Welcome

For many years, the last 16 at Ringfort Stud, John Eakin And Diane Harron Eakin have been breeding performance horses for the Sport Horse industry.

When they began, they had a well-defined breeding policy - crossing the best of Irish bloodlines with those European lines that had proved themselves in competition on the world stage.

To that end, the first three mares they bought were a daughter, a granddaughter and a great granddaughter of the "Stallion of the Century" Nimmerdor.

Since then, they have produced Dublin Champions, Black Type race horses, and highly successful performance horses in dressage, eventing and show jumping. Only horses bred at the stud are allowed to carry the Ringfort Prefix (and sadly a few good ones bred at the stud are competing under other prefixes - such as Ronan Tynan's showjumping stallion, Warrenstown U2) and the Ringfort name has become a by-word for talented young horses who can expect to go all the way in their chosen discipline.

Some they have kept ownership of and put in training in order to enjoy travelling throughout Ireland, and further afield, to support their young stock. Other young stock they have sold world-wide to international and amateur riders in all disciplines.

Horses such as Ringfort Tinkatoo, by World Champion stallion Tinka's Boy, winner of the Eventing Ireland Northern Region Owner/Breeder trophy, and winner of the Novice Championship and the Novice Final. He was already winning at Intermediate level, when he was exported to the United States. His daughter, Tinkabella, followed soon after.

Ringfort Rara Ruby by Porsch, reached 3* level at eventing before being injured just as she was going through an assessment for the Irish Army Eventing Team. She returned to the farm to breed and is the dam of two young horses (more details in horses for sale.) She will be sold, and if desired by her new owners, will be covered this year by Ringfort Cruise, the only fully Approved Nations Cup son of Cruising standing at stud in Ireland.

Other young stock bred at the Ringfort Stud, but sold on and competing include top showjumping stallion Warrenstown U2, owned now by Internationally renowned Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. His own young stock are winning at high level.

The foundation mare of the stud, Renkum Woudina, died in 2002 at the age of 23. But still at the Stud are, a daughter Renkum Hollanta, (in foal to the great Concorde stallion, Larino) granddaughter Renkum Inglewood, and great great grand-daughter, (Ringfort Butterfly by Boherdeal Clover) and with them her legacy lives on.