I’M based in Skryne, Tara, outside Navan, Co Meath. My day job is as a pensions consultant and professional trustee. When I was seven years old, my parents bought me my first pony, Dicky, followed by a palomino pony called Champagne when I was 13, and I was hooked for life.

I was part of a group of pony-mad children who grew up in Sutton/Howth, who would think nothing of riding their ponies from dawn till dusk around the Hill of Howth.

I was a member of the Ward Union Pony Club and later moved on to riding club activities with the Cheval Riding Club (acting secretary for a few years) and then took a keen interest in breeding Irish Draughts and Connemara ponies in later years, along with judging for the Irish Shows Association.

As you can see, my life is extremely busy.

1. How did donkeys join the herd too?

The donkeys just came about. I mean, I didn’t go out and buy them, I just have a problem with saying no! As it happens, four out of the five donkeys have Christmas-themed names, Cracker, Mr Jingles, Holly and Nollaig, so this article is very apt in their case.

I am involved with both the Irish Donkey Society and the Donkey Breed Society (DBS) UK and often travel to the UK to judge at the DBS shows, so I suppose there’s no getting out of the donkeys now.

2. You live near Michael Slavin, the ‘wise man of Tara’?

Yes, Michael only lives a couple of kilometres away from me as the crow flies. In fact, Michael is also involved in the Irish Donkey Society and is a former President.

3. ‘Tis the season for donkeys in Christmas card nativity scenes. What does taking care of a donkey entail?

As we all know, a donkey plays a big part in the nativity scenes at Christmas. However, just like the ad for owning a dog, being responsible for caring for five donkeys is a year-round responsibility.

Their nutritional needs are very different to a horse. Apart from that, their worming routine, teeth, and hoof care is more or less the same as my horses.

4. Donkeys, Draughts and minis too - describe your wintertime regime for the herd?

The wintertime regime used to involve a lot of plodding around in sodden fields, making sure that the animals were warmer and drier than I was. However, over the past few years, we have put in woodchip areas along with concrete standing with rubber mats (provided by NR Rubber Products), so we’re hoping that this will pay off in terms of a comfortable life for both the two-legged and the four-legged residents.

As all of the herd are natives and therefore susceptible to laminitis, they are turned out on restricted grazing during the summer months. They all have access to stables and woodchip areas during the winter months along with an ad-lib supply of hay.

My friends say I have my donkeys spoilt because I use fly sheets to protect them from the midges during the summer months and they have to have turnout rugs during the winter, because their coats are not waterproof like a horse.

5. Proudest breeder moment?

This has to be when a mare I bred, Bella’s Pride by Pride of Shaunlara, won the Irish Draught mare championship at the Dublin Horse Show. However, I have to admit the credit has to go to Bella herself, she was your one in a lifetime achievement!

6. “Fools breed foals for wise men to buy.” Agree/disagree?

You definitely have to be a bit soft in the head to put yourself through all this effort for very little tangible reward, but the satisfaction of raising such a magnificent thing as a foal, whether it be a donkey or horse, is immense, so I wouldn’t say we’re fools.

Anyone, man or woman, who buys a horse or donkey, as long as they’re prepared to commit the necessary love and attention, is making a wise choice in my mind.

7. That famous equine you would like to have bred?

Arkle, like every other Irish person. Although he was way before my time, his legacy lives on. It was Arkle who brought international attention to Ireland as the best place in the world for horses and horse breeders.

6. It takes a team. Whose on yours?

My daughter Rebecca has been involved all her life and continues to contribute now, even though she has her own high-flying career. My long-suffering husband Robert pitches in too, with good humour and only a minimum of grumbling.

An honourable mention, at least, should go to my neighbour Damien Murphy, who is always on hand to give me a dig out with the heavy work; along with my hay supplier, Mike Noonan; my vets, Robbie Collins and Katie Spokes; my farriers, Charlie Flanagan and David Madden and, lastly, Royal Town and County Stores in Trim, for sourcing the various feeds needed to keep the herd healthy.

7. Breeding/owning horses, would you do it all again?

Sometimes I ask myself what kind of fool would put themselves through all this heartache, toil and expense.

But then I remember the good times and the joy that caring for these gentle creatures brings, along with the camaraderie I have during the showing season with the friends I have made in every corner of Ireland and also in the UK over the years.

So, yes, I’ll keep going as long as I can.

8. The favourite Christmas tune playing on the radio in the tackroom/stables/car/kitchen?

Oh, this has to be Band-Aid: “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?”

9. Who would you invite around for Christmas dinner?

It would have to be my show jumping idol, Harvey Smith. What a complete legend.

10. You’ve won the Euromillions - what would you do?

What would I do with all those millions? I would probably end up taking in every unwanted animal in the country, but I wouldn’t mind, because I’d have the funds to pay for help and, of course, to cover the vet bills!