TRADITIONAL Irish Horse BallyJ Ed, bred by Fintan McGrath at Ballyjennings Stables in Ballinrobe, had great success at Badminton last weekend as runner up in the Grassroots section with Emily Proud. Ed was the first foal by Black Hero (RID) out of the thoroughbred dam Memories of Emly.

He was a real family horse, having been produced by the McGrath family; broken by Fintan, and his daughter Rebecca rode him at his first arena event in Claremorris Equestrian Centre after winning dressage competitions with wife Sinead.

He was then ridden by Sinead’s nephew, Godfrey Gibbons, to win the Milchem Eventing starter series as a four-year-old and went on to win the Millstreet Discovery Eventing series.

It was then Sinead and Ballyj Ed who were four-year-old National Champions at Dressage and also reserve champions as a five-year-old.

“All the flatwork helped make him a nicely-balanced horse, who had loads of scope,” Sinead said. “He was sold to England and this is where Emily Proud came across him. They have been leading the way in eventing there and were league winners in 2025.

“They qualified for Badminton Grassroots and scored a 77 and 68 in dressage, were clear all the way in the show jumping and cross-country, which left them reserve Champions.

“Emily is looking forward to moving up and hopes to be back one day at the five-star with Ed. His full-brother Ballyj Max was also National Champion four-year-old with Dressage Ireland in 2025, while Ballyj Casper was reserve four-year-old before being sold to Sinead Heffernan for dressage. Ballyj Max was also competed by Fintan Mc Grath in the eventing series. We feel there is an exciting future, as more of our young stock are starting to come up the ranks.

“We have another full-brother three-year-old and the mare is in foal again to Black Hero. We also have a yearling out of her by Glamourdale, one of the top dressage horses in the world.

“The horses are so trainable, which is what makes them a pleasure to work with, willing to learn and will try. The thoroughbred breeding brings the stamina and they will stay going all day,” McGrath concluded.