Tullaghansleek Stud is an institution of equine history that is keenly reflected through its natural built stone walls that surround nearly two hundred and thirty acres and its remarkable 2,500BC cave which lies at the entrance to the Stud. This underground cave with a double ring fort around it and known locally as "Carey's Cave" is the oldest and biggest in Ireland of its type. There is one entrance to the cave which the adventurist has to crawl through on hand and knees, but once this brief encounter with bodily penance is endured the gamely "cave person" can stand up and tour around the varies chambers! The cave has four chambers and two different passages. At the end of one room there is a cavity that is not found in any other cave like this one, it is about two-foot square. Through out their lifetime the Careys have received mares from all over Ireland. In recent decade's mare have been sent across from the U.K. In keeping with modern technology the Careys are bringing their equine expertise into the new millennium through their purpose built Equine A.I. Laboratory and Station.In the last couple of years they have been supplying breeders in the U.K. and parts of Europe with semen from their team of successful Stallions. Tullaghansleek Stud caters for all kinds of breeders as reflected in their team of Stallions that are representative of the Thoroughbred, Irish Draught, Conemara Pony, Sports Horse. Present Day Generation: To day the Carey family living at Tullaghansleek Stud reflects three generations, Tim Carey Snr. born April 8th 1910 and noted locally for his prowess on his two wheeled Rolls Royce that he is known to cycle to either Tullamore or Mullingar two provincial towns that are in opposite directions from the Stud and take in twenty four miles of return roadway. His son Tim Jnr wife Finola and their six daughters, Muriel, Claire, Sinead, Fiona, Aislinn and Susan are the old, the new and the young guiding the Stud into the millennium and ensuring a seventh generation Carey involvement in horses. Blackie and Flo two faithful Collie Sheepdog make up the remainder of the family compliment. Tim took over the management of the Stud twenty years ago having under taken Equine Management Course at The Irish National Stud, further training and work experiences in Italy, Canada and America. Draught Stallions at the Stud In the second half of the nineteenth century the Careys kept Shire stallions for local farmers. When they declined in popularity with the advent of the tractor they commenced standing Irish Draught stallions. The first one introduced was Merrion. Some of the present day stallions and brood mares in the yard can trace their pedigree back to Merrion(447) who stood for twenty years and whose pedigree goes back to Comet the first Irish Draught stallion registered by the Department of Agriculture.He was a prize-winner in the R.D.S. in 1967. Merrion by Melville Prince (309) by Black Comet (52) out of Fair Future (3532) by Bright Lights (130). Merrion sired Silverstone. Merrion was also the sire of the dam of their present day Irish Draught stallion Ireland's Pride (705) and his full sister Ireland's Diamond out of Ireland's Glory by King of Diamonds who is dam of the Stud's other Irish Draught stallion Westmeath Lad ( 834 ). What to look for in an Irish Draught Horse: Tim and his father believe that the Irish Draught will always be needed to supply bone and power. They look for plenty of bone and size when choosing Draughts and a good length of rein. Colourwise they prefer grey, which they consider the hallmark of the real Irish Draught. This philosophy has proved itself for Tim and his father having bred a number of extremely successful Show horses including Never Forget by Blue Cliff (T.B.) out of a Merrion mare. Their advice to prospective Draught owners is to buy a registered mare with plenty of quality. "It is the all round type that is needed now, the days of the heavy horse have gone. The draught must be athletic enough to hunt and to stay with the hounds. The height should be around 16hands and they must have good movement" The faults they would guard against are straight pasterns, trailing hind legs and the forelegs back at the knee. To keep, Tim strongly recommends to leave them out and not to pamper them too much in case they loose their hardiness. Choosing an Irish Draught Stallion: When choosing a stallion they would go for a horse between 16.1 and 16.2, no more, believing that very tall stallions can breed foals that are too leggy and light. They look for good bone and a very short cannon bone with clean legs that show only a wisp of hair in the heel. The head should not be small but should show quality i.e. no roman nose. They like to see the kneck going well into the head and not too thick in the gullet (i.e. the perpendicular line running from behind the ears to the throat) which prevents correct flexion. The shoulder must slope, as this is very important for breeding riding horses. They also look for a straight hock. The Thoroughbred at Tullaghansleek Stud: The association of the Stud with the T.B. stallion is no less impressive than its success with Irish Draught Stallions. One of its most famous in-mates was Blue Cliff and was a day short of his 29th birthday when he died. He has been described in national publications as one of Ireland's national institutions in the equine world in the half-bred industry. His long and most fruitful career has been extraordinary and his contribution to the horse industry is incalculable. Despite his passing in 1984 he continues to impact in the world of In-Hand Showing and Show Jumping both in Ireland and Internationally. Blue Cliff holds the record at the R.D.S. for siring the most Show class winners by anyone Stallion.
