Breeding horses and forging a reputation for being fearless across country are second nature for Grange Stud’s Jack Lambert.

Born in 1932, his love of horses, like countless other Irish farmer-breeders, stems back to his Wexford childhood days when his father owned heavy plough horses.

To say that Jack loves hunting is the ultimate understatement. His family point out that the craic he enjoyed with the lads was equally as important to getting a good run.

“Long ago when the hounds would start to run, I would be the first to follow over a bank and would shout ‘WIRE! WIRE!’ so that no one would follow,” Jack says mischievously. “My daughter Ann followed me one day and shouted back ‘NO WIRE! NO WIRE!’ and continued. This was going on for the last two years,” he recalls with a laugh.

“American visitors would be encouraged to follow if they were nervous. They would say ‘You Irish are very helpful, I love it over here.’ I would jump in on a big dirty double, the horse could scramble, plunge forward but make the top. I would look back to see the visitor gallop off never to be seen.

“Another day, with a neighbouring hunt, a fellow followed me and there was wire on a ditch. They parted company, there was a loose horse and the rider ended up on his feet. He walked up to the rest of the hunt and I could hear the lady whip shouting: ‘Didn’t I tell you all not to follow that fellow before we started!’”

Jack Lambert, at age 84, on his Irish Draught stallion Killinick Rebel; his granddaughter Correna on a four-year-son of Grange Bouncer and Jack's son Tony on an Irish Draught, out with the Killinick Harriers (Credit: Noel Mullins)

An inspiration

That trailblazing bravery often inspired other hunt followers to follow suit, including fellow Wexford man and future international show jumper Con Power. And as it turned out, not only Con but also his son, Robbie. The dual Aintree and Irish Grand National-winning jockey has vivid memories of following Jack too.

“My dad followed Jack through the Wexford countryside as a child and thankfully I’ve been lucky enough to do the same – an experience every equestrian enthusiast should try,” Robbie remarks.

“The ultimate horseman with an unbelievable knowledge of the horse from hunter to thoroughbred,” said Robbie in praise of Jack Lambert and such a grounding on the Wexford hunting field undoubtedly contributed to the 2017 Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup hero’s own legendary horsemanship skills.

Jack’s a great man out hunting, you’d often see him hunting a three-year-old by Grange Bouncer - Gordon Elliott

Power won the 2007 Aintree Grand National aboard Silver Birch, trained by Gordon Elliott. “What do you say about Jack Lambert?” remarked this year’s Cheltenham leading trainer, another to hold Lambert in high regard. “I know him from hunting with the Killinicks, I used to stay in Jack’s house when we were young lads. He’d give us horses and he was the life and soul of the ball.

“Jack’s a great man out hunting, you’d often see him hunting a three-year-old by Grange Bouncer. I only had the privilege of hunting Grange Bouncer once for a half day, but it was only by accident as someone else had a fall!” added Elliott.

Con Power is firmly enshrined in Irish show jumping folklore as part of the Aga Khan-winning ‘dream team’ during his Army Equitation School years. Jack had his moment in the main arena too. A huge supporter of the inter-hunt chase, Jack was part of the victorious Killinick Harriers team in 1989.

THE BREEDER

Jack’s father bought the family’s farm in Grange when Jack was just eight years old, for £8 an acre. When Jack later married Ann, (nee Hickey) some 56 years ago, they moved into the farm. Ann’s father was a doctor and her uncle was a vet, Barty Hickey.

When Barty died, Ann and Jack managed both of his thoroughbred stallions – Prince Rois and Symbol. An Arctic Prince son, Prince Rois was well-known amongst Wexford breeders having won the Croker Cup for thoroughbred stallions at the RDS and also siring the Roche family’s record-making broodmare champion there too – Assagart Kit.

In more recent years, the family also stood the well-bred Robin de la Maison, whose stud career was unfortunately cut short with his premature death. His eldest crop are now five-year-olds and the family are fortunate to have a thoroughbred son of his, Jack The Robin. The homebred was approved at last week’s Horse Sport Ireland stallion inspections. “He won’t cover too many mares this year, as he’s only three and, of course, he is named after father!” said Jack’s daughter Ann afterwards.

Ann Lambert with Jack The Robin at Cavan Stallion Inspections

Not only have the Lamberts stood thoroughbred stallions, perhaps the stallion most associated with them is the aforementioned Grange Bouncer, a truly performance-tested Irish Draught.

Irish Draughts have been breadwinners for many farming families for generations and daughter Clare summed up what their stable star Grange Bouncer, or Bouncer as he was affectionately known, meant to the family, saying: “Grange Bouncer was amazing. He was nearly humankind, gentle and generous.

“He adored my dad and looked after him on many occasions in some sticky situations.

“Bouncer came into Dad’s life at a special time I think, for all our family to heal from the past. We all hunted him, show jumped and evented him. He fed a family for 20 years. He gave so much and was everyone’s friend. How lucky we were.”

