THE duo of owner Daphne Tierney and rider Jane Bradbury have proved themselves time and again to be a force to be reckoned with in the showing ring.

With numerous wins and Championship titles to their credit, they are busy preparing for this year’s Dublin Horse Show, and with two 2019 Balmoral titles already under their belt, they couldn’t be in better shape for August.

Daphne explained this week how she came to establish her ‘Bloomfield’ string and how showcasing Irish-bred horses is a cause very close to her heart.

“I grew up on a cattle farm in Newcastle just three miles from where I live now, my brother runs the family farm these days and that’s where I send my youngsters. My father always said that farm had ‘bluegrass’ which is exactly what youngsters need so it’s great to have it close-by.

“When I was young, my father always kept a few young horses on the farm. I’m one of five children; but was the only one that was ‘horse mad’. My mother used to say to me ‘please don’t collar your father the minute he comes in the door to get updates on how all the horses are doing.’

“I guess that’s where it all began. I have always been passionate about the Irish-bred horse. I currently have five broodmares and I try my best to breed all my own horses, but that’s not always possible, they just don’t come quickly enough so I go to the sales and keep my eye out for something suitable.

“My priority would be to buy Irish but that is getting more and more difficult these days; so if I can’t get it on both sides I try very hard to get Irish on the dam’s side.

“When looking at a possible purchase, temperament is the most important thing for me. Obviously the breeding is very important. Over the years I have learned, and am still learning what to look out for,” said Tierney.

Well-known show horse producer Jane Bradbury (left) with breeder and owner Daphne Tierney of Bloomfield Horses and legendary horseman David Cosby \ Siobhan English Photography

Foundation mare

“In the 1990s my father brought me to Tattersalls and we bought a Kings Ride mare called Sea Bright for €700. In addition to her, a mare by Aristocracy called Aerlite Classic also caught our eye. I remember they wanted more but we managed to get her for €1,000 and she was the mare that started it all really.

“She became my foundation mare, she bred Bloomfield Rebekah who was Champion mare, Champion middleweight and winner of the Pembroke Cup for the best home-bred at the Dublin Horse Show in 2004. It was then that I really got the showing bug.

“She was an amazing broodmare. In total she bred five Dublin Champions over the years; Bloomfield Ollie champion hunter as a four-year-old in 2011, Bloomfield Eulogy by Crosstown Dancer was two-year-old champion and Bloomfield William and Bloomfield Tiger II were both champion foals.

“I’m focused on the breeding lines so I’m always delighted when we have a filly but Jane is delighted when they are colts. This year we are three for three with the colts so, of course, Jane is thrilled.

“We always go to the September sale in Gorsebridge. As I’ve mentioned I’m much focused on breeding and temperament.

“I like to walk around the horse and see how they interact with their handler, they don’t have to have done a lot, we would nearly prefer if they have done nothing so we are starting with a completely clean sheet and can teach them ourselves.

“There is a great girl Wendy Anderson who works with Jane; she starts them off by just touching them with a brush and walking around them; baby steps that’s what it takes.

“We joke that when a raw youngster comes to us it goes to Jane to be ‘Potterised’; her farm is called Potter’s Pasture.”

Keep it Irish

“We like to lightly hunt them as four-year-olds, Irish horses always take longer to mature but in the end, I think they end up much tougher and last longer.

“We currently have seven horses in work, three five-year-olds, a four-year-old and three in-hand. We had a fantastic week in Balmoral recently where we took the win in the Champion Heavyweight hunter class with Bloomfield Aristocratic (Watermill Swatch) as well as the Champion Ladies Hunter division with Bloomfield Eloquence by Kannan.

“This year we would love to have both of them, as well as Bloomfield Waterside (Watermill Swatch) at the Dublin Horse Show but we will have to wait and see.

“Speaking from an owner/breeder’s point of view, I think we have lost our way a little. As I’ve said I am very passionate about Irish-breds, I think it’s very important that we don’t forget our roots. It’s becoming harder to find the traditional Irish lines; we have to make sure they are maintained,” concluded Tierney.