Brief Encounter at Salperton 26th June
Wish Upon A Star: Salperton 26th June, Glanusk 3/4 July, Barbury CIC2** 9-11th July.
All the boys have had a very busy season and both the above boys only went back four days before Salperton.
The stud now is busy getting ready for their sale on the 18th July, all the stallions except Jumbo(who is still very busy at
Twemloes) will be at the stud.
Wish Upon A Star went to Tattersalls and did the 1* and was second finishing on his dressage score(he only went back to
Lucy's one day before they left for Ireland.)
The stud has had all its foals apart from the "elite" mare Grafham Society who is in foal to Free Spirit.
Free Spirit will be going back to Lucy's in July to do a few events.
Grafham Stud achieved success at the Devon County Show with a foal of Wish Upon A Star winning Class #713, Hunter Breeding - Foal.
Kiss n'tell (Brief Encounter 3 year old filly), won the Hunter filly class, and was Hunter Champion.
All the boys are having an exceptionally busy covering season and will all be home for the month of June - the stud is also having a reduction of stock on July 18th by public auction with realistic prices starting at £1,000 - there will be about 40 horses from the stud including ten by Jumbo.
A full list of the horse will be on this website shortly.
April / May 2010
Wish upon a Star had four weeks at Twemlows freezing semen and then went straight to Badminton where Lucy rode him in the stallion parade.
Twelve days later he did a double clear at Aston le walls and was 5th. He will be going to Ireland the last week in May to do the 1 star
at Tattersalls and then back to his stud work combined with his eventing.
The stud has had three foals from him so far: a coloured colt, a bay colt and a bay filly which are all stunning.
Brief Encounter and Wish Upon a Star will be eventing this weekend at Gatcombe - Wish upon a Star will then be going to Twemlows for a month to freeze semen.
Jigilo will be running on the Tuesday at Somerley.
The stud starts foaling in April - we have four mares due to Wish Upon A Star(all for sale) and a Skyboy mare in foal to Jumbo.
Wish Upon a Star can be seen in the stallion parade at Badminton on Saturday 1st May and then will be coming back to Devon to continue his eventing with Lucy and his stud commitments.
Avebury, ridden and bred by Andrew Nicholson and owned by Rosemary Barlow is being aimed for Badminton
After ‘monsoon like’ levels of rain, deep snow and bitter cold, the early Spring sunshine has come as a welcome relief.
I am a real sun worshipper and this winter seems to have lasted an eternity.
Luckily, Lucy entered Brief Encounter (Jerome) for the ‘sunshine tour’ in Spain. Whilst I did not have the luxury of three weeks in the sun, unlike the horse, the mini break to watch him did at least offer a short respite from the revolting winter. Most pleasing was the fact he jumped a double clear picking up a couple of points at his first event of the season. Last year he had a big book of mares at Twemlows and missed almost the whole season due to stud duties. This season he will shuttle between Lucy’s and home to combine both jobs!
Wish Upon A Star (Wiz) had his first party of the season on at the SHB Stallion Grading at Addington. Whilst his ‘first party’ was not at such a glamorous, continental affair as Jerome’s, a successful outcome was far more important. This was his second stage and final assessment. The younger stallions have to pass the grading twice (12 months apart) with a significant step up in performance at the latter event. Not only did Wizard pass, he stole the show with spectacular jumping and excellent marks right across his assessment. This was no mean feat as he was the only horse to pass in his group. Better was to come when he finished the day Champion with top marks.
Having come under the scrutiny of four graders including Judy Bradwell who is legendary as a producer of young horses and David Tatlow - who can spot a
confirmation defect from 100 feet- it was lovely to have my high opinion of the horse rubber stamped by the experts.
Next to take centre stage was Jigilo and all eyes were upon him at Aldon last weekend. Last season he was specifically aimed at Blenheim.
Having run really well at Chatsworth and finishing the Advanced with a really good placing it was a huge disappointment when Blenheim was cancelled after the dressage.
At Aldon he was a real star, producing a good dressage followed by a double clear over a long hilly course, finishing inside the time and winning the event
in great style. Jigilo too will split his time between Lucy’s and home.
Every yard has to have a ‘Cinderella’ and Free Spirit has not attended a party yet this season. In all honesty keeping three stallions competing is crippling financially and for this year he may just have to play bridesmaid! I don’t suppose he will mind too much though as if he is at home 24/7 he is bound to get some extra mares and he does have a high libido! It is frustrating not to get him out competing after he had three wins last season!
Jumbo at 24 is of course exempt from all competition duties.
He has sired the winners of Badminton, Burghley, Blenheim and Bramham to name just a few. This year I hope he will have runners at all the 4 star events
with exciting young advanced horses like Tristar and Avebury following on his stock should be competing successfully on the circuit for many years to come.
Foaling is just around the corner with some really exciting foals due. As always there are a small selection of youngsters and in-foal mares for sale and visitors are
always welcome.
All that remains is for me to wish you a successful season.
Carolyn