Latest from Horse & Hound in Brendon-stud

‘We were told he’d never jump again – we lost all hope’: top stallion defies the odds to win grand prix

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:41:08 +0000

British showjumper Graham Gillespie and the hugely successful stallion Warriors Glory jumped to a fairytale grand prix victory on (Saturday) 8 February.

The landmark win was a remarkable comeback for the 16-year-old stallion, known at home as Gorilla, who was retired from the sport in 2023 with a serious tendon injury.

“I’d only recently started riding him when the injury happened out in Vilamoura,” Graham told H&H. “It was quite bad and we didn’t have too much hope for him at that point.”

Gorilla’s owner and Graham’s business partner, Sean Cubitt, said, “Two vets told us he would never jump again. We found this company in Holland called Equi Laser and at first I thought, ‘That’s never going to work’. But we took him there for six weeks and they kept him for 14 months! The guy rode him every day, treated him like a normal horse, took him out into the field and lasered him every day.”

The innovative Equi Laser treatment is said to involve “five patented wavelengths” to “produce a combination of anti-inflammatory, pain relief and bio-stimulation of tissues, which causes regeneration”.

Graham Gillespie on Warriors Glory’s comeback: “What they did for him was incredible”

Graham started bringing the Brendon Stud-bred stallion (Warrior x Caretino Glory) back into work three months ago.

“What they did for him was incredible,” said Graham. “They were always very positive about his recovery.”

Graham’s first show back with Warriors Glory came at Oliva at the end of January before they stepped up to the CSI4* classes on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.

“He just did a lot of roadwork and hacking in the early days, then he did a few 1.30m classes at Oliva and he ended up finishing second in a 1.45m there,” said Graham. “By the time he came to Vejer, he was ready to rock and roll!”

“I’ve never given a fist pump in my life, but I had to let one go this time!”

In Saturday’s CSI4* Tesalia 1.45m small grand prix, Graham Gillespie and Warriors Glory swept to victory from an advantageous final draw in a high-calibre 13-way jump-off, edging ahead of French showjumper Penelope Leprevost and Djagger Semilly by 0.03sec. James Whitaker and Just Call Me Henry completed the rankings class podium in third.

“What a retirement!” said Sean of his horse’s remarkable comeback.

“There were a few good names in the jump-off,” said Graham. “We had a little plan drawn up and we managed to execute it. It was great. Diving through the finish with the screen on my right showing the green numbers was brilliant. I’ve never given a fist pump in my life, but I had to let one go this time!”

Warriors Glory has jumped successfully up to five-star level with a string of leading international riders and is now “back where he belongs” said Graham of the son of 2012 Olympic contender Warrior.

“Gorilla is just a winner – that’s what he’s always done, it’s his thing, so it’s great to be a part of his amazing journey once again.”

Graham has several other horses with him on the tour, including top ride, the 17-year-old Veneno, who will hopefully be back in grand prix mode this week, paving the way for a very exciting year ahead.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

(Image credit: Mackenzie Clark)

A long-awaited win and an incredible comeback in the battle for Olympic qualification

(Image credit: Mackenzie Clark)

‘Vets said he was finished’: horse who sliced tendon in plane accident comes back to World Championships

(Image credit: Mackenzie Clark)

Hundreds back call for change after Olympic rider has ‘probably the worst fall of my career’

(Image credit: Mackenzie Clark)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rise in UK elite horse auctions helping to show off ‘uncut British diamonds’

Becky Murray — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 19:33:01 +0000

A rise in the number of elite horse auctions is providing a platform to promote British breeding and boost the UK sales market.

New events have taken place this year including the Brilliance Horse Auction at London International Horse Show, the British Elite Sporthorse Talent (BEST) auction at Brendon Stud and the Scottish Sports Horse Auction at Rockrose Equestrian, in addition to existing sales at the Billy Stud and Bolesworth.

At the Brilliance Horse Auction, founded by William and Pippa Funnell and Chloe and Shane Breen, 10 horses sold – totalling £1,695,000 – to buyers from Saudi Arabia, the US and Europe. The top lot was eight-year-old mare Billy Etna, by Billy Congo, who sold for £300,000 to Belgium.

William Funnell, who started running the Billy Stud auctions in 2017, told H&H British breeding “has come a long way over the last 20 years”.

“Auctions are a good way to show European buyers that there are a lot of uncut diamonds here. And for us at Billy Stud, it’s a way to get our breeding and horses into the marketplace,” he said.

