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Our Services

 

As manager of Sunnyhill, Michael Hickey brings a wealth of experience to all aspects of the equine industry and to the day to day running of a stud farm.   He grew up on his family’s stud farm in County Wexford and when finished school and Agricultural College he returned home and soon after began competing internationally in Show Jumping.   He represented Ireland at shows all over Europe from 1972 – 1976.   Also during this time he rode successfully in Point-to-Points, riding nine winners.   He also rode four winners on the racetrack.   Many of his show jumpers were bought as unbroken 3  & 4 year olds and were brought along through the grades to reach Grand Prix standard and were then sold or went on to represent Ireland with Michael.

 

He purchased Sunnyhill in 1978 with his wife Sheelagh and they set about making it into a successful National Hunt stud.

Stallions

As a Public Stud Farm, our main business is to provide our customers with top class stallions to breed their mares to, and this continues with our current resident 

stallions; DOYEN, FIFTY STARS and LUCKY SPEED.

Sales Preparation

We prepare horses of all ages for Sales in Ireland and the U.K., taking each indivdual animal and developing them to their maximum potential for sales day.

Pre-Training & Loose Schooling

We pre-train a limited number of young horses for the flat and national hunt.

 

We also use our indoor school to give young N.H. horses an easy and educational introduction to jumping through our schooling programme.

Rest & Recuperation

From July – January, we provide this facility. With the advantage of a horse-walker, indoor school, winter let-out pen and suitable paddocks, Sunnyhill Stud is the ideal environment to get a horse back to full health.

Breaking

We take a limited number of yearlings and/ or young horses for breaking.

This is supervised by Mike Hickey. In the breaking process, there is a greater emphasis placed on the relationship between horse and handler by creating an environment that the horse can proceed as fast or as slow as he needs to.

 

Giving the horse this start makes all the difference in how he responds to what is asked of him in his future competitive career.

High Points of Sunnyhill Stud as breeders include:

  1. Kicking King - Gold Cup winner
    and two King George V

  2. Kalashnikov - Top Novice Hurdler
    & exciting Chase prospect

  3. Road To Riches- multiple Grade 1 winner.

  4. Balthazar King - Winner of 16 races
    & 2nd in Aintree Grand National 2014

  5. Leading P2P BREEDER 2009-2010

Sunnyhill has become a leading consignor at all N.H. sales
in Ireland and highlights include:

 

  • World record price for a 4 yr old - 1997

  • World record price for a National Hunt filly foal 

  • World  record price for a Nationnal Hunt colt foal 

  • Gold Cup winner ‘Kicking King’, sold as a yearling

  • Grand National winner ‘Hedgehunter’ sold as a foal

  • Grand National winner ‘Don’t Push It’ sold as a 4 yr old

  • Top Novice hurdler Kalashnikov sold as a foal

  • Multiple Gr.1 Winner ‘Road To Riches‘ sold as a foal

Other Services Provided:

  1. Breaking

  2. Pre-Training - Own Gallop

  3. Loose Schooling – Indoor School

  4. Sales Preparation

  5. Boarding – limited number

  6. Rest & Recuperation

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