FOR many years, we’ve been breeding sport horses in Kilmeedy, Co Limerick. It all started with my late mother Margaret and sister Joanne, who bought a grey filly Elm Tree (Pimpernels Tune (TB) - Heather Lady (RID)), in 1990. Her first foal was a Golden Bash filly in 1993, followed by two more fillies by Mister Lord and Nordic Brave.

We kept the three fillies and the majority of our breeding lines today go back to these foundation mares, something that means a lot to us as a family. We had great times in the ‘90s, showing mares, foals and young horses at many agricultural shows. The shows introduced us to a variety of other breeders in the horse world’s showing circles. I’ve fond memories of the many trips to Denis and Margaret Vaughan in Clongeel Stud and to Bill and Anna Kennedy in Tralee.

1. Congratulations, you bred Mr Venture Elm, the Balmoral supreme champion hunter - tell us more about him?

Thank you, it’s still sinking in! Mr Venture Elm, aka Toby, is by Newmarket Venture that stood with Billy and Brian Daly in Scarteen Equine Farm and is out of our mare of a lifetime: Sunny Elm. We loved him as a foal and returned again to Newmarket Venture that year; in 2022, Toby’s full-brother arrived. Both geldings had the sweetest temperaments.

Aidan Ryan and his late father Malachy came to our yard and bought Toby as a three-year-old. Aidan was hugely successful with him as a four-year-old, winning many championships and he was third in the Dublin four-year-old middleweight class.

Hilary Gibson bought Toby and he was produced by James Smyth, winning his middleweight classes and championships in Balmoral, Dublin and qualifying for HOYS in 2025.

He also competed side-saddle with Emma Green. I’ve never been to Balmoral, but I wish I was there this year to witness a moment that, honestly, I could only have ever dreamed of. We are so proud of Toby and the journey he has taken us on as his breeders.

2. Proudest breeder moment?

Mr Venture Elm’s half-sister Be In The Moment Elm, aka ‘Bonnie’, is by Barely A Moment (TB), who was standing with Kieran Kennedy. She was immediately claimed as a foal by my niece Loretta!

She was a big TIH filly and, at the time, Loretta was looking for a big horse for showing. Bonnie initially did a bit of everything and loved to jump, Loretta took her to one of Jodie Moran’s showing clinics in 2023, where Jodie believed Bonnie would be a Dublin mare.

Their first show was a winning one in Newmarket on Fergus, judged by Aidan Ryan and, from there, we met throughout the year at various shows and led to him asking if we had any youngstock for sale.

We had a great summer travelling to the shows with Bonnie and all roads led to Dublin. It was a tremendous honour for me to have a home-bred mare and Loretta on board competing in Dublin. Winning the lightweight hunter mare class was the proudest moment for me. My holiday is always Dublin Horse Show every year and I hoped we would one day have a winner there ourselves.

Bonnie continued her success last year, as a stinted mare in-hand, with Leonard (Supple, Loretta’s partner), winning multiple championships and she was second in Dublin. She currently has a filly foal by Der Senaat, so we hope they will have a good season this year.

3. Favourite broodmare?

I’ve been lucky to have many great broodmares down through the years that have produced great horses, but our standout broodmare would have to be Sunny Elm. Technically, at 16 hands high, she’s a handy grey mare out of a Pharly thoroughbred mare we acquired and covered with WRS Sun Rich in Meelin Stud.

The funny story about Sunny Elm is she went to Goresbridge as a three-year-old. We were trying to reduce numbers, but thankfully for us we brought her home again and put her in foal.

Her first foal was by Simba, a lovely grey gelding that competed in the Young Irelander in Millstreet. He earned his place in the final on the Friday night and we were absolutely ecstatic to have a home-bred and home-produced horse there. He was sold on the night and ultimately went to the UK, where he has been very successful. Unfortunately, he was one of very few horses we hadn’t named and was named Newfields Lionheart by his new owners.

I also have to mention our 13.2hh pony mare Belville Lass, who was Loretta’s first pony, bought at the side of the road at Bog Cross in Dromina and went on to breed many Grade A ponies.

Getting To Know You: Seamus with Mary’s Kingdom (Star Kingdom) and her 2023 Moylough Legacy foal

4. Greatest challenge(s) facing Irish breeders?

The costs associated with breeding far outweigh the financial return at the moment. For the last few years, we’ve tried different strategies to see if it can be financially viable.

The rising costs associated with registering foals is very off-putting to breed a few mares every year. For the first time in our years of breeding, we only have two foals this year and left the other mares dry.

We are hoping to cover and alternate between mares each year. It’s tough trying to sell young horses as a breeder in order to get the value of the time and effort that’s put in, while keeping expectations realistic.

5. Prefixes, thoughts?

As a tribute to Elm Tree, we incorporate Elm into all our horses’ names. I definitely think prefixes are beneficial to breeders for recognition and traceability purposes.

6. Internet: good or bad servant?

Definitely a good servant. For example, this year I was able to watch the Balmoral championships live, via their website. I also enjoy looking up various horses we have bred and following their progress. The power of social media has also enabled me to connect with owners of some of our horses and to see photos of how they turned out and keep up to date with their progress.

7. If you could have bred any famous horse or pony?

For me personally, I wish I had the opportunity to have kept one of our colt foals as a stallion to have our bloodlines passed on.

8. It takes a team. Who’s on yours?

It is very much a family-run business. My sister Joanne has been heavily involved from the start, while also working full-time as a nurse and my brother Paddy owned a few horses and dipped his toe into racing as well.

My niece Loretta has always been involved from a very young age, herself and her partner Leonard Supple are the future of our breeding enterprise. Our wider team includes our very supportive family, friends and all of the brilliant professionals that we have dealt with down through the years.

9. Breeding horses - would you do it all over again?

In the current climate, I had to think about this one, but ultimately yes, I would. My passion is horses and they have been my whole life. I love to hear from the people who have bought our horses and follow their journeys in all disciplines and ultimately to know the horses have a good life.

10. How to encourage more people to get into/stay breeding horses?

I think breeders’ prizes are a great incentive for breeding and producing horses. We bred Fernhill Count On Me (Chacoa - Buttercup Elm), now in the US. He won the Balmoral potential young event horse class and the Irish Horse Board four-year-old series.

I received breeders’ prizes for his wins and also for Bonnie competing in the TIH broodmare classes. It is much appreciated by the breeders and also recognises where that horse started out. It is important to not forget the efforts of the breeders.