SUPPLY and demand - it is what drives every type of business, equine ones included. So what happens when the supply can’t meet demand? This is a potential issue facing David and Georgette Geraghty of Bellew Lodge, Tara in Co Meath.

Ideally situated just 30 minutes from the airport and the capital city and yet secluded at the same time, the husband and wife team have grown their business to such an extent that finding suitable Irish-bred horses to replace the ones they have sold is becoming a real problem.

They chatted to The Irish Field earlier this week and described how they produce young horses for a career as a leisure or amateur horse, and how they are finding it harder to source these animals from breeders.

Together since 2003, they met at a Meath Hunt ball and married in 2010. The duo have one daughter, 10-year-old Polly, who will be chasing a win in the Starter Stakes at the Dublin Horse Show aboard her pony Stars at Night this summer, having narrowly missed it last year.

“A lot of our custom is by referrals and word of mouth. We bought a bit of land in 2014 and we started to produce a few horses and we decided to give it a go and see what we could make of it and we haven’t looked back since.

“It’s been lucky for us and good to us. We built a house three years ago and set up the yard, which is still an ongoing project - we still have plenty to do.

“We have a large sand arena (the indoor is top of the wishlist for obvious reasons), a six-horse walker, a lunge pen, stabling for 12 horses with an overflow barn for six more. “We have plenty of turnout in the Meath countryside, wonderful hacking through the woods and rivers etc, thanks to our generous neighbours including Peter and Marie McAuley and their family. We can hack for miles and see tractors and lorries and all sorts; get them to see as much as they can and go forward, which has been invaluable. We also have access to a cross-country course and hunting with the Meath Foxhounds, Ward Union Staghounds and Fingal Harriers. Our background team of Mark Kane (dentist), James Tuite (farrier) and Joey Moore (massage bodywork specialist) are also invaluable.

“Nice straightforward Irish-type horses for amateur-type riders is what we do. We are not looking for the next superstar, just nice leisure horses. There’s a big market for them around the world. A smart Irish type with some ability, but most of all the temperament.

“We source them from all over really. From breeders, from farmers, all over. We’ve found that buying them with nothing done is best. David is really good at breaking them in.

“That’s our niche, “ adds Georgette, “buying and breaking them, to the point that they are ready to go on. We generally sell them at four, so they are ready for the next person to crack on with them. Our main trade would be the Draught type or the Draught crosses, hunters and eventers ready to go on.

“Our market is Britain, mainland Europe, and more and more, the States these days; probably half and half. Americans like the Irish horse and they enjoy the whole experience. British clients can fly in, try them, have a nice lunch and fly back home in time for tea.

“All our horses are hunted. We send a lot to be hunters out there; they hunt foxes and coyotes on the East Coast, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. They tried the warm-blooded flash ones with the big step, but it didn’t work out so they are coming back to the Irish type. They are looking for temperament and rideability, which is paramount. That, in turn, is putting pressure on the market too, because there are less and less traditional Irish horses being produced.

“If you go to the three-year-old sales now, there are very few traditional Irish-breds available. Since the recession, there was a lot of breeding stock lost. There are less and less Irish Draught mares in the country and the popularity for them is booming. Hopefully, people will begin to see the demand and start breeding them more.

Production

“We like to break them ourselves. We do all the ground work; the long-reining and backing. We get them up and running; they all take different times to get them to where you want.

“We want to give them lots of different experiences; hacking, cross-country, a couple of days hunting; getting them out and about. Getting them up to a level that you can stand over them and then you can hand them over to the next person, who can have some fun with them. We try to do things right, if you have a genuine type that you can stand behind, it’s half the battle. We are very lucky. There’s somewhere to go hunting within 20 minutes to us most days in the winter.

“We sell them mostly at four years old. Age is just a number when they have the right temperament and are properly produced. They get turned out in groups every day, allowing them to stretch and roll and just be horses. They are a herd animal at the end of the day and they need time to be a horse as well. Come the summer time, as soon as the ground is good enough, we work them from the field. Making them settled and happy in their minds is the goal.

“We also loose jump them. I find this teaches them to find their own feet and balance and their own judgement to a fence. When they loose jump and do grid work, when we take them to the cross-country, they have that basic education and they learn to work it out for themselves.

“It’s a tricky balancing act; people want a used, experienced horse, but they want it without the knocks or scratches they can pick up from hunting etc. It’s not getting any easier with people’s expectations, because they are now spending more money, they are more particular about the vetting.”

Background

David’s family have been involved with horses going back generations. His grandfather Laurence Geraghty bred Golden Miller, winner of five Cheltenham Gold Cups and an Aintree Grand National and he also produced many Dublin Horse Show winners.

His father, Kevin, enjoys the breeding of sport horses and thoroughbreds. Most of the extended family are involved in the equine industry as breeders, trainers, jockeys, farriers or in an amateur capacity.

David was a keen member of the Meath Hunt Pony Club as a youngster and also enjoyed riding in point-to-points. After studying a degree in Equine Science and Business Management from Writtle Agricultural College and time working for Goffs Bloodstock Sales, he returned home hunting regularly and whipping-in to the Ward Union Staghounds.

Georgette is originally from England and has ridden to three-star level. She has produced many eventers and show horses, including The Masters Artist. Georgette also went to Writtle Agricultural College, where she graduated with a BSc in Agricultural Business Management. Her mother was a successful point-to-point jockey in the early 70s and her sister is a successful owner and amateur event rider.

Success stories

“One of the first horses we sold is now doing three-star in Sweden, and a couple are in the US eventing successfully in California.

“We sold Pronto to a Scottish-based lady, Maeve Sheridan as a just backed three-year-old and they are going to the Badminton grassroots class this year. We also sold a nice horse to our great friends and customers Rodi Ando and Bea Cross from The Beaufort Hunt, affectionately known as Tony The Pony, he is competing at three-star in the UK under David Doel. He thinks it could be his dark horse for the future.

“We sold a four-year-old gelding named Clifford to American Julie Robards, he won the Pure-bred Irish Draught Division at the Upperville Colt and horse show for the second year in a row recently. He was fourth in-hand, first in the Hunter Hack and first in Handy Hunter, which earned him the Champion title at the Upperville show.”