BRIAN and Harold Lusk, along with the latter’s wife Jenny, are synonymous with equestrianism in Northern Ireland and on the Knockany Road outside Lisburn they run Lusk Equestrian Centre, Lusk Transport and a thriving business buying and selling show jumpers and eventers.

You can also add the odd thoroughbred to the mix and thus the brothers are following in the footsteps of their grandfather, James Lusk (1891-1964), who dealt in racehorses, half-breds and heavy horses when farming at Carntall, Doagh and finally Templepatrick.

From his Co Antrim bases, James supplied workhorses to many of the bakeries and haulage firms in Belfast while he also kept cows, bottling and selling their milk to local households in north Belfast.

“My grandfather sold cattle into Britain between the two World Wars, returning home with young Shires and Clydesdales who he sold at fairs in The Moy, Co Tyrone and Ballybay, Co Monaghan,” revealed Harold. “The imported fillies were bred with Irish Draught stallions, producing show jumpers in the border counties.

“James and my father, who was also called Harold and was born in 1915, shipped dairy cows, store cattle and beef cattle to England and, after World War II, they also started shipping ponies, cobs and horses, selling them their own yard near Preston in Lancashire which, having come off the boat, they travelled to by train.”

Harold followed in the family’s footsteps, dealing in cattle and horses. The cattle were sourced at fairs in the midlands and the west of Ireland while horses and ponies were picked up at similar gatherings throughout the island.

As a young man, before he could drive, he was sent off to these fairs with the late Joe Kernan from Crossmaglen who was regarded as “a genius at buying at a fair”. He was granduncle of show jumper and coach James Kernan and father of Co Armagh GAA team member and then manager, Joe Kernan.

Track record

When Brian decided to concentrate on racing in the late 1960s, his brother began buying, producing and selling show jumpers.

“Many went to Britain but, at that time, the Swiss and Italian markets were the biggest customers for Irish horses who were the envy of the world,” said Harold. Gerhard Etter was one of the many Swiss dealers who bought horses from Lusk while planeloads of horses were sent out to Iran to Ali Soudavar on whose behalf Harold once bought a farm at Donaghcloney.

Among the international Grand Prix winners who passed through Lusk’s hands were Mr Ross and Queensway Royale (who competed in Switzerland first with Etter and then with Britain’s David Broome), Penwwood Forgemill (ridden by Britain’s Paddy McMahon for Fred Hartill, a regular and active buyer throughout Ireland), Moet Imperial (Nelson Pessoa), Ramsome (Ferdi Tyteca), Santex (Kevin Bacon), Request (Goli Bakhtiar), Lagan Bridge (Roberto Alrioldi) and Autumnatic and Three Castles (Rowland Ferneyhough who was described by Lusk as being a complete horseman with wonderful talent).

Harold doesn’t only have a great track record in producing horses but is justifiably proud of Northern riders who competed for him over the years. Some went on to become household names on the national and international show jumping circuits. Sadly, Mandy Lyons (a sister of Vina Buller), who was highly-regarded by Lusk, was tragically killed in a vehicular accident in 1980.

“Harry Marshall, who worked for me for a number of years starting at the age of 17 and won the Wylie Trophy at the RDS on his first international start, was always very determined, while Conor Swail was a natural horseman with the will to win. Another rider to work here, and was particularly good with young horses, was Andy Johnston from Doagh.

“Among those who moved into the world of racing were the talented young rider Harold Kirk, now a very successful bloodstock agent with close ties to the Willie Mullins yard, and one-time top Northern point-to-point rider Ian Buchanan, who would be a talented horseman in any sphere.

“Then there’s one of the most complete horsemen, George Stewart, who show jumped internationally, rode as an amateur jockey and is an excellent trainer of point-to-pointers and National Hunt horses.

“Two Swiss riders who spent half a year each with me were show jumper Martin Fuch’s father Thomas and Steve Guerdat’s father Philippe who is now much sought-after as an international team trainer.”

