Lionwood Granuaile aka "Grania" is a granddaughter of our foundation mare *Bonnie Belle Supreme and therefore a second generation homebred and the third generation of this lovely old mare family on our farm. Born on the grounds of Castletroy in County Limerick, Grania's granddam Bonnie was part of the 1993 McGinty importation and therefore one of the first RID mares imported to North America from Ireland. Bonnie was the dam of the first purebred Irish Draught foal born in North America, Grania's uncle, Easter Rebellion. Bonnie's dam (Grania's great granddam) Dark Glen was a class winner at the prestigious RDS (Royal Dublin Society) Horse Show and is reputed to have brought the highest price ever paid for an Irish Draught broodmare at the Tattersalls Sales at Fairyhouse, County Meath at the time of her purchase in 1990.
Grania is the sole purebred daughter of the grand old RID stallion *Grange Augustus. *Grange Augustus is one of two approved purebred stallions by the late Enniskeane Prince, and the only RID stallion by Enniskeane Prince in North America. Enniskeane Prince was a Grade A Showjumper in England and is still the only British stallion to make the top 20 of both the British Dressage and the British Show Jumping Associations' Leading Sires List - simultaneously.
*Grange Augustus is out of the Hornby Premium mare Pilgrim's Gift, who was by the RID sire Colman. Colman was highly regarded for his type, movement, and bloodlines going back in direct male-line to Tara. Colman is also damsire of current CCI**** eventer Apache Sauce, ridden by British eventer Mary King. Tara sired the dams of legendary Irish showjumper-producing legends Sea Crest and Clover Hill. Pilgrim's Gift earned her Hornby Premium with *Grange Augustus (aka "Gus") as a foal at foot in 1988.
Unfortunately Gus is now retired from breeding, but like Grania's granddam Bonnie, he will always have a place in North American Irish Draught history as was one of the first purebred Irish Draught horses imported to North America (he arrived in the USA as a yearling in 1989). During his stud career *Grange Augustus sired a large number of partbred Irish Draught progeny, many of whom may be found foxhunting with the Leavenworth Hunt (Kansas) today. Recently, Irish Shoal, a half-Thoroughbred daughter of *Grange Augustus owned by former Olympic eventer Torrance Watkins, won the partbred Irish Draught mare class at the 2009 Upperville Colt and Horse Show.
Grania's dam Lionwood Waterwitch is by the well known RID stallion *O'Leary's Irish Diamond, who competed in open dressage shows at the Prix St George level and demonstrated his versatility by also competing in the open jumpers. "Irish" is a grandson (and is in fact linebred to) the famous sire of showjumpers King of Diamonds. Irish also comes from a venerable female family descending from the Gortlee mare Black Beauty. As of 2008, this family of mares had produced more RID stallions than any other family in the history of the breed. *O'Leary's Irish Diamond himself is the sire of several successful showjumpers including a YJC winner.
Grania's dam Lionwood Waterwitch is a full sister to RID stallion Lionwood Kinsale's Lad, who is a breed and performance champion, and at age 5 is earning excellent scores in open dressage competition through 2nd level.
Grania is linebred 4x6 to Glen Lad daughter Enniskeane Countess, matriarch of the mare family which produced RID stallions Enniskeane Prince, Enniskeane Pride, Kildalton Gold, Glidawn Diamond, Diamond Lad, Diamonds are Trumps, Kildalton King, and American-based RIDSH stallion *Brandenburg's Windstar (sire of Alison Springer's 4* eventer, Arthur).
Grania's immediate female family has a consistent history of producing kind, athletic and versatile purebred Irish Draught riding and driving horses. Grania's dam, in addition to her broodmare duties, foxhunts and does dressage, and recently participated in a clinic with former Canadian Dressage team chef d'equipe and listed rider Liz Steacie who commented on her lovely movement, active hind leg, and considerable power. Grania's uncles Easter Rebellion and Druidhill Daemon Lover foxhunt, and Druidhill D.L. was a winner in open dressage competition in the Pacific Northwest. Grania's uncle, RID stallion Lionwood Kinsale's Lad, is currently competing in dressage. He has earned his USDF First Level certificate, qualified two years running for the BLM championships, and has qualified in 2009 for the FEI 5 year old finals in USDF Region II. Grania's aunt Texas Diamond Belle competed successfully in combined driving events along the Gulf Coast. Grania's other aunt Lionwood Seventh Heaven also rides and drives, and will be foxhunting this season here in Iowa as soon as she weans her foal.
Grania is a very elegant filly, exhibiting her great-grandfather Pride of Shaunlara's trademark neck and front. She has loads of presence, in addition to the lovely movement and sunny disposition typical of her family. Grania measured 15.1 1/2hh in July 2009, with 9 inches of quality bone. We expect her to mature somewhere between her dam's height of 16hh and her sire's height of 16.2hh.
Grania is a very calm, laid-back filly who tends to think new things through rather than getting flustered or panicking. She always tries her best to figure out what you want her to do and is very much a "people person". Grania loads readily into a horse trailer, travels calmly and quietly on her own, and enjoys going places and seeing new things. She is accustomed to traveling off the farm for in-hand clinics and ground training sessions. She clips, bathes, and ties (to the horse trailer and in cross ties), walks and trots in hand, stands well for vet and farrier, and is easy to catch (always the first to greet you in the field). She gets along well with others in our mixed herd and is well used to all of the chaos found about (and often under- foot) on a small family farm - young children, bikes, chickens, dogs, cats, donkeys, ducks, wildlife, farm machinery, etc.
Grania started long lining at a walk (under full tack) earlier this summer and is just beginning some trot work. PRICE IS FIRM. If Grania is not sold, she will be backed this winter, at which time her price will increase.
Grania is registered with IDHSNA and eligible for RID inspection. Please visit our website flyingharp.com for more photos and information about Grania's family.