DSHS Magazine 2017

The Early Years
As we sit in the breakfast room, Barry explains that he
started his business when he was 21 years old. Prior to that,
he had worked for Marcus Mändli in Switzerland for three
years. Barry: “I owe so much to that man. He taught me the
horse trade. When he went to buy horses, he let me come
along, also when he went out to eat with clients. As a result,
I got an insider's view into the business, and I was captivated
by it. I thought it was wonderful.”
Several years after he returned to Ireland, Barry began
working closely with the Irish Grand Prix rider Conor Swail.
Barry: “We started with absolutely nothing. For example, we
hauled the horses in a lorry that his father had converted. We
sometimes look back and realise that that was actually the
best time: half wild, half fun.
“In that early period, we had the horse Conduct. With Conor,
he placed second straight away in their first Grand Prix. But
we also had Lansdowne, and we brought the stallion Guidam
to Ireland. Conor and I were a top duo. He could walk the
walk, and I could talk the talk.” For ten years, the duo was
among the top three most successful stables in Ireland.
Then we get in the car and drive to the Goffs auction house in
Dublin, where Barry's wife Sally works. On the way there, we
pick up David and Jamie. Unfortunately, Meghan can't join us
because of her music lesson.
Capital Injection
From behind the steering wheel, Barry explains his newest
initiative. His vision of the future is also clearly recognisable
in this plan. Together with other influential Irish equestrian
businesses and in cooperation with the Irish government,
he wants to make the equestrian sector stronger than it was
before the financial crisis. The first investment must come
from the sector, after which the government will hopefully
join in. “We want to create jobs and structurally increase
exports. We also want to train and help riders, stable staff
and breeders. We also want to create better competitions
through capital injections, where more prize money can be
"It's wonderful to have breakfast
here with our entire family."
"They'll
wonder
who this
man is
who's
attracting
all the
paparazzi."
earned. In this way, quality is boosted. And that's exactly what
we need here!” asserts Barry. In September 2018, the Irish
government will issue a decision on the financial cooperation.
Barry continues: “After the financial crisis, everything
collapsed here. The smaller stables dramatically reduced their
activity or closed. The horse people who were associated with
these stables often went to Canada and America. They got
the best jobs there. They worked hard. As a result, the crisis
ultimately had a positive turn for the whole industry as we
have Irish people in key positions within the horse industry
worldwide.”
Goffs
Once we arrive at Goffs, we find Sally in her office. We're
here to take a family photo. Sally still has some work to
do and finds us after ten minutes. In the meantime, we're
immersed in a true auction Walhalla, where the day before
a Thoroughbred foal by the stallion Galilieo was sold for €1.1
million.
Just before we take the photo, Barry asks with a smile: “Can we
not be too obvious when we take the family photo? I deal in
show jumpers, and now we're here in the racing world. They'll
wonder who this man is who's attracting all the paparazzi.”
34 DSHS | The 2017 edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
DSHS | The 2017 edition 35