Euphemism was Joint Champion Point to Point sire with Phardante in1994.Ontheroadagin by Euphemism was the winner of the 1998 Ulster National, Northern Ireland. Tim's Advice on In-Hand Showing:
Tim Carey is firmly of the opinion when it comes to showing that the secret lies more in careful and intelligent breeding than in the actual preparation for showing. "I think a lot of people breeding horses operate on the simple maxim that if an animal is a good jumper it will automatically produce the right progeny. They forget about the importance of conformation and breeding. You want to be aiming to breed big strong quality horses-these can then be tested out as jumpers. If that is not their forte they can make good Eventers or Hunters or else Showhorses. If you have a quality athletic type horse all options are open". Preparation for Showing really starts off with the actual covering. You need to start with a really good brood mare and she must be well fed during pregnancy, this is vitally important. The foal then should also be properly fed, although over feeding is nearly as bad as under-feeding. In Tim's opinion the actual physical preparation for the grand finale is the easy part. He has very decided views on the management of young horses; " I would have mine out 95% of the time in the paddocks, as I believe this regime produces a tougher horse with more bone. In addition, it avoids the development of vices. A major problem today is that many animals are stabled for a long periods of time and are treated rather like turkeys. This results in them becoming bored and very quickly developing stable vices. The end result is that they are not saleable. At the end of the day you have to sell your horse!" Into the Millennium at Tullaghansleek Stud: Equine AI Ireland Ltd
Nearly 90% of business at the Stud is now through AI. To compliment this development Tim has completed an indoor arena that is built to dressage requirements. It will also be an exercise and training area for young equine stock and their own family of young jockeys who are showing a keen interest in horses and pony riding. How to Contact: Readers are very welcome to contact Tim or Finola for further information on the Stud and available services at Tullaghansleek Stud, Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath Ireland through the following:
Phone: +353-506-35119 or 35225
|
The entrance at Tullaghansleek Stud, Castletown Geoghegan Co. Westmeath carries the date 1867. An incredible seven generations of the Carey family have and continue to live on this equine establishment. It is one of Ireland's oldest family owned and managed Studs. It is steeped in Ireland's history of producing quality stock. The Stud is situated in the heart of Ireland which is noted for its lush green grass with its limestone rich soil which combine with other natural conditions to produce the depth of bone that is the distinguishing feature of the Irish bred horses.
Golden Cliff T.B. son of Blue Cliff by Lionels Years is now the prolific sire of top class International Show Jumpers the most famous being Diamond Cliff (shown right) bred in Ireland owned by Martin Donohue, Croft near Warrington Cheshire in England and being successfully campaigned in the international Show Jumping world by John Whittaker. (U.K.) Other leading Golden Cliff stock include Ard Lulu(Sweeden's Nations Team member), Grey Cliff, Bilko Boy,
Euphemism T.B. has produced the flagship showing stock that is bringing the Stud's tradition of producing consistently excellent stock into the next millennium. Euphemism's record is no less impressive than that of his former inmate Blue Cliff. Some of his records include winner of the Irish Shows Association All Ireland Stallion Progeny Award 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997. He also holds numerous Show records at the Royal Dublin Horse Show Succesfull British Eventers by Euphemism include, The Moose (Evented by Ian Stark) and Mr. McCawley. Evented by Tina Gifford) Salvadore Dali (Carolyn Todd)
Tim enjoys In-Hand Showing at local and County Agricultural Shows through out Ireland. Titles won include All Ireland Broodmare Championshipand has been successful on many occasions including winning All Ireland Broodmare Championship,Reserve title in the same class. Other titles won include All Ireland Two Year Old Colt Class, All Ireland Yearling Filly, and All Ireland Foal class on three occassions with foals by Golden Cliff. Tim has paraded before the Agha Khan Nations Cup competition on several occasions at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) having won The Champion Broodmare Class in 1995 and 1996 with foals at foot by Euphemism.
The single most significant development at the Stud in recent decades has been the development of a purpose built AI Station which Tim and Finola established in 1994 as Equine AI Ireland Ltd. with assistance from Westmeath Enterprise Board. Tim has undertaken a special course on Equine AI Services at Colorado State University the leading researchers and developers of this technique in the equine industry.
