HORSES have always been part of life on our farm. In fact, we were one of the last families in the area to rely on working horses before investing in a tractor. My father, Terry, owned a broodmare, Ardagh Lady (Delamain x Clover Hill), and we’ve continued that bloodline through four generations. This spring, we welcomed a lovely filly foal by Phenomene Bleu, carrying Lady’s line forward once again.

My mother, Maureen, was equally involved in horses. She plaited horses for shows, from her husband’s three-year-olds to her grandchildren’s ponies. Over five decades, she must have done thousands upon thousands of plaits.