“For a buyer, the auction scenario is great because they can come and see 12 horses, they don’t need to pay for vettings and X-rays because it’s all done for them and if they don’t purchase, it doesn’t cost them anything.”

William added that when coming up with the Brilliance Horse Auction – which will run a second edition at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in July – they had to think about how to bring foreign buyers to the UK.

“By having the London International as a platform, people could do shopping over Christmas and watch the World Cup,” he said.

“It was one of the only ways I could see that we could get Americans or people from the Middle East to come to an auction here – that’s where we miss out, because in Europe anybody in Germany, Belgium, Holland or France can drive to an auction within three hours.”

Shirley Light of the Brendon Stud told H&H the BEST auction, which will return next autumn, was available to stream online and they had bidders from Europe and the US.

“I think auctions are brilliant for the UK horse market,” she said. “It’s about having an experienced team behind them and people trusting that team. For our auction, we had the horses stabled here for two weeks beforehand, so we made sure they were handled and exactly as described.

“The Brilliance team did a great job in London. I think running auctions alongside events is definitely the way to go.”

Sonya Cunningham of Rockrose Equestrian launched the Scottish Sports Horse Auction, which ran in September, because she believed the sales system in Scotland to be “broken”.

“We’ve got some great horses here so I thought, ‘Let’s get them in one place and make it worthwhile for people to come and see them.’”

You might also be interested in:

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘This country needs to grow a pair!’ New auction to promote British breeding

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

New sports horse auction aims to fix ‘broken’ sales system

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

‘This country needs to grow a pair!’ New auction to promote British breeding

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:10:42 +0000

“This country needs to grow a pair”, joked the organiser of a new open auction of youngsters aimed to boost British breeding.

Shirley Light of Brendon Stud in West Sussex is organising the BEST (British Elite Sporthorse Talent) auction this weekend (11-12 November). The 19 three-year-olds on offer include a few of her own, plus some bred by Shane Breen, Carron Nicol and Oakingham Stud, among others.

Shirley told H&H the idea “popped out of my head”.

“The aim is to promote British breeding,” she said. “It’s time this country grew a pair and put on a good sale like this!”

Shirley said her aim is for the sale to grow to be held at least once a year. She has started with showjumpers as those are the ones she breeds but does not want it to be restricted by age, discipline or location.

“All the auctions abroad work like this, ones that are open to everyone, and it’s time we realised that sales like this can be good, and that you don’t have to go abroad to buy good horses,” she said. “We breed and produce good horses; we know how to give them the right start in life; the first three years are so important.”

Free tickets are still available for the viewing day.

‘He’s the Ribena Kid!’ Horse whose life hung in the balance with tetanus shines at national championships

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 18:49:13 +0000

A horse whose life hung in the balance after he contracted tetanus – and who is nicknamed the Ribena Kid as that was used to help cure him – has come back to shine at the Bolesworth Young Horse Championships.

The Brendon Stud’s Regal Warratino finished fourth in the four-year-old final on 13 August, some 15 months after he was found lying stiff and unable to swallow at home.

The stud’s Shirley Light told H&H she thought “Zellow” would have to be put down that day.

“I wasn’t there but they rang me to say he was lying down and looked really weird,” she said. “I said ‘Touch his ears’, and he said ‘Oh god, they’re solid’. I thought it sounded like tetanus and asked if he could open his mouth. He said no, and that his eyes had rolled back into his head. I said ‘That’s tetanus’.”

Shirley called the vet and went straight back, to find Zellow “effectively blowing bubbles” as he was unable to swallow, and only able to walk about 10 strides at a time. Vet Ed Lyall, from Sussex Equine, arrived and confirmed it was tetanus.

“Then Ed put the stethoscope on him and said ‘I don’t know how but his heart rate is normal’,” Shirley said. “He’d walked 60 yards and looked like he’d done the Grand National, he was blowing that much, but his heart rate wasn’t up. Ed made some phone calls and said ‘I think we should give this horse a chance’. I’ll always give them a chance; all the time they’re fighting, I’ll fight with them.”

Zellow was given huge doses of anti-tetanus medication and antibiotics, and walked back to the yard, taking about two hours and 40 minutes to cover the 700-metre distance.

Once he was in, Shirley and her team hung a ladder horizontally in his barn, suspending feed and water buckets at different heights, so however his neck was positioned, he could eat and drink.

“He could move his jaw left to right but not open and close it,” Shirley said. “We fed him four times a day and it was almost like an old horse quidding, but he kept eating, and he didn’t go down.”

