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June 2010

The 2010 stud season is well under way with a record number of mares requesting Brokat's services! So far we have achieved a pregnancy in all but one mare on the first insemination! It is also the time of year that allows me to share the excitement of Brokat's foals arriving and there have been some 'Corkers' this time. Pictures of the 2010 foals have been added to Brokat's progeny page as they come through and will continue to be updated.

Our very promising young stallion, Bernwode Broadway, has now moved to Woodlander Stud to be produced for the SPSS Stallion grading in October. I miss dear Bruce already but know that he could not be in better hands to achieve his potential both as a sire and competition pony of the future.

Bernwode Dorina has given us cause for a double celebration. On 11th June she gave us a fabulous palomino filly by the dual Bundeschampion pony sire, Top Yellow. This lovely young lady is called Bernwode Top Model and now has her own page (here). Dorina, now sixteen years old and standing 5th on the 'All Years' ranking of Futurity dams of Sports Ponies, is also about to become an 'Elite' mare for the SPSS studbook as her eldest son, Brinkum's Helmut by Brillant, has been selected to represent Ireland at the Pony European Championships!

Lastly, I have to mention Brokat's oldest son, the SPSS licensed stallion Bernwode Benedict, who has produced his first foal for Hartpury college, Hartpury Rockstar.  It is wonderful to see the next generation on the ground and I wish this boy every success in the future.

The Futurity Evaluations are about to begin for 2010 and, once again, we are offering awards and concessions on stud fees to the mothers of Brokat's entered children and top scoring sports pony mares. If anyone needs any help or expalnation of how the evalutations work please do not hesitate to give me a call.

May 2010

I would like to draw attention to two very young riders of the future who are currently training and beginning to compete on Bernwode ponies.  Alice Jones, who is only 11 yrs old, now owns Bernwode Nairobi and, in her first competitions with this young pony, has consistently jumped double clear rounds.  Alice and Nairobi (Ziggy) recently entered their first BSJA Newcomers class where, once again, they produced a faultless double clear and finished in 4^th  place!  This result has qualified the them for Scope in September, congratlations Alice and Ziggy!   Alice trains with Caroline Wilks and keeps Nairobi at Caroline’s yard in Henley on Thames.  With years ahead of them we look forward to following their progress and wish them lots of fun and success together.

Bernwode Dimitri has found himself the perfect partner with 10 yr old (11 yrs old as of April!) Ruth Hole.  Ruth trains with Jill Day and, despite her tender age, is working at Medium level dressage with Dimitri having already competed her mother’s horse at Advanced Medium level!  Ruth and Dimitri (Timmy) have already been selected for the Eastern Region BYRDS team at the 2010 Inter Regional Championships and won the C Squad test at BYRDS camp despite Ruth still being a Fledgling!  Timmy and Ruth recently enjoyed a night out on the tiles having been invited to appear at the BD Eastern Region Evening Demonstration at Towerlands.  This event attracted the biggest crowd Timmy had ever seen and, apart from his surprise when everyone applauded, he behaved impeccably and was praised for his amazing temperament.  Only two ponies were invited to the evening, the other being our successful GB International and European Team pony, Gigolo, ridden by Clair Gallimore!  Timmy and Gigolo are related through their mutual grandsire Golden Dancer. 

I cannot close without also mentioning Ruth’s 8 yr old sister, Clare, who has qualified her pony for the U21’s Preliminary Championships at Sheepgate.  Another future rider for Bernwode Stud!

Bernwode Dimitri Photos by kind permission of DE photography

April 2010

We are enjoying receiving the late night calls and texts to let us know that the first few 2010 Brokat foals have arrived safely and being able to share our mare owners’ excitement.   The first to hit the ground this year is a full brother to the licensed stallion, Bernwode Benedict and the high scoring Futurity yearling, Delaroche Breve.  To ring the changes this young man, Delaroche Brillanz, is chestnut rather than bay and appears to be a clone of his father!  To follow the news of Brokat’s 2010 children as they arrive click here. 

