2026 Horse Sport Ireland Stallion Selections
The 2026 Horse Sport Ireland Stallion Selections took place over two days, the 26th and 27th of March, in Cavan Equestrian Centre. These selections are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Equine Technical Support fund.
Across the two days, a total of 45 stallions were presented for inspection, 5 Irish Sport Horse stallions, 7 stallions from other studbooks, 2 Thoroughbred stallions, 3 pony stallions and 25 Irish Draught stallions eligible for Class 1 and 2, and one for the new Genomic Grade Up register.
Of the 25 eligible Irish Draught stallions that presented, 12 met the inspection requirements to be awarded Class 1 status.
Three high-performance stallions presented for linear profiling and and were Approved in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook having met all the veterinary and performance requirements.
Of the 13 stallions that presented for Stage 1 assessment in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, five of these met the requirements.
There was one returning stallion who presented for Stage 2, having passed his Stage 1 assessment in 2024, and met the requirements to be classified as Preliminary Approved.
“The higher standard of young stallions presented in 2025, was continued in 2026 with 12 stallions meeting the requirements for Class 1 in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook from the 25 candidates forward who were eligible for Class 1 approval. It was good to see a rare bloodline Stallion “Mizen Man” with a low mean kinship meet the requirements as it will help broaden the genetic base of the breed. It was also nice to see a red dun, two bays and a black stallion achieve Class 1 status as the breed is dominated by grey genes. Several of the successful horses this year benefited by being left to mature to 4 and 5 year olds before being presented. A lack of preparation on the loose jumping element of the inspection was evident in some of the 3 year old horses in particular.” – Liam Cotter, Irish Draught Studbook selection panel Chairperson.
“There were some very nice young stallions presented who all showed potential for the future. We hope the stallions we passed will all improve the quality and standard of the breed in Ireland. They certainly all have the potential to do so.” – Jack Doyle, Irish Sport Horse Studbook selection panel Chairperson.
Chris Ryan, Irish Sport Horse Studbook inspector and TIH enthusiast said “It is so heartening to see Tom Jones’s Carrick Diamond Royale earning his Preliminary Approved status last week following his successful Stage 2 assessment. It’s been a great couple of seasons for traditional breeding, following the full approval of Liam O Meara’s Sir Jim Jim and preliminary approval for Susan Malee’s Carrabeg The Full Irish last year. These are great examples of high-performance Traditional Irish breds, and have a lot to offer breeders aiming to breed Traditional Irish Horses.”
Commenting on the 2026 inspections, Sonja Egan, HSI Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development, stated “I am delighted with how the Stallion Selection days went last week. As promised, the heralded Irish Draught Day was kept together, and we had a wonderful turnout from Irish Draught breeders, whether travelling from West Cork, the Midlands, Great Britain, or Canada. We had an excellent day of sport horses to follow, with some great additions to our Stage One group of stallions, quality thoroughbreds, and a much-celebrated TIH Preliminary Approval. On Friday afternoon, we had the privilege of welcoming back several stallions for their full approval or the recognition of their new merits and star ratings – a real testament to their breeders and producers.
This year, we included the welcome addition of Mary Wilson (IDHS GB), Henk Dirksen (KWPN), and John Whitaker MBE (British Show Jumping multi -medallist, Olympian and breeder) to our panels; their contribution was hugely appreciated by breeders and the studbook alike, and we look forward to continuing this initiative in the years to come. It would be remiss of me not to thank the wider team within HSI who put this event on the road, as well as the wonderful community of people – inspectors, arena party, commentary, photography, venue support, and many others – without which we couldn’t host this calibre of a Stallion Selection. It takes a team, and we have a great one!
Among the stallions awarded full approval was the high-performance stallion Fernando (HOLST) who was ridden by Johnny Pals for the Netherlands.
His career saw him jump double clear in the 2016 Aga Khan Nations Cup at the RDS Dublin Horse Show.
His own showjumping results earned him the 5* SJ OP merit.
There was also presentations made to Double Pleasure (BE/SIES), Castlefield Kingston (OS) and Bannvalley Whisper (IDC2) to acknowledge their official approval by the Irish Sport Pony and Irish Sport Horse Studbooks and a presentation made to Zapatero VDL (KWPN) in acknowledgment of his second 5* merit for his progeny. Having first received a 5* Merit in 2024 for his eventing progeny, he received a commemorative rug for his 5* SJ PP merit for his showjumping progeny.
