Our interest in Highland ponies was first kindled after a visit to the Royal Highland Show in 1995 where we saw these amazing ponies in all their glory, both 'In-Hand' and in the Ridden classes.
It was not long before two ponies, a three-year-old filly and a foal, found their way to us, as Highlands do. It was the beginning of a lovely journey. A mare soon followed and in no time at all we had two foals. We then got serious!
A trip to Scotland involving visits to both Whitefield and Charlie McQuattie's studs turned into a shopping spree. We came home with three mares, two in foal. Two filly foals were presented to us the next spring, both of whom turned into top quality youngsters, each winning consistently In Hand at County level.
Our next venture was to bring Minstrel of Whitefield (then aged 20) down from Inverness to run with the mares. We felt that his impeccable bloodlines, conformation & agility were perfect for our mares, and this has proved to be the case.
We have had seven fillies and eight colts from him.
What a star he was, and what we really hadn't appreciated when he came here was his incredibly kind temperament, which he has passed on to all his offspring.
Sadly, "Minnie" was put down in September 2003. At 26 he still looked wonderful and was with his mares and foals to the end. He has left a huge gap in our lives but what a legacy he has left behind!
Lyncrest's Rhodri (Dougie) came here in February 2004. By Sporrandene of Kildavie out of Lyncrest's Rhodene (by Glen Aigas), he has superb bloodlines and looked as though he had potential as a replacement stallion for Minstrel of Whitefield. He ran out with all ‘the boys' summer 2004 and grew into a handsome fellow with a lovely temperament – a real gentleman. He was backed in the autumn and did a few In Hand shows through the winter, winning several Championships.
Lyncrest's Rhodri (Dougie) came here in February 2004. By Sporrandene of Kildavie out of Lyncrest's Rhodene (by Glen Aigas), he has superb bloodlines and looked as though he had potential as a replacement stallion for Minstrel of Whitefield. He ran out with all ‘the boys' summer 2004 and grew into a handsome fellow with a lovely temperament – a real gentleman. He was backed in the autumn and did a few In Hand shows through the winter, winning several Championships.
Dougie was licensed in 2005, and covered several of our mares, producing three lovely foals the following spring. Since then Dougie has consistently sired good ponies, and we now have half a dozen of his fillies to breed from as well as some older mares, whose pedigrees go back to Minstrel.
In 2014 we had two of the maiden fillies covered by 'Junior' who came here on loan, which then brought us on to our next trip to Whitefield, where we were introduced to Matador of Whitefield.
He was the perfect match for our youngsters, a lovely strong pony with the perfect temperament and he duly arrived here in July. He has since been backed and is, needless to say, a lovely pony to ride.
