A KERRY breeder told how he had been asked to stump up €3,000 in order to get his colt foal back after his quality mare unexpectedly died at the stud she had just been sent to for covering.

Listowel breeder Jim McCarthy related how his colt foal, now rising a yearling, still remains on the stud farm in question and that he is unable to get him back so far.

Mr McCarthy said the stud farm operator refuses to return his colt and continues to demand money despite the loss of the mare that Mr McCarthy valued at €8,000 - €10,000, just days after he dropped her for covering at this premises.

“I went down to see the beautiful stallions this man had on a very nice well kept farm, he seemed very nice to deal with at first. On seeing the colt, only six days old then, that I was dropping off with the mare he immediately asked could he buy him and I said no. I’m not a seller, I wanted to hold onto him myself.

“The mare was not in season and this man said to leave the mare and foal with him so. A few days later, he rang me to ask me to come down and put a head collar on the foal. I thought it was unusual but went down to do it. I found my mare on about one acre of ground with a teaser running with herself and the foal. There was no water in sight and they were stressed from running away from this teaser.

“I brought her into the stable and put the head collar on the foal. The mare was stressed and so was the foal. I pointed this out and also that there was no water. He said words to the effect that that’s the way we do it here. He then phoned me the next day and said the mare was very sick and I should get a vet.

“With some difficulty, we got a vet to go. Basically the mare was found to have calcium deficiency, the vet treated her for three hours but she died the following morning. She was a Class 1 Irish Draught mare, 10 years old, that I had five foals from. It’s a terrible loss.

“We had to get a foster mare for the foal and the stud came up with a very small and cross pony, about 11.2hh only. I said I was going to take my foal home. This man then demanded €2,000 from me and I said no way was I paying that. I left saying I would be back with my box in the morning. He then told me that the price was now €3,000 for the keep of the mare and foal plus the costs of this small foster pony mare.

“It has gone on from there. My colt, a lovely dun, will be 12 months old in May. I have been unable to get him back from this man to date. I went to the Gardaí and my solicitor over it and am following it up with them.

“The next thing I hear through the Irish Horse Board that my foal has been registered by this man. I’m down as the breeder. I want my foal back where he belongs,” Mr McCarthy told The Irish Field.