Making History: 2
012 saw an unconventional jumping success story: the Irish Sport Horse stallion Flexible won the United States Equestrian Federation’s Horse of the Year title at 16 years old. It was a stun-
ning follow-up to his second place finish at the Rolex/ FEI World Final in the same year, where he was the oldest horse in the competition. They also took a tenth-place show jumping finish at the London Olympics. Together, all these accomplishments put Flexible, owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman of Oregon and ridden by fellow Oregonian Rich Fell- ers, sixth in the international show jumping rankings for the year. Flexible may stand only 16 hands,
small by show jumping standards, but his relatively diminutive stature is hardly noticeable once he enters the ring. He is a member of a his- torically successful breed producing show jumpers and eventers: the Irish Sport Horse. So where did this fiery chestnut’s storied career begin? At one of the most renowned breeding operations in the world: Ireland’s famed Hartwell Stud. “What fills the eye fills the heart” is an Irish adage that
can explain, at least in part, the enduring Irish love affair with horses. And nowhere is this truism more apparent than in County Kildare, the center of the Irish horse in- dustry. Renowned for its horse races and events, County Kildare is also home to more stud farms than anywhere else in Ireland. One of the county’s premier breeding facilities is Hart-
well Stud, a 140-acre operation that has focused on breed- ing performance horses since 1880. Under the direction
Katie Shoultz: What is your position at Hartwell? Jenny McCann: My position is marketing and sales manager, but, as anyone in this business knows, “jack of all trades” is a more realistic title and description.
KS: What is your day-to-day routine like? JM: My day-to-day routine could be anything. I break
All photos courtesy Jenny McCann
Past, Present & Future County Kildare’s Hartwell Stud By Katie Shoultz
of owners David and Mary McCann for the last forty years, the farm has produced outstanding sport horses by breeding the Irish Draught with the three-quarter and full Thoroughbreds. Their program has produced out- standing jumping and eventing horses, Irish Sport Horses, sometimes called Irish Draught Sport Horses, that have demonstrated their jumping ability around the world. Flexible (by Cruising out of Flex by Safari) is just one of the many successful horses produced by Hartwell Stud. Hartwell Stud is perhaps best
Cruising, Jenny and her father David receive Cruising’s Lifetime Achievement award.
known for Cruising, the now-retired Irish Sport Horse stallion who stood there for many years. In addition to Flexible, other Hartwell successes include Mr. Medicott (currently com- peting in the United States with Philip Dutton and 2012 U.S. Eventing Asso- ciation Horse of the Year under former rider Karen O’Connor), Mr. Cruise Con- trol and Electric Cruise—all by Cruis- ing. Cruising is the only stallion in Ire- land to have three five-star ratings for his performance and the performance of his offspring in show jumping and eventing.
Jenny McCann, David and Mary McCann’s daughter,
literally grew up with this renowned breeding opera- tion as the family business. Now she has had made it her own career, carrying on both the tradition and the business as she works with her family. In 2013, she was honored by Horse Sport Ireland as the breeder of the top international event horse produced in Ireland for Mr. Cruise Control. Thanks to a little Irish luck, Jenny took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer our questions.
and produce the young horses one day, but the next day I could be assisting in the collection and freez- ing of equine semen, as Hartwell is a fully approved equine reproductive station. Other tasks are preparing mares for breeding and foaling mares in the spring. There is an endless list of things to do in Hartwell. We are never bored!
Warmbloods Today 49
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