About Us
Knockbaun has been in Matthew’s family’s care for nearly seventy years now, having been bought by his grandparents Basil and Ann Lister. Matthew’s uncle, Richard Lister, has been back at Knockbaun for forty five years, and enjoyed great success training racehorses from Knockbaun in the eighties and nineties. In more recent times the land has been rented for grazing to local dairy farmers, but Richard has now very kindly offered Matthew and Sally the chance to move to Knockbaun and start their own business. Based on ninety acres of well drained, fertile soil in the north of County Wexford, Knockbaun offers the perfect place for Matthew and Sally to build a stud. With views to the sea in the east, and out across the Croghan mountains to the west it truly is a beautiful place. With easy access on to the N11 getting around Ireland to different studs with mares, and up to the sales complexes can all be done easily.
Over the last year Matthew and Sally have worked tirelessly to renovate and reinvigorate Knockbaun. From new stable doors in the hunter yard, and lots of painting, steam cleaning, and new lighting the stables are coming back to former glory. And with new fencing and lots of tidying the grounds are looking in great condition. Knockbaun boasts nearly thirty stables, of which eight have been installed with new cctv cameras for foaling. There is also a newly surfaced lunging arena, and great tracks for hand walking enabling horses to be prepared for sales to the highest standards.
Matthew and Sally each have over twenty years of experience working in the industry, and have spent time working in racing yards and pre training yards, as well as spending a lot of time on other studs. All of which have put them in a great place to now step out on their own and offer their combined knowledge to any clients. For the last five years before moving to Knockbaun they were based on Park Wood stud in Gloucestershire, where they helped grow the business massively, and enjoyed some great success, most notably with Issac Shelby who was foaled and reared at Park Wood before selling very well at the yearling sales and then going on to have great success on the racetrack. Matthew and Sally both have a great love for foaling mares, and then for working with the foals to help prepare them the best that they can for their futures.
If you are looking for somewhere to board your mare, either long term or short term, or just for somewhere to foal your mare down then Knockbaun Bloodstock would be delighted to help. We are very lucky to have the support of a very accomplished vet in Paddy Merrigan, and an excellent farrier in Barry O’Driscoll in order to help us provide the very best level of care. Also offering boarding for youngsters, and sales preparation and consignment for all sales. Matthew and Sally have prepped horse’s, and sold horse’s at all major sales in Ireland and the UK. Wether you are looking to sell a foal, yearling, store or brood mare you can rest assured that it will arrive at the sales in the best condition possible. With a great eye for detail, and dedication to getting the best out of every horse as an individual.
If you would like to enquire about any of our services please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
