BASED in the limestone-rich farmland in Co Kilkenny is the home of Mill House Stud (MHS), where a number of talented horses have begun their career under the watchful eye of the Brennan family.

It’s a legacy handed down through the generations, most recently by the late Ita Brennan and now in the hands of sons John, Tom, Michael and Tim, founder of GCS (Gowran Castle Stud) Horses.

1. A good year for MHS horses, even in 2020?

A year that’ll never be forgotten and that slipped away, with so many cancellations in the sport horse world, it still had its moments for us here at MHS.

Firstly, we had MHS High Hopes (Quidam Junior) making a huge impact on the national Grand Prix scene, winning two legs and placing third overall in the 1.50m Premier Grand Prix Series. We also were responsible for HHS Calais and the Army Equitation School horse Clinstown, both placed in the series.

We also introduced a number of very promising young horses, not least MHS Sunday Girl, who was crowned five-year-old champion of the Horse Board series and a number of others that’ll make their own name hopefully along the way in the sport.

Ger O'Neill and MHS High Hopes on their way to winning the 1.50m HSI Premier Grand Prix at Mullingar in August \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

2. Proudest moment as breeders?

Our proudest moment is actually ongoing as it’s seeing horses that started in the fields here, going on to perform with distinction all around the world! But MHS Going Global has to stand out at the moment for his high profile career. We are delighted that Mam was alive to witness the Aga Khan performances but unfortunately, missed seeing him at the Olympics [in 2016 with Greg Broderick].

It’s great seeing the breeding success following on for others that bought into a filly from our herd. The current European pony champion Cuffesgrange Cavalidam and the Lanaken seven-year-old champion Cuffesgrange Cavadora are examples, as are the Gowran Lady grandsons; the 2020 Breeders Classic five-year-old winner BP Limitless (Elvis der Putte) and ESI Abercrombie (Toulon) third in the Cavan Classic six/seven-year-old final this year and also placed in the Breeders Classic.

3. Favourite broodmare, past or present?

We’ve been lucky with our band of mares along the way but Gowran Lady (Cavalier Royale) has to be the pick overall! Her first foal, BP Mystique, was a medal winner at seven in Lanaken, as well as competing at Grand Prix level with Greg Broderick.

Her next progeny are the five-star eventer MHS King Joules (Ghareeb), sixth at Pau CCI5*; the Olympic horse MHS Going Global (Quidam Junior) and then there’s MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam), the broodmare mother of MHS Kilkenny, Cian O’Connor’s new mount.

Then she bred Brooklyn Breeze (Heritage Fortunus), the broodmare mother of ESI Abercrombie (Toulon), placed in the 2020 Breeders Classic; next is the 1.50m winner MHS High Hopes (Quidam Junior), an extraordinarily exciting prospect for the future, and MHS Brown Jack (O.B.O.S Quality), a six-year-old eventer with Tom McEwen in Britain.

We have four full-sisters and a Luidam half-sister to MHS Going Global to come and dare I say it but Gowran Lady’s best might still have to come out – watch this space! She is due to Cornet Obolensky in 2021 so still churning them out.

Gowran Lady

4. Tell us about this year’s foals?

We breed mainly by embryo transfer now, so we have a lovely bunch by different sires (Aganix, Numero Uno, VDL Carrera, Untouchable, etc.) but out of high genetic mares.

5. When do you typically sell?

We sell at any stage really, but have to produce more nowadays as we don’t ask so much of our three-year-olds, so don’t compete them generally.

6. Favourite stallion/mareline?

We’ve been very lucky with Quidam Junior of late but O.B.O.S Quality has been good to us too, as has Cavalier, Imperius and King of Diamonds. We put more emphasis on the quality of mares and strength of lineage, as stallions can only bring so much to the table at any given time.

7. Any preference for breeding showjumpers or eventers?

An eventer is a showjumper that moves nowadays, so both are intertwined but we aim for showjumpers and the decision is down to the customer!

8. What do you think are the greatest challenge facing breeders?

It’s only when you breed that you realise the precarious nature and the multitude of challenges to it, but access to a meaningful market is high on the list. As is semen quality and availability.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and Showjumping Ireland (SJI) do a great job with the leagues that they run but it’s a little off the beaten track for most Europeans and especially the Americans. Years ago, you’d bump into groups of different nationalities at the shows looking for stock but not anymore!

The big yards here bring in their own customers as they have enough stock to show but the smaller yards and private people have no access to the like.

I’ve asked HSI to contemplate renting a yard in the heart of Belgium or Holland, sticking an Irish flag outside and allowing smaller producers a chance to berth for a three-week period to compete and hopefully sell to the prospective customers that are always in that area. It could be known as the Irish Centre. I’d like for breeders/producers to voice their opinions on the above suggestion.

Athina Onassis and MHS Going Global (Quidam Junior x Cavalier Royale) jumping in Doha \ Stefano Grasso GCL

9. You’ve won the Euromillions jackpot, which stallion/mare/embryo would you buy?

Would our better halves allow us to?! I’m actually happy with the mares we have but would probably sneak in one or two from around the globe, if suitable ones appeared at auction! Our breeding principles are based along successful operations of the likes of Coolmore, Juddmonte, the Aga Khan studs and other notables in the thoroughbred industry.

Strength in depth of the mare is paramount to success!

10. What steps would you propose to forward the industry from a breeder/producer’s point of view?

As before, an Irish centre in the heartland of the global industry would be hugely beneficial! I think the country needs a dedicated Centre of Excellence, (of the nature of Peelbergen), south of Dublin but accessible from the motorway system like at Goffs. Punchestown is a little harder to get to with the trucks and Abbottstown is not fit for purpose, except in certain circumstances!

I think the stakeholders, ie the RDS, HSI, SJI and the show centre representatives, with unselfish rider/producer input too, is needed to sort out the calendar. Tied in with the above, I thought the Autumn Development Series worked very well and one day, instead of two, jumping for young horses is probably more beneficial in the long-term.

I think that, aside from the Dublin Horse Show and Millstreet, we need four super shows (like the Breeders Classic), spread out over summer/autumn, catering for everything and using the intervening time with feeder type shows in other centres as qualifiers for the above, to support everyone.

The stallion show needs to be linked to one of these ‘super shows’ to give it some credibility and attendance, the Army Equitation School could be linked to an evaluation system for the stallion show. A permanent video service live screening should be established with a “Carroll’s Clock” style fixture at each show, it would surely be a sponsorship target for major companies!

Midweek industry shows (the Board classes) would benefit stable staff and not hinder other centres. Create a “show” on the Sunday and not 10 hours of young horses jumping the same course, which won’t entice sponsors or spectators.

Enough for today, but we have a chance now to drag the industry out of the past and give it new life and purpose. I know there’ll be people who’ll say “You can’t do that” or “That won’t work.” Well, to borrow a phrase from a guy who defied the odds: “Can we do it? YES, we can!”