Marion Hughes, Eileen Brennan and Peter Brady honoured during Irish Horse Board reception at HHS Horse Show

The Irish Horse Board hosted a reception at the HHS Horse Show in Co Kilkenny recently, to honour three key figures from the Irish equestrian industry and to recognise the huge contribution they have made to the sport.

Marion Hughes
A name is synonymous with excellence, Marion Hughes of Hughes Horse Stud is known across Ireland and internationally not only as an Olympic rider and international Grand Prix winner, but as one of the most influential and respected breeders in the world of Show Jumping.

Marion’s journey began in the heart of County Kilkenny, where she grew up surrounded by horses and the rich tradition of Irish breeding. Her early promise was clear, winning European team gold as a pony rider in 1984, and her partnership with the great mare Flo Jo brought her back-to-back victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead in the mid-1990s. Marion went on to represent Ireland at the very highest level, including at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 with Heritage Fortunus, and in countless Nations Cups and European Championships.

Marion’s legacy extends far beyond her own achievements in the ring. Together with her husband, Miguel Bravo and her family, she has built Hughes Horse Stud into a powerhouse of Irish breeding.
Marion received a special presentation as the breeder of HHS Mercedes (ISH), the outstanding seven-year-old who claimed gold at the 2024 World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium. HHS Mercedes (ISH) is the latest in a long line of champions bred at Hughes Horse Stud—a list that includes Olympic and World Championship horses like Special Envoy, World Cup winners like Diamond Exchange, and international stars such as Royal Charmer, Heritage Fortunus, and HHS Calais to name a few.

Marion’s horses are known for their athleticism, soundness, and temperament – qualities that have made them sought-after by top riders around the world. She has an unrivalled eye for a horse, and a gift for nurturing talent, not just in horses but in people. Riders like Mikey Pender, the youngest ever Hickstead Derby winner, and her own daughters Molly and Martha have all benefited from her mentorship and guidance.

Marion’s contribution to Irish show jumping is immeasurable. Her breeding philosophy combines tradition with innovation, always with an eye to the future of the sport. She has helped shape the modern Irish Sport Horse, and her influence will be felt for generations to come.

Eileen Brennan
The Irish Horse Board also honoured Eileen Brennan, a champion of Irish heritage and equestrian excellence. Eileen Brennan stands as one of Ireland’s most distinguished advocates for the Irish Draught horse breed, having devoted decades of her life to preserving and promoting this iconic symbol of Irish agricultural heritage.

Based in Ballyharmon House, Carlow, near the Laois border, Eileen Brennan has earned recognition as an “Irish Draught doyenne” whose tireless efforts have been instrumental in safeguarding one of Ireland’s most treasured indigenous horse breeds.

Her contributions extend far beyond personal involvement, encompassing leadership roles in Carlow Pony Club, National Ploughing and Irish Draught Breeders Associations while pursuing critical conservation initiatives through organisational excellence in breed promotion, and a lifelong commitment to maintaining the standards and traditions that define Irish equestrian culture.

From her first purchase, a foal in Blessington sales which she hunted and subsequently bred from to produce RDS winner Mr Mombi. Then she bought and Irish Draught filly foal by Prince Edward and got hooked on Irish Draughts a passion which has continued to this day.

Ones of Eileen’s early contribution’s to Irish Draught horse preservation came through her leadership of a groundbreaking conservation project at Emo Court in the mid-2010s. When breeding returns for pure Irish Draught horses reached a critical point, with foal registrations likely to dip below 300 from a previous high of 1,250 in 2000, Brennan stepped forward to address this existential threat to the breed. She headed a local working group that collaborated with the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association to develop a comprehensive proposal for establishing an Irish Draught horse presence at the historic Emo Court. This initiative saw two or three Irish Draught mares, with foals during summer months, alongside educational materials about the breed’s history and significance. The initiative, which received support from Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, represented an innovative approach to breed conservation and demonstrated Brennan’s understanding that breed preservation required not only maintaining bloodlines but also educating the public about the cultural and historical importance of Ireland’s national horse breed.

Eileen Brennan’s organisational capabilities have been instrumental in the success of numerous Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association events, the IDHBA National show, the RDS Trade stands, Irish Draught sales, the IDHBA stallion parade, and many more. Working alongside other dedicated volunteers from the IDHBA, Eileen brings an effective leadership style that ensured all of the events were tremendously successful and very friendly for all involved. These events serve as crucial platforms for breeders to showcase their horses and facilitate many discussions around breeding decisions – they maintain the social fabric of the Irish horse breeding community.