Once again Bernwode Stud will be offering awards to all Bernwode Brokat offspring who achieve Elite or 1^st Premiums at the Futurity Evaluations and/or the SPSS Youngstock Show.  Information on the Futurity Series can be found here but please feel free to call us if you would like further information or help with your entries. 

March 2010

At last we received news of  Bernwode Dorina’s oldest son, Brinkum’s Helmut.  Dorina is one of the studs founder broodmares who produced this son in Germany before travelling to the UK.  Brinkum’s Helmut is by Bernwode Brokat’s sire, Brillant and therefore very closely related to Dorina’s 2yr old Futurity Elite son, Bernwode Britvik.  Helmut was selected for the Vechta Elite Auction as a four year old and sold to Ireland as the highest priced pony.  He is now competing at Medium/FEI level dressage ridden by the young Irish event rider Lucca Stubington and standing as a stallion in Ireland.  Lucca and Helmut are campaigning to represent Ireland at the 2010 European Pony Dressage Championships in July and we wish them every success.  I was interested to know why Lucca called her pony ‘Crash’ (imagining disasters that could have befallen him and his jockey) before being given the obvious reply ‘Crash Helmut’!    Video, information and photos of Crash can be seen at www.loughernestud.com

February 2010

Snow on snow and mud on mud! At least the mares are beginning to cycle and there is the promise of better things to come!

Dark evenings have been spent writing an interview on the stud for an enlightening and useful online breeders magazine which can be accessed on www.horsebreedersmagazine.com.

January 2010

Despite a snow storm and appalling travelling conditions we made it to London to thoroughly enjoy our evening at the Annual British Breeders Awards Dinner. It was a huge honour to receive Brokat’s award as the Futurity Leading Sire of Sports Ponies over ‘All Years’ and the ‘icing on the cake’ to share this with Lucy Sheldrake who now owns Bernwode Evelina S, the recipient of the equivalent award for The Leading Dam of Sports Ponies over ‘All Years’.

December 2009

A very merry Christmas and New Year to everyone!

November 2009

This month we had the pleasure of sending our sponsored awards to all Bernwode Brokat’s mare owners whose youngstock achieved First Premiums at the 2009 Futurity Evaluations. All qualifiers, which included all Brokat’s entered children, received a ridiculously ‘Glitzy’ rosette and a £100 concession on his stud fee for future foals from the same mare. If a combination works well why not do it again! Our ‘Full Stud Fee’ award for the Dam of the highest placed Sports Pony overall was awarded to Jennie Loriston-Clarke for her mare Catherston Goldburg. We would like to congratulate all these successful breeders and wish them well for the 2010 season.

October 2009

The SPSS 2009 Stallion and Mare Grading at Heart of England Equestrian was a wonderful weekend for Bernwode Brokat. To celebrate his 2009 Futurity Series ‘Leading UK Sire of Sports Ponies’ title Brokat, and European Junior Team rider, Sam Brown, provided a little lunchtime entertainment in the form of dressage to music. I cannot say there was not a moment of panic when we saw how much Sam had grown in a year but somehow she managed to pull off a credible display, albeit without stirrups! This deserved even more credit as Brokat and Sam met for the very first time on the morning of the display giving them no chance to form a relationship or practice their routine! It was also the first time Brokat had been ridden for several months as he had been ‘on call’ to his mare owners, but he rose to the occasion and enjoyed showing off to his audience! What we did not know was that Brokat had also been selected for the Studbook’s prestigious annual award ‘The Dancer Medal’, given each year to an SPSS pony achieving excellence in either competition or breeding. This was a huge honour and we are extremely grateful to all those who were instrumental in his selection. 

