What spiked your interest in bloodstock and sales?

I grew up in Grangecon which has always been an area with lots of stud farms and racing yards such as Grangecon Stud and BarronstownStud to name a few.

I was lucky that there were always horses at home so I was around horses from a young age. I would be in the yard every evening after school helping out and trying to avoid doing my school homework.

We always sold foals at home and as soon as I was old enough to understand racing, pedigrees and especially the buzz of the sales, I was hooked. Selling a horse that you have worked so hard on to get it perfect for the day of the sale, or placing the winning bid when buying a horse at auction is a feeling that is hard to match.

Who has been the biggest influence in your career so far?

I grew up on Highpark Stud, which is our family stud so that would have to be my biggest influence. My uncle Peter gave me plenty of opportunities to prepare horses for sales from a young age. I went to Kildalton College after I left school which was a great place to learn different aspects of all equine disciplines.

I was always encouraged to go to top stud farms to learn from some fantastic horse people such as Niall Ryan, Conor Chapman of Watershipdown, the O’Callaghans of Yeomanstown/Grangemore Stud, and Kildangan Stud just to name a few.

I believe that every day in horses is a learning day, so learning from the best is essential to furthering my own knowledge and skills within the industry.

Are there any challenges you’ve had to overcome? And how did you overcome them?

I was lucky enough that I always had support and encouragement in every stage of my career so far, everyone was more than happy to give help and advice the many times that I needed it, so I’m lucky that I haven’t met too many challenges yet.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself starting out in the industry?

Don’t try to run before you can walk. Go to lots of different places and listen and learn from everyone that you meet. Learn to do the basics very well and the rest will come as long as you continue to work hard.

What goals have you set for yourself going forward?

I will hopefully return home to Highpark Stud in the near future. I am now working my second season in Yeomanstown Stud’s walk-in yard.

Upon returning home, I hope to help continue to grow the stud, applying some of the experience and knowledge that I have gained from many different people. I’d also love to buy and sell some more horses of my own and grow my own name within the industry.