Top: Guests enjoying hospitality which raised funds for the Devon & Somerset Staghounds; Above left: Michael Scott presenting stallion It's Without Doubt for the Stallion and Youngstock Parade; Above Middle: Michael Scott and It's Without Doubt; Above right: Diana Scott's commentary and the presentation of four year old, Sunley Affaere

Exmoor's Finest - Brendon Hill Stallions on Parade

Guests were treated to a parade of superb stallions and top quality youngstock at the Brendon Hill Stallions Open Day on Sunday. Glorious weather blessed the gathering and provided a delightful backdrop to the sight of the mares and recently born foals cavorting on the summer pasture surrounding the farm house.

The Stud has been in operation for nearly forty years and, while originally breeding horses with the required stamina for the hunting field, also has three Olympic horses to its credit. Priceless competed at Los Angeles, Schiroubles at Barcelona and Sir Toby at Sydney. The success of the Stud, managed by Diana Scott (Joint Master of the Devon & Somerset Staghounds) and her son Michael, is largely due to the legendary stallion, Ben Faerie, who has sired winners of Badminton and Burghley, as well as World and European Champions. Three of the four stallions standing today link directly back to Ben Faerie - and this year's Badminton winner, Pippa Funnell's Primmore's Pride, is from a Ben Faerie mare.

The day started with a well attended fundraising lunch for the Devon and Somerset Staghounds and was followed by the Stallion and Youngstock Parade, after which there was a collection for the Air Ambulance, which raised almost £700. The Air Ambulance provides an extremely valuable service to all hunting and riding people on Exmoor and there is immense gratitude for what they do. All four stallions, Its Without Doubt (by Welton Louis out of Doubtless, by Ben Faerie), Hot Rumour (by Ben Faerie out of Paprika, by Armagnac Monarch), Ben's Affaere (by Ben Faerie out of Regal Lock, by Royal Vulcan) and Future Role (by Rolfe out of Enchanting Kate, out of Enchantment), were on top form and their condition and turnout was a credit to the stud team.

There was an impressive line up of youngstock, including yearlings Brendonhill Hamish, who enjoyed much success at County Level when shown last year; Brendonhill Positive, a superlative bay filly by Its Without Doubt out of Faerie Diadem (by Ben Faerie) - who is certainly one to watch; Brendonhill Torrid, a bay gelding by Hot Rumour out of Morebath Brownie; and William, a chestnut gelding by Future Role out of Martines Maid. Two year olds included Catherine Lacey Smith's Indian Runner, a 3/4 bred bay filly by Hot Rumour, out of Old Speckled Hen; Dunkery Florin, a substantial 3/4 thoroughbred 1/4 shire bay gelding by Ben's Affaere out of Dunkery Frolic, owned by Joanna Webber; Dinka, a bay filly by Its Without Doubt, out of Hendersyde Africa and Spring Role, a bay filly by Future Role out of Certain Springsong. The three and four year olds beautifully demonstrated these strong and elegant bloodlines and the line up included Brendonhill Fable, a chestnut mare by Its Without Doubt, out of Cornish Legend; Somerset, a chestnut gelding by Its Without Doubt; Perfect Partner, a chestnut gelding by Future Role out of Castelano Lady; Sunley Affaere, a bay gelding by Ben's Affaere out of Sunley View; and Little Rumour, a bay gelding by Hot Rumour out of Evita May.

Brendon Hill Stallions is enjoying considerable success in producing consistent performers for eventing, as well as Grand Prix dressage, and many of these youngsters are destined for great things if the achievements of preceding progeny is anything to go by. A number of the horses featured in the parade are currently offered for sale to competition riders who can fulfill their potential. The sales list can be viewed - CLICK HERE

Although we are still only in March, the first foals have already arrived at Brendon Hill.

Philadelphia produced her third beautiful foal, a bay filly by Ben’s Affaere. She looks as promising as her full brother Brendonhill Hamish and we have high hopes of her future. She will, hopefully, go to the Devon County Show for her first outing.

Coogee Bay has produced her first foal, a filly by Its Without Doubt. This is a sweet and very quality foal who will also be taken on some early outings to the show ring for a little early education.

The third foal, so far is from Mrs Michelmore’s Certain Springsong (by Its Without Doubt) who has had a lovely strong chestnut colt by Ben’s Affaere. The dam was an intermediate event horse before retiring to the paddocks.

Philadelphia & Brendonhill Hamish
Brendon Hill Stallions had a really successful day at Exford Horse Show on Wednesday 11 August. The Small Hunter brood mare, Philadelphia, won the Local and the Small Hunter Class and her foal, Brendonhill Hamish, by Ben's Affaere, won both his Foal classes and went on to win the Foal Championship and Ben Faerie Cup.
In the Small Hunter Breeding Championship, Philadelphia was Champion and Hamish Reserve Champion, which was quite a feat.

