The word stallion has its etymology in the old German word stel, meaning “to stand, put in order”. Anyone who has watched Gladys McArdle parade a stallion will have seen a master at her craft. No battles, no shouting, everything in order, her natural skill allowing these huge creatures, thick with muscle and power, to show themselves for stud at their very best.
Gladys’s career with stallions began with big dreams and a slightly smaller equine.
“With an inherited passion and from humble beginnings with my coloured stallion show-donkey, I developed my interest in stallions, neat show presentation and general all-round horsemanship,” explains Gladys.
“I yearned to join the circus to train ‘trick’ horses. This was the dream. However, at 18 years old and following the passing of my dad, I chose to continue his stud business and leave the big-top dream behind.”
' Do you see what I see?' Gladys with retired 1.60m international show jumper Alicante. \ Drumhowan Stud
I once saw Gladys lead KWPN stallion Tolan R (Namelus R) into the arena at Cavan Equestrian Centre. Tolan R was an incredibly handsome and elegant 17.1hh black stallion who belonged to Tyrone’s Alan Robertson. He had an immense physicality and was a creature that commanded all eyes upon him. Despite all the crowds and noise at Cavan, however, his only focus was Gladys. It seemed to me that she could have asked him to jump through a burning ring of fire and he would have obliged.
Mutual respect
That day in Cavan, Gladys told me the secret was a packet of Refresher sweets, but this time when I ask her, she is a little more reflective.
“Stallions have a sensitive, clever intellect with an extra sparkle. They demand my respect, and equally, I expect their control in return. Because I am not so tall and our stallions tend to be tall, we need to be compatible and work together.
“Being kind, confident and always focused is paramount and helps bring the best in the stallion towards me. It’s a kind of two-way love affair.”
Drumhowan Stud stands some of the best stallions in the country from across disciplines and from across the world; horses retired from the very top of their sport due to age or injury, all of top quality. It isn’t always simple to fly a horse across Europe to Co Monaghan following a busy competition career and Gladys is more than sensitive to the upheaval.
Gladys McArdle with RID stallion Heigh Ho Dubh. \ Drumhowan Stud
“I’m sure if stallions could talk, they would say this is a significant –and sometimes challenging – change. Because the environment is different, and in most cases, even our language is different for the stallions who arrive from Europe. However, allowing them my time and respect helps smooth the transition. We become familiar with each other.”
Dealing with older stallions
When it comes to the veteran stallions, there is a little extra to consider.
“Most of the older stallions have arrived here following top-class performance careers. Therefore, their management has been meticulous.
“As a result, they are fresh in mind and body, which often camouflages their age. My work is to see that this continues.”
Feeding the stallions correctly is always the foundation for health and performance. Gladys has a tried-and-tested regime.
“Standing thoroughbred, registered Irish draught and warmblood performance stallions, their food and more so quantities will vary.
“For over 20 years, we have used Pegus horse feed and a highly regarded ration from a local company Ambrose Irwin Feeds, in Castleblayney. We also always use high-quality hay from a long-time supplier in Co Wexford.”
Standards
Gladys can inherit a myriad of problems when these horses come to stud, anything from them being spoiled with treats or, as she explains, a stallion with terrible teeth.
“One particular stallion had crazy-bad teeth when he arrived, which directly affected his condition. With us, he has his own particular and unique diet, and he is in absolute tip-top condition today.”
Artificial insemination
A busy stallion can visit the dummy multiple times a day but semen collection methods have changed.
“Ninety-five per cent of the breedings nowadays at Drumhowan Stud are via artificial insemination as opposed to natural covering, stallion on broodmare.
“For many years, I did natural breedings with the stallions. I would be reluctant to go back this way.
Over time and numerous stallions, I have learned many tricks for the job
“The stallions here are trained for semen collection, or they arrive to stud knowing the trade. Semen collection is an art of its own. For that job we use a ‘mare phantom’ (a padded dummy horse) and sometimes a ‘jump mare’ (a live mare).
“Over time and numerous stallions, I have learned many tricks for the job. It’s like a game of chess; on the very busy days, I need to have my thinking cap well fitted!”
Dangers of the job
Stallion handling, it’s fair to say, can be dangerous, and despite how easy Gladys makes it look, when I enquire as to whether she has ever been afraid, her answer is an honest one.
