Meet the beautiful stallion whose brother is a silver medallist — and their woolly adorable veteran sire

The stallion Imperial Tiger at home at Ballyquirke Stud, Co Kilkenny.

(Image credit: www.carolinenorris.ie)

Deep in Co Kilkenny, Michael Hutchinson runs a small stud which houses a veteran powerhouse of Irish eventing breeding.

The grand old man of Ballyquirke Stud is Puissance, the 31-year-old son of the thoroughbred Imperius. His progeny include Sam Watson’s first championship mount Horseware Bushman, Michael Ryan’s perennial top-level campaigner Old Road and Francis Whittington’s successful Sir Percival.

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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.