THURLES native Greg Broderick has exploded onto the international show jumping scene in 2015, helped in no small way by his Irish-bred and home-produced mount MHS Going Global.

Broderick’s leap into the international consciousness began when the pair took the honours in the €50,000 Horseware Grand Prix at Thermal, California.

A call-up to senior international duty from Robert Splaine saw the combination make their five-star debut in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup league in Lummen. Broderick and MHS Going Global (ISH) lowered just one fence in the first round and then delivered Ireland’s only zero-penalty score in the second round.

As part of the Irish squad in La Baule, the combination’s textbook clear round second time out saw Ireland finish third place and in June at the Swiss Nations Cup in St Gallen, the combination‘s double clear ensured that Ireland took third place on the podium.

Last month, Broderick partnered MHS Going Global to another third place, this time in the €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Estoril, Portugal. It was their first time to attempt at a five-star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix.

To international observers, Broderick may be a new kid on the block but those at home in Ireland know that the Thurles rider has been a man on a mission for several years.

In 2012 he was crowned National Speed Champion ?and was ranked the number one rider in the Showjumping Ireland national rankings. He was crowned National Grand Prix champion in 2012 and 2013 and in the autumn of 2013 he claimed a gold medal at the World Young Horses Championships at Lanaken with his own and Declan Orpen’s Arraghbeg Clover (ISH).

Last year he continued his upward trajectory by winning the Horseware/TRM Premier Series and took another National Champion title.

Broderick puts his success down to many factors.

“There are many cogs in the wheel of success. The most important thing for me is that I have a good supply of horses and I have very good owners. It’s because of my owners - Caledonia Stables, Noel Cawley and Mary Allen De Ruschi - that it is possible for me to compete on the Grand Prix circuit as they have chosen to hold on to their good horses. When you are competing at this level, you need all the support that you can get as you are competing against the very best in the world,” says Broderick.

“Staff also plays an important role in any business. I can rely on them and when I go away I know the horses are being well looked after there. Ethen Aherne is based with me and he is a very talented rider. He is very good with the horses and all my owners are happy to have him ride their horses in my absence. Ashleigh Skillen is my head groom for the past six years and she is a huge asset to the team. Matthew Calderwood started with us at Christmas time and is a big help to the yard and has a wealth of international experience, having worked for Cian O’Connor for three years.”

Although Broderick now enjoys competing at the top end of his sport, he gets tremenduous satisfaction from producing young horses.

“The fact that I have a proven record in producing horses has definitely helped my business. At the moment there are very few top horses out there, and the few that are for sale, demand a very high price. As a result of this owners are now buying younger horses to produce,” he says. “I have been selling horses to Caledonia Stables since I was 20 and they prefer to buy young horses to produce them, this works well for both of us.” Producing horses is by no means is an easy task and it takes both a good rider and plenty of experience to maximise the potential of each animal. However the list of international horses that have originated in Ballypatrick Stables proves that Broderick’s set-up has both.

Fernhill Sox began his career with Broderick and was later selected for the British team for the 2006 junior eventing European Championships where he won individual gold and team silver, while Iman D’Occagnes was second in the Hickstead Derby in England and second in the Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show. Pikolino was six when he moved to Broderick’s yard and was produced up to Grand Prix level.

The Nations Cup rider has a good record at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, having produced Ballypatrick Mystique to win a bronze medal in the seven-year-old division in 2011 and Arraghbeg Clover to win gold as a five-year-old in 2013.

Bred by Agata Leonard, Arraghbeg Clover is by Captain Clover (ISH) out of Blidsworth Lion Queen (ISH), by Bonnie Prince (TB).

Ballypatrick Mystique, bred by Mrs Ita Brennan in Kilkenny, is by Heritage Fortunas (HANN) out of Lady Ligustra (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Broderick’s current stable stars MHS Going Global and MHS Automatic both hail from the Brennan family’s Mill House Stud near Gowran.

SHOP WINDOW

As a rider and producer, Dublin Horse Show is one of the most important dates in Broderick’s calendar and every year he tries to qualify his full quota in the young horse division.

“Dublin has always proved very lucky for me. Last year I won the four, five and six-year old finals,” he says. “Dublin has always been a shop window for selling horses as it attracts a lot of international clients from a broad spectrum. It’s not only Irish riders that are finding it hard to find the top horses, so are all the international riders and as a result they are now taking an interest watching the young horse classes in a bid to buy a talented youngster to produce. Last year the amount of interest in the horse Super Chilled proved that there is a vibrant market at Dublin Horse Show.”

