Irish Sport Horse EIC Cooley Jump The Q wins first 5* Grand Prix

Breeder Pam Walshe spoke to Horse Sport Ireland about breeding a 5* Grand Prix winner.

The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse EIC Cooley Jump The Q and Austrian rider Max Kühner got their 2023 season off to a perfect start on Friday, January 13^th, winning the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Basel, Switzerland. The pair jumped clear to secure their place in the jump off where they proved unbeatable, finishing in a time of 31.81 seconds.

This is the second international victory for this horse and rider combination. In January 2022, they recorded their first international win at the CSI2* in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

The Pacino-sired bay gelding was bred by Carlow’s Pam Walshe and comes from a long and successful dam line. Speaking to Horse Sport Ireland, Pam explained how her father started this breeding journey. She said: “It’s a really good story that’s come from five generations of homebreds, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Like many Irish breeders Pam does not have a big breeding operation, she focusses her efforts on maintaining this successful dam line.

“We’re very lucky that it’s a dam line that no-one else has, we keep all of the nice fillies and then sell on the colts, usually as 3-year-olds. When you look at EIC Cooley Jump The Q’s (ISH) pedigree we bred every mare on the dam line, that’s really something.”

Dam Line

There is no doubting Pam’s pride when she talks of EIC Cooley Jump the Q (ISH). This weekend’s result is the culmination of generations of hard work and perseverance. Pam’s father started the dam line in the 1970’s. He bred the first three generations before Pam bred the two most recent generations.

EIC Cooley Jump The Q (ISH) is the first of five foals out of Jump The Q (ISH). Pam is excited to have two mares to carry on the next generation of the dam line. 6-year-old Cornet Q by Cornet Obolensky and Casall Q, a yearling by Casall Le Silla.

Jump the Q (ISH) is by OBOS Quality 004, out of Abbey Emerald (ISH), by Positively (TB). Jump the Q (ISH) jumped up to 1.30m with Pam’s sister Tracy, before she became a broodmare.

Pam said there is still a running joke within the family that her father tried to sell Abbey Emerald (ISH) as a young horse but was thankfully unsuccessful. She stayed in the yard and went on to be competed Pam in the Amateur show jumping ranks.

Jump The Q (ISH) is a full sister to Mark Q (ISH) who jumped up to 1.60m with Irish-rider Kevin Babington, including recording three international wins. Mark Q (ISH) was produced in Ireland until he was an 8-year-old.

EIC Cooley Jump The Q as a foal with dam Jump The Q

Always Special

Pam admits that EIC Cooley Jump The Q has always had something special about him, she said “even as a two-year-old, when most horses are in that ugly phase, he was different, he always stood out.”

To date the first-born foals have been the stars of the show for Pam’s breeding operation. Mark Q (ISH) was Abbey Emerald’s (ISH) first foal and EIC Cooley Jump the Q (ISH) was Jump the Q’s (ISH) first foal.

EIC Cooley Jump The Q (ISH) made his debut at the RDS Loose Jumping qualifier as a 3-year-old in Warrington Equestrian Centre where he was spotted and bought by Richard Sheane of Cooley Farm. He was produced by Cooley Farm, including winning in 4-year-old Final at Cavan Equestrian Centre with rider Katie O’Sullivan.

He made his way to Max Kühner and then as the saying goes the rest is history. The pair made their international debut in Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe, Germany in August 2019. Since then, this combination has gone from strength to strength, with over 120 international starts and 35 top 10 finishes recorded prior to their 5* victory.

Speaking about his 5* success Richard Sheane said: “We’re delighted but not at all surprised. I saw him jump one fence and knew he was going to be a super star. Success though, only comes with good riders and Max has done an excellent job on him.”

Much Appreciated Supports

Breeder Pam Walshe with EIC Cooley Jump The Q as a three-year-old

Pam and her family have a long history of breeding and producing horses. Although they have enjoyed success with their breeding operation, she is very open that it does not come without its challenges.

Recently, Pam has availed of the HSI Embryo Transfer Scheme with Jump The Q (ISH). Her most recent foal was an embryo transfer and this year she is expecting another through embryo transfer by Emerald (BWP).

Speaking about the supports on offer, Pam said: “It’s thanks to the HSI Embryo Transfer grant, it really makes all the difference. It really helps to reduce some of the costs of breeding horses.”

Pam is very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds for EIC Cooley Jump The Q (ISH) and this result has certainly put him on the map for 2023 and beyond.

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