For the next nine days, Zellow stayed on his medication, with daily vet visits, while Shirley rang everyone she could think of to see if anyone knew of a horse who had survived tetanus.

“I couldn’t find one,” she said. “A few said they’d had them live for four or five days, one had one live nine days, but they’d all died.

“His heart rate and temperature were normal, which is really bizarre, but everywhere was solid, from head to tail, like he was filled with concrete.

“Then, at about 4am one night, I was watching a random vet programme on a random channel, about a vet in the Australian outback who had a cat come in with tetanus, and my ears pricked up. She didn’t know what to do so rang her dad, a retired vet, and he said ‘Bring the cat to me’, and she did and he fixed it. I googled her, contacted her and said ‘What did your dad do?’”

The vet replied to say her father had used dried nettle, magnesium and boswellia.

“Boswellia is anti-inflammatory but dig deeper and it’s frankincense,” Shirley said. “Those three wise men must have known something! It’s a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, and the vet said the magic ingredient was Ribena. I said ‘Ok, you’ve got me with that’, but it’s the vitamin C.”

Shirley fed Zellow the ingredients as advised, including half a litre of Ribena a day, for about two months.

“I sent my mother out shopping,” she said. “Once we knew he’d eat the Ribena, we were buying six to 10 big bottles at a time. We kept him on it, then on day 62, he was bucking round his pen, free and fresh and fixed.”

Zellow had gradually increased the amount he was eating rather than dropping, but it was that day he was found playing in the straw that Shirley knew he had turned the corner. He was soon able to go out, and he was moving and jumping as well as ever not too long afterwards.

Posted by on

“He came back in at Christmas and was backed, then he won the four-year-olds here with Ruby [Light, Shirley’s niece], and came fourth with Nicole Pavitt at Bolesworth.” she said. “It was unbelievable. I sent Ed the video and he said it was amazing and sent it to their internal medicine specialist, who was thrilled. They’d never heard of a horse surviving tetanus.”

Shirley added that the long-term ramifications are unknown, but more than a year on, the only sign Zellow shows is a tiny bit of membrane still across one eye. He suffered a badly cut heel this spring, which she said was worrying, but healed with no issues.

“And the rest, as they say, is history,” she said. “He’s the Ribena Kid now, and next spring I’m keeping him wrapped up in cotton wool!”

‘A dream come true’: first-timer completes Hickstead Derby three weeks after heart condition diagnosis

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 18:31:21 +0000

Morgan Shirley did not think she would get to jump this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, as she had not only been suffering from post-concussion syndrome this year, she has also recently been diagnosed with a heart condition.

But she and the Brendon Stud’s nine-year-old Envoy Merelsnest Z (Dime Bar) completed the famous course today, on what was both horse and rider’s first attempt.

“It was all a blur,” said Morgan, who gave the stallion a lovely ride. “I’m so lucky to be sitting on Dime Bar, he’s so brave.

“At the top of the bank, I just thought ‘Don’t look down!’ and he was so good off it, it gave me the confidence to wrap my legs round him for the rest of it.

“There’s nothing else like [jumping the Derby], I just love it, and I never, ever thought I’d jump it. It’s like a dream come true.”

Having recovered from her post-concussion syndrome, Morgan then found out about her heart condition at the South of England Show three weeks ago (10-12 June).

“They don’t actually know what it is yet; I’m seeing a specialist on Wednesday!” she said. “But it wasn’t going to stop me riding. Shirley [Light, of Brendon Stud] always said he was going to jump the Hickstead Derby, and I’d do it, and I never believed her.”

Shirley added that the Elvis Ter Putte stallion, whom she bought as an embryo, is half-brother to Harrie Smolders’ European silver medal-winning ride Don VHP Z, who was also produced by Brendon Stud.

“He’s really sensitive, but so, so brave,” Morgan said. “You couldn’t build a jump big enough for him — and we’ll definitely be back next year!”

Owner of mare loose on A23 appeals to thank lorry driver who helped save her

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:32:03 +0000

The owner of a brood mare who escaped on to a dual carriageway would like to find and thank the lorry driver whose quick thinking may have prevented a serious accident.

Brendon Stud mare Ganja was being weaned from her foal on Wednesday (21 October) when she made her way on to the A23, which runs past the stud on its way to Brighton, West Sussex.

Brendon’s Shirley Light told H&H the 15-year-old is an experienced brood mare who has had 10 or 11 foals weaned without any issues in the past.

