Pam Walshe

“I only breed from one mare, so I try to use stallions from the top-ten in the world rankings.

“I’m a fan of statistics and these horses are breeding the largest number of top jumpers. Lots of people will argue that some stallions get more and better mares than others.

“All I know is that the top-ten are well-proven stallions, most of them have competed at top level themselves, have excellent techniques and pedigrees and are breeding top class jumpers at the highest level.

“I speak to everyone and try to learn every day. I’d advise people to have a plan before they breed. Do they plan to breed a show jumper, an eventer or a riding horse?

“If it’s a jumper and you want to sell as a foal, then the page needs to be good enough on both the sire and dam sides.

“There is no market for event foals, so you need to be prepared to keep them until at least three/four-year-olds and produce them.

“If you want to breed a nice riding horse, then the Traditional Irish Horse route should produce something sane and saleable.

“Show jumping is closely aligned to pedigree; the best jumpers tend to have excellent pedigrees, similar to flat racehorses.

“Event horses are more comparable to the National Hunt horses where there are more variables, different types and a looser link to pedigree.

“Also, try to keep the best mares. That the most important piece of advice.”

Marion Hughes

“My advice to young breeders is to talk to people who have been successful in breeding horses. To try breeding and to equip themselves with knowledge. Teagasc Young Breeders is a great way to learn, plus they get the opportunity to travel to studs outside Ireland, to see how they operate. There is a lot of knowledge to be got from this course.

“I would also encourage people to consider breeding ponies. The market is looking for good ponies and they command very good money. There is less work involved with them and they are easier to keep than a horse. I would urge people to look at the market, before they start breeding.”

Cheryl Broderick

“The results from last year’s foal sales show a decline in prices in Ireland.

“Buyers are becoming more and more selective in what they are willing to pay the big prices for. Now more than ever as breeders we need to be more and more selective on the mares we breed from and the stallions we cross them with.

“I think breeders always need to breed for the desired market, whether it be eventing dressage or show jumping. When show jumping is concerned, I think unless your mare has jumped to at least 1.40m level consistently or is a sister to a five-star international horse then it doesn’t make financial sense to breed from her.

“Breeders need to look outside Ireland and have foals that are globally commercial to make this business pay.

“If you look at the results of the big foal sales in Europe last year there is still plenty of money for top foals, but they must be from very fashionable families and crossed with the best stallions available.

“This is where I think breeders need to be more up to date.

“Breeders need to know what families are making the headlines and what stallions are breeding the highest percentage of jumpers.

“Breeders shouldn’t be a select group on their own they need to work hand in hand with the riders, asking their advice, watching the results on the circuits and being aware of what type of foal and pedigree the market is looking for.

“What I have noticed from year to year at these sales is the market is forever changing. As breeders we need to breed what is required for this market and the type of horse that riders require to jump at the very top level.”