THE late Jack Powell’s astute observation often comes to mind looking at the sea changes in Irish sport horse breeding. “Nothing generates as much adrenalin as a debate on horses. We’re all experts, we all have our own opinion and we all think we know more than the other fellow!” was one of many memorable quotes by the renowned Nenagh veterinary surgeon in his 2010 feature in The Irish Field.

Those changes are widely seen in the west with a substantial number of farmer-breeders opting out or scaling back. Alternatively, the Connolly family from Cummer, near Tuam, Co Galway, have upped their game to become one of the most commercial and successful sport horse foal producers in the west. From sales-topping foals, 1.60m performers and most recently, a Lanaken silver medallist, the family have risen to the challenge of breeding the next generation of Irish performers.