“I think she just ran down the hill and ran out of room to stop, and went through the fence,” she said. “I don’t think she even attempted to jump.

“I was back at the stables watching the foals; we always do the easiest two first because they won’t do anything stupid, then we saw the traffic jam, and the mare cantering down the carriageway.

“I ran to the car, and turned into Lewis Hamilton!”

One of Shirley’s staff hurdled the central reservation and caught Ganja, who had been cantering coastbound but turned back.

Shirley took her back to the yard, where she was treated by a vet for cut back legs, and was lame in front, possibly from standing in a rabbit hole as she went through the fence.

“I led her off the road and it wasn’t till afterwards I realised I hadn’t thanked the driver; hadn’t even put my hand up,” she said. “She must have run out in front of him and he’d pulled across both carriageways to stop the traffic.

“It’s very probably down to him that I still have Ganja alive and no one was injured or worse. She did turn round, but would have gone straight into a car without him.

“I thought it would be really nice to find him and thank him; you never know, you can but try.”

Continues below…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Shirley Light: Now is the time to mend showjumping H&H Plus

H&H’s guest showjumping columnist considers what needs to happen to rejuvenate the sport we love

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘There’s never a dull moment’ — what makes Don VHP Z one of the world’s greatest horses?

The 15-year-old stallion Don VHP Z NOP, the ride of world number three Harrie Smolders, is one of the world’s

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Shirley said her family has lived at the stud for over 53 years and never known anything like the incident.

“It just goes to show, you never know what’s going to happen,” she said. “But luckily, I’ve got a great team; every single one of them was totally switched on.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Boost in facilities for riders in the south of England

Caroline Bankes — Mon, 18 May 2015 13:45:59 +0000

Equestrian facilities for riders in the south have been expanded following a major investment by an East Sussex competition venue.

Brendon Stud has put in a new outdoor arena, warm-up ring, refurbished its café and is planning to run more British Showjumping, British Dressage and eventing clinics at its Pyecombe training base.

The new Andrews Bowen all-weather arena installed will be officially opened at Pyecombe’s next show later this month (28-30 May).

The new 90mx60m arena measures 130m x 75m when the extended grass surface is included.

The arena has been built to enable competitions to be run on both surface and grass.

A devils dyke, two smaller banks and a set of steps and water splash have been built on the new arena.

On the grass the main grass derby bank and the traditional double of water ditches remains.

An all-weather track has been installed to enable arena eventing competitors jump in both the new and existing arena.

The venue is run by Caraleen Light, alongside her mother, Valerie, and three sisters.

Her mother has been running shows at Brendon Stud for 50 years, after she set up the business as a riding school.

The new facilities have “cost a lot of money” admitted Mrs Light. “But people want good ground for their horses,” she added.

At the launch show on 28-30 May the feature class on Saturday carries a prize of £2,000 for the winner of the area trial.

Other classes in the two all weather arenas include £150 1st prize newcomers and foxhunters each day, 1.35/1.40m £500 classes and a £200 five-year-old class.

The Abbey Road Olympic fence is coming to the show straight after Windsor.

This autumn eventing training clinics are taking place at Pyecombe with Gemma Tattersall, and others are hoping to run with Tina Cook and Mark Todd.

“We will be expanding more into BS, BD, eventing and showing events and want to hire out the facilities. The possibilities are endless because it is a very big arena,” Mrs Light told H&H.

Woodlander Dornroschen wins H&H Outstanding Mare Award

Alice Collins — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:00:09 +0000

At the British breeders’ awards dinner held at the City Grange Hotel in London on Saturday, 11 January, Woodlander Stud‘s Dornroschen came out on top in the Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award category.

The owner of Woodlander Stud, Lynne Crowden (pictured, with H&H’s managing editor Karen Spinner), bought Dornroschen (Dimaggio/Caprimond) in-foal from Brightwells Auction and the mare went on to produce the double World young horse champion, Woodlander Farouche.

Dornroschen herself is a successful international small tour horse and both she and Farouche are ridden by British European team medallist, Michael Eilberg.

In 2013, Dornroschen’s dam, Claire — owned by Mount St John stud — produced a full-brother. The chestnut colt was sold to the Eilberg family. Michael Eilberg is building up quite a dynasty from this talented mare-line.

Meacham Mambo No 5 (showing) and Jungle Bee (eventing) also received recognition for the quality and achievements of their offspring.

Services to breeding

The SEIB Meritoire for lifelong achievement in British breeding went to Professor Graham Suggett. He was the original British Equestrian Federation (BEF) director of breeding and started the BEF young horse evaluations and Futurity scheme.

