EASTER Sunday lunch was a late affair for the owners, breeders and spectators at a superbly-run stallion parade at Mullingar Equestrian Centre, where the event doubled as the last public outing for Sean Barker’s Gortfree Hero.

Organised by the proactive Westmeath/Offaly branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders’ Association, the parade is the start of a busy calendar, including their annual branch show on Sunday, June 28th in Moate. Meanwhile, the IDHBA national show moves to an earlier date at Punchestown on July 11th.

Another new initiative is an RID sale, to be held in Gurteen College on Sunday, September 6th.

A smart move was the collaboration between the local IDHBA branch and the Midland Connemara Pony Breeders’ Group. This meant both a selection of native sires to view and pooling volunteer manpower for a one-stop event.

Several recent Cavan graduates made a quick reappearance, giving breeders an opportunity to view them in the flesh, without driving around to multiple yards.

On parade in the opening Irish Draught section were Ken Farrelly’s Bannvalley Navillus, Ciaran and Leo Quigley’s Gareth Bay Mist, Eddie and Sophie Meehan’s Longwood Sandyman, Seamus Duffy’s Kilmovee White Lion, Tommy McMahon’s Ludden Skywalker, Windgap Stud’s pair of Windgap Reliance and WGS Irish Rajah, Colm Condron’s Clogheen Life of Reilly, James Hammond’s Loughkeeland Sunny, Danielle Cusack’s Hollypark Diamond, Donal Goland’s Clogheen Captain Jack, Ann Lambert’s Ashfield Bouncer, Denis O’Brien’s Carraigstud Callum, John Bracken’s Scrapboy, Donal Shine’s WRS The Black Cigar, Thomas Duffy’s Barnacogue Hero, William McMahon’s Edenagor Star, Susan Malee’s Carrabeg Glengarrif, Brian Gallagher’s Cloncastle Silver Squire, Gabriel Slattery’s Clogher Echo, the Tom Burke-bred pair of Castlegar Cool Fin and Castlegar Rock, Michael Murphy’s Ballylarkin Silver, Tony Downey’s Abbeyward Zero, Carrafarm Irish Horses’ Carrafarm Courage, Sean Barker’s Gortfree Hero and his son Gortfree Lakeside Lad, Gabriel Slattery’s Fuerty Welcome Lad, Maeve Carty’s Birchill Sir Ivor, Glasdrumman Stud’s Bannvalley Whisper, Brendan Glynn’s Cloonan Quizzer and April Keogh’s The Golden Nugget.

Each stallion was then togged out in a souvenir rug and, at the end of the Irish Draught section, the finale was a special presentation to Sean Barker for Gortfree Hero, bred by Francis Lafferty, and the home-bred Gortfree Lakeside Lad.

Remarkably, both are three-time Dublin winners and while ‘Frank’ (Gortfree Hero’s stable name) continues to stand at stud, Mullingar brought down the curtain on his public party appearances. He was led by longtime handler, Andrew Gardiner.

The Gortfree pair were joined in the arena by more of Frank’s stallion sons, including the Class 1-approved pair: Barnacogue Hero and Fuerty Welcome Lad, plus Bannvalley Whisper, added to the Irish Sport Horse studbook this year.

Another equine family photo opportunity was Lionwood Kinsale’s Lad Class 1 sons: Carrafarm Courage and Kilmovee White Lion.

In the following Connemara section, there were again varying types, heights, colours, performance and show ring results amongst the Draughts’ ‘smaller cousins’ for breeders to match mares with.

The prolific performance sires Templebready Fear Bui and Silver Shadow were well-represented amongst the ponies on parade that included, Jazz Made Melody (standing with Thomas Duffy), Deelish Cruiser (Brendan Glynn), Whitethorn Buachaill Bui (Liam Lynskey), Carraig Maximus (Tony Downey), Ballyowen Beau Chance (John Harte), Ashfield Cassanova (Glasdrumman Stud), Carraig AJ’s Shadow (Dylan Stronge), Boyne Valley Woody (Mick McMenamon), Glenville Glic (Grace Maxwell Murphy), Carrowmore Magic Mist (JJ Naughton), Conns Charlie (Castlelawn Stud), Lisross Irish Knight (Amy Smyth) and Fairyhill Freddie (Tazmin Murphy).

“Much-needed and anticipated, the IDHBA Westmeath Offaly Branch delivered in style. 32 of Ireland’s top RID stallions took to the stage in a hugely successful parade, giving owners the perfect platform to showcase their exceptional horses. Thanks too to the Midland Connemara Group and Connemara owners for their greatly-appreciated support,” commented the IDHBA vice-chairperson, Joanne Maguire.