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Ireland (by Sally Parkyn) It is easy to assume that progress, along with modern technology, is always the correct way forward, but deep in Co Carlow a successful stud continues in virtually the same way as it has for seventy years. In fact, last year, the progeny of its five stallions continued to shine on the world stage, and with demand for the traditionally bred Irish horse on the increase, this winning formula’s future looks assured.
Founded by Tom O’Neill, the Slyguff Stud is now in the knowledgeable and capable hands of his granddaughter Barbara, the third generation of this extraordinarily dedicated family whose equine bloodlines have been the base on which modern Irish breeding has been built.
The stud, set on 140 Irish acres, is still governed by Tom’s son and daughter Loftus O’Neill and Frances Hatton, although it is Barbara who is now largely responsible for the day to day management. The legendary stallion King of Diamonds was born here in 1962 and, such was his influence on the showjumping world, that entire Irish teams were made up with his progeny as well as world famous horses such as Rodrigo Pessoa’s Special Envoy and Joe Fargis’s Mill Pearl.Never content to sit on their laurels, the family looked to the future and continued to breed potential sires to stand alongside King of Diamonds, and of course to eventually succeed him. This they have done, and have produced more household names in stallions like Highland King (Highland Flight xx - Ashling x King of Diamonds [RID]), Master Imp (Imperius xx - Tranquilla xx x Hul a Hul xx), Slyguff Joker (King of Diamonds, out of an Imperius mare), Kings Master (Master Imp xx - Ashling x King of Diamonds), Golden Master xx (Master Imp xx - Marand xx x Prefairy xx), Balda Beau xx (Kambalda xx - Stechmore x Stechworth Lad xx)... and others.
Their winning progeny are also prolific. In the U.S. alone last year, three horses won major end-of-season awards: McKinlaigh (Highland King - Kilcumny Hostess x Stetchworth Lad xx) was the leading advanced eventing horse of 2006, while Mandiba (Master Imp - High Dolly x Chairlft xx) was voted ‘Event Horse of the Year’ and Car Tanga (Highland King - Gypsy Glen x Soudno xx) also won a national title. In England Ballinacoola (Highland King - Dawn Girl x Kildalton Gold [RID]) ridden by William Fox Pitt followed his 2005 Burghley title with another top-six placing, and Westwood Joker (Master Imp - Eaglerock Wendy x King of Diamonds [RID]) was selected to represent the Irish Stud book at the eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lion d’Angers in France. Here in Ireland, Kings Marshall (Kings Master - Cavalier Jewell [ISH] x Cavalier Royale [Holst]) won the coveted Future Young Event Horse League, and Master Mexico (Master Imp xx - Mexico Girl x Furisto [Hann]) is considered to be one of the most exciting young event horses on the circuit....
To read the complete interview order back issue No 132