Full list of award winners:

Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award

Winner – Dornroschen s: Dimaggio d: Claire. Breeder: Karen Hoerner. Owners: Lynne Crowden, Mr & Mrs Ferdi Eilberg

Runners Up – Jungle Bee s: Java Tiger d: Queen Bee. Breeder and Owner: Rosemary Search and Meacham Mambo No.5 s: Monte Carlo d: Trenawin Lorielle. Breeder and Owner: Lisha Leeman

South Essex Insurance Brokers Meritoire

Professor Graham Suggett

Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/BEF Certificates of Merit:

Showjumping foal – Millfield Pandora s: Pot Blue d. Pretty Woman. Breeder: Sue Jagger

Dressage foal – Simbambili s: Supertramp d: Cayenne D. Breeder: Alison Walton

Endurance foal – Shahkeira s: R Ali Bey d: Shahlua. Breeder: Jo Claridge

Sports pony foal – KMD Rialto s: Rembrandt DDH d: Stambrook Musicality. Breeder: Kirsty Millard

Showjumping yearling – Diamond Jubilee s: Je T’Ame Flamenco d: Liska D’Aurore. Breeder: Sandra Grose

Eventing yearling – Limited Edition XV s: Take it 2 The Limit d: Star Lady. Breeders: Mr and Mrs Steve Talbot

Endurance yearling – LA Ruben s: Ruadi d: Phyllidia. Breeder: Val Lancashire

Sports pony yearling – Sans Doute s: Jimmerdor de Florys d: Hilkens My Love Breeder: Anne Collins

Showjumping 2-year-old – Casanova Can’t Wait s: Casanova Du Domaine Z d: Utah. Breeder: Jonathan Roy Parrott

Eventing 2-year-old – Vorvashill Vertigo s: Grafenstolz d: Last Flame. Breeder: Kari Christopher

Endurance 2-year-old – LA Ruzaadi s: Ruadi d: Rozaani. Breeder: Val Lancashire

Sports pony 2-year-old – Woodlander Wales s: Woodlander Wavavoom d: Drysiog Helen. Breeder: Lynne Crowden

Eventing 3-year-old – Trewardale s: Grafenstolz d: Trecarne. Breeder: Preci-Spark Event Horses

Showjumping 3-year-old – Kannanball s: Kannan d: Brise de Maupertius. Breeder: Karen Niklasson

Endurance 3-year-old – DD Zafirah Bint Shuwaimar s: Shuwaiman Al Bahrain d: Open All Hours. Breeder: Carri Ann Dark

Sports pony 3-year-old – R S Socrates s: Sarkozy d: Shannon Valley Valencia. Breeder: Jo Wright

Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/BEF Futurity Eventing Championships Certificates of Merit

Foal & reserve champion – Trewitten s: Hand in Glove d: Treswigga. Breeder: Preci Spark Event Horse

Yearling – Carnmellyn Kings Law s: Kings Composer d: Laura Norder. Breeder: Katherine Downie

2yo & champion – Oakring Santino s: Sandreo d: It’s Sod’s Law. Breeder: Samantha York

3yo – Treneman s: Grafenstolz d: Treswigga Breeder: Preci Spark Event Horse

Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/BEF Futurity Awards

Foal award – Pentire Chilli Edge SHB(GB) s: Chilli Morning d: Heligan (s: Michael’s Revenge). Breeder and Owner: Chrissie Hogg

Yearling award – Keystone Rhea WBB-UK s: Keystone Rhondeo d: Donna Dino (s: Dimaggio). Breeder: Suzanne Lavendera Owner: Sally Barnes

2-year-old award – Woodlander Wild Child (BHHS) s: Woodlander Wavavoom d: Woodlander Farouche (s: Fuerst Heinrich). Breeders and Owners: Lynne Crowden, Geraldine Eilberg and Alison Walton

3-year-old award – GF Dusautoir (BHHS) s: Dimaggio d: Byzantia (s: Biotop). Breeder and Owner: Sandy Senior

British Eventing Young Horse Breeders Medals

4-year-old award – Mrs Helen Manns (Breeder) for Sea Admiral SHB (GB) s: Diamond Dancer d: Whimsical. Owner: Ms Helena Ashworth

5-year-old award – Mrs Sharon Bishop (Breeder) for Parkfield Quintessential (AES) s: Quicksilber d: Carino Biene S.Z. Owner: Mrs Sharon Bishop

