OBOS Quality 004 has put Coolballyshan Stud on the map. The stallion is the sire of last year’s Burghley winner, MGH Grafton Street, as well as numerous other event horses including Zara Tindall’s ride Class Affair and US-based Irishman Tim Bourke’s ride Luckaun Quality. His progeny also include top-level showjumpers such as Mark Q, Lisona and Castlefield Eclipse.
H&H visited Coolballyshan Stud to see OBOS Quality 004 and the other stallions who stand there as part of the Kennedy family’s business…
Liam Kennedy with OBOS Quality 004, who is now 28 years old.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
The stud’s main stallion man, Kieran Kennedy (Liam’s brother), with his father Bill and the thoroughbred stallion Barely A Moment.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Kieran with his wife Natalie Kennedy and their children Christian, 11, riding his pony Suger Lumb and Georgia, 10, on Nina.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Liam Kennedy trots up Chacoa, whose progeny include One Two Many, a European eventing team silver medallist under Nicola Wilson.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
The handsome Chacco-Blue son Conticco is a new addition to Coolballyshan Stud’s stallion roster for 2020.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Caroline and Liam Kennedy with their children, Amy, five, and seven-year-old Conor.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Kieran Kennedy shows off Future Trend, whose progeny include showjumpers, eventers and show horses, as well as all-rounders and hunter jumpers for the American market.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Kieran and Liam’s sister Sinead puts KBS Apple Juice – a six-year-old by OBOS Quality 004 – through his paces.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Inside the barn at Coolballyshan Stud. The family’s businesses operate out of two yards near to each other in Co. Limerick, as well as the original Kennedy Equine Centre in Co. Kerry.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Vivant, who showjumped successfully at championship level, now stands at Coolballyshan Stud after being bought by Kieran in 2017.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Sinead rides Lagans OBOS Quality, a six-year-old stallion by OBOS Quality 004 who the brothers purchased when he was just six days old.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Three-year-olds dig into their haulage. Liam and Kieran breed around 60 foals a year and aim to sell most of them as four-year-olds.
(Image credit: www.siobhanenglishphotography.co)
Pictures by siobhanenglishphotography.com
Read our full interview with Kieran and Liam Kennedy in this week’s sport horse breeding special issue of Horse & Hound magazine (issue dated 5 March).
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