Brendonhill Faerie Folie & Whitegates Thingy's Role
In the Small Hunter two year old class, Brendonhill Faerie Folie, by Its Without Doubt, was second and in the Small Hunter three year old class, Anne Hosegood's Whitegates Thingy's Role, by Future Role, won and went on to take the Supreme Championship of the show.

Coogee Bay
Michael showed his brood mare, Coogee Bay, in the Riding Horse/Hack Brood Mare class and was placed second. This was a promising result with this mare, now in foal to Its Without Doubt.

Thingy's Role
He also showed Anne Hosegood's Riding Horse 3 year old, Thingy's Role, by Future Role, who also achieved second in a very strong class.

Event rider, Caroline Prickett, has been flying the flag for Brendon Hill, with recent successes on Brendonhill Macbeth. This young horse, in his first year competing, has won at Amersham & Cleobury Mortimer. He is homebred by Future Role out of Double Trouble, a full sister to Its Without Doubt.

Only this week, Caroline has been back to purchase his 3 year old full brother, Brendonhill Doublet and last autumn, she bought Brendonhill Legend, by Its Without Doubt, out of Cornish Legend, who will hopefully come out next year.

Brendonhill Macbeth by Future Role
Ridden by Caroline Prickett

The stud had a very successful outing to the Devon County Show recently. The brood mare, Philadelphia, by Dr Wall, was second in the Small Hunter Brood Mare class and her foal, Brendonhill Hamish, won his Foal class. Philadelphia is on loan to Michael from Mrs G Dogson, who was there to witness her mare's success. Brendonhill Hamish has already been sold to an eventing home and his new owner was also there to see his win. This was Hamish's first appearance in the show ring.

Also on the day, Above Suspicion, by Its Without Doubt, won the Local Ridden Hunter class. He was bred by the late Marjorie Kelly out of a hunter mare and is now owned and ridden by Biddy Peck.

Brendonhill Hamish by Ben's Affaere
Winner of his Foal Class

Brendon Hill Stallions is pleased that the Ben Faerie bloodlines continue with major success even after the stallion's death in 1997. Last year the winner of Burghley, Primmore's Pride, was his grandson and his son, Walk on Star, ridden by Pippa Funnell, went on to win the team gold and individual bronze medal in the European Championships.

Furthermore, Walk on Star was then voted top British Bred Competition Horse. This was particularly pleasing because his owners, Nick and Barbara Walkinshaw, had sent the horse to Brendon Hill Farm to do some hunting after Pippa felt he was not that confident across country in wet or heavy going. He hunted with the Devon & Somerset Staghounds for two or three months and then went on to win Saumur and Bramham Three Day Event in that same year.

The Walkinshaws have recently bought a three year old, Bramble, from us in the hope that he will be as successful as Walk on Star in the future. (Watch this space!). This young horse is by Future Role out of Faerie Diadem, an advanced Ben Faerie mare and is currently being produced by Pippa Funnell.

Far left, Pippa Funnell on Bramble, owned by the Walkinshaws Middle, Bramble, the Walkinshaw's three year old by Future Role Left, Ben Faerie mare Diadem with foal at foot

The stud also had major successes in the show ring last summer with wins at the Devon County, Royal Cornwall, Dunster and Totnes, to name but a few. A foal by Ben's Affaere won at the Midlands In Hand Show and another by Its Without Doubt won the foal Championship at Exford Show.

Its Without Doubt is a British bred stallion who has sired Dressage winners at Grand Prix level, who include Walter out of a shire mare and Sir Toby, an Olympic event horse. This is a very rare and possibly unique feat in British breeding today. His son, Doubtless William, has just completed Badminton in 31st place, which was some feat in the appalling weather conditions.

The stud is pinning its hopes on keeping the monumental success of the Ben Faerie bloodlines in his two sons, Hot Rumour and Ben's Affaere, plus his grandson, Its Without Doubt. There are also four top class Ben Faerie brood mares on the stud who will ensure the continuation of this valuable line.

The stud, established for nearly forty years, is hoping for another season this year to follow on from the previous successes - with perhaps another Olympic horse amongst the youngsters in the field waiting to grow up...

BRENDON HILL STALLIONS - HOME PAGE
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Brendon Hill Stallions
Brendon Hill Farm, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0LJ
Telephone: Diana Scott on 01398 371481 - email brendonhill@btinternet.com
Telephone Michael Scott on 01398 371254 - email mike@brendonhill-stallions.co.uk