IN a world where large, high-tech breeding operations are increasingly becoming the norm, it’s heartening to discover a second-generation beef cattle farmer breeding talented sport horses.

Laurence Meaney’s father Micheal always had a few mares to breed from and sold some foals every year.

When Laurence took over the farm, he continued the tradition and now his son Cathal looks set to keep it going, having purchased his first foal at Goresbridge sales recently.

“My father was always involved in the horses. We used to keep a few ponies, although I didn’t do any of the riding, my brothers and sisters did though.

“There were always foals which my father would buy or breed and then sell them off as three-year-olds,” he said.

“Probably the most well-known horse to pass through his hands was the eventer Mighty Nice (formerly known as Over the Vee). My father bought him as a foal in the Cavan Sales and sold him as a three-year-old to Tommy Wade at the Goresbridge Sales.”

Mighty Nice

By Ard Ohio out of Sarazan, he was bred by William Kells in Co Cavan. Wade sold him a few weeks after buying him at the sales to June Burgess, who sent him to Seamus Hayes to be broken. Hayes started him off in jumping competitions and Burgess also rode him herself as a five-year-old.

His international career began at six years old, when he was partnered by Joseph Murphy at the eventing young horse World Championship at Le Lion D’Angers.

He was then sold to America to one of Phillip Dutton’s owners, Bruce Duchossois, who passed away in 2014, before being purchased by the HND Group, a syndicate of Dutton’s supporters and friends, which is named after Bruce’s HND Stables.

In addition to the Olympic medal (bronze in Rio, 2016), Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice earned fourth-place finishes in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* and The Fork CIC3*, and was named the 2016 International Horse of the Year by US Equestrian.

Norway Venture

“Once I took over the farm, we continued keeping mares and breeding them ourselves. I suppose I was lucky then; I bred Norway Venture (Aldatus Z x Norway Maid).

“Our prefix Norway comes from the name of the village where we live, near Tullabrack, Co Clare.

“We would normally have sold them at three years old, but when Norway Venture came along, he was always special to jump so he was kept.

“He was a small horse; about 16hh and everyone said he was too small to sell well, so we hung on to him.

“We had two broodmares at the time, both by Coevers Diamond Boy. My dad bought a few mares by him and they were always lucky.

“We first brought Norway Venture to the sales when he was three, there were no great offers for him so I sent him to DJ O’Sullivan to be broken in and he jumped him for a year and a half until he broke his pedal bone in the stable on New Year’s Day as a five-year-old.

“He had surgery done, which was successful. Once fully recovered, I gave him to a friend, Noelle Barry, and she won a lot with him, including two wins in Dublin, a few young rider Grands Prix and a seventh-place individual finish at the 2014 European Junior Championships.

“There were a lot of people interested in him, but once you mentioned he had a screw in his leg they turned away from him. Noelle had lots of success with him, then Jessica Burke took over the ride and she had lots more success - including several 1.40m and 1.35m wins and placings. After Noelle and Jessica moved abroad, Olive Clarke took over the ride for me and produced good results.

“Olive now has Norway Grace, who is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Norway Flash, by Lux Z. We did compete Norway Flash up to 1.20m, but she got hurt and had to retire from competition and we just use her for breeding now.

Laurence and Yvonne Meaney

“I sent Norway Grace to Noel Barry to get broken and Noel rang me and said this mare isn’t half bad.

“We sent a video to Olive and she was impressed with her, so Noel sent her on to Olive and she’s been there ever since she was a four-year-old. The pair jumped a double clear in the 1.45m Grand Prix in Cavan a few weeks ago.

“She’s the main one now; she’s the one for the future. She has been very well produced by Olive and David [Scally] and has done really well over the years.

“I find Olive and David to be very, very good. They don’t rush them. I’ve been more than happy with any horse I’ve ever had with them. I trust Olive, you’d be hard pushed to find someone sounder than her. They will always keep you in the picture with what’s happening, which I think is important.

“We have three foals out of Norway Grace by embryo transfer, I have two and Olive has one. They are all three years old now. My two are by Zirocco Blue and Olive’s is by Mylord Carthago.

“My filly is currently in foal to Greg Broderick’s stallion Verbier de Muze. We will break in the other one and then take it from there. We’ll see what they’ll do.

Enjoying the process

“We try to go to as many shows as possible. It’s nice to go and see people and it’s very exciting to have one that is jumping at Grand Prix level.

“We have really enjoyed being in Dublin for the show and it was great to own one that won in the main arena, as well as in Simmonscourt; 2014 and 2015 were great years for that horse (Norway Venture).

“Other successful horses which have come from the same line include Penhill Celtic, a gelding by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of Norway Maid. He represented Ireland as a six-year-old at Le Lion d’Angers in 2018 and went on to be sold to the USA, where he competed up to four-star level under Boyd Martin. I Kann Venture, by Kannan out of Norway Maid is currently competing at 1.25m with Anna Coffey, I sold him as a four-year-old.

“My wife Yvonne is very involved in every aspect of the horses. Choosing the mare (Norway Maid) was down to her. She comes from a family which was very involved in horses. She’s from Kilrush, her dad was very involved in the ponies. My three children, Clare, Cathal and Elaina, all rode the ponies when they were younger. Cathal just bought a foal in Goresbridge by Call Me Number One - he’s keen to get away from the line that I have I suppose, but new ideas are always welcome.”