As thoughts turn to the 2013 breeding season, Irish draught fans are mourning the loss of the popular stallion Grange Bouncer.
The big, quality grey, who stood at his breeder Jack Lambert’s stud in Killinick, Co Wexford, was put to sleep in December. Bouncer, by Prospect Pride, was 20 years old. A melanoma on his tail had gradually spread throughout his body.
“He was an awful loss, it was a pity he didn’t last another five or six years,” said Mr Lambert.
“Ladies ring me and they’d be crying on the phone, but it was a relief to put him down.”
Grange Bouncer showjumped at grade A level, evented at three-star with
Mr Lambert’s daughter Clare Ollard and was selected for the Irish team at the junior European Championships with Monica Whelan. He also hunted twice a week alongside covering 100 mares a season.
“He was special, a perfect gentleman,” said Noel Mullins, the Irish Field’s hunting correspondent. “I hunted him myself and he often took teenagers out for the first time — he had such a wonderful, kind temperament.
“A man said to me recently that Grange Bouncer made money for many breeders, which is a nice compliment.”
Mr Mullins has come across Grange Bouncer stock hunting in the USA, France, Germany, the UK and the Czech Republic.
The Lamberts are standing the Grange Bouncer son Killinick Bouncer. He has been jumping at 1.30m and will event this year with Clare.
“Killinick Bouncer is definitely very like him [his father],” she said. “He’s all quality and his children are really showing that big jump.”
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 February 2013)
