Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) has today been announced as the fifth-ranked eventing sire in the 2026 WBFSH Sire Rankings, moving him up from last year’s 10th position. A significant achievement for the Irish Sport Horse stallion, breeders and owners Padraig and Catherine Howley and Irish Sport Horse breeding. This result follows the Irish Sport Horse Studbook again being ranked the WBFSH leading Eventing Studbook of the Year at October’s WBFSH General Assembly, which took place in Dublin.
Bred and owned by Padraig and Catherine Howley of Sligo West Stud, Sligo Candy Boy is a 2009 son of Balou Du Rouet (OLD) out of Sligo Candy Girl (ZfdP), by Conley (Holst).
The latest WBFSH ranking builds on his growing reputation as an influential sire of international event horses. In December 2024, Sligo Candy Boy was awarded 5* status in the Irish Sport Horse studbook for the achievements of his progeny in both Eventing and Show jumping.
To achieve 5* status for eventing progeny, a stallion must have two or more progeny that earn Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) at CCI4*-L or CCI5*-L level. Among his leading eventing progeny are Cooley Candyman (ISH), bred by Thomas Anthony Jones, and Sligo Candy Cane (ISH), bred by Noel Ruane, both of whom have achieved results at CCI4*-L level.
To achieve 4* Show jumping progeny performance merits, a stallion must have sired at least two progeny who have jumped two double clear rounds in two-round or jump off classes at a height of 1.45m at CSI3* or CSIO3* level. His leading show jumping progeny include Tempo Manor (ISH), a 2012 gelding, out of Roxy Lux (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann), and bred by Noel Wright in Co. Sligo; and MGH Candy Girl (ISH), a 2013 mare bred by Timothy Kelleher in Co. Cork, out of the traditionally bred mare Kilnamac Holly (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH].
The fifth-place WBFSH ranking further highlights Sligo Candy Boy’s contribution to international eventing and the continued influence of Irish Sport Horse breeding on the world stage.
Breeder and owner Padraig Howley had this to say on the news of Sligo Candy Boy’s sire ranking:
It’s brilliant news I’m absolutely delighted; I bred him out of Sligo Candy Girl (ZfdP) that my son bought over in Germany, and we jumped her up to Grade A. As a five-year-old, Sligo Candy Girl won the Millstreet Ruby, the Cavan Classic and the 5,000 Star of the Future in Ballina. The Ballina class had her competing against six- and seven-year-olds!
Unfortunately, she had an accident in sport, so she was retired to become a broodmare at home with us. I had gone over to look at the Schockemöhle stallions at around the same time and really liked what was then a young Balou du Rouet. I was the first to bring Balou du Rouet to Ireland. Schockemöhle wanted to get him approved here.
As a two-year-old, I felt Sligo Candy Boy had real stallion potential. He was started as a three-year-old and went for his Preliminary Approval as a four-year-old under saddle at the Irish Sport Horse Stallion Inspections. He’s only improved from there! I really enjoy coming up to the HSI Stallion Inspections. I always look forward to that aspect of building on my breeding programme.
I was over the moon when I was invited by yourselves to bring him back out last year [2025] for his Five-Star Irish Sport Horse Studbook Approval ceremony. He’s given me so many great days out and memories – but he still keeps me on my toes! His progeny are doing great here and internationally. Just yesterday, I had five fellas over from Belgium to look at him. They’d like to export his semen to use on their own mares.
I’m also delighted to have his ISH Preliminary Approved 2020 stallion son, Sligo Cavalier Candy (ISH). He’s also producing beautiful stock and happily tipping away at the 1.20s and doing well. We intend to keep him and produce him right up to Grand Prix!