I’M a retired dairy farmer and have been breeding horses for the last 20 years at Achar Fada Stables in Kilmuckridge, just outside of Gorey. I attribute my interest in horses to my late uncle John, breeder of Double Brandy who jumped on the English show jumping team with Graham Fletcher.

He had a great eye for a quality horse and passed on this attribute to me over the years. I have a huge interest in bloodlines and like to be able to recite at least five generations of my mares’ backbreeding. Distance is no problem and I’ve travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to view potential stallions.

1. Tell us about Cooley Moonshine, the recent winner of the Jersey Fresh CCI4*-S?

I bought his dam Kilpatrick Duchess (Kings Master x Cavalier Royale) as a foal in Goresbridge in 2008. She was bred by Joan Dolan in Co Kildare. This good looking foal caught my eye and I thought she would make a fine foundation mare.

I bred her to Cobra who was standing at the time with Ann Marie O’Gorman in Co Tipperary. With the Cavalier breeding in both lines and a superb step, I felt he would make a great match for my mare. The cross did not disappoint with the result being Cooley Moonshine. Kilpatrick Duchess has proven herself a great servant and also produced Global Theodoros, by Albaran xx, who stood at Kylemore Stud. Theodoros was the winner of the National Eventing Discovery five-year-old at Millstreet and an EI90 winner in Lisgarvan.

Duchess also produced Cavalier King John (VDL Arkansas), who is competing successfully for Alice Davies-Cooke.

This year Kilpatrick Duchess has a filly foal by Move To Strike xx and if anyone has a good deep pocket, she is looking for a new forever home.

I sold Cooley Moonshine as a three-year-old to Frank Casey initially and he is campaigned today by Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA).

2. You also bred Bloomfield Waterside, known as ‘MJ’, Daphne Tierney’s 2017 All Ireland three-year-old champion?

This was a very special win in my own county and I was delighted for Daphne Tierney and Jane Bradbury who produced Waterside to such a high standard. I bought his dam, Bannvalley Stargazer, from good friends Pat and Miriam O’Sullivan and she is by Annaghadown Star out of their prolific show winning mare, Welcome Primrose (Welcome Flagmount).

She is a fine stamp of an Irish Draught and crossed superbly with the iconic Watermill Swatch xx of Kylemore Stud.

Daphney Tierney bought Waterside from me as a two-year-old and he is currently being prepared for ridden classes in David Tatlow’s yard in the UK.

MJ with his breeder's prize and four-legged namesake 'MJ', after Bloomfield Waterside, owned by Daphne Tierney and shown by Michael Lyons, won the All Ireland final on his breeder's home ground at Bannon and Rathangan Show in 2017 \ Susan Finnerty

3. How many broodmares do you currently have?

Lost count after 25 but around that!

4. Which is your favourite broodmare(s)?

That’s a very difficult question, although we all have our favourites.

My niece Christina Kavanagh competes a mare at a local level called Russeltown Arabella, by Cobra out of Shifting Light (Maltstriker). It gives me great pleasure to see her enjoying one of my home-bred mares and watch her success.

Shifting Light was one of my earliest purchases, bought from Frank Casey. Their main highlight was being one of the dressage demo riders and horses at the British Horse Society National Convention with German coach Christoph Hess at Cavan Equestrian Centre in 2019. She has also competed in show jumping, advanced dressage, eventing and is a member of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs.

I have several really good foundation mares with great bloodlines.

These include AFS Juno, a Puissance x Cavalier Royale mare with a Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet filly foal at foot. She is related to Tim Burke’s Luckaun Quality (O.B.O.S Quality 004), a five-star event horse in America.

I have several Aldatus Z mares and a special one called Hillary, who has a filly by Imperial Tiger and is covered to Alicante. Ballycapple Heather is another Aldatus Z mare who is a Grade A show jumper and was campaigned by Lisa Murphy. She has a colt foal at foot by the Kennedy’s Vivant.

One of my traditional mares AFS Robyn is by Robin de la Maison xx out of Bannvalley Nutmeg (Crannagh Hero) and she has a colt by Rosier xx. Bannvalley Hopesway is my Irish Draught, a smashing mare by Crosstown Dancer out of the supreme champion mare Gurraun Broadway (Carrabawn View), she is in foal to Lucarelli xx.

Finally, I have a Puissance x Cappa Cochise x Grosvenor Lad x Knave of Hearts mare with all Irish breeding, who has a fabulous colt by Lucarelli.

I have used a variety of stallions this year including Island Commander, Clogheen Captain Jack and Cornet Obolensky but I am only at the start of this year’s breeding programme.

5. When do you usually sell your foals/youngstock?

My original plan was to produce three-year-olds but nowadays I sell foals after weaning, if the price is right. People call from all over Ireland to view stock and many amateur riders have purchased my stock and are return customers.

James O’Haire purchased HFS Eclipse, by Womanizer out Aldatus Clover Gold (Aldatus Z) at the Goresbridge sales as a three-year-old and won the E1115 Open at Blackstairs this year. She was also third in the Potential Event Horse three-year-old class in Dublin.

I also have many UK visitors, everyone is welcome to view all my stock and then they can make up their own minds. I am always open and visitors are always welcome.

6. What is your proudest moment as a breeder?

Cooley Moonshine put me on the map as a breeder. I was honoured on two occasions as his breeder by Horse Sport Ireland when he won silver and bronze at the WBFSH young event horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers.

To breed a world-class horse is a dream come true. On a local level, breeding Bloomfield Waterside, the All Ireland three-year-old champion at Bannow & Rathangan was a day to remember.

7. Breeding sport horses – business, hobby or labour of love?

On the one hand, it is a business, as one has to make money to survive. On the other hand, it’s a labour of love as I try to match my mares to the best stallions and await the results. The breeding game is such a mystery and you need a bit of luck.

8. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

I have a great network of friends who are very good to me and always available at the other end of the phone.

In the yard, Paddy and Lisa Murphy do all the sales preparation and breaking when required. At the moment Lisa is competing a young mare for me with Plot Blue/Cruising/Clover Hill breeding, bred by Pat Connelly, and purchased as a foal at the Breeders’ Classic in Barnadown.

Killian next door helps out at the weekend and after school. Marie, my sister, keeps me supplied with the best apple tarts while Miriam O’Sullivan helps out with the paperwork.

I could not survive in this business without my great vet Simon Fahy from Borovalley Veterinary Clinic, who is always available day or night.

9. Best advice you ever got?

Paul O’Mahony, a good friend from Cork, said: ‘If you stick with it, the buyers will surely flock to your door looking for a nice horse’ and that’s just what I did!

10. What’s the best part of horse breeding?

There is nothing like strolling through the paddocks on a May evening and watching the foals playing under the watchful eye of their mothers.

This is where you see the fruits of the sleepless nights and early mornings and make the plans for the next season’s breeding programme.