 

Brokat displaying with Sam Brown

As if to prove a point several of Brokat’s offspring made their debut at the grading weekend with excellent results. His daughter, Woodwalton Brindizi, bred by Philippa Cole, successfully graded on good marks and Chantal Walton’s, Cassandra Rose, who is due to foal to Brokat in 2010, achieved fourth place in the mare grading line up. Brokat was also represented in the afternoon show by his yearling son, Kingswalk Moonraker, who was awarded a First Premium. To complete a wonderful weekend Brokat’s beautiful, athletic, 3 yr old daughter, Mademoiselle, won the mare grading on a huge mark of 87.12% qualifying her for the prestigious Head Studbook. Not only did she become the SPSS 2009 Champion Mare but she was also awarded the highest mark ever achieved at an SPSS mare grading! Bred by Ben St. John James, this lovely pony has been produced by his and Roland Tong’s pupil, Sadie, and is destined for a sparkling career in dressage.

September 2009

The last of the Futurity Evaluations, at Plumpton College on 10th September was a landmark for Bernwode Stud, with the young colt Bernwode Britvik impressing the judges and vet and being awarded an ‘ELITE’ Premium, Champion Sports Pony and Champion 2 year old overall. Very few Elite Premiums are awarded each year and are only given to youngstock that the evaluators feel have real international potential. Overall, Britvik was the 5th equal scoring 2 year old throughout the Evaluations which included a total of 183 sports horses and ponies - an outstanding achievement for this quality colt and his owner, Steff Powell-Richards. Britvik is by Bernwode Brokat out of the stud’s Breeding Champion mare, Bernwode Dorina (by Viktoria’s Chirac)

August 2009

The 2009 Futurity Evaluations continued to go well for Bernwode ponies. The stud’s own Bernwode Golden Delicious attended the evaluation at Catherston Stud where, despite her being a late foal, she was awarded a high First Premium to the delight of her supporters. Golden Delicious is the first foal from the stud’s Golden Dancer daughter, Golden Dream.

Another Brokat foal, Tiger Lily was awarded a good First Premium at the Tall Trees evaluation. Tiger Lily was born on 12th June and is out of the mare Just-Suzie (of unknown breeding) and was bred by her co-owner and handler on the day, Amy Cox.

We enjoyed this photograph of Bernwode Dimitri, with his new 10 yr old rider, Ruth Hole. Ruth and her younger sister Claire had spent a happy day 'dressing up' their ponies. Dimitri is clearly loving the attention and the combination is off to a great start. Dimitri is on loan to Ruth as a future FEI dressage pony and we wish them lots of fun and success.

Bernwode Dimitri - dressed to impress!!

July 2009

The 2009 Futurity Evaluations have started well for Brokat’s children. At the first evaluation at The Grange, Devon, Royal Flustern (born 25 May 2009) was awarded a First Premium. Royal Flustern was bred by Alison Worden and is by Bernwode Brokat out of Whisper Gold by the Highland stallion, Turin Hill Scotsman.

At The College, Bedfordshire, another of Brokat's progeny, the 3 year old Delaroche Brilliant Cut, was judged to be of First Premium standard. Brilliant Cut was bred by Lucy Sheldrake who also had another of her ponies entered, Delaroche Laureve. Laureve is a yearling by Lauriston (AES) out of Bernwode Evelina S (by Prins Alfred) and did phenomenally well at the evaluation to be awarded an ELITE premium on a score of 9.04. Very few Elite Premiums are awarded each year as they are only given to youngstock that the evaluators feel have real international potential. Evelina S was imported from Holland by Bernwode Stud and is the dam of Bernwode Benedict (by Brokat) who is now a licensed stallion in his own right and of Delaroche Breve (Benedict’s full sister) who was the highest scoring Sports Pony yearling in the 2008 Futurity throughout the 2008 series with 9.5 for athleticism and 9 for type & temperament. Evelina is now owned by Lucy Sheldrake, owner of the Delaroche Stud, who bred both Breve and Laureve.

On the 30th July, the Brokat yearling Daldorn Sandpiper (bred by Lady Benton Jones out of her mare Daldorn Scarlet Ribbon by Nimrood) gained a First Premium at Arena UK - thus completing a successful run of 3 First Premiums from 3 progeny and an excellent average score of 8.11 for Brokat so far.