GRANGE BOUNCER

Jack Lambert's five Irish draught stallions pictured at a cross country charity event in Co Limerick. (L to R) James Arthur on Killinick Trump; Jack Lambert on Killinick Rebel, Jane O'Sullivan on Gold Dancer, Shane Roche on Killinick Bouncer and Noel Roche on Grange Bouncer

Having bought the Poulgorm-sired Kilmore Heather, the future damsire of Grange Bouncer, the family then sourced Casting Vote. By Tara, a stallion Jack highly regards for his links to Clover Hill and Sea Crest, Casting Vote was bought in Co Clare, where Jack and his family would frequent on holidays.

“He would buy foals there due to the limestone land and they would be fully developed coming off the dam. Jack would know the sire and study the dam thus giving him a good idea of what the foals would be like at three or four years of age,” explained daughter Kay.

Jack contined: “We saw two very nice foals with an old lady and her brother but they wouldn’t sell them. We were brought in for tea and I asked my daughter Kay to play the accordion. She played six or seven tunes, having won an Under-10 championships at the Fleadh Ceoil in Ennis that weekend. After tea, the old lady whispered to me ‘You can have the foals!’”

Having paid £1,600 for the two Irish Draught mares and their foals he had spotted that day, one of those fillies Casting Vote later produced Grange Heather 2, the dam of Grange Bouncer.

Jack was told he was ‘mad’ covering a good mare with an Irish Draught stallion, instead of a thoroughbred, but he was hoping for a filly as Grange Heather 2’s final foal. Instead, she produced a pure-bred Irish Draught colt by the Pride of Shaunlara son Prospect Pride. This was Grange Bouncer.

LIVING LEGACY

Approved in 1998, Jack’s best known horse later received a Horse Sport Ireland gold merit for show jumping, a gold star for eventing and a bronze merit for dressage. A Grade A show jumper, Grange Bouncer evented up to three-star level with Jack’s daughter Clare and, in turn, he has sired another three-star eventer in Brookfield De Bouncer.

His progeny – several sold worldwide – are renowned for their inherent athleticism and fantastic temperament. Although he died in 2012, Grange Bouncer’s son Killinick Bouncer continues his legacy at the family’s farm.

Killinick Bouncer was approved at the 2010 stallion inspections.

A modern, more athletic type, his own sire took several years to gain approval, having initially been considered too light to meet the Irish Draught standard.

Jack was even advised to present Grange Bouncer as a sport horse instead but kept the faith and eventually, his four-legged advertisement for the Irish Draught’s athleticism was fully approved. Coincidentally, a grandson of Grange Bouncer, Martin Egan’s Archie The Great was awarded Class 1 status at this year’s stallion inspections.

Correna Bowe with Killinick Bouncer at the Dublin Horse Show (Credit: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile)

Grange Bouncer’s son, Killinick Bouncer has produced two Grade 1 stallion sons: Clew Bay Bouncer and Moylough Bouncer.

There is a ‘next generation’ guarantee in the stud’s management as, in contrast to the uncertainty facing other studs, Jack’s daughter Ann now looks after that end of the business. While Jack’s daughter Clare excels in producing young event horse prospects here in Ireland.

Both Clare and her daughter Correna have represented Ireland, a source of great pride for Jack. Clare competed as a pony, junior and young rider at European championship level while Correna has followed in her mother’s footsteps by representing Ireland at junior level.

TRADITIONAL V MODERN

Having grown up working the traditional type and then seeing Grange Bouncer prove himself in the competition field, Jack has first-hand experience of both the traditional and modern type of Irish Draughts.

What are Jack’s opinions on the debate regarding the two types emerging in the breed?

“The traditional Irish Draught types were originally a work horse that had heavy bone, which limited their scope and ability to perform. The average height was 15.3hh.

“Grange Bouncer was a modern Irish Draught type because he had thoroughbred blood [Prefairy] in his grandsire, Pride of Shaunlara. Their athleticism means that they can successfully compete against other types in equestrian disciplines.

“The modern type has less knee action and less hair on their fetlocks which typifies the more traditional type. The average height of the modern athletic Irish Draught is between 16.1hh and 16.2hh,” he added about the transition.

TRANSATLANTIC CONNECTION

The close links built up through horses is epitomised by Grange Bouncer’s story and one transatlantic connection was forged when Jack travelled to upstate New York. Ann Morss explains how the New York-Wexford exchanmge visits began when seven members of the Killinick Harriers travelled over to hunt with the Genesee Valley Hunt (GVH) in 1994.

“Jack has returned every October, but one, to stay with us for our GVH Races and Hunt Ball. I met Grange Bouncer in 1995 and immediately became an aficionado of the Irish Draught. In later years, many from the GVH were honoured to hunt the grand, old man!” recalled Morss, an Irish Draught Horse Society (North America) board member.

“I have an RID mare by Grange Bouncer, bred by Jack that has produced several Thoroughbred part-breds for those who wanted the Bouncer talents.

“Jack always livens up our lives with his wit and stories, his comments of ‘Meant to be’ and ‘Right then, we can go in now’ (code for getting someone unhorsed!) are his trademarks for us Yanks!

“We are honoured to call Jack our friend and thank him for the wonderful adventures he’s provided over the decades. We luv’ ya’, Jack!”