Both stallions who attacked here had to leave Drumhowan; they meant it, so they didn’t get a second chance
“Yes, I have seen the wrath of a stallion on someone in front of my eyes. And yes, I have also experienced it myself. It is frightening and very sore.
“Both stallions who attacked here had to leave Drumhowan; they meant it, so they didn’t get a second chance to hurt someone.”
With so many stallions having passed through her care, when I ask Gladys if there is one that stands out for her, she is respectfully vague in the “who” but definite in the “why”.
“Yes, for sure there are special ones. Some stallions stand out because of their achievements as world show jumping superstars. For some, it is the sheer challenge for us to source and secure that specific stallion.
“It can also be their popularity at stud which makes them special or their progression to successful sire. It can even be an unintended successful sale of a stallion, both domestically or further afield.”
There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe
With access to information on many of the world’s most up-and-coming sires, again like any shrewd businesswoman, Gladys holds her cards close to her chest when committing to telling me the best.
“There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe. Many are being expertly produced in the sport – others are solely on the breeding route.
“Time will tell who will emerge at the top; some are showing good vibes already. I quietly have suspects!”
Top tier
When it comes to the greats in history however, Gladys is more than willing to share her thoughts on who tops the lot.
“That is a robust question with multiple answers! So I’ll give a light-hearted and current answer! I would choose three stallions that I manage today.
“There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe, their sires are the world’s top-ranking show jumping sires at present: Chalypso (Chacco Blue – number one in the world), Alicante (Casall – number three in the world) and Corporal VDL (Cardento – number five in the world).
“But really there are many, I particularly admire Cruising and OBOS Quality – they have been amazing for their owners!”
As leading studs in Europe continue to approach Gladys and her husband Eamon to represent their stallions in Ireland, it looks as if the hard work will continue at a pace at Drumhowan.
“The stud business has been good to Eamon and I. A life without stallions would seem alien to me. It’s tough, tiring work, where time slips away and rewards are well-earned.
“I often think of VDL Stud’s Wiebe-Yde van de Lageweg’s comment to us on a visit to the yard: ‘There are no flowers in success and no tears in failure.’”
The word stallion has its etymology in the old German word stel, meaning “to stand, put in order”. Anyone who has watched Gladys McArdle parade a stallion will have seen a master at her craft. No battles, no shouting, everything in order, her natural skill allowing these huge creatures, thick with muscle and power, to show themselves for stud at their very best.
Gladys’s career with stallions began with big dreams and a slightly smaller equine.
“With an inherited passion and from humble beginnings with my coloured stallion show-donkey, I developed my interest in stallions, neat show presentation and general all-round horsemanship,” explains Gladys.
“I yearned to join the circus to train ‘trick’ horses. This was the dream. However, at 18 years old and following the passing of my dad, I chose to continue his stud business and leave the big-top dream behind.”
' Do you see what I see?' Gladys with retired 1.60m international show jumper Alicante. \ Drumhowan Stud
I once saw Gladys lead KWPN stallion Tolan R (Namelus R) into the arena at Cavan Equestrian Centre. Tolan R was an incredibly handsome and elegant 17.1hh black stallion who belonged to Tyrone’s Alan Robertson. He had an immense physicality and was a creature that commanded all eyes upon him. Despite all the crowds and noise at Cavan, however, his only focus was Gladys. It seemed to me that she could have asked him to jump through a burning ring of fire and he would have obliged.
Mutual respect
That day in Cavan, Gladys told me the secret was a packet of Refresher sweets, but this time when I ask her, she is a little more reflective.
“Stallions have a sensitive, clever intellect with an extra sparkle. They demand my respect, and equally, I expect their control in return. Because I am not so tall and our stallions tend to be tall, we need to be compatible and work together.
“Being kind, confident and always focused is paramount and helps bring the best in the stallion towards me. It’s a kind of two-way love affair.”
Drumhowan Stud stands some of the best stallions in the country from across disciplines and from across the world; horses retired from the very top of their sport due to age or injury, all of top quality. It isn’t always simple to fly a horse across Europe to Co Monaghan following a busy competition career and Gladys is more than sensitive to the upheaval.
