favourite horse at the school was a stocky draught-type named George. After buying my first horse to ride, Dad used it as an excuse to get an Irish Draught mare to keep my horse company. He wanted to start breeding Irish Draughts, as he had always loved seeing them work at his home in Fuerty.

The first mare we bought was Litchfield Moire, her owner demonstrated how quiet she was by running in and out under her legs, and she never budged. Litchfield Moire is the granddam of Fuerty Emperor, a heavyweight Hunter of the Year at HOYS.

I am very lucky to say that what began as my hobby became Dad’s too. We started with two Irish Draught mares, and now, every mare in the yard carries the Fuerty prefix. Over the years, we’ve built a lovely group of mares and many happy memories showing them. The horses are always there through both good and bad times.

1. Congratulations, another breeder of a Class 1 Irish Draught at Cavan. Tell us about Fuerty Welcome Lad.

We are thrilled to see Fuerty Welcome Lad awarded Class 1 status for Gabriel Slattery and the team at Castlelawn Stud. Known as Paddy to his friends, he is out of Fuerty Welcome Mist (Welcome Emperor x Bengour Mist).

He was champion foal at the IDHBA Laois Branch show in Stradbally Hall, so we always had high hopes for him. We were delighted when Gabriel bought him, as we knew he would get every chance! Gabriel had previously bought and produced Fuerty Emperor, who went on to win at HOYS, and also Fuerty Captain Carismo, a three-year-old loose jumping champion at the RDS.

2. Proudest breeder moment?

My proudest moment as a breeder has to be Fuerty Princess being named champion Irish Draught mare at the RDS. She was beautifully produced by Martin and Mary Murphy, who adore her. Following her story has been a dream come true.

Fuerty Princess’s dam, Bengour Mist, was one of the first two mares we bought at the start, so it’s great to see how far we have come. With an RDS champion mare and now a Class 1 stallion that we’ve bred from her family, it feels like a huge achievement. She was an amazing mare, who really stamped her foals. She bred numerous champion foals for us, and we are lucky to have kept two daughters of Bengour Mist: Fuerty Lea and Fuerty Welcome Mist.

Family album: A 13-year-old Maeve Bailey with Welcome Flagmount, the grandsire of Fuerty Welcome Lad’s dam, Fuerty Welcome Mist

3. Your Irish Draught template?

The temperament of the Irish Draught is well-known, but I think their presence is what makes them so special. A good rein, beautiful head and a kind eye are just as important. We look for good movement in all our mares and foals, ensuring they can compete in any discipline - whether in-hand, ridden hunter, or performance classes.

We also aim to maintain the breed’s classic traits: the bone, power and presence that make Irish Draughts stand out.

4. Biggest challenges facing Irish Draught breeders?

One of the biggest challenges for Irish Draught breeders is that we don’t have a centralised place to link the results and achievements back to the pedigree. The Irish Draught is an ideal horse for a huge percentage of riders, and the increase in ridden classes has helped showcase that.

However, more work is needed to increase demand for foals. It’s easy to look at any show jumper’s pedigree and see the success that family has produced. Our results from shows appear in weekly newspapers, individual show and breed society websites. We need one place where potential customers at home and abroad can look up the pedigree of an Irish Draught and see the success they have had in showing and performance classes.

5. Fuerty is the Bailey family’s prefix. What’s your view on prefixes?

The Fuerty prefix holds sentimental value, as Fuerty is the area in Roscommon where my dad grew up. Practically, our prefix helps keep track of the horses we breed, unfortunately we don’t have space to keep them all! It’s incredibly rewarding to see our horses do well with their new owners. Over the years, we’ve made so many wonderful friends through selling foals and following their journeys.

6. Internet – good or bad servant?

The internet has been a great tool for staying connected with the horses we’ve sold. Facebook groups, in particular, are fantastic for sharing photos and updates about foals and horses. It’s also helpful to learn from others and see the types of horses stallions are producing.

7. If you could have bred any horse?

It would have to be Welcome Flagmount. I have a photo of me as a child, where they handed me Welcome Flagmount to hold outside Castlelawn Stud and I remember being delighted at the time. He was an incredible horse, showing the temperament and versatility of the Irish Draught by representing Ireland at the WBFSH young horse show jumping championships in Lanaken.

Through our own horses, Welcome Flagmount has been an important influence. He is the sire of Fuerty Failte, who carried me around the RDS Irish Draught performance class, jumping clear on both occasions. He is also the sire of Welcome Emperor, who gave us some of our best broodmares.

8. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?

I work full-time in pharmaceutical manufacturing, so Dad manages a lot of the day-to-day running of the yard. We have a great camera system in the stables, so we can share the night checks on the mares close to foaling. I particularly enjoy show and sales prep, it is time you just get to spend quietly with the horses, plaiting them up and getting them ready.

My mam is always there as an extra pair of hands, especially at the shows and sales. My siblings all live nearby, so really nobody escapes, but they are always happy to help.

Even my husband, who knows very little about horses, jokes that he earned Dad’s respect when he very quickly cleared all the mares’ deep-litter stables after foaling!

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

Without a doubt! Breeding Irish Draughts has brought so many wonderful memories. They are the nicest horses to work with. Fuerty Lea is a favourite with my nieces and nephews, because she is always the first up looking for attention. It’s amazing to be part of preserving the native breed, giving them a role in today’s competition, while maintaining the traits that make them so special.

10. Looking ahead: your goal for the future?

Our goal for the future has always been to have the Fuerty prefix appear on both sides of a foal’s pedigree. With Fuerty Welcome Lad, a Class 1 stallion, that dream is looking more achievable!