F&I Association Report: Irish Day 2024

On Tuesday the 11th of June 2024, F&I Association members and guests alike spent the annual Irish Day by reminding themselves of what ultimately energises us all to do what we do: riding at its finest. More specifically, we were welcomed to the heart of Hughes Horse Stud (HHS), which is nestled in the beautiful countryside of Graigue, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny. The HHS continues the legacy and vision of the late Seamus Hughes, whose passion for horses and whose keen foresight for quality Irish breeding programmes has perpetuated some of the highest quality bloodlines, as well as producing national and international champions.

Today, the HHS operates under the steady stewardship of showjumping afficionados and married duo, Marion Hughes and Miguel Maria Bravo. Marion excelled on the showjumping circuit throughout her career. She quickly established herself on the senior international stage with Flo Jo by winning the Queens Cup at Hickstead in 1995 and 1996. Since that time, she has successfully competed in such events as the Belgian Queen’s Cup at Mechelen Christmas Show, the Belgium Nations Cup Show, the Iberian Show Circuit, the European Championships at Hickstead (UK), the Saint Lo Grand Prix in France, the Eindhoven Grand Prix, and the Super League in both Rotterdam and Lucerne. Marion was a member of the Irish showjumping team, which finished 2nd in the Nations Cup (Aga Khan Trophy) at the Dublin Horse Show after she jumped a double clear with Heritage Charlton, and in 2004 she competed in the Athens Olympics on her mount, the stallion Heritage Fortunus. Marion’s impressive catalogue of horses has included Flo Jo, Carnival Bouncer, Heritage Poker, Heritage Voar D’Isigni, Heritage Fortunus, Heritage Transmission, Oh Jessie, and Galileo, to name a few.

Miguel initially entered the international showjumping stage through his work with Thomas Fuchs, and Ted and Liz Edgar. In 1995 Miguel competed in his first European Championship in St Gallen with Heritage Poker, after which he emerged as an international player with such horses as Heritage Charlton, Heritage Vaor, Heritage Poker, Heritage Clover Z, Heritage Cashmir, and the stallion Heritage Fortunus. After a tremendously successful 2003 Nations Cup tour, Miguel went on to compete at the European Championships in Donaushengen, Germany, under the guidance of team coach, Thomas Fuchs. Some of Miguel’s biggest results have been shared with Heritage Charlton, including the Grand Prix in both Berne and in Mechelen, the Iberian Tour (including the Grand Prix of Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona), the Millstreet Derby, the Grand Prix Barcelona, the World Cup Qualifier Geneva, and countless other Grand Prix in Wembley, Milan, Lisbon, and Liechtenstein.

Our visit to this impressive stud and its highly decorated owners afforded guests the rare opportunity to watch high-level competitors and their carefully-produced steeds train for upcoming competitions. At the HHS stud of around 50 horses, we were guided to the outdoor arena by Marion’s daughter, Molly, whose expert practical knowledge and whose passion for her sport was palpable. From our vantage point, we were able to watch such riders as Carl Webb, Mikey Pender, and Max Foley (brother to Jason Foley), among many others, as they demonstrated their skills on the flat and over jumps under the watchful eye of Miguel. Alongside a clear focus on lateral flatwork and working through transitions, the training also consisted of careful gridwork that utilised an initial upright, an oxer, followed another upright. As Miguel stressed to us, such a grid “activates the springs” in horses (and especially young horses) by encouraging them to open their back over the oxer, as well as to open their front over the uprights, while simultaneously encouraging the rider to focus on straightness and accomplishing a correct landing. Miguel’s “back to basics” approach to horse and rider training is what helps them maintain simplicity in otherwise very technical riding; indeed, Association members commented throughout on the calmness of the session, as riders gently guided their horses over the grid with a consistent and methodical rhythm. It is this steadiness (as well as the implicit adherence to the Training Scale) that produces winners in Dublin and abroad; although, as Miguel himself stated: “Everyone wants to go to Dublin”, whose annual shows boasts some of “the best and the bravest”. Likewise, as we watched riders working through canter leg yields and leg changes over cavalettis, Miguel reminded us that the “horse must always be curious as to what you want”, so that the sport remains as pleasurable and stimulating for them as it is for the riders. On the consistent use of varied transitions, Miguel stressed that “horses must feel what we want” and that riders mustn’t “overdo it” and “let [their horses] breathe” within the work.

