After 40 years at Ashford Stud close to Versailles, Ky., stallion supervisor Richard Barry is retiring on the finish of June. Born in Clondalkin, Eire, Barry, 67, sat down with BloodHorse to mirror on the 4 many years he has spent managing a number of the most necessary stallions on the planet and discuss what it’s wish to get to know these unimaginable equine athletes.
BLOODHORSE: When did you come to America?
RICHARD BARRY: October 28, 1978. I obtained supplied a job at Murty Farm. I used to be there for seven years, Gerry Dilger and I. Gerry was managing the place, and I used to be assistant supervisor.
BLOODHORSE: How did you find yourself at Ashford?
BARRY: They wanted somebody to deal with Storm Chicken, he was a little bit of a boy, and so they landed on me, and I’ve been right here ever since.
Storm Chicken was a little bit of a personality of a horse. In fact our large horse as we speak, Justify, is a direct descendant of his, and I’ve taken care of each considered one of them — nicely I didn’t maintain Storm Cat — however I’ve taken care of the remainder of them: Storm Chicken, Hennessy, Johannesburg, Scat Daddy, and now Justify.
I at all times appeared to have ended up with the stallions from the start. After I went to the Nationwide Stud, I spent extra time with the stallions than I did anyplace else. I simply appeared to get together with them.
BLOODHORSE: What sort of behavioral traits have been carried down in that line?
BARRY: Storm Chicken was a foul boy when he wished to be. Justify, he doesn’t have any persistence. He doesn’t wish to be proven an excessive amount of. If he’s been on the market too lengthy, he’ll let you realize, that form of manner; however he’s not a foul horse. His sire Scat Daddy was a bit the identical.
Nevertheless it’s not been constant. Johannesburg was a pet. Hennessy was an fool. He’d fiddle rather a lot. He was at all times leaping round and having time, but when he harm you, it was by chance.
BLOODHORSE: Do you ever take into consideration what they have been like on the observe in contrast with what they’re like at stud?
BARRY: I’ve had warnings about racehorses, however when you get them right into a routine on the farm, they begin to loosen up. Until they’re actually really unhealthy, typically they cool down on the farm.
Large’s Causeway was an excellent instance of that. He was a beast on the racetrack. That’s why he was so good. The fitter you bought him, the tougher he was. We lunge horses right here. We don’t get them racing match or something near that, however the fitter we obtained Large, the tougher he obtained to deal with. There was a little bit of a balancing act there. He was an incredible horse. I by no means obtained to the underside of that lad. He was one severe animal. He was that kind. The tougher you pushed him, the more durable he obtained. He was known as the Iron Horse for a cause.
BLOODHORSE: How a lot do you concentrate on your individual feelings, notably when dealing with the more durable horses?
BARRY: I see the younger lads once they go into the stallions for the primary time, and so they draw an enormous breath and so they neglect to breathe. The horse will choose up on that form of factor actual fast. I inform them, “loosen up.”
While you stroll right into a stallion’s stall, it is best to know what you’re going to do. You shouldn’t be serious about it. It’s best to do it!
It’s important to be constructive the entire time with the stallions. They choose up on that. If you happen to’re like that with them on a regular basis, typically issues stage off and cool down. There are exceptions to the rule, however with most horses, in case you loosen up with them, they begin stress-free round you. They often come round to your mind-set. There’s been a couple of instances the place we’ve needed to have a “Come to Jesus” assembly because the fellas say, however pretty uncommon.
We get very near them. We all know them. While you lose them, it sort of hits you. I spend extra time with these horses than I do with my spouse.
BLOODHORSE: When a brand new stallion is available in, typically how lengthy does that getting-to-know-them course of take?
BARRY: Usually, you deal with all of them the identical at first. You allow them to come to you. There are only a few horses that aren’t going to attempt to please you. So long as you allow them to begin doing that — coming to you — every part usually works out.
BLOODHORSE: Are there any horses you can recall the place it didn’t go so easily at first?
BARRY: Black Minnaloushe, who was a grandson of Storm Chicken, was a little bit of a tricky character. He broke my nostril. Placing a bridle on him and I obtained the again of his head on my face.
Cigar was a bit powerful too. When he got here in, it took a pair individuals to even put the blankets on him. However he got here round to my mind-set after a couple of week. He was grand.
