I’M from a small townland called Ballymaguigan, a short distance from the town of Magherafelt, Co Derry. I’m married to Lucia and father to three children: Ellie-Rose, Lucy and Daniel.
Basically, I’m not from a horsey background, as such. My pony-mad daughter, Ellie-Rose, introduced me to ponies. When she was five, we bought a pony called Tutti Frutti from Liz Brown, a close neighbour, and it started from there really.
We joined the pony circuit and I was very lucky as that’s where I met PARC Stables’ Adrian Williams, as Ellie-Rose was in the same classes as Rhys. Then we got more ponies to ride and ended up having a really good time.
Under the guidance of Adrian, we managed to get to ride in all the Pony Premier series and RDS classes in 12.2hhs, 13.2hhs and 14.2hhs and eventually reached the ‘holy grail’, as they say, and won at Dublin in 2019 on a 14.2hh pony called Claggan Gypsy Delight. That was an unreal moment for us as a family. So really, since 2008, we have had ponies and then horses around the house.
1. Congratulations - you bred the Lanaken five-year-old silver medallist GLC Mr President, ridden by Coen Williams. Tell us more about your horse?
He is by Conthargos and out of an Untouchable mother called Mullentine Good Friday. She is a half-sister to the stallion Mullaghbane, who jumped to 1.60m under Geoff Curran for the Army.
2. Proudest breeder moment?
I thought I had reached that in Dublin this year when GLC Mr President’s half-sister GLC Little Pleasure (For Pleasure - Mullentine Good Friday, by Untouchable 27) came fourth in the six-year-old final in Dublin!
But last weekend in Lanaken really has to top that, as it was unbelievable to see Coen on the podium with a horse you bred at that championship level.
Coen Williams with GLC Mr President during the finals at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship For Young Horses at Lanaken, Belgium \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
3. How many broodmares do you currently own?
We have a good few here between myself and Adrian, so I’ll mention a few as there are 14 at present.
* Mullentine Good Friday
She’s a 12-year-old mare by Untouchable 27 out of a Porsch mother and we have Conthargos, Dominator 2000 Z, Mylord Carthago and For Pleasure foals from her.
GLC Little Pleasure (For Pleasure) is now six and having some great results; GLC Mr President (Conthargos) is doing some great things on the circuit; and GLC Little Star, also by Conthargos, has started competing in some four-year-old classes this season and is doing some lovely things for his age.
* Ellie May LVS
Another 12-year-old mare by Emerald, her mother Wonder Why is by Cento and is a half-sister to Beezie Madden’s great horse, Simon.
She’s part of a great family of jumpers with numerous 1.60m/1.50m siblings. She is the mother of Grand Amour KPCM, who competed in the Lanaken six-year-olds last week with Coen.
We have a couple of really promising colts from her by Aganix and she is currently in foal to Mosito.
* Angel Eyes Z
She’s 13, and by Aktion Pur Z. Her mother, Abba Z, was a 1.60m jumper herself and has bred the 1.60m jumper Take a Chance On Me Z. Angel Eyes herself bred Boreas KPCM Z, who has just competed in the six-year-old final at Lanaken and is showing great promise with Rhys Williams in the saddle. Angel Eyes Z has some lovely foals on the ground at present by Dominator and Aganix.
* Enola KPCM Z
She is a young Emerald mare and out of an Olympic mother Sancha LS, ridden by Daniel Bluman, and a grandmother called Sonora La Silla, who competed at 1.60m level under Jan Topps.
We have three offspring on the ground from her this year, two by Ermitage Kalone and one by Brunetti. We will hopefully have another three next year by Mosito, Aganix and Cornet.
* GLC Carthago Gold
This mare is by Carthago, and her mother, Kentucky Gold de Muze, is a sister to four 1.60m siblings and numerous 1.50m jumpers. Her full-brother Nimrod de Muze jumped at the Paris Olympics with Pedro Veniss for the Brazilian team. Kentucky’s mother was also a 1.60m jumper named Heroine de Muze.
* Lucy Seventeen
She’s an 11-year-old mare, owned by Adrian and myself. By Diamant de Semilly, she jumped to 1.40m level and is a lovely, blood mare. Her half-brother Henry W is jumping 1.60m at present with Christoph Könemann from Switzerland.
* PARC California
This mare is by Cornet Obolensky. She got injured as a yearling, but is in foal to Ermitage Kalone for 2027. Her mother, Galwaybay Winemaker M, is by Mermus R and has already produced PARC Dakota, who was second in the five-year-old final at Dublin this year, and also Galwaybay Esmerelda, who was fourth in this year’s seven-year-old Lanaken final.
4. “Fools breed horses for wise men to buy.” Agree/disagree?
It’s hard to agree or disagree after the weekend we have had, although it’s also nice to see what you get when you buy!
5. GLC is yours, thoughts on prefixes?
I think prefixes are good, as it’s nice if the horses go on to do really good things. It just leaves a small print of the breeder with them wherever they go.
6. For you, the current standout international show jumping stallion?
It would have to be United Touch S.
7. Social media - positive or negative in the horse world?
Social media is very good in the hands of the right people and can be positive for the sport.
8. That famous horse or pony you’d love to have bred?
Again, you would have to say United Touch S.
9. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?
The team that makes it all tick for me is PARC Stables. Their professionalism and care of the horses go above and beyond, which is a real credit to them and their staff.
I’ve been friends with Adrian for going on 17 years, since the kids were competing together in ponies.
It seems fitting now that we have so many horses together, and Coen and Rhys are doing great things with them, giving us magical moments that will live long in the memory. Hopefully, there are even more good days ahead.
You also have our wives, Lucia and Paula [Williams], on the admin side, keeping everything running smoothly and keeping us all in line, which sometimes isn’t easy!
10. Any holiday plans?
Knowing Paula and Lucia, they will be glad the jumping season is coming to an end, so they can get the holiday they have been looking for since March.
The excuse of ‘There’s a show on that week’ can’t be used any more!