Ned was born on December 8th 1936, the youngest of 10 children to John and Margaret (nee Brereton) Gowing in Killeen, Daingean, Co Offaly. He went to his local primary school, boarded in Terenure College for his secondary school years and graduated as a veterinary surgeon from UCD in 1961. Following stints in general practice in Edenderry, Bandon and Macroom, he joined Stan Cosgrove’s equine practice in Kildare town in 1965 where he worked until setting out on his own on the Curragh in 1976, on the site that is now Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital.

He was a big character with a big sense of humour. He loved the company of his friends, many of whom have been with him for decades. He loved entertaining and being entertained. Nothing tickled him more than telling or listening to tales involving the many characters he came across in his travels all over the country and beyond. He was a great storyteller with an extraordinary stock of phrases, some more colourful than others, and an exceptional ability to deliver them appropriately and with stunning effect. He was not a shy, softly spoken man. He was forthright in his opinions and very widely read. There were few topics in politics, business, the environment or sport that he did not have an informed opinion upon, and he loved sharing and debating those opinions with anyone in his wide circle of friends that would listen. He was an extraordinarily kind and generous man with his time, his advice and in many practical ways to countless people across the industry.