RISING energy costs - one of the knock-on effects of the current conflict in Iran - and the already-felt impact on the breeding and competition seasons were among the major talking points during last week’s Horse Sport Ireland stallion inspections.

As an example of rising diesel prices, one producer opted to stay overnight in Cavan, calculating that it was more economical than making another lorry trip from home for day two. An indicator of the months ahead?

On a positive note, there was a new energy about the two-day inspections last week, particularly with the addition of ‘fresh faces’ on the inspectors’ panel, including KWPN senior inspector Henk Dirksen, international show jumping legend John Whitaker and IDHS (GB) stalwart Mary Wilson.

Reverting to the Draught entries on the first day meant the usual good turnout of breed enthusiasts, including several Canadian and UK visitors. The merits of the new Genomic Grade-Up option, varying types within a breed debate, another batch of palomino and dun candidates and the economics of standing a stallion were amongst the onlookers’ topics for discussion on Thursday.

There were the annual hard-luck stories: having passed Stage 1 last year and returned for a Preliminary Approved bid, Hans Jürgen Kuehnle’s home-bred Tullibards Lux Likea Benny (Tullibards Bennys Legacy x Lux Z) picked up an overreach beforehand.

There were better outcomes for others, as the Irish Sport Pony candidate Double Pleasure (BE/SIES. Follow Me x Quidam de Revel) missed last year’s inspections at Cavan, due to transport issues. (He was later accommodated at one of the HSI springtime mare inspection venues).

The Steven Whitaker-owned and Kylemore Stud-based European champion has now received a five-star presentation for his own performance, including individual gold at the 2024 European pony championships with Wexford’s Jack Kent.

Peter McHugh’s Sean’s Supremacy, produced by Liam Lynskey, was amongst the dozen Irish Draught Class 1 approvals at Cavan \ Susan Finnerty

A dozen more

Thursday saw 12 new Class 1 Irish Draughts (two more than 2025) added to a not-overly lacking Irish Draught stallion market: Damien Whelan’s Abbeyward Zero, Thomas Duffy’s Barnacogue Hero, Maeve Carty’s Birchill Sir Ivor, Samantha Fitzsimons, Maryclare Travers and Niamh Grimes Carrafarm Courage, Tom Burke’s Castlegar Jack, Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s Clogher Echo, Sean O’Sullivan’s Coom View Legacy, Enda Hamill’s Gweebarra Creed, Gabriel Bell’s Lisnamore Bouncer, Miceál Collins’ Mizen Man, Peter McHugh’s Seans Supremacy and Cathal Shine’s WRS The Black Cigar.

There was a new supplementary classification at this year’s stallion inspections: ID G-Grade Up, separate from Class 1 or 2 categories. This is based on Horse Sport Ireland’s new initiative to allow horses with or without pedigree documentation to be considered for entry into the breeding programme, based solely on their genetic profile.

Christine Oliver’s Killaraus Aengus Og is the first Draught stallion to benefit from this scheme, which may also be rolled out by HSI for the TIH herd.

Killaraus Aengus Og was the first Draught stallion to benefit from the new Genomic Grade-Ups cheme at the Cavan Stallion inspections \ Aisling Deverell jumpinaction.net

Two Traditional Irish Horses (TIH) were successful in 2025. This year, Tom Jones’ Carrick Diamond Royale, by his own Carrick Diamond Lad, climbed one more rung of the approvals ladder to gain Preliminary Approved (Stage 2) status last Friday. He was the only successful Stage 2 stallion this year, compared to three in 2025.

Unlike last year, when no thoroughbred candidates were put forward, there were two this year. Claire Carey produced the successful (on account of his Timeform rating) candidate, the Galileo son Amhran na Bhfiann, for his required linear profiling.

The other two Cavan approvals for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook are the Drumhowan Stud-based five-star rated Fernando and then Castlefield Breeding Farm’s Durango VDL, awarded a three-star classification for both his own and his show jumping progeny’s performance.

Pricelist

The Class of 2026 saw some particularly well-bred sport horse entries this year, with relatives and offspring of Cella, Cuffesgrange Cavadora and Leone Jei in the catalogue.