June 2009

Golden Dream's first foal arrived in the early hours of June 5th - a beautiful palomino filly by Bernwode Brokat. Zara (Golden Dream) did a fantastic job as a maiden mare and we could not be more thrilled with the filly she has produced for us. To continue the Golden Dancer theme we have called her Bernwode Golden Delicious but the home name of ‘Piglet’ has unfortunately stuck as she was bright pink at birth! For more pictures of this foal click here.

We were delighted to hear that one of our last year's home breds was Breed Champion at the Royal Show!  Congratulations "Roy the Ram" . Roy is one of our Black Welsh Mountain Sheep, now running the fields near Bristol with the breed expert, Trisha Laws.

May 2009

Bernwode Chantal has produced a delightful filly by Bernwode Brokat born on the 20th May. This is Chantal's first UK born foal although she had a filly foal in Germany that was awarded State Premium Status at her grading. As Chantal is currently between competition riders, we decided to carry out our long term wish to produce a Brokat X Chantal foal. The result is no disappointment! For more pictures of this foal - click here.

 

We have also had reports of the safe arrival of 6 other Bernwode Brokat foals, one being Bumblebee bred by Claire Bevan out of her partbred Trakehner mare, Flirtation Itself. Pictures of other Brokat offspring will be added to his offspring page as they arrive.

 

One of Brokat's earlier offspring, Woodwalton Bhaltair, attended his first show and was reported to have behaved beautifully. He impressed the judges and was placed second in the Riding Horse class.

 

Woodwalton Bhaltair

 

 

April 2009

 

Bernwode Nirvana was selected to represent GB at the International Show at Addington on the 16/17/18 April and performed creditably for his first big occasion.  In the Pony Team test he was out of the main placings  due to a strong European attendance, but was the 4th highest scoring British Pony.  On the final day, he was 6th in the Consolation Class.  As a result, Nirvana and Fiona were invited to compete for GB at the French International in Saumur at the end of April.    After a nervous start in the Team Test, they performed well in the Individual Test to gain the second highest score from the British combinations.

 

Bernwode Brokat is attracting a number of high quality mares this season including Preci-Spark Event Horses'  International Eventer, 'The Wexford Lady'.  The Wexford Lady was very successful at 4* Eventing, being 5th at the 4* Burghley Horse Trials in 2003 and, following her 8th place at Badminton in 2004, was selected for the British Olympic Team.  Sadly, having travelled to the Athens Olympics with the team she suffered a minor training injury two days before start of competition.  The Wexford Lady returned to top competition in 2006 and was retired in 2008.  She has had embryo transfer foals by horse stallions (including Fleetwater Opposition, Catherston Liberator, Sandreo, Treffy and Jaguar Mail) in the past, but Bernwode Brokat is her first pony partner!

 

 

March 2009

 

There have been a few exciting developments for Bernwode ponies this month! Bernwode Nirvana has been selected to represent Great Britain in Dressage at the Addington CDIP in April. This is a significant achievement as he is just 8 years old and has only been lightly competed to date. The Addington CDIP is part of the selection process for the 2009 European Championships Team and we will be hoping for a good result.

 

Bernwode Nairobi has moved from eventer Teri England to young showjumper Tim Wilks and is being aimed at BSJA Pony Classes.   Teri has now taken on Bernwode Poppy Red to back and bring on this year. Poppy had a lovely foal by Top Yellow last year.

 

Finally, Bernwode Brokat is now licensed by the NPS with his progeny eligible for the Sports section of the MAIN studbook.

 

 

February 2009

 

We are looking forward to the expected births of 2 more Bernwode Brokat babies, Bernwode Chantal and Golden Dream being due to foal to him this spring. This will be the first UK foal for Chantal and the first foal for Golden Dream. Bernwode Brokat is again standing at stud through the SPSS, please contact the stud for more information.

 

We are also starting to plan for 2010 and we shall be breeding from the following mares: Bernwode Mandy, Dorina, Chantal, Poppy Red, Birgitta and Golden Dream. If anyone is interested in securing one of the resulting 2010 foals or in leasing a mare (to remain at Bernwode Stud) for use with their own choice of stallion please ring or email Sarah Steggall through the contacts given here.

