THE Hannoveraner Verband is over 100 years old. Almost three centuries ago, the state stud was founded in Celle in 1735 to cater for the local farmers breeding horses in this part of northern Germany.

There’s no state stud in Ireland for sport horses. So when you think of the foremost stud in Irish Sport Horse history, especially one with a strong farmer-breeder base, Slyguff Stud immediately comes to mind.