In terms of tack and equipment, Association members applauded the HHS’s use of very simple bitting, and many of the riders sported Devoucoux saddles, as well as Micklem bridles, which Marion considers “bombproof”. During discussion of the use of draw reins, Miguel emphasized the fact that such tools should never be used for submission of the horse, or to overbend the horse in any way, and that, rather, draw reins are an effective aid to helping the horse’s muscles to develop more shape. Marion and Miguel have a wide array of sponsored, as well as home-made, fences and wings, and they use smaller 10-foot poles in their training, as well as hexagon poles (the former of which aids in straightness, and the latter of which aids in maintaining and developing the horse’s focus). This particular portion of the day was a rare pleasure indeed, and guests all agreed that we could have stayed for the day watching these riders do what they do best, and listening to Marion and Miguel’s calm and effective guidance.

However, having seen a wide variety of models carry out their training, we were also afforded a tour of the yard. HHS horses enjoy a canter on the gallops after their work in either the sand or grass arena, and all horses are turned out every day after riding on the stud’s 160 acres; as Marion highlighted, keeping horses (and foals) out of stables is important at the HHS. The successful breeding programme at HHS relies mostly on AI and Marion noted that a healthy and big recipient mare is key to productive breeding. Association members and guests were able to see several of the HHS’ recent foals turned out with their broodmares; indeed, while all were under a week old, we enjoyed watching the bravery of a day-old foal in particular, whose trot demonstrated an already excellent step. The HHS takes pride in such horses as HHS Cashmere, HHS Fortuna, A Touch of Grey, HHS Accorado, HHS Fafa, HHS Daisy, HHS Pinky, HHS Charles, HHS Diamond, and HHS Apache, as well as such broodmares as Chinatown, Inspiration (half sister to Flo Jo), China Henry, Clover Z, HHS Riverdance, Noblina, Dreaming of U, A Touch of Royale, and China Cavalier.

Having thanked our gracious hosts for the day, and at Marion and Miguel’s request, the F&I Association pledged to make a donation on behalf of the HHS to a new fund in memory of Jack de Bromhead. Following this most energising morning, Association members and guests then enjoyed a hearty, Mediterranean lunch at the historic and beautiful King’s Mill Restaurant in Mullins Mill, Garrynamann Lower, Kells, Co. Kilkenny, before making a short trip to our second visit of the day: Ballylinch Stud.

Located on the limestone-rich banks of the River Nore, just outside of the village of Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, the lineage of Ballylinch Stud can be traced back almost half a millennium. Ballylinch Stud was founded by Major Dermot McCalmont over a century ago to stand one of the fastest racehorses ever seen: The Tetrarch. However, the origin of this illustrious site can be traced back almost 500 years, standing on land seized from Cistercian monks by the Crown forces of Henry VIII in 1541. In the mid 18th-century, the first Earl of Carrick, a member of the Butler family who had taken possession of the adjoining lands one hundred years previously, constructed a beautiful house on the estate by the banks of the River Nore, which he named Mount Juliet after his wife. He built a bridge over the River Nore to link the estate to Ballylinch, and “The White Bridge” still stands today as the demarcation between Ballylinch and Mount Juliet.

