Breeding Philosophy.
         
  We, at KingCarra, are dedicated to the breeding and promotion of traditional Irish horses using proven Irish Draught ,Thoroughbred and Irish Sporthorse stallions. 
Our Mares are, for the most part, Premier Broodmares by Carrabawn View, Star Kingdom, Cruising, Coevers Diamond Boy, Grange Bouncer, Carrick Diamond Lad and Zero Watt.
  Our aim is to produce quality stock and sell most of our progeny as foals.
Our breeding goals are, firstly, to produce sane, correct horses who will find a home in either the performance or leisure industry.
 Not all foals will become notable athletes. Nor are notable athletes required by all riders!
More than ever it is vital for Irish breeders to have a clear breeding aim.
It is not enough to simply breed a foal from our much loved mare, regardless of her pedigree or conformation. We must have a purpose for that foal and he must be fit for it.
With this very clearly in mind we have become more focused in our breeding programme.
Of our seven mares, three are aimed at top level eventing. These all carry the pedigree's of proven top eventers and will in the future be covered by the best of our Irish eventing stallions and eventing progeny producers.
 They are: (1) Glenard Pippi ISH by Cruising ISH / Dam by Marwood TB. G/Dam by Matchlike TB. - (2) Watt Cavalier ISH by Zero Watt TB. / Dam by Cavalier Royale G/Dam by Double-u-Jay TB. - (3) Lowhill Queen ISH by Carrick Diamond Lad ISH / Dam by Master Imp TB. G/Dam by Highland King ISH. These mares all have super pedigree, a lot of blood and correct movement.
Two are aimed at, at least a  worthwhile sporting career: -  (4) Foran's Page by Coevers Diamond Boy ISH / Dam by Ballinvella TB. G/Dam by Pride Of Toames RID. - (5) KingCarra Tallia AID by Grange Bouncer RID / Dam by Tasset TB. G/Dam by Seacrest.RID.
Our other two mares (6) Gurraun Fleur and (7) KingCarra Rosie  are full Irish Draught and carry some of the best bloodlines of the breed. They will, hopefully, help to keep our traditional breeding alive.
But there are problems here as well! Our ID mares are being bred lighter - less bone, smaller feet. Probably more athletic, certainly a step nearer the blood look for half-breds but is the farmer not selling the field to live on?
 Incentives are needed to encourage breeders to continue breeding the true to type, traditional Irish Draught. They are the foundation of our sought after Irish horses and their very existence is in danger.
If we sleep on watch now and let them slip away, where will we find the short, strong back, large sure feet that stay sound, enough bone to carry weight, sensible, intelligent brain and docile, willing temperament, that is the Irish Draught?
Of the Irish Draught population registered in the stud book, I wonder how many are true to type?
I don't know how we are to make sure this wonderful animal thrives. I am only one person.... but if we all add our little bit...if we are all watchful, then, maybe, our treasure will be safe. 

Now in 2011, what is, or should be, regarded as an Irish horse?
Right now there are varied answers to that question.The influx of foreign stallions is very evident around the sales ring. Should any foal born in Ireland be stamped as Irish sporthorse?
We have lost a lot of ground in showjumping. Is using the foreign successful stallions on our best showjumping mares the way back? Maybe so. After all, our best mares were sold in times past and contributed to the formation of these now very successful jumping lines.
 
Eventing, however, is still our domain. We may have slipped slightly in the last two years, but we can, and still do, produce the  best eventers.
The traditional Irish horse is the proven recipe for top level eventing.Why fix what is'nt broken.We must continue to search out the very best in our Irish thoroughbreds and sporthorses to use on our good blood type mares in order to continue to produce world class eventers.
 If present trends continue, where will we find such an animal?
The Irish breeder must be careful not to dilute these super bloodlines beyond recognition.
Now is the time to be vigilant. Now is the time to recognize and preserve our good eventing bloodlines.
Reid Report on Breeding World Class Eventers  published in May (2011).

 "An ounce of breeding is worth a lifetime of feeding".
Nowhere does this ring more true than in the breeding of horses.
It is important to know what lies in the back breeding of our mares and stallions.
By knowing the ancestry, we can try to maximize the best qualities in our foals. In the words of Benjamin Franklin"by failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail".
Please refer to our Pedigree Info. page for the breeding of the mares and stallions we use. 


We try to have our mares foaling as early in the year as possible, thereby allowing us to offer well grown, mature foals each Autumn. The mares and foals are handled in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.Though out to grass for Spring and Summer,they are stabled during winter with access to a sand arena for exercise.

   Our foals are creep fed from 12 weeks,wormed regularly and stress free weaning is a priority. 
 



Broodmares
(Please click on name for further information)



Foran's Page ISH
   Premier Broodmare by Coevers Diamond Boy
( foaled 2002)
Dam: Ballenvella Queen by Ballinvella.






                     
      Gurraun Fleur RID
Premier Broodmare by Carrabawn View RID.
 ( foaled 2001)     
Dam: Flores by Kildalton Gold RID.


  



KingCarra Rosie ID. 
by Star Kingdom RID/
( foaled 2006)
Dam: Gurraun Fleur by Carrabawn View.









Glenard Pippi ISH
Premier Broodmare by Cruising ISH.
( foaled 1994)
Dam: Ballykeroguemore Lady by Marwood.






      Lowhill Queen ISH-
                      by Carrick Diamond Lad ISH                           
         (foaled 2006)                         
Dam: Clough Queen by Master Imp





KingCarra Tallia ISH
by Grange Bouncer RID.
(foaled 2006)       
Dam: Out to Sea by Tasset.



Watt Cavalier ISH
By Zero Watt TB.
 TB.(Foaled 2002)
Dam: Killeaney Sala by Cavalier Royale V11





All details on these mares and their foals can be found by clicking on their individual tabs.  
Photos and info. on all foals will be updated from birth to sale,so you can follow their progress and hopefully,like what you see. 

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In our efforts to produce quality foals who will find a worthwhile future whether in the performance or leisure industry, we use proven sires from the Irish Draught,Thoroughbred and Irish Sport Horse lines.


Stallions 2010 and 2011 coverings..



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