Fernando received a five-star classification for his own performance record, built up with Johnny Pals (NED), including a double clear in the 2016 Aga Khan Nations Cup. A special moment for the Drumhowan Stud team of Eamon and Gladys McArdle was the sight of the two five-star stallions Fernando and Zapatero nose-to-nose for their presentation.

Ivor and Olive Broderick also had a Cavan double, on top of Double Pleasure’s five-star upgrade, as his Kylemore Stud stable companions: Baloucento VDL Z and Talone-Jei-VDL (a brother of Martin Fuchs’ Aachen Grand Prix winner Leone Jei) sailed through their Stage 1 assessment.

Also passing this round was Clare Hughes’s HK Valhalla, an El Barone III Z son of Cuffesgrange Cavadora; a second home-bred in David Molloy’s Portlaoise Kraftsman and Ger Kennedy’s athletic skewbald Willowsway Kind Of Magic.

There were no successful candidates this time around in this year’s Irish Sport Pony studbook category.

There were 49 entries for this year’s inspections, 127 were made at the Cavan peak in 2011, while the lowest figure was in 2014, when just 27 stallions were entered. Production costs have steadily risen over the years, with one producer putting their Cavan costs for one stallion at €1,200 in 2011, when the mandatory vetting, professional production and feed costs were factored in.

By 2023, one Irish Draught stallion owner totted up his Cavan inspections costs to €3,780. Inflation and rising fuel costs will have ramped up the 2026 bill; however, for some owners and breeders, getting a stallion approved at Cavan is priceless. This is certainly true for the Carrafarm Courage team, who provided this week’s Breeders’ 10 (see page 84).

More Irish and European breeders who were successful at Cavan 2026 will be featured in the coming weeks.

Team Kylemore: Ivor, Chloe, Olive and Josh Broderick with Kaylee Blight, (holding their successful Stage 1 stallion Talone-Jei VDL) and Darla Cooper \ Susan Finnerty

Cavan snippets

  • This year’s inspection panel members? George Chapman, Maurice Coleman, John Corbett, Liam Cotter, Gillian Devenney, Henk Dirksen, Jack Doyle, Andrew Gardiner, Ger O’Sullivan, Chris Ryan, Philip Scott, John Whitaker and Mary Wilson. Newly-appointed ISH Studbook inspectors Katie Peate and JP Rogan were also in attendance and Damien Griffin was again the test rider for the sport horse section.
  • A lack of entries caused the cancellation of Friday night’s Stallion Showcase, which had previously run in 2024 and 2025.
  • Cavan attendees and breeders are encouraged to pre-register their interest in a print version of the ‘breeders’ bible’: the stallion book. Discontinued because of rising print and delivery costs, the annual publication may return, contingent on sufficient interest and cost factors. Go to https://www.horsesportireland.ie/hsi-opens-pre-order-expressions-of-interest-for-2026-printed-stallion-book/.
  • It was a second Horse Sport Ireland 5* rug for Zapatero VDL, as he previously received one in 2024 for his eventing progeny. The Chin Chin son, bred by H. Brugman, was previously competed by Irish chef d’equipe Jessica Kürten.
  • Cella, Ben Maher’s five-star mare and member of the 2013 winning Aga Khan Nations Cup team, is the dam of Baloucento VDL. The Cento x Chin Chin mare has produced an astonishing total of 31 foals to date.
  • Another well-known dam is Cuffesgrange Cavadora, a daughter of the European pony championships wonder mare Cuffesgrange Caviladam, making her Stage 1 graduate grandson HK Valhalla the third generation to be competed by Seamus Hughes Kennedy.
  • Lanaken silver medallist Ard Ginger Pop (Luidam) is the grand-dam of David Molloy’s Portlaoise Kraftsman. Also in this family is the three-star event horse Irish Jester (Slyguff Joker VII), a rare back-to-back winner of both the Burghley four and five-year-old young event horse finals with Sarah Cohen.
  • Two more stallions to be recognised at Cavan were Castlefield Breeding Farm’s Castlefield Kingston (now ranked as a two-star stallion for his own performance, after being Preliminary Approved at the 2021 inspections) and Emma Jackson’s Bannvalley Whisper. While this seven-year-old Irish Draught retains his C2 status in the Irish Draught studbook, the Gortfree Hero x Moylough Bouncer son is now approved in the Irish Sport Horse (ISH) studbook on account of his performance results. He was bred in Co Wexford by Pat and Miriam O’Sullivan, who had travelled to Cavan to see him.
  • It’s the second year that the Fast Silver mare Coom View Silver has produced a Class 1 stallion at Cavan. Last year, it was Michael and Chris Mannion’s Coom View Highlander (Farmhill Highlander); last week, it was another son in Coom View Legacy (Moylough Legacy). Both stallions were bred in Co Cork by Shane Connolly.
  • Tom Burke’s record of breeding and/or owning Class 1 stallions has been extended. Castlegar Fin Grove (2014) started the winning streak, followed by Castlegar Cool Mist (2017), Castlegar Cool Grove (2019), Castlegar Coolough (2021), Castlegar Rock (2024) and now Castlegar Jack, the very first stallion approved on Thursday morning at the 2026 inspections.