The Tetrarch and his son, Tetratema, became champion sires in 1919 and 1929, respectively, and they are the only 2 grey stallions to achieve that distinction since the turn of the 20th century. The Tetrarch was born in 1911 at Edward Kennedy’s Straffan Station Stud in Co. Kildare, not far from where the present Goffs Sales complex is located. Born chestnut with black spots, The Tetrarch later transformed into his famous grey with splotches of white coat, which earned him the nickname “The Rocking Horse”. He inherited his colour from his sire, and a direct line of his grey ancestors can be traced back to one grey stallion (Alcocks Arabian) from the original Weatherbys Stud Book, who was born around the turn of the 18th century and had his origins in Syria. The Tetrarch sold as a yearling to McCalmot at the 1912 Doncaster sales for 1,300 guineas and he was ridden by jockey Steve Donoghue. He made his first public appearance in a novice plate at Newmarket in 1913 and went on to demonstrate incredible speed on the gallops in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (leading 10 lengths ahead of his competitor), the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes (now the National Stakes) at Sandown, Glorious Goodwood for the Rous Memorial Stakes, the Champion Breeders Foal Stakes at Derby, and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. For his many accomplishments, the Tetrarch is still considered one of the greatest juvenile runners of all time. Having retired in 1915, and with an initial covering fee of 300 guineas, the Tetrarch went on to stud. Although he only produced 130 foals in his lifetime, 80 of these were winners and his most successful progeny included Tetratema, Mumtaz Mahal, The Satrap, Moti Mahal, Paola, Stefan the Great, Snow Maiden, Caligula, Polemarch, Salmon Trout, Chief Ruler, Tractor, Arch-Gift, and Ethnarch.

Today, following the legacy of McCalmot and The Tetrarch, Ballylinch is one of Europe’s leading thoroughbred racehorse breeding operations. It is owned by John and Leslie Malone (who also steward its sister farms Castlemartin Stud in Co. Kildare and Bridlewood Farm in Florida) and is overseen by John O’ Connor MRCVS. Association members and guests were given a guided tour of Ballylinch by General Manager, Adrian Sherry, alongside Visiting Mares Manager, Declan Foy. Our tour began in the beautiful, stone-walled Tetrarch Yard (where every Ballylinch stallion starts their career) with the first stallion of the day, Bayside Boy: a 16hh, 2019 bay by New Bay (sire) out of Alava (dam), who went to stud just last year. Bayside Boy took the win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, the Fortune Stakes at Sandown, and the Novice Stakes at Newmarket in the 7-8f distances, producing earnings of €1,002,134. He is Ballylinch’s first homebred and has thus far covered 130 mares, with a 2024 covering fee of €15,000.

Having been brought to the central stallion yard, formerly a vegetable garden in times gone by, we then got to meet Make Believe, a 16.1hh, 2012 bay by Makfi (sire from the Dubawi line, which we learned about at the 2023 Irish Day at Godolphin Stud) and Rosie’s Posy (dam). Make Believe was put to stud in 2016, having previously won in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp, the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt at Longchamp, the Prix Tanerko at Saint-Cloud, and the Prix de Saint-Desir at Deauville in the 7-8f distances, and producing earnings of €600,779. He cost €120,000 as a foal and today has a covering fee of €10,000. Declan noted that Make Believe has a wonderful attitude in every way and, with his commercial pricing, is “a little underrated” in terms of his success and his endless potential as a sire.

The third stallion of the day, Waldgeist, was a 16hh, 2014 chestnut by Galileo (sire) out of Waldlerche (dam), who has been at stud for 4 years with a 2024 fee of €10,000. A proven champion, Waldgeist has taken home 9 wins in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Prix Ganay at Longchamp, the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Criterium de Saint-Cloud, the Group 2 Prix Foy (in both 2018 and 2019) at Longchamp, the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, The Group 3 Prix d’Hedouville at Longchamp, as well as the Prix de Fontenoy and the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in 8-12f distances. His earnings stand strong at €4,850,057. An exceptionally “laid-back” and clean-limbed specimen, Waldgeist’s excitement stole everyone’s hearts, as he was getting close to his covering time in the day and looking forward to doing his work.

