MY first real involvement with horses was messing around in Jimmy Foley’s yard in Ballycommon. After school, I worked in The Great Northern Hotel, then back home in Nenagh, I worked in Proctor & Gamble’s finance department. For the past 16 years, I’ve worked for Irish Rail. I’ve met some of the best people along this whole rollercoaster ‘horse journey’ since I bought my first horse from Andrew Younghusband.

1. Describe your typical day?

George, my husband, is a beef farmer and also works for Irish Rail, so a typical day here starts with animals being fed before we go to work. The biggest chore now is feeding calves. Our oldest son Denis is in college in Limerick and David is in secondary school, so most of my IDHBA work is done in the evening, on the computer or on the phone, while I’m mucking out stables, cleaning the house or getting dinner ready. Thank God for speakerphone and bluetooth in the car! The IDHBA directors and l could also have a weekday meeting with, for example, Horse Sport Ireland.

2. Why Irish Draughts?

I had a nasty fall from a horse when the boys were young and lost my nerve for a while but wanted to stay involved with horses. My grandfather Martin Ryan had Draughts on his farm in Carney so I thought about buying one. George and I met Timmy Sullivan and Tommy McIntee at the IDHBA show in Mullingar in 2008 and with Timmy’s guidance, I bought my first Draught mare from Tommy Bennett. She was by The Bard out of an Uibh Fhaile mare and I absolutely adored her.

3. When did you become the IDHBA chairperson?

In 2019.

4. Why did you take on the role?

I was national treasurer and when my term was up, stepped away because I needed to concentrate on work and family, especially the lads’ education. Then I was asked to think about putting my name forward as chairperson. I did think long and hard about it. I doubted my ability but good friends encouraged me, so I did.

I took on the role knowing the commitment and great work my predecessors had done. I felt and still feel the Irish Draught and Irish-bred horse has a lot to offer the equine industry here and abroad and that we, as breeders, need to start promoting and advertising the value of the traditionally-bred Irish horse.

5. The IDHBA stallion parade was your first event?

Yes, some good friends said we should try a stallion parade which I thought was a really good idea, so I suggested it to the Board of Directors. They trusted me to get it going and a good team of people made it a very successful event.

6. Good timing?

As it turned out, we were lucky. We were delighted we managed to give breeders a chance to see the high standard of traditional stallions around the country which, now due to lockdown, has proved invaluable. I have to say a huge thanks to the stallion owners who supported the event.

Almost all Irish Draught events have been cancelled. The Laois Branch one-day-event, branch show, mare inspections etc were events lots of Draught enthusiasts really looked forward to. Our AGM, due to take place on the March 29th, has been postponed indefinitely.

7. Will the IDHBA National Show go ahead?

Honestly, I don’t know. The Board will be making that decision in the next few weeks. There’s a number of things to consider but social distancing will be the biggest challenge. It’s scheduled for September 6th but we’ll have to wait and see. Of course Government guidelines will be adhered to.

8. Where does the breed fit in today?

The Irish Draught, in my opinion, ticks a number of boxes. For breeders, the Draught is the foundation animal, a good foundation means you have a lot of different options. Most hunting diehards would agree that a Draught/Draught-cross is still one of the best hunting horses you’ll have under you. They are strong, brave, sensible and agile, can endure rough, unforgiving ground and remain sound. They’re renowned for their temperament, so an amateur can have a wonderful time on an absolute all-rounder.

The Irish Draught does a lot of different things for a lot of different people and is recorded as part of Ireland’s intangible cultural heritage. As Ireland’s native horse breed, it’s sometimes one of its forgotten gems.

9. Sales-wise, good years, bad years. Why do breeders carry on?

Irish Draughts have had some very good years and some very bad ones. Before the last recession, mares were making anything from five to €20,000. When the recession hit, breeders were barely making the stud fee, so it has to be for the love of the breed. I think the social aspect to the Irish Draught horse is a factor also.

10. Describe ‘Draught Day’ in Dublin?

Dublin is a fantastic way of meeting up with longtime friends but also meeting new ones. It’s an immediate conversation starter with people you meet travelling up on the train from Cork, Kerry and Limerick and travelling with Matthew O’Meara and Huge Deegan, it’s an hilarious journey.

The IDHBA tradestand is very busy all week. There’s only one woman that can stand the pace and finish up smiling and that’s Eiline Brennan. I just don’t know how she does it. The Irish Draught classes draw a huge crowd so you have to make sure you get out there early or you won’t get a seat and the conversation can go on for hours afterwards about the different animals.

11. Favourite horse/rider combination?

Eddie Macken and Boomerang. My mother loved the Aga Khan and I can remember kneeling in front of the television, watching Eddie jumping Boomerang and cheering for Ireland.

12. Best day’s hunting?

I’ve had good days out with my local hunts; the North Tipperary and Ormond. Another memorable hunt was with the Carlow Farmers. A good friend, Andreena Purcell and I were invited there by the Byrne family and I don’t think I’ve felt as many different emotions in one day’s hunting, from terror, joy, excitement to achievement, fantastic!

13. Best Riding Club memory?

I’m a member of Arderin Riding Club which likes to support Redhills Riding Club’s fundraising show for cancer research. I entered the handy horse class on a whim one year and my little horse and I demolished the course. We ended up getting stuck in one of the obstacles and the club members and I cried with laughter. A day we won’t forget in a hurry!

14. Covid-19, an unprecedented year?

We’ve been lucky in that both of us are still working and kept busy with the farm. Most of all, it has made us more aware of the people we took for granted, like all hospital staff and frontline workers, who are amazing.

It took this virus to make us realise it. Also the value of smaller local businesses, we should all really support them more and they are just as cost effective as the bigger chain stores.

I really hoped 2020 was going to be our year with several eventing horses, with Draught bloodlines, tipped for Tokyo. Who could have predicted that the world would come to an absolute standstill?

15. How are you coping with lockdown?

I’d been looking for a traditionally-bred young horse beforehand and eventually found one. He is a Connemara-Draught cross, bought from Jim Derwin and I found him an absolutely gentleman to deal with. Can’t wait to get back doing lessons but in the meantime, my instructor David Maher in Roscrea Equestrian Centre has given me great advice so that’s where my ‘off the road’ time has gone. His name? Tiger King. Yes, from the Netflix series!

16. Non-horsey hobby?

I like to read, I’m a real Martina Cole and Dan Brown fan. At the minute, I’m reading Tackle Riding This Way by Lt.Col.C.E.G Hope, very interesting and informative.

17. Social media, yes or no?

Used wisely I think its a very useful tool. It can be great for productive information. The IDHBA has its own Facebook page and it helps to keep our members and breeders up to date.

18. Who inspires you?

I’d have to say Eiline Brennan. She is just a marvel, very forward thinking and just insprirational. Timmy Sullivan used to say regularly “they broke the mould after they made Eiline Brennan”. No feat is too big, she finds a way to do it and since I took on the chairperson role, has backed me unconditionally.

19. Must-have gadget?

Without hesitation, my phone. I couldn’t do anything for the IDHBA without it. It has taken me all over Ireland to places I’ve never heard of.

20. The ‘RDS dream’?

All my life I hoped I would someday compete in the RDS before I hit the big 50. I’ve passed that milestone now so the new one is before 60! Do the RDS have an age limit?