When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Ireland, not for a minute did I think it was going to be like this, nor could I have imagined what it was going to do to our lives.

Everyday things such as not being able to casually call in to visit neighbours, go to the marts, not being able to sell calves in the same way as usual and, of course, the hardest one for me – no shows for Assagart show horses.

It was strange with no shows because I was brought up with them, showing horses, from mares and foals to young horses, I had them all in the show ring. It was bizarre. But look, it could have been worse and it has meant I focused on getting other things done at home that were put on the back burner for years.

It also made me reassess breeding for the show and thoroughbred mares, being selective with what I wanted to produce for the current market.

The Land Rover Sale at Goffs was difficult, given that no foreign buyers could travel. The dairy side of the farm took priority, I was able to manage the grassland better for my livestock and I’ve even decided to get back into sheep as an interest for our three boys; Jamie (11), Cathal (eight) and Anthony (four).

While the schools were closed, my wife Catherine was still working full-time so the boys spent a lot more time with me on the farm, feeding calves and working with the horses.

They were very excited any time a new baby calf or foal was born.

I’ve been able to bring the two older boys to riding lessons at Kingsford Equestrian Centre in Barntown every Friday as well as sending them to pony camp during the summer. It’s great to see them enjoying themselves and being part of that.

Anthony can’t wait to join them when he is old enough. This year has made me realise there is a lot more to farming and life than showing horses.

Mare in a million

Trying to keep my mother, Mary Margaret, isolated over the last few months has been very hard because she likes to keep herself busy and is very sociable. She has particularly found it difficult not being able to see my sisters much this year, especially Deirdre and Michelle who live in Kilkenny and Dublin.

Her gardening and being outside is so important to her, so she is lucky she has the garden as well as the horses to keep her busy. She is not a lady to take it easy!

I did really miss the Dublin Horse Show because it holds so many good memories for my family and me. I also really missed the social side of the show circuit, meeting friends and the local shows in Adamstown and Bannow and Rathangan.

I always dreamed of winning the RDS Breeders’ Championship, but never thought it would happen for me or my family. But when I got the chance to buy My Only Hope (Big Sink Hope) from Dermot O’Sullivan, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. A mare like her only comes around once in a lifetime.

My mother and father (Michael) had tried but failed to buy her before that. The opportunity to buy the mare came up after Dad passed away and both Mam and I felt we had to buy her to honour his wish. She has been a mare in a million and I owe her everything.

The wait

But going back to that day, I did know I had a good foal going up to Dublin that year. The foal Assagart Lord Lancer was by Castleforbes Lord Lancer and had everything that you need for the Breeders’ Championship; size, great scope, a great walk and a special trot. That said, I was more hopeful than confident.

So when the class began I was hoping to make a big impression on the day with the judges and spectators. It rained all day that Friday and after what seemed like a full year waiting, suddenly it was our time to walk to the triangle … here we go.

Next we stand up for our conformation – that went well. Then it was the walk and trot which went well in all the rain.

When Michael Slavin started calling the numbers out over the sound system it was so nerve-racking.

One by one they were called out and we were still there. And then he called out our number as the winners.

It was such a surreal feeling. We had done it but I still couldn’t believe it. The only thing missing was that my dad wasn’t there with me to see it.

That was one of the reasons I looked up to heaven to say: ‘I wish you were here Boss’. And throwing the bowler hat in the air was something I had always said I would do if I was lucky enough to win.

If that wasn’t enough I went on to do the double in 2017 when Assagart Lord Lancer, the foal that had won the Breeders’ Championship three years previously, won the young horse championship and then My Only Hope won the Breeders’ Championship for a second time.

Assagart Lord Lancer is the only Breeders’ foal that went on to be the young horse champion in the RDS. It really was a dream come true for me and my family, especially my mother.

John Roche was in conversation with Susan Finnerty.