Next was the striking Lope de Vega, a 16hh, 2007 chestnut by Shamardal (sire) and Lady Vettori (dam), who was put to stud in 2011 and today has a stud fee of €125,000. Previous winnings in 7-10½f distances have earned Lope de Vega earnings of €1,188,085 at such races at the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp, the Group 1 Prix du Jocket Club at Chantilly, the Prix al Khor at Longchamp, and the Prix de Motaigu at Deauville. He is currently the leading sire in Europe this year, and we are told that he mixes extremely well with a variety of mares.

Our final stallion of the day was New Bay, a 16hh, 2012 bay by Dubawi (sire) and out of Cinnamon Bay (dam) who has been in stud since 2017 with a covering fee of €75,000. With earnings of €1,188,085 in 7-10½f, New has won in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, the Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp, the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville, and the Prix Machado at Longchamp. New Bay has covered around 170 mares this year and is sire to some of the highest rate 2-year-olds in the industry.

The stallions’ days begin with their 7am feed and is then comprised of exercise, turnout, as well as coverings at 12pm and 4pm, before their nightly turn in. Ballylinch stallions are programmed under lights to adjust their Circadian rhythm, and they operate in beautiful, well-lit covering sheds that benefit from soft gel-carpet fibre surfaces and a central mound. The surface is rotavated and harrowed every few days. Ballylinch provides entirely natural services without the use of AI and Declan emphasised that handlers “try not to interfere with [the coverings]”, unless necessary. They use a “passion rug” to prevent kicking from the mare, and/or evasion of ejaculation, and the mares are subsequently scanned every day. If 8-10°C, the mares are turned out overnight to capitalise on the finer weather. The equines here are fed Redmills 10% cubes and are kept barefoot, so as to keep their life as natural as possible. Additionally, young stallions at Ballylinch are not vaccinated to the same extent as their older counterparts; indeed, Adrian rightly noted the dangers of early overexposure to vaccinations, which – as we know – contributes to an increasing immunity problem among equines. As such, Adrian stressed the importance of enabling the development of the stallions’ natural antibodies.

Association members were also lucky enough to enjoy the splendid scenery and history at the Ballylinch yards, which has been put to good use in modern days. This included the oldest working clock in Ireland dating from 1764 (indeed, older than Big Ben!), as well as the stone dormer cottages dating back to 1915 which were previously residences for estate workers, and which now serve as the central veterinary lab to Resident vet Jenny Henderson, alongside Ballylinch’s broader staff of 84 (and oftentimes its 10-12 students).

We also paid a visit to the “Motel”, a short stay area for visiting mares and their newly-born foals located in the old grain store and flagged outside by a beautiful little teaser stallion. The old grain store demonstrated clever use of stocks with multiple access and exit doors in case of emergency. The green flooring was made of sand and resin with rubber underneath, and the entire building boasted a fresh, airy, and clean smell. Understandably, this building is power-washed and disinfected regularly. Biosecurity is paramount at Ballylinch with routine vaccinations, foot dips, as well as regular worm egg counts (WECs), and active isolation and quarantine practices. All of this of course is overseen by equine vet Jenny Henderson, who echoed the earlier WEC discussion with Adrian and Declan by stressing that vets are increasingly trying to move away from the overuse of dewormers and antibiotics. Jenny kindly took us to her registered veterinary hospital and laboratory. There, she explained that ITG tests, blood tests, and virology tests are all carried out onsite, and she maintains a freezer of donor colostrum in cases of emergency. However, due to radiation and for the sake of vetting transparency, X-Rays are not carried out onsite, and so Ballylinch collaborates with various vets and institutions in the country. Indeed, Jenny lamented the difficulties faced by smaller farms, which cannot always benefit from such facilities as those at Ballylinch, and which therefore cannot always achieve this desired “gold standard”.

This was an incredibly informative and inspiring Irish Day, which highlighted the best of practices in horse sport today for riding, breeding, and medical practice. Special thanks to Hughes Horse Stud and Ballylinch Stud, as well as to F&I Association members Brendan Bergin and Faith Ponsonby for their thoughtful organisation of such a successful Irish Day.

Report by Leanne Waters