Lisa Rosbotham, Keonan Stables

Q: Give us a brief outline of your breeding programme.

Keonan Stables runs a small but quite successful breeding programme. We have five broodmares – two thoroughbred and three half-breds.

We have three yearlings, two two-year-olds, a three-year-old and of course or own stallion, Valent. We enjoy the process of breeding and producing our own stock. While success at any level, with any animal is great, there is something incredibly special about watching your own stock preform.

Q. What foals are you expecting in 2021?

We have five foals due this year. Our Roselier mare is in foal to Valent (Hors La Loi x Lux Z). She’s quite a special mare as she is the mother of Clare Abbott’s mount Jewelent and Oliver Townend’s ride Cooley Rosalent.

The other thoroughbred mare (by Doyen) is also expecting a Valent. We find he crosses well with a TB mare with the aim of breeding a top eventer.

Our Beachball x Cavalier Royale mare, a daughter of Garronturton Lady, is in foal to Niall Hughes’ Hos D’o (Dollar Dela Pierre x Cumano). The Russel x Coevers Diamond Boy mare is covered to a young stallion, For Kinmar Hero Z (For Pleasure x Aganix Du Seigneur), and the Lux mare is in foal to Billy Towmey’s Chat Botte E.D (Casall Ask x Darco).

Q. What are your stallion choices for this season?

We haven’t any plans set in stone as of yet but we have a few nice stallions on our radar.

I think it’s important to support Irish breeders, and the choice of stallions we have standing here in Ireland is fantastic.

Hughes have some lovely stallions standing at Ennisnag Stud and if all goes to plan, we hope to use one of their stallions again. Drumhowan Stud also have a wonderful selection of stallions. I think Corporal VDL would suit one of my mares so I am hoping to use him this season too.

Q. How do you make your stallion choices?

I think we have to be quite critical of our mares. We need to identify what aspects of their conformation and technique need improving and what aspects of these areas we like. Then we need to ask what a particular stallion can bring to the table to complement or improve her.

We like to choose a stallion with a good percentage of blood as we believe it is something that is needed for a performance at a high level.

It’s quite easy to get caught up with trends, but no matter how popular a certain stallion may be, we need to be realistic and truthful if he suits the mare we are thinking of covering and if it aligns with our breeding goals.