In a bid to produce future stars, it’s not surprising that Ballypatrick Stables has also gone down the breeding road. Although a hectic show jumping schedule doesn’t allow Broderick too much time to focus on this side of the business, he plays an important role in the planning aspect.

“I would like to dedicate more time to the breeding side of Ballypatrick, but it’s extremely time consuming. Without people like my sister Cheryl, Michael Shanahan and my father Austin being involved, it would make it very difficult for this side of the business to grow, as in the height of the jumping season I need to concentrate on other things,” says the rider. “These three people are central to the breeding program in Ballypatrick.

TAKE A CHANCE

“When you choose to breed horses you take a chance. Even when you use a good mare and stallion, you can’t be sure of the outcome,” says Broderick.

When quizzed about his up and coming horses, the rider admits: “I am very excited about one three-year-old stallion that we have at the moment. He is by Marcus Ehning’s stallion Plot Blue and out of a Cruising mare. He is broken and I have jumped him under the saddle and he is showing a lot of scope.”

However, he cautions: “In breeding horses, you must remember, that for as many good ones that you breed, there are as many that won’t make the grade.

“The ones that aren’t suitable for top show jumping, you spend your time getting them ready for other clientele. You have to try and identify as quickly as possible, what type of a horse that you have and what market it is suitable for. A nice horse that is easy to ride will find a home, but it’s getting harder to find those clients.”

He continues: “Equally, you need to know when to sell a good horse. With Arraghbeg Clover, it would have been nice to keep her, but you can’t let your heart rule your head. What is important for me is that the horse goes to the right person and continues to do well, as well as the satisfaction that comes with this, you continue to be part of the success story.”

What Irish Team Manager Robert Splaine said

“It’s no surprise to me that Greg could easily make the step to senior international level. He has always been a special talent and has been on top nationally for many years. Likewise, MHS Going Global is a special horse and has contributed hugely to the Irish team in a short space of time. The combination are the talk of the world and MHS Going Global’s performances in the big ring are the best advertisement for the Irish horse. We remain indebted to his owners Caledonia Farm, Edmonton, Alberta for making him available to us.”

Cartouche V Overis Z

6yr grey gelding

Sire: Chellano Z

Dam: Delphine V Overis Z

Owner: Lynn Macyk

Breeder: Gerald Lenaerts

“A very talented horse which I bought as a three-year-old from Brendan Doyle. He was the winner of both five-year-old championships in Cavan last year. He is ultra careful for a big horse. I have no doubt he has the makings of a top horse for times to come.”

Duco

7yr bay gelding

Sire: Vigaro

Dam: Upperlaine

Owner: Mary Ellen De Ruschi

Breeder: J.M.J. Reukers

“We bought this horse last year from Shane Breen after seeing him at the tour in Vilamoura. He’s a very exciting prospect. I think he will jump the biggest tracks in the world. His rideability is really good and he will suit big tracks in big rings.”

Hybernia (ISH)

5yr chesnut gelding

Sire: Flex A Bill

Dam: Ballinakill Clover

Owner: Trevor Graham

Breeder: Noel Cawley

“He finished fourth in the four-year-old championship at Dublin last year. Very immature then, he is improving all the time and had promising rounds in ISH Studbook classes. There’s a great feeling when you jump him. He is from a very strong dam line.”

MHS Going Global (ISH)

9yr bay gelding

Sire: Quidam Junior I

Dam: Gowran Lady

Owner: Caledonia Stables

Breeder: Ita Brennan

“I have had a great year with Junior, starting with the €50,000 Horseware Grand Prix. He has stepped up to super league level very easily and jumped a fantastic double clear in St Gallen. We are now in contention for the team for the Aachen FEI European Championships.”

MHS Automatic (ISH)

10yr chesnut gelding

Sire: Quidam Junior I

Dam: Cape May

Owner: Cerulean stables

Breeder: Ita Brennan

“I bought Keano from Francis O’Regan for Cerulean Stables. I rode him as a young horse and he’s always been a lovely jumper. He won in California, St Gallen, Lummen and the Galway Grand Prix this year. He’s extremely careful and naturally fast.”

Rincarina (ISH)

11yr chesnut mare

Sire: Cruising

Dam: Diamond Ballerina

Owner: Noel Cawley

Breeder: Noel Cawley

“Holly has been ultra-consistent for me, winning multiple Grand Prix. Last season she won five internationals and five Grand Prix at home. Aimed at the Premier Series this year, Noel is retaining her for his breeding program, so it will be exciting to see her offspring in time.”