The Power family from Kilbride South in Tramore have been involved in agriculture for over 30 years and have successfully incorporated their passion for horse breeding into their family farm. Richard and Geraldine Power own the 200 acre farm which was passed down from Richard’s parents. A mix of sucklers, sheep, sport horses and competition ponies keep the family busy throughout the year.

Geraldine’s interest in breeding horses began when the children had flown the nest and horses have become a way of life which she enjoys immensely. “I enjoy just working with the horses, there is no better way to spend a summers evening than educating the young foals. We operate under the prefix Cillbhrid. We enjoy nothing more than following the performance of the horses we have bred”.

“We are lucky in so far that we can do most of the work ourselves,” said Geraldine. “My daughter Marianne and her husband Bill are a much-needed extra pair of hands, as is Richard’ s good friend Jimmy Burke, who has been helping part time for over 25 years,” she adds.

Shared passion

It is no surprise that Geraldine’s passion has grown and has stepped into the next generation. My parents always kept a few sport horse broodmares. She remembers going to Gowran to sell young stock back when they had sport horse sales. Geraldine and her two brothers rode ponies and enjoyed hunting, show jumping and were members of Waterford Hunt Pony Club. Geraldine bought her first mare (Edmund Burke x Vique) in Goresbridge under the watchful eye of her father and she became her foundation mare.

“Fortunately, my daughter Marianne shares my passion for horses. So it is now a joint effort when making decisions and she also has a small breeding enterprise from her base at Duagh House, a short distance from us,” she explains.

The Powers have reaped the rewards of a good breeding line. They have bred several horses who are successfully competing in America. Geraldine explains how they put great thought into the breeding process considering temperament, ability and confirmation: “We prefer to have quality rather than quantity and for this reason we hope to invest in improving further the quality of our breeding mares rather than expand. I like to keep some Irish breeding in the line because it brings sanity and bravery. “If they don’t reach professional level there will be an outlet for them in another market.”

“Our aim is to produce four-star eventers and five-star showjumpers, but we get a lot of pleasure from seeing our progeny do well on the national circuit. This year a Connemara pony we bred and sold as four-year-old in 2016, won the CNCP2* at Kilguilkey House and Lisgarvan, ridden by Bryan Bourke from Templemore.

“I have no doubt this young chap will have further success in 2019 and hopefully will aim for a team.”

Challenging year

Geraldine admits that 2018 has been challenging time for breeders. “If money was the only factor to consider in breeding horses, I think we would have very few of us. There is no place in the current market for the average type horse if you want to turn a profit.

She has availed of support for small enterprises which has made a big difference. “As members of the Waterford Sport Horse Breeders we have had great help and support. Chaired by John Walsh, we meet regularly and have very interesting discussions and trips and we find this a huge benefit. We also get tremendous support from Michael Doherty in HSI, in organising events and tracing the results of horses we have bred.

“I think, if we had more people like this to assist the breeder and perhaps if there was more financial support to help the breeder improve the mare herd, the quality of what we breed would certainly improve."