I WAS born and reared in Garryrichard Stud, in Foulksmills, into a life full of horses. My father Michael had stallions all of his life, starting off with half-bred horses. The first serious move into thoroughbreds happened in 1958, when he bought Arctic Slave. He was also very successful in the showring, riding six Dublin hunter champions and producing two three-year-old champions.

The hunter champions were Urney Road (1967), owned by MrsWood from England; Frozen Slave (1969), owned by Mrs Latta, Enniscorthy; St Swithin (1976), owned by Phil Sweeney, Thurles; Foggy Wood (1977), owned by himself; Golden Comet (1981), owned by Willie Johnson,Wexford and O’Shea (1988), again owned by himself.