‘A towny’

Jenny Lusk (nee Fetherston) describes herself as “A towny from Belfast who fell in love with horses, the country and Harold!” Her start in the saddle came alongside David Mitchell at the riding school run by the latter’s parents in Killinchy.

Best among Jenny’s show jumping mounts were Silver Jubilee, Henry Macanri, Chiquitita, Grey Slade, Drumnavaddy, who competed as My Way in Switzerland, and Maurice who, under the name Santex, was campaigned for Australia by the recently deceased Kevin Bacon. Her top eventers were Ingot, Byford and the aforementioned Chiquitita. One of her eventing highlights was competing in the national championships at Punchestown.

“While I loved jumping and eventing, I’d rather sell a horse and invest again so didn’t hold on to any of them for too long!” said Jenny. “I stopped riding altogether 15 years ago and now organise the livery yard (which is run on a DIY basis) and all events and competitions here, most of which cater for riders at the grass roots level of sport. Harold and I love seeing kids start off over a course set at 50cms and then watch them develop over the years.”

Knockany first hosted an Eventing Ireland event back in 1987 and, although intermittently absent from the fixture list for a few years from 1993, it returned to the Northern Region schedule in 2000 and has run most seasons since then.

Back in the day, the cross-country course here was famed, and feared, for its signature fence, The Steps. Then sponsored by Esso, there is a great photograph of Alfred Buller taking the last of the steps into water in 1990 on Mr Pepper while rider Johnny Kyle wasn’t the only one with his heart in his mouth when the talented but enigmatic The Grey Duke paid scant regard to some of the steps on his descent.

Maintaining ties to his background, Harold and Jenny keep a suckler herd which helps management of the land with so many horses about the farm. They also make around 1,000 bales of haylage each year for the liveries plus the riding school horses and ponies.

The Lusks would find it difficult to attend to all the jobs on the farm if it wasn’t for the multi-tasking Neil Knox who has worked for them for 25 years and is particularly good with the young horses.

Harold has five children: a boy and a girl from his first marriage and three boys with Jenny. “Unfortunately, none are interested in horses although Brian, our middle son, shows a slight interest in the farming side and will help out when needed,” reports Jenny. “The grandchildren only ride socially at present.”

Covid effects

The recent lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic has had varying effects on the lives of the Lusks who were able to conduct some business over the past 13 or so weeks but had to call a halt to others.

On Friday, March 20th, a Facebook message alerted all to a complete closure of the equestrian centre but there was light at the end of the tunnel last Saturday when a summer training Derby was advertised for tomorrow week, Sunday, June 28th. Hopefully, the centre’s season can get back on track over the next few months.

Lusk Transport endured some quiet weeks at the start of the lockdown but, in mid-April, a lorry went out to Germany, via France and Belgium, and the firm has been busy since. The renowned 93-year-old Swiss dealer Henry Schlumberger was among those who recently received a delivery.

“Our transport business was started in the mid-1960s as the ferries began to cater for roll-on, roll-off traffic,” explained Harold Lusk. “During normal times, we would take horses and ponies in monthly loads across to our customers in Britain, and then on to Europe, and, of course, racehorses to tracks in Britain. We pride ourselves in taking the best care of the horses.

“The type of horse we are dealing in these days is mainly for the leisure market. We have a client in Italy who would take any amount of traditionally bred Irish show jumpers but they are increasingly hard to find,” added Harold who has served many years on regional and national Show Jumping Ireland committees.

The Lusks are also conscious of their standing in the community and I recall being at a Northern Region event where the two commentators were made aware, from early in the day, that all updates and chat should be suspended for a short while in the afternoon when a funeral cortege was leaving a local house.

Each Wednesday and Thursday, members of the Lisburn Group of the Riding for Disabled Northern Ireland enjoy time in the saddle at the equestrian centre on ponies kindly supplied by the riding school’s manager, Denise Neill.

Locals with no interest in horses are apt to call into the centre on Saturday and Sunday mornings for their weekly ‘Ulster Fry’ in the excellent on-site White Horse Café farm shop which, due to the current restrictions, have organised “takeaway and bespoke boxes of goodies”.