Eillen was also hugely involved with the Carlow pony club, since her daughter Elizabeth first started at 8-years-of-age and she says every year with the Pony Club is a highlight. She loves to see more young people coming through the Pony club in Carlow and having fun with ponies particularly at the camps.

Eileen Brennan’s contributions to the Irish horse sector represent a remarkable example of individual dedication translating into significant heritage preservation and community building. Her leadership in critical conservation initiatives, particularly the Emo Court project, demonstrated strategic thinking and practical implementation skills that addressed genuine threats to Ireland’s equestrian heritage. Through decades of organisational work with the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association and the Carlow Pony Club, she has helped maintain the social and competitive frameworks that support the breed community.
Her recognition as a “force of nature” and “Irish Draught doyenne” reflects not only her personal achievements but also the esteem in which she is held by peers and industry leaders. Eileen Brennan’s work has ensured that future generations will have the opportunity to appreciate and benefit from Ireland’s indigenous horse breeding traditions. Her lifetime of service to the Irish horse sector represents the highest ideals of heritage preservation, community service, and dedication to maintaining the cultural traditions that define Irish agricultural identity.

Peter Brady
Peter Brady of Drumagoland, County Cavan, represents the pinnacle of Irish equestrian breeding excellence, whose five-decade dedication to cultivating elite Irish Sport Horses, culminated in the historic 2025 Kentucky CCI4*-S victory of his homebred Off The Record.

Brady’s breeding philosophy is rooted in the rich agricultural traditions of County Cavan, where he began his career 50 years ago with a single Irish Draught mare purchased at a local sale. This mare, by the stallion Skylark and bred by Ballyhaise Agricultural College, became the foundation of a breeding program that would prioritise athleticism, temperament, and genetic diversity. Over decades, Brady refined his approach, maintaining a small but impactful stable of three to five broodmares while strategically incorporating new bloodlines through stallions like Sligo Candy Boy and VDL Arkansas.

Central to Brady’s success, is his ability to identify complementary phenotypic traits. His broodmares are selected for strong bone structure, balanced conformation, and proven performance pedigrees, while stallion choices emphasize athletic scope and competitive records. This approach produced Off The Record’s unique genetic profile: the Dutch Warmblood influence of sire VDL Arkansas (KWPN) provided scope and movement, while dam Drumagoland Bay (by Ard Ohio) contributed the endurance and temperament critical for eventing success.

Unlike large-scale commercial operations, Brady’s program focuses on quality over quantity, typically producing only three to five foals annually. This allows individualised attention to each horse’s early development, with an emphasis on natural growth patterns and stress-free socialisation.

Off The Record: The Crown Jewel of Cavan Breeding

The 16-year-old gelding’s triumph at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event’s CCI4*-S marked a career zenith, achieved through a record-breaking dressage score (21.8), flawless cross-country round, and single rail in show jumping. This performance not only set a new competition benchmark but also validated Brady’s breeding strategy of combining international bloodlines with Irish durability. Rider Will Coleman’s post-event praise—“We love the Irish horse. It’s still the most ideal horse for Eventing”—served as a powerful endorsement of Brady’s methods.

Developmental Milestones – Off The Record’s journey from Cavan pastures to international podiums:

•     2009: Foaled at Drumagoland, demonstrating early athletic promise
•     2015: Purchased by Will Coleman, beginning a decade-long partnership
•     2021: CCI5-L debut at Kentucky (15th place)     
•  2022: FEI World Championships 7th place finish       
•     2024: The Fork CCI4-L victory
•     2025: Kentucky CCI4*-S champion

While Off The Record remains Brady’s most celebrated production, his breeding program continues yielding competitive talent including, Drumagoland Candy Girl:( 2023-registered chestnut filly by Sligo Candy Boy, demonstrating early jumping promise), a Sligo Candy Boy Colt (Off The Record’s half-brother, generating significant breeder interest) and multiple RDS qualifiers and national young horse champions

Peter Brady’s career embodies the intersection of tradition and innovation in Irish equestrianism. By maintaining rigorous selection standards while embracing strategic outcrossing, he has produced athletes capable of dominating the world’s most demanding courses.