Pictured left to right, Henk Dirksen; Senior Stallion Inspector with the KWPN where Zapatero VDL is also Approved, Eamon McArdle; Drumhowan Stud, Sonja Egan; HSI Head of Breeding, Development & Innovation, and Gladys McArdle; Drumhowan Stud.
| APPROVED | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stallion Name | YOB | Sire | Dam Sire | Owner | Classification |
| Amhran Na Bhfiann (TB) | 2017 | Galileo (IRE) (TB) | Green Desert (IRE) (TB) | Scandinavian Equine Services AB | Approved |
| Durango VDL (KWPN) | 2008 | Zirocco Blue VDL (SF) | Lux Z (HANN) | Castlefield Breeding Farm | Approved 3* SJ OP & 3* SJ PP |
| Fernando (HOLST) | 2006 | For Pleasure (HANN) | Corrado I (HOLST) | Stoeterijf Black Horses & C.A.M v.d Oetelelaar & Drumhowan Stud | Approved 5* SJ OP |
| PRELIMINARY APPROVED | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stallion Name | YOB | Sire | Dam Sire | Owner | Classification |
| Carrick Diamond Royale (ISH)[TIH] | 2020 | Carrick Diamond Lad (ISH)[TIH] | Hopalong Cassidy (TB) | Tom Jones | Preliminary Approved (PA) |
| PASSED STAGE 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stallion Name | YOB | Sire | Dam Sire | Owner | Classification |
| Baloucento VDL Z (ZANG) | 2023 | Baloubet Du Rouet (SF) | Cento (HOLST) | Kylemore Stud | Stage 1 (ST1) |
| HK Valhalla (ISH) | 2020 | El Barone 111 Z (ZANG) | Z Wellie 72 (KWPN) | Clare Hughes | Stage 1 (ST1) |
| Portlaoise Kraftsman (ISH) | 2021 | Kassander Van’t Roosakker (BWP) | Cruising (ISH)[TIH] | David Molloy | Stage 1 (ST1) |
| Taloni-Jei-VDL (KWPN) | 2023 | Baltic VDL (KWPN) | Corland (HOLST) | Kylemore Stud | Stage 1 (ST1) |
| Willowsway Kind Of Magic (AES) | 2020 | Freckleton Royal Affair (AES) | Lostock King Of The Hill (SHBGB) | Gerard Kennedy | Stage 1 (ST1) |
| CLASS 1 IRISH DRAUGHTS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stallion Name | YOB | Sire | Dam Sire | Owner | Classification |
| Abbeyward Zero | 2020 | Scrapman (IDC1) | Attwood Black Laughton (IDC1) | Tony Downey | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Barnacogue Hero | 2018 | Gortfree Hero (IDC1) | Inisfree The Holy Grail (IDC1) | Thomas Duffy | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Birchill Sir Ivor | 2020 | Cloneyhea Spellbound (IDC1) | Sir Rivie (IDC1) | Maeve Carty | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Carrafarm Courage | 2022 | Lionwood Kinsales Lad (IDC1) | Crosstown Dancer (IDC1) | Niamh Grimes | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Castlegar Jack | 2023 | Balcormo Sir Dun Clif (IDC1) | Inisfree The Holy Grail (IDC1) | Tom Burke | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Clogher Echo | 2023 | Echo King (IDC1) | Fast Silver (IDC1) | Gabriel Slattery Jnr | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Coom View Legacy | 2022 | Moylough Legacy (IDC1) | Fast Silver (IDC1) | Sean O’Sullivan | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Gweebarra Creed | 2021 | Millhollow Real MacCoy (IDC1) | Blue Rajah (IDC1) | Enda Hamill | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Lisnamore Bouncer | 2022 | Moylough Bouncer (IDC1) | Huntingfield Rebel (IDC1) | Gabriel Bell | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Mizen Man | 2021 | Mizen Gold (IDC2) | Arthurs Gold (IDC2) | Miceál Collins | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| Sean’s Supremacy | 2022 | Moylough Supremacy (IDC1) | Clew Bay Bouncer (IDC1) | Peter McHugh | CLASS 1 (C1) |
| WRS The Black Cigar | 2022 | WRS Baby Guinness (IDC2) | Prescott Diamond (IDC1) | Cathal Shine | CLASS 1 (C1) |
Horse Sport Ireland’s Stallion Selections are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Equine Technical Support fund.
