LOUGHEHOE Guy, the much loved and revered Grade A thoroughbred stallion has passed away at the fine old age of 32.

The fact that he lived so long is testament to the care and attention given to him by his owner, Sean Lydon, and all the team at Watervalley Stud, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, his home for the past 21 years.

Loughehoe Guy was bred by Alo Tynan in the Pike-of-Rushall, Co Laois. He is by the thoroughbred sire, Regular Guy and out of the thoroughbred mare, Loughahoe Star by Sandyman Star (TB). His full-brother was an Olympic show jumper, who won an individual bronze medal in Barcelona, under Norman dello Joio (USA).

He started his show jumping career in the Army Equitation School, and later, after being purchased by Sean Lydon, was jumped up to Grade A level by Michael Whyte, culminating in qualification for the 1.35m – 1.40m Young Rider classes at the Dublin Horse Show.

Temperament

Loughehoe Guy’s temperament was second to none. He was a pleasure to manage and handle and he passed that trait on to his many off-spring. He was the sire of countless progeny, who competed successfully in show jumping, eventing and showing classes over the years.

He produced numerous successful show jumpers up to 1.40m level, such as Glimmering, Image Flight, The Galway Guy, Skehana Duchess and Portlaoise Perfect Days, but it was undoubtedly his eventing and showing progeny that he was best-known for.

He is the sire of multiple four-star eventers, such as Cruising Guy (NZL), SBT Good Guy (USA), SBT Barolo (USA), The Funny Guy (UK), T’Other Guy (USA), Killossery Harvey (CZE), Bellscross Guy (IRE), Gold Flame Guy (UK), Doneybrewer Guy (UK) and Caltra Western Beauty (SUI) to name but a few.

Loughehoe’s young stock have had a slew of show-ring successes over the years. Two that stand out are Jill Day’s exceptional lightweight hunter, View Point, and Watervalley Good Guy, the winner of 14 championships in one year.

View Point, described by Jill Day and his rider, Robert Walker as ‘the horse of a lifetime’, won four HOYS Hunter Championships amongst many others over the course of his seven year showing career.

Watervalley Good Guy, was the winner of the All-Ireland Yearling Championship in 2007 and the winner of no less than 13 other championships that year, the next year he went on to win the Two-Year-Old All-Ireland Championship, and in 2009, the Good Guy took the Three-Year-Old Championship and overall Young Horse Championship at the Dublin Horse Show.

Loughehoe Guy will be dearly missed by the many breeders both here in Ireland, and in the UK, who used him over the years, but especially by Sean, Sinead and Valerie, and the team at Watervalley Stud, whose pleasure it was, to look after ‘the gentle old man’ for so long.