Happy New Year to all our readers and all who are struggling with horses throughout the winter season.

When you think of the word stud-farm you see in your mind’s eye miles of white railings , smart boxes, busy grooms leading shining horses about, stallions with glossy coats wearing smart paddock-sheets with their names on them.
Well, Stormhillstud is not quite like that... We do have a very smart paddock sheet from our racing days but, somehow it is never used. The one and only resident stallion, Kremlin, is aged 22 years and normally very muddy. He is a happy horse. He has his mares, his family of youngsters and a view from his paddock.   He has had a busy life. Kremlin was born in Russia, trained in Wales, competed in England, Wales and Italy. He has travelled with us to all our various homes, in Shropshire, Devon, France and Spain and back to Devon again. Apart from loving his wives he really did enjoy his hunting, most of it done with the United Pack on the Welsh Borders.
Our visitors are probably a little disappointed when they arrive and see nothing but three muddy broodmares and their offspring, who are also muddy. These are tended by a muddy, middle-aged woman, with occassional help from her at times, slightly reluctant, but very patient, husband.
Stormhill Stud is a small stud in Devon, situated near Tiverton.
 We specialize in breeding top-class event-horses.   For the last few years we have been very successful, particularily with the offsping of Kremlin. It is amazing to think that a small Devon stud has produced horses that are representing Australia and New Zealand in World-class 3-day events.
Some of the stallions I have bred and sold on are also doing very well, Stormhill Miller, a thoroughbred, in Ireland and Stormhill Mink, a coloured horse, in England. For further information about these, see the Stallion pages, or the Section about the Best Horses I have bred. For those interested there is a short history explaining the background to the stud.
This summer of 2008 the horses I have bred have continued to perform most creditably.
At home though, we have had a run of problems, disorders, diseases and injuries.
Well, such is life with animals. But it has been very hard in such a wet and grey year. In Devon we really have only had a green winter this year. Possibly this has been part of our troubles... Both Arrow and the young mare Saxenberger, seen to have resorbed their pregnancies. This may just be due to the lousy weather, it puts a lot of strain on animals and their carers alike.
We have lost the young gelding, Rumour, in sad circumstances.
Many of my readers will be familiar with my problems with the planners and the anti-horse neighbours, an ongoing saga that is trying my patience to the outmost  Very many thanks to those who have written in support of our planning application for a commercial business. Our neighbours have made the extra-ordinary request of having first refusal when we sell up! They are working hard on getting me to sell up, that is for sure.
Perhaps I’ll find another customer though!
Kremlin, who is currently at stud privately only, due to the planning restrictions, will, if he is still alive and well next year, stand at stud publicly. We are re-applying to have the restriction lifted. Failing that, we will stand him at another stud. If you’re interested, please get in touch as we will play this one by ear and it very much depends how the old boy comes through the winter. It would be a shame to let his bloodline die out. It appears the British Government and it’s planners are set on GB competitors riding imported horses...
In the meantime, after having had our nice Ifor Williams horse trailer stolen and a further break-in attempt, which left a smashed front gate, we have got a new face on the yard: 

As for the horses, here are some results from the last so-called summer:

Stormhill Michael was placed 7th in the Saumur 3* International 3-day event in a very competitive field, ridden by Paul Tapner for Australia. We think he was the best placed British bred horse. He has now been officially named as a horse with Olympic Potential for 2012, a great honour! He finished his season on 196n points and was placed in several Advanced classes, including a 2nd at Aston le Walls. He is now having a well deserved rest.

Apart from Michael’s tremendous performance in France, Kossack has finished 11th in the Advanced at Chatham, ridden by Andrew Nicholson for N. Zealand. He has also achieved several places in Open Intermediate classes.Kossack now has just under 150 BE points.

His younger sister Firestar has WON a Pre-Novice section at Nutwell Park. as well as being placed in several others, including 3rd at Mount Ballan on October the 18th after a mid-season rest.

One to look out for in Scotland is Stormhill Riverdance, by Kremlin out of Farmer’s Fun. This is a half-sister to the successful show-jumper, Stormhill Barndance.

Riverdance has won several times in pre-novice dressage classes and has won afiliated classes when competing on day-tickets. We look forward to hearing more about her.

Her owner/rider Rosie O’Halloran, contibutes to the fun web-site www.countrytalk.co.uk where it will be possible to read more about her adventurers with this young mare.

 Here, below, is another youngster to look out for in 2009. This is Stormhill Fiesta, whom we hope will go on and do well for Kirsty Kerslake, who has been bringing her on steadily. Apparently she loves her hunting, just like her dad, Kremlin.

Another one we have high hopes for, and wish really well, is Stormhill Comrade, on the right, a full brother to Kossack, Firestar and Storytime.

At home, there is just work and more work at this time of year. The foals have been weaned, colossal amounts of rain in the west-country have made the ground horribly muddy, the recession is biting and in the meantime there are youngsters to be fed, as usual.

Spring will come!