    • The stars were bright for the five-star stallion Fernando at Cavan, pictured with Catherina Reilly, Seamus O’Neill and Gladys McArdle, Drumhowan Stud where Fernando is based \ Susan Finnerty

    Provisional results – 2026

    Irish sport horse studbook

    Approved

    5*

    Fernando (HOLST) 2006.

    For Pleasure (HANN) - Senna (HOLST), by Corrado I (HOLST).

    Owner: Stoeterijf Black Horses & C.A.M v.d Oetelelaar & Drumhowan Stud.

    Breeder: Jürgen Hattebuhr.

    3*

    Durango VDL (KWPN) 2008.

    Zirocco Blue VDL (SF) - Narona (KWPN), by Lux Z (HANN).

    Owner: Castlefield Breeding Farm Ltd.

    Breeder: N.H.G Broeders.

    Amhran Na Bhfiann (TB) 2017.

    Galileo - Alluring Park, by Green Desert.

    Owner: Scandinavian Equine Services AB.

    Breeder: Lodge Park Stud.

    Preliminary approved (stage 2)

    Carrick Diamond Royale (ISH)[TIH] 2020.

    Carrick Diamond Lad (ISH) - Hopalong Cassidy Girl (ISH)[TIH] by Hopalong Cassidy (TB).

    Owner: Tom Jones.

    Breeder: Laurence Jones.

    Stage 1

    Baloucento VDL Z (BWP). 2023.

    Baloubet du Rouet (SF) - Cella (BWP), by Cento (HOLST).

    Owner: Kylemore Stud.

    Breeder: VDL Stud.

    HK Valhalla (ISH). 2020

    El Barone 111 Z (ZANG) - Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH) by Z Wellie 72 (KWPN).

    Owner/Breeder: Clare Hughes.

    Portlaoise Kraftsman (ISH). 2021

    Kassandra Van’t Roosakker (BWP) - Derrylea Greylady ISH), by Cruising (ISH)[TIH].

    Owner/breeder: David Molloy.

    Talone-Jei -VDL (KWPN). 2023.

    Baltic VDL (KWPN) - MoM’s Dara (KWPN), by Corland (HOLST).

    Owner: Kylemore Stud.

    Breeder: A.W.M Van Hal.

    Willowsway Kind Of Magic (AES). 2020.

    Freckleton Royal Affair (AES) - Baronsdown Cracker (AES), by Lostock King of the Hill (SHBGB).

    Owner: Ger Kennedy.

    Breeder: Hilary & Jo Waterhouse.

    Class 1 Irish draughts

    Abbeyward Zero (2020).

    Scrapman - Lawdale Alice, by Attwood Black Laughton.

    Owner: Damien Whelan.

    Breeder: Tom Daly.

    Barnacogue Hero (2022).

    Gortfree Hero - Holy River, by Inisfree The Holy Grail.

    Owner: Thomas Duffy.

    Breeder: Dominic Cassidy.