 

In addition, our little licensed Brokat son Bernwode Benedict appeared at the big PSHP Stallion Display at Hartpury on Valentines night (a most appropriate time for eyeing up stallions!). Although Benedict has only been under saddle for a couple of weeks and is still very green and tense with eyes popping out of his head he still coped with the crowd and huge international arena showing off his nice uphill canter (see picture on right). Benedict was the only pony to display but held his own with the big boys!

 

 

December 2008

 

We are delighted that our young stallion, Bernwode Benedict (Brokat/Bernwode Evelina by Prins Alfred) has recently been purchased by Hartpury College. Benedict has been on loan to the college’s Home Farm Stud being introduced to the dummy mare and working as a teaser for the stud. Hartpury were so impressed with Benedict’s temperament, ridden potential and generosity towards the student handlers and riders that they felt he would be hard to replace! Benedict will be standing at Hartpury in 2009 and will also continue his ridden and competition career, ridden by selected students.

 

 

November 2008

 

Bernwode Nirvana is one of only five ponies to be selected for the GB Dressage Pony Prime Squad. Nirvana is ridden by Fiona Wood and they have been attending the winter training weekends with Peter Storr. We wish them an exciting and successful 2009 competition season.

 

 

October 2008

 

Bernwode Nairobi followed up her BE Intro win at Keysoe in September with her first Pre-Novice on the 18th October at Bishop Burton. Despite this being her first attempt at this level, Nairobi and Teri were placed third, finishing on their dressage score of 33 and having a lovely double clear jumping. Nairobi is now going to have a well earned holiday. 

 

 

September 2008

 

On the last weekend in September, there was a rare moment of everything coming together over one weekend to remind us of why we do this breeding thing! The Saturday was nerve wracking as two of our seven year olds had been invited to attend the selection trials for the GB A Squad (Dressage) at Solihull which we had hoped might happen next year! After a day of grilling 25 potential ponies and nervous children, the three selectors picked a handful of hopefuls and both ponies were accepted through! Those of you with Bernwode Nirvana (Nevado/Fritchen) babies will be pleased to know that he is one of them and the other is Bernwode Dimitri (Durello/Golden Dancer); Nirvana ridden by Fiona Wood and Dimitri by Robyn Walker. We are told the squad is taking a new format but both are now going to the first training weekend in November with what is left in the age group from the 2008 team.

 

Then on the Sunday my little 147cm, five year old, Bernwode Nairobi, did her fourth BE intro at Keysoe and won it on a fabulous 26.3 dressage and lovely double clear with Teri England. Nairobi is Bernwode Mandy's daughter - Nibelungenheld X Apslau. Until now she has been winning BSJA British Novices, having to jump against horses with an adult rider, and has been a little less confident XC but it all came together for her this weekend. We're so delighted as she was only backed last year.

 

 

August 2008

 

Once again, Bernwode Brokat’s progeny achieved excellent results in the Futurity Series, two of these winning First Premiums and going through to the ‘Elite’ Show at Addington.  Both were awarded ridiculously glitzy Bernwode Stud rosettes and stud fee concessions for their Dams.  Lucy Sheldrake’s yearling filly, Delaroche Breve gained the highest marks for sports pony yearlings throughout the series with 9.5 for athleticism and 9 for type & temperament.  This placed her third overall sports pony throughout the age groups.   Sarah Eberle’s lovely yearling colt, Rosewater Breant, who was champion pony foal and reserve overall  at last year’s BD Young Horse and Breeders Championships, also qualified for the ‘Elite’ Show where he was pulled in as Reserve Champion yearling. 

 

 

May 2008

 

On the last day of May our Brokat daughter, Bernwode Birgitta, produced her first foal, an athletic and correct grey filly.   Bernwode Celeste (known as Maisie) is by the German bred European Dressage team pony Caesar 171 and a first home born grandchild for Brokat.  There are more pictures of Bernwode Celeste on her page - here.  Bernwode Poppy Red, our homebred mare by the Bundeschampion, Pilgrims Red, provided Yvonne Wood with a fantastic colt foal by her own stallion, Top Yellow, also a Bundeschampion!.

