MARGARET and Des Jeffares were devastated to lose their multiple Dublin Horse Show-winning mare Ballykelly Notalot after a short illness last week. The 11-year-old mare by Lancelot out of a Cavalier Royale mare, bred by James Thomas Wallace, won in Dublin as a yearling, two-year-old and three-year-old and was champion young horse in 2015 for Rebecca Monahan.

Among a slew of other show titles, she was also the All Ireland final winner at Bannow & Rathangan in 2015 before, as a four-year-old, she made her debut under saddle by winning the Stepping Stones to Success Eventing league.

The mare has produced four foals – all colts - the last of which, by Diarado, was shown in the Breeders’ Championship at last summer’s Dublin Horse Show where they finished third.

A social media post from Ballykelly Sporthorses said: “We are devastated to say we have lost our superstar Ballykelly Notalot to a very short illness. It’s still hard to believe. She was a wonderful mare, brave, independent, intelligent, proud, she broke the mould in so many ways. Thank you to everyone who has been part of her life, Ann Lambert and Clare Lambert for riding her, Paddy Quirke her blacksmith, John Ellard her dentist and the veterinary teams who looked after her to the end.

“It has always been a privilege to own Lottie. Ever since we bought her from our good friends Rebecca and Ray we felt incredibly lucky to call her ours and now it’s hard to believe she is gone. But her memory will live on through her geldings and through all the great times, celebrations and joy she brought to us, to our family, to Rebecca, Ray and Sigrid and to so many others along the way.”