    Birchill Sir Ivor (2020).

    Cloneyhea Spellbound - Morning Glow, by Sir Rivie.

    Owner: Maeve Carty.

    Breeder: Raymond Sloyan.

    Carrafarm Courage (2022).

    Lionwood Kinsales Lad - Pagestown Harmony, by Crosstown Dancer.

    Owners: S. Fitzsimons, M. Travers & N. Grimes.

    Breeder: Owners.

    Castlegar Jack (2023).

    Balcormo Sir Dun Cliff - Derig Aingel, by Insifree The Holy Grail.

    Owner: Tom Burke.

    Breeder: James Heery.

    Clogher Echo (2023).

    Echo King - Dunmore Fast Woman, by Fast Silver.

    Owner: Gabriel Slattery Jnr.

    Breeder: Denis McGrath.

    Coom View Legacy (2022).

    Moylough Legacy - Coom View Silver, by Fast Silver.

    Owner: Sean O’Sullivan.

    Breeder: Shane Connolly.

    Gweebarra Creed (2021).

    Millhollow Real Mac Coy - Dreamtime Mayfie, by Blue Rajah.

    Owner/Breeder: Enda Hamill.

    Lisnamore Bouncer (2022).

    Moylough Bouncer - Ballywalter Lady, by Huntingfield Rebel.

    Owner/Breeder: Gabriel Bell.

    Mizen Man (2021).

    Mizen Gold - Ratooragh Lady, by Arthurs Gold.

    Owner/Breeder: Miceál Collins.

    Seans Supremacy (2022).

    Moylough Supremacy - Robeen Rose, by Clew Bay Bouncer.

    Owner/Breeder: Peter McHugh.

    WRS The Black Cigar (2022).

    WRS Baby Guinness - Rooskagh Prescott, by Prescotts Diamond.

    Owner: Cathal Shine.

    Breeder: John O’Dwyer.

    ID G-grade up

    Killaraus Aengus Og (2018).

    Avanti Amorous Archie - Celtis Rosies Rebel, by Celtis Bold Rebel.

    Owner/Breeder: Christine Oliver.

    What they said

    “The stallion show was run like clockwork, the HSI team were exceptional. They were so helpful and made the day a great one. It was nice to see some new faces on the judges’ panel. The only negative is that the attendance by breeders is non-existent. How can this be best addressed?”

    Olive Broderick, Kylemore Stud

    “I am delighted with how the Stallion Selection days went last week. As promised, the heralded Irish Draught Day was kept together, and we had a wonderful turnout from Irish Draught breeders, whether travelling from West Cork, the Midlands, Great Britain, or Canada.

    We had an excellent day of sport horses to follow, with some great additions to our Stage One group of stallions, quality thoroughbreds, and a much-celebrated TIH Preliminary Approval. On Friday afternoon, we had the privilege of welcoming back several stallions for their full approval or the recognition of their new merits and star ratings - a real testament to their breeders and producers.

    This year, we included the welcome addition of Mary Wilson (IDHS GB), Henk Dirksen (KWPN) and John Whitaker MBE (British show jumping multi-medallist, Olympian and breeder) to our panels; their contribution was hugely appreciated by breeders and the studbook alike, and we look forward to continuing this initiative in the years to come.

    It would be remiss of me not to thank the wider team within HSI who put this event on the road, as well as the wonderful community of people - inspectors, arena party, commentary, photography, venue support, and many others - without which we couldn’t host this calibre of stallion selections. It takes a team, and we have a great one!”

    Sonja Egan, HSI Head of Breeding, Innovation & Development.

    “I’ve been to many stallion inspections, but today’s is a milestone.”

    Gladys McArdle, Drumhowan Stud.

    Fantastic, I’ve learned a lot with these fellow judges because it’s the first time I’ve done it [stallion inspections], actually. I know what a good horse is and, at the end of the day, I think it boils down to what’s in the horse’s head and how good they can jump. But it’s good to have learned about this - the way you judge, looking at the conformation, movement, temperament - putting all these things together and I’ve enjoyed it.”

    John Whitaker.