I WAS born and raised on a farm in North Cork, near Mallow. We milked cows, reared beef cattle and had a flock of pure-bred Suffolk sheep. We also kept some horses. It could be described as a mixed farm as my father also grew sugarbeet and grain.

Some of my earliest memories as a small child were of the excitement I felt when my father would borrow our neighbour’s Irish Draught mare, Merry Legs. She was a thickset, stout, powerful mare. She had short cannons, a strong second thigh, a lovely head and a bold, kind eye. I later learned that she was by the lrish Draught stallion, Pride of Cork. I can remember that dapple grey mare as clearly as if it was today.

We had a tractor ourselves at the time but the mare was used to till our large vegetable garden, as it was easier to use a horse in the smaller space of the garden.

She was surely the highlight of my year as I would be given a spin on her back, before she was taken home. l remember holding on to the hames for dear life and thinking that I was on top of the world.

As a child I often expressed a desire to become a breeder when l got older and was advised by my father to buy a pure-bred lrish Draught mare. As fate would have it, l met Barty Roche of Rockbarton Stud, as a teenager, at Charleville Agricultural Show.

Barty had a passion and knowledge of the breed, unlike anyone I had ever met. He was like a human encyclopedia of the Irish Draught horse.

He was able to trace back every bloodline at the drop of a hat. Barty was to become my mentor and my friend, he introduced me to breeders and stallion owners from all over Ireland.

He stood Irish Draught stallions, as had his father and grandfather before him. I felt very fortunate to be able to go to him for advice. He pointed me in the direction of my first ever broodmare Tullineasky Glen Oig, by Glen Lad.

It was quite difficult in the late 1970s and early 1980s to be able to source and buy pure-bred Irish Draughts, as many wonderful mares and stallions ended up in the meat factory following the arrival of the tractor.

1. Congratulations on breeding Baltydaniel White Heather (Powerswood Gladiator - Breezy Silver), another of this year’s Class 1 stallions at Cavan. Tell us more about him.

Baltydaniel White Heather stands with Gabriel Slattery at Castlelawn Stud in Co Mayo. He is by my old stallion Powerswood Gladiator (by Powerswood Purple) and out of a Fast Silver mare. I bought Fast Silver from his breeder Sean Walsh in 2000. Baltydaniel White Heather’s dam - Breezy Silver - is out of the Heather Breeze mare Tynagh Breeze.

Heather Breeze was the first stallion I ever owned. He was bred by my lifelong friend John Bosco McMahon from Co Kerry, who sold him to my mentor, Barty Roche, he was later sold to England.

l brought him back to lreland when he was 22 years old and bred some lovely stock from him. The name White Heather is a nod to Heather Breeze, his great-grandsire, with whom he shares his lovely temperament and good looks.

2. Why do you breed Irish Draughts?

They are our native breed and I have a passion for them. They have wonderful temperaments, great intelligence and are a multi-purpose horse.

3. Proudest moment as a breeder?

There have been many moments as a breeder that my horses have brought me great pleasure, but bringing Heather Breeze back home from England was certainly one such moment.

In 2002, my mare Millhollow Queen was the champion lrish Draught mare at the Breed Show, she also won the Bank of Ireland mare championship and was supreme champion at the national breed show.

Three championships in one day, a dream come through. My husband Bob and my children were able to share that day with me but only a month later, Bob was dead. I was very glad that he had lived to share that day with us.

Another very proud moment for me was when my stallion Baltydaniel Romeo sired the RDS champion Irish Draught foal in 2017. These were all good days that keep one going.

4. Best advice you ever got?

Barty Roche taught me the importance of a good damline in a stallion. He also taught me that Irish Draughts are slow to mature and that when you have a lovely foal born, don’t worry about the “teenage stage” as it will always turn out nice in the end.

5. Favourite mare(s)?

It’s hard to pick just one favourite, so Tullineasky Glen Oig, Mill Hollow Queen, Cornamona Princess and Breezy Silver.

Tullineasky Glen Oig, the first Irish Draught owned by Elizabeth Deane Cogan, was a special guest at hers and husband Bob’s wedding

6. What is your template for an Irish Draught?

The Pride of Cork mare Merry Legs, who was owned by my neighbours.

7. It takes a team, who’s on yours?

Raymond Mullaney who helps me here on the farm in Sligo and my brother-in-law Brian Cogan

8. What do you think are the greatest challenges facing Irish Draught breeders?

I can see the genepool getting smaller and smaller and have seen some lovely lines forever lost over the years. Also there were some of the finest stallions and mares: thickset, with stout girths, short shins and power bodies. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find animals of this type these days.

Also the inspection process is problematic and doesn’t best serve the breed.

9. Describe your regime for keeping mares/youngstock?

I try to bring my youngstock along slowly. I don’t believe in forcing them with feed or work as Irish Draughts are slow to mature.

10. Do you intend to keep breeding lrish Draught horses?

Yes, l moved to Sligo when l married John Anthony Cogan. He was an accomplished horse breeder, his Irish Draught mare Miss Gethins (Bally Laughton) was one of his foundation mares and her descendants still continue at Corlisheen today. I intend to continue his legacy and preserve the traditional characteristics of the breed, for as long as I can.