LAST Sunday’s Met Eireann yellow weather alert proved no deterrent to a large crowd of interested spectators that travelled from as far afield as Armagh to West Cork for a hugely successful stallion parade at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

Organised by the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association (IDHBA), its mission was to showcase a range of Irish Draught, thoroughbred and Connemara stallions at the start of the breeding season. The traditional angle proved to be the unique selling point of this inaugural event, which now looks firmly set to be an annual February fixture.