Horse breeding demands massive financial investment and years of patience before seeing any return, making it one of the most challenging aspects of equestrian sport.
Ballypatrick Stables has cracked the code on successful breeding operations, producing 60-70 foals annually through innovative embryo transfer techniques. In this podcast, we’ll discover the critical importance of starting with quality mares, the strategic decision-making behind retaining versus selling young horses, and how X-ray evaluations can identify future champions early.
Our guest Cheryl Broderick, Ireland's leading breeder and co-owner of Ballypatrick Stables, reveals insider secrets about breeding for international markets, the role of young horse classes in development, and how proper teamwork between breeding and sporting operations creates a winning formula.
We also speak with Ballypatrick rider Niamh McEvoy about her rise to National Champion status and five-star success at Dublin Horse Show.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Cheryl Broderick is the head of the breeding department at Ballypatrick Stables in Thurles, County Tipperary. She has been at the helm of the breeding operation for many years overseeing all aspects from embryo transfers to the mares' foaling season. Ballypatrick has been in the Broderick family for five generations and Cheryl works alongside her brother Greg Broderick, an Olympic show jumper and coach.
Niamh McEvoy is a 20-year-old Irish showjumper who has been working full-time at Ballypatrick Stables for three years. Niamh has quickly risen to become one of Ireland's most promising young equestrian talents.
MORE INFORMATION
Find details on a range of government-funded initiatives available in 2025 to support Irish sport horse breeders, owners, and producers at all stages of equine development at this page on our website.
https://www.horsesportireland.ie/initiatives/breeding-grants-schemes/
This podcast was produced by dustpod.io
QUOTES
There is a whole big catalogue from the best mares in the world. If you get a filly or buy into a yearling and start that way, the first investment will be the hardest, but she will repay you down the road. – Cheryl Broderick
We breed an average of 60 to 70 folds a year. Very few of our own mares carry their own foals, it's mostly based on embryo transfer. There are a lot of different dynamics in the in the breeding business now. – Cheryl Broderick
I have 62 frozen embryos in the tank from our best mares and some of those could give you several frozen embryos in one season. – Cheryl Broderick
KEYWORDS
#Breeding #embryo #mares #BallypatrickStables #pedigrees #stallions #equestrian