"Happy New Year, everyone! It hardly seems like a year since I started blogging for H&C, an experience that took me and many of my readers into unfamiliar territory, but hopefully bringing thought provoking information to you.

Round broodmares

At this time of year while the breeding mares get ever rounder with the foals for 2011, and the stallions prepare for the competitions and stallion shows, we as a stud look back on the previous business status deciding how the economy is going to work for us during the coming year. These are unpredictable times with so many changes implemented by the new government affecting small business, we have to ensure our out goings don't exceed our incomings. As always, the advertising budget is set first so we decided on a one off full page in the Horse Deals' January Stallion issue. We figure most breeders will buy this edition for referance further on into the 2011 season

Will there be an International bidding market in the UK?

For us, life goes on we embrace and deal with the challenges. The equestrian breeding industry in the UK has a lot of growth potential and there is still work in the international market to do, as we found with Santana hfd. In 2010 we did not believe he would make his maximum retail value if he was sold from a UK yard so he was sent to the Equine Elite Auction in Holland where he made the highest price with showcase status on EuroDressage. Ironically, he was sold to an English buyer. We hope one day that these horses have an International bidding audience in the UK of this standard. This ambition starts with the breeders having access to correct information and education with affordable services and semen from world class stallions able to improve the gene pool.

An influx of enquiries

As the New Year begins, as always we have an influx of enquiries ranging from stallion owners who wanting semen freezing and phantom training, breeders with pregnant mares trying to book foaling places and youngstock owners who have their rising three-year-olds to break. With every stable full and still some youngstock in the field, we have a long waiting list way into the summer months for stallions, mares and youngstock. Despite the daunting cutbacks forecast for 2011, our breeders seem to be doing well and getting on with future plans.

A stallion parade for Mooiman and Oliver HFD 

January brought an invitation to take Mooiman hfd, Oliver hfd and our new coloured warmblood stallion Spyder hfd to the stallion parade at Myerscough College in February. This has proved a highly successful, affordable event and with studs invited to put display stands up, it adds to the atmosphere. It provides a stage for breeders to access owners and field questions on the day to stallion owners. The parade is only open to approved stallions. Stud books use many differant terms when refering to a stallion that has been successful at his stud book inspection: Licensed, graded,accepted are some of those used. These terms refer to particular sections of a stud book acceptance but they all mean the stallion has been successful at his grading for breeding status. I take it that in doing this, the organisers confirm their support of stallion inspections as a yard stick for quality assurance at their stallion parade.

Holden Fold experts  

Holden Fold Stud is unusual in that it houses experts in several fields. We have the breeding station; DEFRA approved international collection centre (which attracts the stallion owners who not only want to have semen frozen but they also want the semen eligible for international shipping); we have the lab and technical equipment for phantom training; walk in collections; semen analysis and shipping; there's the large foaling bays with CCTV for the mares in foal; the training barn where we break/train and compete ours and clients horses; then of course there is myself as an International grand prix dressage rider/trainer. I not only currently train and compete my International grand prix stallion Mooiman hfd, but I spend time supporting the apprentices and liveries working with the young horses' training programmes and competition schedules. 
 
This wide range of skills complements each other. For example, when you have not only ridden but also trained a stallion from novice to International grand prix winning status, much intelligence can be used when developing breeding goals, youngstock assessments, advising clients on stallion behaviour and sporting potential. Likewise, the years foaling hundreds of mares encountering many complications and handling stallions creates a multi-skilled unit with a wide range of support services for our clients. 
 
Keep warm - spring is on its way. Health and happiness to you all for the coming year."