THERE were many aspects to the life of Mina Connon, who died aged 94 on December 1st last, but readers of these pages will recall her love of all horses, especially blood types, and how she nurtured and supported the eventing career of her younger daughter, Paula (Stammschroer).

Mina Dillon was born into a dairy farming family who, in 1928, had moved from Co Kerry to Ovidstown House, Donadea, Co Kildare, where her grandfather, Richard Dillon, also kept Irish Draught horses, standing the odd Draught and Thoroughbred stallion to service local mares.