Mrs. Frank (Kathleen) Ryan began showing Hackneys in 1944 with her husband Frank, from their Kilreen Farm near Ottawa. They imported the Horse Stallion, Craigwell Ballantrae, from Scotland and began showing their purchases from James Franceshini; Dufferin Emperor and Chestnut Seal. They were to have many champion pairs and tandem, which included Shining Star and Dufferin Pal, Dufferin Parade Girl and Dufferin Gladiator, Outwood Matire & Suddie Minuet. The list of Champion horses is endless including Hayworth Symphony, Danish Leader, Dufferin Starlight, Dufferin Sorceress, Marden Consummation, Kilreen Seamus, and Hurstwood Apollo. Let’s us not forget the great breeding Stallion Dufferin Haven, which was later, sold to Harold Patton nor the mighty little horse Kilreen Shan Og … also known as Mr. Pepper (to Mrs. Ryan’s chagrin.)

On the pony side, they had the World Champion ponies King’s Gaiety and Kilreen Debonaire Lady and a notable string including: Hawthorn Camelot, Yankee Doodle Rambler, Wesridge Charmaine, Lover Girl, Little Darlin, Fernwick’s Sir Echo, Kilreen’s Maureen, Destiny’s Sparky and Bomber’s Bridget.

A list of the who’s who of the Hackney World trainers were employed at Kilreen Farm including: Tom Ryder, Monty Jones, Neil McCaughey, Lawrence Carss, Roger Puddy, Alf Jones, Billy Pinch and John Henderson.

Always perfectly presented representing the Kilreen green, the Ryan entries demonstrated the versatility of the hackney in pairs, tandems, gigs, and phaetons.

Mrs. Ryan was also a great promoter of the breed with her husband Frank through their radio station CFRA in Ottawa where they hosted a program, “the Valley Notebook” and discussed the exploits of their farm, its Hackneys, and the latest news from the Fall Fairs around the Ottawa Valley. She also wrote vivid articles about the shows in various publications including The Hackney Journal.

As a pillar of the Hackney Breed in North America during the past century, Mrs. Ryan deserves her place in the Hall of Fame.  (Inducted March 2006)