PETER O’Toole has returned to his Connemara roots figuratively speaking; by naming his new house and yard Ardkyle, the prefix which all his horses now carry.

“I grew up on a farm in Ardkyle, Connemara, and when I was a child, my dad bought me a couple of Connemara ponies. I took lessons in the local riding school and when I was old enough, went to study for my (BHS) Assistant Instructor with Iris Kellett.

“During my year there, I met Niall Talbot and John Brennan among others and when we qualified, we decided to head to Switzerland to work. I stayed for five years in Switzerland initially working for international rider Beat Rothlisberger and then for Jurg Knots.

“In 1993 I returned to Ireland and set up a yard in Co Wicklow where I began to put into practise all I had learned. Over the next 20 years, I was fortunate to be involved in the production of many successful horses which taught me a lot.

“Almost two years ago I established O’Toole Sport Horses from my base Ardkyle House in Navan, Co Meath. We are situated between Navan and Ashbourne, not far from Waterside Stud so it is a very central location.

Getting started

“We are still in the process of setting up; so far we have 12 stables and a 60 x 40 sand ring. Eventually the plan is to employ a rider full-time so my horses can be fully produced here. At the moment I do the ground work with the youngsters; the lunging and driving but then I send them out to be broken, I had a fall in 2011 and since then the only riding I do is a bit of hacking out.

“In addition to that I will hold my coaching clinics here, at the moment I’m teaching in Abbotstown two days a week and I’d like to do at least some of those lessons here. My clients include some top-level event riders, Sarah Ennis, Heidi Hamilton and Luke Drea as well as a number of amateur riders. I also give clinics in Switzerland and Germany.

“I think Abbotstown is a very under-used venue. It is a fabulous facility. It is used for training shows and by the Horse Board sometimes but I can see no reason why it couldn’t be considered as a venue for a Global Champions Tour show, the arena is huge and maybe it could do with another warm-up ring but there is room for expansion there.

“At the moment I have six horses in full-time work. Eddie competes the five-year-old mare Ardkyle First Edition; she is by Cobra out of a Jack of Diamonds mare. She had some good results in the Irish Horse Board classes and in Balmoral and qualified for Dublin.

“She will go out to the field now for a rest as she’s done enough for this year. I bought her as a three-year-old at the Go For Gold sale in Goresbridge. I thought she had a nice step and quality about her. I’m still not quite sure how far she’ll go yet, but I know that she can jump 1.45m all day long.

“I also have Ardkyle B with Eddie. He is a six-year-old gelding by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Abercrombie B by O-Piloth. He was bred by Andrea Etter and I bought him as a four-year-old from her. He has been very consistent so far and I would be excited to see what the future holds. He looks very good and I think could be one to watch for the future.

“Event rider Nicola Ennis also has one of mine, Ogue Ardkyle, a five-year-old gelding by Cobra out of Ogue Ali Furist. They produced some good results this year and am looking forward to seeing how she progresses.”

Eddie Moloney and Peter O'Toole's Ardkyle First Edition in action \ Tori O'Connor

Broodmares

“I have couple of broodmares. We’ve no foals this year but we have two yearlings, one by Lincoln B and one by Celtic Hero. Two two-year-olds, one by Luidam the other by Emerald, and two three-year-olds, one by OBOS Quality and one by Kannan. The one by Kannan is out of a full-sister to a very good mare I produced called Good Luck Lucy who had some good results under Cameron Hanley, I had her since she was four and then she went to Cameron when she was seven where he competed her at 1.50m, so it’s nice to have something to continue the line.

“I’ve owned a number of horses in partnership with Cameron and his brother Carl over the years. I’m always on the lookout for horses and if I see one that I think will suit them I’ll let them know and vice versa.

“In fact one very nice horse we had together was Conandro 2 (Connor 48 – Colandro), Cameron had some good international results with him before he was sold to Mexican rider Rodrigo Lambre as an eight-year-old.

“In addition to breeding, I also buy some three and four-year-olds, both from the sales or from private sellers that I know and trust. When I am looking at a potential purchase, the main things I’m looking at are temperament, quality, a balanced canter and that they are careful with a little bit of blood.

“I think if they have all that then the scope will come, and even if it doesn’t make them a super star, if they have a good attitude there will always be a job for them.

“After many years in this business if I had to give any advice to someone starting out it would be don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you will learn from every one of them. Take the time to travel, I was away for a few years and it taught me so much.

“I’m a Paddy through and through, I think this is the best country in the world so I was always coming home, but by living and working abroad I gained so much. I would always say going to other countries and seeing how they do it will always help you. Take information and learn whenever you can.”

With O’Toole Sport horses going from strength to strength and a new baby with partner Kate Keenan due in February, there is no doubt that Peter will have plenty of opportunity to put into practise all he has learned over the years.