BLOODHORSE: What sort of characters and personalities do you could have standing right here now?
BARRY: Persona-wise … Tiz the Regulation is a quiet, easy-going, uncomplicated animal. He’s straightforward to deal with. He doesn’t have a imply bone in his physique actually. He’s by no means given me a day’s fear, knock on wooden.
American Pharoah hasn’t modified one iota since he obtained right here. He’s a pet. You elevate your voice to him, you’d harm his emotions. He’d do something for a carrot. Absolute gent of a horse. My two authentic horses right here have been El Gran Senor and Storm Chicken. Each of these horses are in his pedigree, however he didn’t get it from Storm Chicken. El Gran Senor was an absolute pet, and I feel that’s the place Pharoah will get it.
El Gran Senor was most likely my favourite. He was with me the longest. He was a gent of a horse. He had fertility issues. We used to stand up at 2 o’clock within the morning and breed the mares proper on high of ovulation. He was an incredible sire for the mares he obtained in foal.
Mo City is a robust horse. While you take Mo City to the breeding shed, you don’t get an opportunity to shut the doorways. He walks in prepared, up he will get, and walks out. I’d like to have 50 like him. He’s a simple horse to groom or muck out. He’s uncomplicated with regards to that kind of stuff, or turning him out within the paddock.
Munnings was a sprinter. You’d suppose he’d be all hearth and brimstone and wish to go, however he’s essentially the most laid again, laziest sucker you ever got here throughout. He’s was an incredible sire. He’s at all times been fully relaxed. He got here in like that.
Fusaichi Pegasus gained the Derby, however he was at all times leaping round and messing round. He may very well be a complete fool.
BLOODHORSE: Outline breeding, and what issues do it’s important to take note of within the shed?
BARRY: Effectively once you get two animals within the breeding shed, you need every part to go easy. Particularly once you get into Might and June. The fellows are getting drained, and that’s when stuff occurs. It’s important to maintain them on their toes.
Usually, if the mares are proper, issues go nicely. We solely see the mare for 10 minutes. We don’t know one mare from one other. I dimension up the mare from the time she walks within the breeding shed. We bounce each mare right here. We’ve got three teasers, and we use one per session. The teaser is an important a part of the crew.
I’ve obtained two Triple Crown winners, however I’ve solely obtained one actually high class teaser—Eoin. And I’ve obtained two sons of Eoin, and so they’re sort of minimize from the identical fabric. I’m hoping they’ll be nearly as good as their previous man. Aside from stallions, they’re a very powerful a part of the group. Eoin himself is by an previous teaser that I had right here.
BLOODHORSE: Do you could have another stallion tales you wish to share?
BARRY: I’ll inform you a humorous one. We had a paint mare named Blue on the similar time we obtained Thunder Gulch. Blue was the proper dimension for Thunder Gulch. He was solely 15 1 1/2 after I noticed him first, if he was that. And we have been test-breeding him to Blue to point out him the ropes earlier than the breeding season began. I bred him to Blue, and I bred him to Blue once more and it was nice.
First Thoroughbred mare confirmed up, and Thunder Gulch has obtained nothing. I’m like, “What’s going on right here?” He simply refused to drop down. He wouldn’t do something.
So the mare left, and I used to be completely stunned. I introduced in Blue, and he was able to go once more. He had fallen in love with Blue!
Thunder Gulch’s total first season we needed to have Blue within the breeding shed when he was breeding. And he or she was in foal. The teaser obtained her in foal through the breeding season, nevertheless it didn’t matter to Thunder Gulch. So long as she was standing there, he’d breed away. He’d be taking a look at her and breeding them.
We tried to make use of a blanket with a paint sample on it—didn’t work. Once they despatched him right down to Australia, I assumed we would should ship Blue with him.
BLOODHORSE: Do you could have any plans in your retirement?
BARRY: My spouse and I personal a home on Battlefield Golf Course in Richmond, Ky. We’re retiring there. I’ll do a little bit of looking and fishing. That’s what I do for a pastime.
I should come again over right here and assist out on the gross sales and stuff like that, however little or no most likely. I’ll miss the horses clearly. I’ll nonetheless most likely drop in each every now and then. I’m positive I’ll get a repair.
