Tullow Stud

01/06/2026

😂😂👌

30/05/2026

Fascinating reading.

Part I was about the test. Part II is about the horse.

We took a shortcut to cheat the test. That has caused a decline in a type of horse. And that in turn will put huge pressure on the top of the sport.

Identifying solutions is harder work than identifying problems. But here is the next one: https://manager.equiratings.com/articles/we-changed-the-horse-here-s-why

17/05/2026

Worth reading, my own opinion is that eventing is no longer the sport that it was in the days of the long format, when fitness and horsemanship were paramount.

Here we go...this will spark debate and divide opinion. But I'm not proposing we change everything - just allow a small number of venues to try this. Honest feedback welcome. Sharing with others matters. Thank you.

https://manager.equiratings.com/articles/solutions-part-i-saving-five-star

13/05/2026

A true supporter of the Irish Horse.
No.1 Event rider Harry Meade.

01/05/2026

One of the things we love most about the equestrian community is the incredible second chances given to retired racehorses. That's where Off The Track comes in 💙

Launched by Racing Victoria in 2012, the Off The Track (OTT) program is dedicated to placing retired thoroughbreds into second careers — from eventing and dressage to show jumping, pleasure riding and beyond. OTT supports more than 250 events across Victoria annually, and the results speak for themselves — with thoroughbreds consistently proving they have what it takes to compete at the very highest levels of equestrian sport.

And here in Ballarat? We sit right at the heart of it all. 🏇 As one of Victoria's premier racing regions — home to some of the state's best trainers and a proud thoroughbred tradition — it's no surprise that so many of the brilliant OTT horses finding new careers in eventing have Ballarat connections.

We're proud to have OTT classes at the 2026 4CYTE Ballarat International Horse Trials, celebrating these extraordinary athletes and the dedicated people who retrain and ride them.

25/04/2026

A fascinating and educational video, also brought back fond memories of times at the RDS.

𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐋 𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐒

A distinguished rider of his era, Lt. Col. Mullins joined the Army Equitation School in 1973 and went on to represent Ireland at the highest level, including the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988).

Competing on over 50 Nations Cup teams and contributing to multiple Aga Khan victories, his career spanned both eventing and showjumping, reflecting the versatility and excellence at the heart of the school.

🔗 See comments for link to the interview

21/04/2026

Trevalda Mountain Lord (Ballineen Blue Mountain x Tullows Trevalda Dream) heading for a ridden career.

18/04/2026

Proud to say that we know all three - horse, breeders and rider.

Adelaide, the first of now six (with the cancellation of Maryland International) five-star events around the world, taking place this weekend/Badminton Horse Trials on the horizon .. who better to feature in the Horse of a Lifetime feature in the pre-Badminton issue of The Irish Field than Australian Sam Griffiths. 🇦🇺

Thanks to Sam for a fascinating interview this morning - of course his 2014 Badminton winner - Paulank Brockagh (Touchdown x Triggerero) - will feature. Plus, AN Other 🐎
Brocks, bred by Paulank Sport Horses Frank & Paula Cullen, pictured at the Rio Olympics, where Sam obligingly took time for this pic to send back to her breeders of their wonder mare.

22/02/2026

Many moons ago I judged the Hunter classes at Canberra Royal
One of the classes was huge and split into two, it was “drummed” into me that it was imperative to stick rigidly to the class times.

For that reason I chose to ask my front line to purely walk away from me and walk back individually before making my final choice.

The looks on some faces were a sight to behold.

**The Most Underrated Pace in Horse Training? The Walk.**

We rush it. We shorten it. We treat it like the bit between the “real work”.

But if you want better horse training, improved straightness and long-term soundness, the walk is where it all starts.

At the beginning of every session, the walk gives you access to your horse’s mind and body. When they’re relaxed — properly relaxed — the back swings, the breathing softens and you can actually influence what’s going on. Without relaxation, there’s no real learning. That’s not just philosophy — it’s practical performance horse development.

For young horses, the walk is gold. It’s time on their back without concussion on developing joints. It’s exposure without pressure. It’s where they learn to organise their bodies, develop symmetry and build confidence. If they can’t balance longitudinally (forward and back) or laterally (left and right) at walk, they won’t magically fix it in trot or canter.

For competition horses, it doesn’t stop being important. The walk is where you refine balance, improve straightness, develop lateral work and quietly build diagonal control. Shoulder-in, leg yield, transitions within the walk — this is where strength and self-carriage are educated properly.

There is no more powerful pace to educate in.

We say it all the time: *hasten slowly*. If you rush the foundation, you pay for it later in tension, crookedness and often unsoundness. Slow, steady, organised work at walk builds horses that last.

So next ride, don’t just “get through” the walk. Use it. Feel it. Educate in it.

If this resonates, I’ve written a full blog on **The Importance of the Walk in Horse Training** — covering everything from newly backed horses to high-level competition work, and how the walk improves balance, straightness and long-term soundness.

👉 Have a read and let me know what you think.
https://avocapark.com.au/blog/post/the-importance-of-the-walk-in-horse-training-slow-and-steady-wins-every-time

16/01/2026

Brilliant news! Exciting times ahead for Sam.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Griffiths as its new High Performance Eventing Manager...