Gladys McArdle with RID stallion Heigh Ho Dubh. \ Drumhowan Stud
“I’m sure if stallions could talk, they would say this is a significant –and sometimes challenging – change. Because the environment is different, and in most cases, even our language is different for the stallions who arrive from Europe. However, allowing them my time and respect helps smooth the transition. We become familiar with each other.”
Dealing with older stallions
When it comes to the veteran stallions, there is a little extra to consider.
“Most of the older stallions have arrived here following top-class performance careers. Therefore, their management has been meticulous.
“As a result, they are fresh in mind and body, which often camouflages their age. My work is to see that this continues.”
Feeding the stallions correctly is always the foundation for health and performance. Gladys has a tried-and-tested regime.
“Standing thoroughbred, registered Irish draught and warmblood performance stallions, their food and more so quantities will vary.
“For over 20 years, we have used Pegus horse feed and a highly regarded ration from a local company Ambrose Irwin Feeds, in Castleblayney. We also always use high-quality hay from a long-time supplier in Co Wexford.”
Standards
Gladys can inherit a myriad of problems when these horses come to stud, anything from them being spoiled with treats or, as she explains, a stallion with terrible teeth.
“One particular stallion had crazy-bad teeth when he arrived, which directly affected his condition. With us, he has his own particular and unique diet, and he is in absolute tip-top condition today.”
Artificial insemination
A busy stallion can visit the dummy multiple times a day but semen collection methods have changed.
“Ninety-five per cent of the breedings nowadays at Drumhowan Stud are via artificial insemination as opposed to natural covering, stallion on broodmare.
“For many years, I did natural breedings with the stallions. I would be reluctant to go back this way.
Over time and numerous stallions, I have learned many tricks for the job
“The stallions here are trained for semen collection, or they arrive to stud knowing the trade. Semen collection is an art of its own. For that job we use a ‘mare phantom’ (a padded dummy horse) and sometimes a ‘jump mare’ (a live mare).
“Over time and numerous stallions, I have learned many tricks for the job. It’s like a game of chess; on the very busy days, I need to have my thinking cap well fitted!”
Dangers of the job
Stallion handling, it’s fair to say, can be dangerous, and despite how easy Gladys makes it look, when I enquire as to whether she has ever been afraid, her answer is an honest one.
Both stallions who attacked here had to leave Drumhowan; they meant it, so they didn’t get a second chance
“Yes, I have seen the wrath of a stallion on someone in front of my eyes. And yes, I have also experienced it myself. It is frightening and very sore.
“Both stallions who attacked here had to leave Drumhowan; they meant it, so they didn’t get a second chance to hurt someone.”
With so many stallions having passed through her care, when I ask Gladys if there is one that stands out for her, she is respectfully vague in the “who” but definite in the “why”.
“Yes, for sure there are special ones. Some stallions stand out because of their achievements as world show jumping superstars. For some, it is the sheer challenge for us to source and secure that specific stallion.
“It can also be their popularity at stud which makes them special or their progression to successful sire. It can even be an unintended successful sale of a stallion, both domestically or further afield.”
There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe
With access to information on many of the world’s most up-and-coming sires, again like any shrewd businesswoman, Gladys holds her cards close to her chest when committing to telling me the best.
“There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe. Many are being expertly produced in the sport – others are solely on the breeding route.
“Time will tell who will emerge at the top; some are showing good vibes already. I quietly have suspects!”
Top tier
When it comes to the greats in history however, Gladys is more than willing to share her thoughts on who tops the lot.
“That is a robust question with multiple answers! So I’ll give a light-hearted and current answer! I would choose three stallions that I manage today.
“There are several exciting younger stallions in Ireland and Europe, their sires are the world’s top-ranking show jumping sires at present: Chalypso (Chacco Blue – number one in the world), Alicante (Casall – number three in the world) and Corporal VDL (Cardento – number five in the world).
“But really there are many, I particularly admire Cruising and OBOS Quality – they have been amazing for their owners!”
As leading studs in Europe continue to approach Gladys and her husband Eamon to represent their stallions in Ireland, it looks as if the hard work will continue at a pace at Drumhowan.
“The stud business has been good to Eamon and I. A life without stallions would seem alien to me. It’s tough, tiring work, where time slips away and rewards are well-earned.
“I often think of VDL Stud’s Wiebe-Yde van de Lageweg’s comment to us on a visit to the yard: ‘There are no flowers in success and no tears in failure.’”
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