OUR parents, Eamon and Maureen, came to Cuffesgrange in 1974 and built our farm over the years. My father introduced us all to ponies as we grew up, and we all competed on ponies, just as our own children do now.

We always seemed to have a mare and foal around on the farm as we grew up, but it was really in the mid ’90s when Dad and my brother Ronan bought a number of mares - one being Cuffesgrange Millennium - from Tom Brennan that our breeding programme became more serious.

As the old saying goes, “Many farms keep a horse, but very few horses keep a farm”. Hence, the main enterprise on the farm today is dairy, but horses still have a strong hold.

1. Proudest breeder moment?

We’ve been fortunate to have a few proud moments over the years, but I think the one that stands out the most is when Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Cuffesgrange Cavadora ( Z Wellie 72 - Cuffesgrange Cavalidam, by Luidam) won the seven-year-old championship in Lanaken in 2019, the first Irish-bred horse to do so.

I was there with Ronan for the duration of the show, and the final jump-off was absolutely incredible.

Also, in the same year, Cavadora’s mother, Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (Luidam - Cuffesgrange Millennium, by Cavalier Royale) and Max Wachman were the only combination to jump all five rounds of the championship clear to win individual and team gold at the Pony Europeans in Strzegom, Poland. It still seems surreal, even as I type it.

2. How many broodmares do you currently own?

We have four mares at the moment, all of which trace back to Cuffesgrange Millennium (Cavalier Royale x Diamond Serpent x Imperius). Two are daughters of hers by Je T’aime Flamenco (in foal to Rincoola Babóg) and Quality Time (in foal to Castlefield Kingston), and we also have two granddaughters by Quality Time/Je T’Aime Flamenco in foal to El Barone and a Castlefield Gold that will be covered this coming year.

It’s difficult over the last number of years to manage getting mares in foal, while also being on the road with the kids and ponies jumping every weekend, hence the smaller numbers.

3. In addition to breeding sport horses, what’s an added element of the Cuffesgrange farm?

Our breeding programme took a bit of a detour as our own children began to grow up, and the demand for pony power rather than horsepower took over the last few years.

Since then, we have been focusing on breeding ponies from our horse mares. We have some exciting ponies coming through by Midnight Radar and Double Pleasure, to name a few.

One of them is Cuffesgrange In It To Win It, a 13.2hh pony that my daughter Rachel is currently jumping and qualified this year for the RDS. She was bred by Ronan and his wife Grace and was produced through the ranks by all their children before coming to us. She’s by Pattys Veuve Cosmic and traces back to an OBOS Quality x Puissance x King of Diamonds line.

4. “Fools breed horses for wise men to buy.” Agree/disagree?

I strongly disagree. Breeding horses is a blend of science, horsemanship, patience, and risk management. The “wise” buyer benefits from years of decisions the breeder has already invested in: mare selection, stallion choice, nutrition, and handling.

So maybe the saying is less about fools and more about the reality that breeders play the long game while buyers make the final pick.

You could accuse us of being dreamers though!

Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH) winning the Under 25 Grand Prix at Geneva in 2023 \ Tomas Holcbecher

5. Cuffesgrange is yours, thoughts on prefixes?

Prefixes give identity, provenance, reputation, and recognition on a start list.

Our prefix tells a story - my father began using Cuffesgrange back in the late ’80s, when the original Cuffesgrange (a pony bought from Vincent Finn) was produced by Ronan and went on to win individual silver with my brother Brian in the Europeans in Weirden, Holland, in 1991.

6. For you, the current standout international show jumping stallion?

The standout international stallion for me would have to be Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan). He’s an incredible model with fantastic ability and a great mareline.

An up-and-coming stallion that I believe will have huge international success is Ronan Rothwell’s Boleybawn Alvaro. He has excellent use of himself, an incredible attitude, and is a fantastic model as well.

7. Social media - positive or negative in the horse world?

It definitely has its pros and cons. From a buyer’s point of view, we have access to a lot of information. It definitely beats painting a picture in your mind after reading a box advert and driving four to five hours only to be met by a finger painting instead of the Mona Lisa!

8. That famous horse or pony you’d love to have bred?

I think we’ve already ticked that box with Cuffesgrange Cavalidam. Now all I have to do is try to replicate her!

9. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?

I’m really lucky in that regard. We have a tight-knit family, and everyone pulls together when needed. My wife Lois does so much of the background work that often goes unnoticed, and I couldn’t manage everything we do without her.

A few years ago, we also decided to pool resources with Ronan and Grace as both of our kids’ age group categories slot in and out.

So we have some of their ponies, and they have some of ours. It’s been a fantastic couple of years so far without having to be constantly buying and selling what we need.

10. As we’re coming up to Christmas, six people you’d like to invite around for dinner/pints?

I remember watching a programme where the parents and children of each family were asked who they’d invite to dinner if they could choose anyone in the whole world.

The parents all listed famous A-listers, but when the kids were asked the same thing, they all just said their parents. So I’m going to stick with my family, though I might regret it later!