FOR many people, just seeing an Irish-bred event horse being heralded by the FEI as their ‘Horse of the Month’ for May 2020 is something to be celebrated, but for the people that bred and initially produced him, it is an even bigger recognition of their dedication.

Ballaghmor Class, who, partnered by Oliver Townend, won Burghley in 2017 on his five-star debut, was bred by Noel Hickey in Co Limerick. He is by the Holsteiner stallion Courage II out of the ISH mare Kilderry Place. As a three-year-old, the horse was successful in the Young Event Horse class at RDS and from there, he went to the Elite Event Horse sale run by Tattersalls where he was bought by friends Katherine Charlton and Judy Tobin.