KEEPING it in the family takes on a whole new meaning when referring to two of the horses representing the Irish studbook at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium later this month.

The six-year-old Dawsons Flex and the five-year-old Dawsons Gold are full-brothers and, when they were selected for the Irish team, were both owned by KM Sport Horses from Co Wexford.

In recent days Dawson’s Flex, winner of the six-year-old championships at the Dublin Horse Show last month under Jason Foley, has been sold to Irish international rider Bertram Allen and he will partner the gelding at the championships this year.

By Flexible out of Carnalway Gold, by Kildalton Gold, and bred by Victor Bennett, both geldings were bought as three-year-olds from the breeder and carefully produced by the staff of Laurel Hill Stud in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, under the watchful eye of John Kearney and Hugh Martin of KM Sport Horses.

Just last Sunday, the owners watched Ger O’Neill guide Dawsons Gold to victory in the Irish Breeders Classic. Between the two full-siblings, it has been an incredible couple of weeks for KM Sport Horses.

These are not the first competition horses of note to come from this unassuming yard. The team there can also boast previous success stories including the 2016 Lanaken gold medal-winning six-year-old Killossery Kaiden (Lux Z – Killossery Kruisette).

Killossery Kaiden, ridden by Kilkenny’s Ger O’Neil, competed against 264 six-year-old horses from around the globe over three days of competition to secure the win with the only double clear in the final.

Other notable results for Killossery Kaiden that year include being crowned the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series league winner, a top-10 placing in the final of the Irish Breeders Classic, as well as competing at the Dublin Horse Show.

He was sold at the Goresbridge Supreme sale in November 2016 when American rider Adrienne Dixon paid €270,000 for him. Under Dixon, he went back to Lanaken the following year and placed seventh.

Another horse which has passed through Kearney’s ownership is Fernhill Curra Quinn (Harlequin Du Carel – Clover Hill).

Bought from the breeder as a three-year-old he was sold by Kearney to the Derwins in Athlone when he was five. After that he went on to be bought by Carol Gee and Portugal’s Duarte Seabra. He currently competes at top international level and most recently was a member of the winning Nations Cup team in Lisbon, Portugal.

In addition to these talented youngsters, Kearney also bought the 2010 mare Curra Clover Flight by Barnaby Flight out of Ramiro Clover Lass (Ramiro B) as a three-year-old and she has gone on to international success.

As a six-year-old she won her age category consolation class at the World Championships in Lanaken under Mikey Pender.

Back to Lanaken

John Kearney, the K in KM Sport Horses spoke, about their set-up and why they are looking forward to the World Championships in a few weeks’ time.

“Myself and Hugh (Martin) have owned horses together for about 15 years now. I’ve always had an interest; I hunt with the Bree Foxhunds here in Wexford and have always had a few horses on the go, buying and selling,” Kearney said.

“Hugh works for Gain Equine Nutrition and in addition to KM horses we both have some other horses on our own. He has a few thoroughbreds, as well as the ones we own together.”

And horses isn’t the only venture they are in together, John explained. “We own a pub together ‘Dawsons’ in Enniscorthy hence the prefix on our horses names.

“The yard here has about 20 boxes but we wouldn’t really have it full. We normally have about five or six young horses together and they are in work at various stages.

“We buy them as three-year-olds and normally produce them until they are six or seven. We do what we know ourselves. It becomes all a bit too technical after that age so we don’t like to hold on to them much past seven years old. The window between three and seven, that’s what we are interested in.

“We buy them from various places, some privately some from the sales ring. I like the Irish lines especially Cruising. I’ve been lucky with his pedigree, with the likes of Killossery Kaiden.”

Athleticism

What do the pair look for in young horses? “When looking for a potential purchase I like to see something athletic with a good jump and a nice canter.

“There are several people involved at home. David Moran and Thomas Doyle ride some of them and Ger O’Neill and Jason Foley have had success competing them.

“A couple that we are excited about at the moment are the four-year-old Curraghgraigue Quality Two (OBOS Quality xAldatus Z) who was bred by Baden Powell, as well as the six-year-old gelding Curra Paco (Pacino x Ard VDL Douglas), bred by Patrick McKenna. He is showing a lot of promise and went very well for David Moran last year.

“I enjoy the whole process of ownership. I like buying the unknown and watching it progress. I enjoy the competition side of things as well as the buying and the selling.

“Ours is not a large commercial enterprise but it’s great when you can produce horses that are successful and we are very proud to have our horses represent Ireland at the World Championships in Lanaken once again this year.

“Bertram Allen will now ride Dawsons Flex at Lanaken after recently making the purchase.

“We would like to wish Bertram the best of luck in the Championships and beyond and are delighted that he will partner Dawsons Flex in what we hope will be a long and successful international career.”