BREEDING – Jane Darragh finds the winning formula as one of many small breeders keeping Ireland on top of the world

Among the many Irish success stories to come from the recent FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Eventing Horses at Le Lion in France, was a top 10 finish for the Irish Sport Horse Youve Got The Lux, bred by Jane Darragh.

Youve got the Lux (ISH) bred by Jane Darragh

Based in Co Kilkenny, Jane Darragh has enjoyed considerable success in recent years despite breeding on a relatively small scale.

Speaking to Horse Sport Ireland, Jane told how the dam of Youve got the Lux (ISH) has produced three very successful offspring:

“The dam of Youve got the Lux (ISH) is Valeska (ISH) which I got from Suzanne Macken. Valeska is by Carrolls Flight and I bred three foals from her. The first foal was called Prince TJ (later changed to Talking Point (ISH) and was competed successfully first with New Zealand’s Jess Cambell and later with American rider Matthew Brown. The second foal was called Deluxe Edition and was competed by Graham Smith in the UK. The first two foals were by Lux Z and as they were both successful, I went with Lux Z again for the third foal – a filly which I named Youve got the Lux. I had her up to last year and Vincent Byrne was riding her for me before we sold her at Goresbridge.”

                                                                                     Youve got the Lux (ISH)

Jane received the news from Youve got the Lux’s new rider Hayden Hankey (GBR), that they were in 14th place after Dressage in the World Championships at Le Lion and was delighted to see the pair finish as one of four Irish Sport Horses inside the top 10.

“The dam of the three foals, Valeska, died last year aged 24. I normally just have two mares to breed from and its great to have five horses from two mares Eventing on the circuit at the moment,” Jane Darragh added.

Youve got the Lux (ISH)

The Irish Sport Horse Studbook was once again crowned the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) leading Eventing Studbook in the world for 2017 at Le Lion in France in October. Since the WBFSH rankings were established in 1994, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook has won the coveted Eventing Studbook rankings for an incredible 22 of the last 24 years.

LE LION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP 10 ISH BREEDING:
4th I Spye II (ISH) [was Lates Harry] – 2011 mare by Harlequin du Carel (SF) out of Lombardos Corner (ISH) by Lombardo (KWPN). Breeder: Thomas Ryan (Tipperary). Rider: Jesse Campbell (NZL)
5th DSL The Entertainer (ISH) – 2011 bay gelding by Omar (BWP) out of Cloverhill Girl (ISH), by Clover Hill (ID). Owner/Bred by Caroline Bjoerk, Co. Kildare. Rider: Elizabeth Power (IRL)
9th John The Bull (ISH) – 2011 chestnut gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Think About It (TB), by Houmayoun (TB). Bred by James Byrne, Co. Westmeath. Owner: Helen Caton. Rider: Jonty Evans (IRL)
10th Youve got the Lux (ISH) – 2011 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Valeska (ISH). by Carrolls Flight (AES). Breeder: Jane Darragh, Co Kilkenny. Rider: Hayden Hankey (GBR)