I GREW up on a farm outside Athy in Co Kildare. Despite no huge family interest in matters equestrian, my calling from an early age was always to work and be around horses. With much pleading, my dad, Finbar, duly obliged. I think it’s an interest or even an affliction you are born with and can’t be without. As the old adage goes “There is something about the outside of a horse that is so good for the inside of man”.

Having trained with Gisela Holstein for a number of years, I then spent time in a yard on the Swiss-German border, where much emphasis was on behavioural issues and the retraining and rehabilitation of horses. I returned home to start my own livery, training and rehabilitation yard.

Luckily, I had great owners, who gave me some really talented, young horses to produce, most of which were sold out of the yard before ever getting to jump them up the grades. Many three- and four-year-old favourites come to mind, like the ever-brave and indomitable eventer Fictitious and the diminutive three-year-old filly Touchable, who grew on and made her debut on a British Nations Cup team in 2013.

1. You were one of the first breeders to spot the potential of Clover Hill and Cavalier Royale, how?

It was a two-year-old filly bought cheaply at Goffs sport horse sales in the early ‘80s that I have to thank for bringing Clover Hill and the kind, unassuming Philip Heenan into my life. Being a small blood-type chesnut by a little-known stallion at the time called Clover Hill, she was ‘the one nobody wanted’ on the day. Bred by Philip out of one of his own mares, she proved to be quick and light off the ground with a big, athletic jump and I was hooked on Clover Hill.

Molino, an Anglo-Arab by the thoroughbred stallion Sandyman Star, was found and bred to Clover Hill and, in 1986, she foaled a filly. A year later, she was lost after a post-foaling haemorrhage and her then-yearling filly Clover’s Lass was retained for breeding.

In the spring of 1989, when Clover’s Lass was a three-year-old, friends in Switzerland confirmed that Cavalier Royale was coming to stand in Ireland. I was aware of Cavalier since my time in Germany and knew both his sire and damline possessed some of the most famous Selle Français and Holsteiner bloodlines in the world. He had all you could wish for in a stallion’s pedigree.

For me, it was ‘a meeting of the gods’ to combine the bloodlines of Clover Hill fillies and Cavalier. But, as always with horses, there was also a lot of luck involved, as in right time, right place and right era.

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

The moment I made the decision to keep and breed Clover’s Lass to Cavalier, as it’s a foundation line that continues to give to this day, through the insightful and successful breeding programme operated by the Hughes family under the HHS prefix.

Clover Lass’ first foal was the 1990 Cavalier filly Dreamin’. I’d sold many young horses to Max Hauri and his son Thomas produced Dreamin’ to win team bronze at the 1997 European junior championships in Moorsele (Tell Of Clover, James Kann Cruz’s grand-dam, also jumped at those championships). Dreamin’ was the Swiss champion in ’97 and on the gold medal team the following year at the European young riders in Lisbon.

Her full-sister Dreamin Of U is noted as the dam of HHS Fortuna, HHS Figaro, HHS Fairy Fort, HHS Fair Game and HHS Daisy (dam of HHS Fortune and HHS Seven-houses).

These days, I no longer breed horses, preferring instead to buy a youngster that might catch my eye, as a lot of the hard work has already been done!

3. Favourite bloodlines?

A significant amount of thoroughbred blood in a stallion was always very important to me. Albeit Clover Hill or Cavalier were not thoroughbreds, they both had influential thoroughbreds in their bloodlines, which, if not always evident in their progeny’s type, could be found in their brains.

Since the demise of both stallions and the emergence of access to worldwide stallions, I tended to seek Selle Français bloodlines, as they tend to carry much thoroughbred blood (usually of Irish descent!). Crossed with a mare of a staunch Irish jumping pedigree, this can produce the necessary athleticism required for the competition horse of today.

4. Ballintogher is yours, thoughts on prefixes?

I believe prefixes are invaluable to the breeder whose heart and soul is invested. It is so rewarding to be able to follow your horse worldwide, even if they never become a superstar.

Although it was my experience that prefixes were not always rock solid, as I can recall the dropping of my prefix on a number of home-bred horses. However, I’m hopeful the system has since been perfected.

5. Paris Olympics coming up this summer. Medal predictions?

The Irish, of course! I believe we have a great chance of the gold in Paris, as we can proudly boast of being able to field some of the best, highly-ranked, well-mounted riders in the world, which at this moment in time, leaves us with a great chance.

Eyleen pictured judging at Tinahely Show in 2020 with Thomas Fisher who showed Jimmy Heery’s champion foal by Offaly Clover. \ Susan Finnerty

6. If you could have bred any horse?

In truth, the number of superstars I wish I had had the privilege of breeding is endless, but to keep things current, there are two that stand foremost in my mind.

One is Kilkenny, his two rounds in the 2022 Aga Khan were effortless and truly breathtaking, and the other is the phenomenal racehorse Frankel, which, since taking up stallion duties, has made his mark as a prolific sire of runners on the flat.

7. Favourite websites/programmes/books?

From a work aspect, Horse Telex, Hippomundo, The Irish Field and Racing Post for up-to-date pedigrees.

When ‘switched off’, I could watch David Attenborough programmes all day! And for a little intrigue when holidaying, Wilbur Smith is my go-to author.

8. It takes a team - who’s on yours?

My three wonderful children, Brian, Emma and Rebecca, who, despite all being elsewhere, continue to spoil me from afar! I am also blessed with some great friends, (they will know who they are), who have my back when needed, which unfortunately for them is often! Thanks to all.

9. Best advice you ever got?

As a young girl starting out: “If you take the time to look, you will see ‘the horse’ in its eye.” Words of advice from the master of all creatures great and small, Philip Heenan.

“Never be sorry to have sold” were words of wisdom given by my father many moons ago, when he’d see me sad as another willing and trusting favourite left the yard.

My own go-to mantra is “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Probably explains why my mother Elizabeth says I’ll pass myself out someday!

10. Breeding horses, would you do it all over again?

Oh yes, most definitely. With each foaling, came a “dream”.