A familiar name in Ireland for producing top quality performance horses, the Beecher family run Loughnatousa Stud in county Waterford, which now has a client base stretching across Ireland, Europe, America and Dubai.

Situated just outside Waterford, the stud farm spans over 130 acres and is home to over 100 horses at any given time.

The farm was established by Tim and Marian Beecher over 40 years ago and is now jointly run by their sons Tadhg and Paul. Another son, Mark was a silver medal-winner at the European Pony Show jumping Championships and has since gone on to build a successful career in the racing industry.

Based in America, he switched to racing at the age of 19 and last year he was crowned leading jump jockey in America. Their daughters Diane and Fiona also played an important role in the early days competing on homebreds and bringing them up the ranks. Diane still looks after the administration of the yard, while Fiona who is married to Joe Whittaker still has close ties to the business.

Australian roots

The story of Loughnatousa has its roots in Australian soil where Tim, as a young man, had great success turning out six winners on the track. His early days in the outback gave him valuable experience which he then brought back to Ireland.

On returning to Ireland, he built up this business from one horse, Black Tudor, which he point-to-pointed, hunted and show jumped.

Tim began the business with a few nice thoroughbred mares with good pedigree and crossed them with an Irish Draught.

Of the foundation mare’s was Loughnatousa Bell, this mare went on to have many winners in both eventing and show jumping. Using the best Irish stallions and broodmares, the Beechers have maintained strong Irish sport horse bloodlines which are still highly sought after today.

Loughnatousa Stud produces a variety of horses such as show hunters, seasoned fox hunters, eventers and show jumpers and many of their horses have gone on to represent their countries in international competition.

Success stories

Some of their top successes include, Loughnatousa WB and Loughnatousa Spring winning the Hickstead Derby, Tim also sourced the gelding Kilbaha a Hickstead Derby winner for the Army.

In 2013, two homebreds, Loughnatousa Sheldon and Loughnatousa Reinier, both by Crannagh Hero, won their working hunter classes in Dublin, while a horse that they bought as a foal, Loughnatousa Angelo also by Crannagh Hero won his working hunter class, having previously won the four and five-year-old Irish Draught Performance Class at the Dublin Horse Show.

Loughnatousa Angelo is now jumping in America, while Loughnatousa Reiner is eventing with Guy Martin.

The farm has grown from strength to strength and is still producing and selling a mix of horses around the world.

Paul Beecher spoke to us about how the business has developed: “Currently we have 10 broodmares on the farm. All the mares have proven themselves, some are retired or they are related to mares that we sold and went on to have very good careers. Such mares include Loughnatousa Kim, she was a very successful speed mare, a sister to Loughnatousa WB that I won the Hickstead Derby on in 2012, Oonagh K a horse that won on the point-to-point field is now breeding some nice stock.

Notable changes

As time goes by there has been some notable changes at the stud, for example the use of embryo transfer. “This year I took embryo’s from my two good show jumping mares Ikona and Cruising Star,” said Paul.

“These two mares are jumping successfully and this method allows them to continue jumping while breeding from them. With the help of my good friend Richie Fitzgerald from Bonmahon Stud and Insemination Centre the process was successful first time. If you are going to go down the road of embryo transfer, I would highly recommend him.”

For the Beechers, a lot of thought goes into breeding horses, especially the sires that they choose.

“We are lucky because my father is good at choosing the right stallion for the type of horse that we want. We always want to breed a horse that is rideable and has a good temperament.

“My father would have used Crannagh Hero quite a bit and this combination really worked for him. Now depending on if we want a show jumper, eventer or amateur horse we choose the stallion carefully. Other stallions that we would have used include, Clover Brigade, Castlelane Royale, Temple Clover, more recently O.B.O.S. Quality 004 and the thoroughbred stallion Pointilliste.

Turnover time

There is no quick turnover when producing horses and Paul Beecher is first to admit this. “Really it takes eight years to be sure that you have a potential star. We never sell anything here under the age of five; at that stage we have some idea what market it is suitable for.

“All the horses start their careers the same way, flatwork and hunting. After this they are sectioned off to train at what they do best.”

Thankfully for the Beechers, they have developed a good client base. “Repeat custom and referrals are necessary when selling horses. We have customers returning year after year.

“If I was giving advice for breeding, I would say use a dam with good conformation, bloodlines and a good temperament. You also need a good size mare with scope. When it comes to selling horses, remember you sell one to sell four. Your reputation will stand to you.”