 

 

March 2008

 

The 2008 covering season is now upon us and we shall be breeding from the following mares: Bernwode Mandy, Dorina, Chantal, Poppy Red and Golden Dream. Mandy is currently in foal to Caesar 171 and Poppy Red to Top Yellow. If anyone is interested in securing one of the resulting 2009 foals or in leasing a mare (to remain at Bernwode Stud) for use with their own choice of stallion please ring or email Sarah Steggall through the contacts given here.

 

In addition, our other breeding project is in progress and our flock of Black Welsh Mountain sheep are producing their first lambs.

 

 

February 2008

 

Bernwode Nairobi by the high performing German jumping ‘N’ line sire, Nibeungenheld IV, out of the stud’s German St. Pr. Champion mare, Bernwode Mandy, is being produced by event rider Teri England. This young pony is not five until June yet is causing quite a stir on the competition circuit! At her first attempt at BSJA British Novice she jumped two lovely clear rounds only missing the winning spot by 100th of a second, being the only pony in the competition ! Nairobi is now working towards a career in eventing proving to be bold and talented. She will be for sale to an experienced home later in the year.

 

In addition, and despite not having a regular rider since early 2006 and so only being ridden and competed infrequently, Brokat qualified for the 2007 Winter Regional Championships and was the only pony in his class!

 

 

December 2007

 

Bernwode Brokat became one of the prize winning sires in the 2007 Futurity Series standing 5th overall on the strength of his entered offspring who ALL achieved First Premium Status!   Rosewater Breant stood Champion Pony Foal at Catherston,  Bernwode Britvik was Reserve Champion pony foal at The Grange and Woodwalton Bhaltair was Champion 3yr old pony at Arena UK.  This was a huge achievement for a pony stallion whose stock led such established sires as Sambertino, Mooiman, Catherston Liberator and Catherston Dazzler to name a few!

 

 

September 2007

 

Bernwode ponies make an impression at the 2007 British Dressage Sheepgate Under 25s Championship 2007. In particular, it was Bernwode Dimitri's first outing where he placed 3rd overall throughout the novice classes on over 71%. Dimitri then attempted the FEI Team and Individual tests and, although obviously green at this level, achieved a very credible 10th place on his combined scores! This shows great promise for the future as he was competing against the majority of the 2007 European Team including two reserves and two further previous European Team ponies!

 

In addition, out in Germany, at the 2007 Bundeschampionships, Handsome Boy, Bernwode Mandy's grandson by Hasco out of her daughter, My Girl by Nevado, became the 2007 6 year old Bundeschampion jumping pony ridden by Laura Klaphake.

 

 

August 2007

 

All Bernwode Brokat progeny attending the BEF Futurity Series gain First Premiums. One of these was Bernwode Britvik who gained the excellent score of 8.5. Contributing to this were an outstanding 9.5 veterinary mark and 9.0 for conformation.

 

 

July 2007

 

The Bernwode Brokat son, Woodwalton Bhaltair, won the 3 year old gelding class at the British Dressage Breeding Championships and was placed second overall throughout the 3 year old classes. An impressive result as he was competing against much larger horses ('Balti' is only 15hh) the majority of which were continental imports rather than British Bred. At the same event, Sarah Eberle’s Brokat colt foal, Rosewater Breant, won the Pony Colt Foal class going on to become Champion Foal and Reserve Champion throughout the brood mare and pony age classes.

 

 

 June 2007

 

Bernwode Britvik, a colt from highly proven German lines by Bernwode Brokat X Bernwode Dorina was born on the 5th June. The stud is delighted with this very correct, big moving colt. Dorina previously produced a son in Germany by Brokat’s sire, Brillant, who won the Weser Ems stallion licensing and was selected for the high performance sales at Vechta. This stallion sold to Ireland as the top priced pony and appeared on the Irish Team at Blarney the following year. We look forward to watching these successful bloodlines progress in the same way through Britvik.