6-year-old award – Hartpury College (Breeders) for Hartpury Sky Is the Limit (BWBS) s: Take It 2 The Limit d: Sammy Jo G. Owner: Miss Diana Brodie

7-year-old award – Gustavii Stud (Breeders) for Alkima GII (AES) s: Almi des Nids d: Drakima GII. Owner: Mrs Priscilla Newman

British Dressage Young Horse Awards

4-year-old award – Don Fulcher (BHHS) s: Daddy Cool d: Abraham (s: Rubinstein). Breeders: Littletree Dressage Owner: Jan Bennett

5-year-old award – Hawtins Delicato (BHHS) s: Diamond Hit d: Elite Ravenna (s: Regazzoni). Breeder: Judith Davis. Owner: Carl Hester MBE

6-year-old award – Sport Horse Centre Carilla (KWPN) s: Flemmingh d: Ozarills (s: Jazz). Breeder and Owner: Pat Ruck

British Showjumping Young Horse Awards

5-year-old award – Billy Yen (AES) s: Cevin Z d: Billy Dollar B (s: Kannan) Breeder and Owner: The Billy Stud

6-year-old award – Sebastians Dream (AES) s: Sebastian III d: Ocean Dreams (s: Special Graf). Breeder and Owner: Brendon Stud

7-year-old award – Bintang II (KWPN) s: Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve d: Orlalijn (s: Orlando). Breeder: Mr Edward Bleekman. Owners: Mr John and Mrs Laura Renwick

Sports Pony Studbook Society Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Catherston Nutsafe (BWBS) s: Catherston Nightsafe d: Catherston Dauntless (s: Dutch Courage). Breeder: Mrs Lizzie Murray. Owner: Miss Chelsea Pearce

Racehorse to Riding Horses Performance Championships

SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship – HOYS

Deep Reflection 2000 bay gelding, s: Cloudings (IRE) d: Tudor Thyne (IRE).Trained by Martin Keighley. Owned by Jason Newbold and ridden by Helen Newbold

Tattersalls Thoroughbred Show Horse Championship – Hickstead

Barbers Shop 2002 bay gelding, s: Saddlers’ Hall (IRE) d: Close Harmony. Trained by Nicky Henderson. Owned by HM The Queen and ridden by Katie Jerram

SEIB & RoR Elite Performance Dressage Awards

Champion: Schuh Shine (IRE) 1997 grey gelding, s: Roselier (FR) d: Naar Chamali (IRE). Trained by Venetia Williams. Owned and ridden by Karen Harrison

Reserve: King’s Silver (IRE) 2001 bay gelding, s: King Of Kings (IRE) d: Almi Ad (USA). Trained by N I M Rossiter. Owned and ridden by Rowan van Houben

SEIB & RoR Elite Performance Endurance Awards

Champion: Jack Dawson (IRE) 1997 bay gelding, s: Persian Bold d: Dream Of Jenny. Trained by John Berry. Owned by Paul Wright and Margaret Donnolly and ridden by Lorna Kidson

Reserve: See You Sunday 2005 grey mare, s: Baryshnikov (AUS) d: Shepani. Trained by Seamus Mullins. Owned by Sue Lees and ridden by Amber Barnicoat

SEIB & RoR Elite Performance Showjumping Awards

Champion: Tanktastic2002 bay gelding, s: Chaddleworth d: Honeybed Wood. Trained by Peter Hedger. Owned by Chris Tomkins and ridden by Isabelle Tomkins

Reserve: Petite Pistolet (IRE) 2002 bay gelding, s: Pistolet Bleu (IRE) d: Time In Life. Trained by Sean Regan. Owned and ridden by John Garrett

SEIB & RoR Elite Performance Eventing Award

Champion: Inishmor (IRE) 2004 grey gelding, s: Great Palm d: Kampa Island (IRE). Trained by Jeremy Scott. Owned by Ian Murray and ridden by Paul Tapner

Reserve: Valemount (IRE) 2003 bay gelding, s: Presenting d: Velsheda (IRE). Trained by Philip Hobbs. Owned and ridden by Dan Jocelyn

British Equestrian Federation European Award to the Highest Placed British Bred Horse in Team GBR at the FEI European Championships

Billy Congo – (AES) s: Vechta d: Billy Autumn (s: Animo). Breeder: The Billy Stud. Owner: The Billy Stud and ridden by William Funnell

Brendon Stud prepares to downsize operation

Flora Watkins — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:11:41 +0000

Brendon Stud is preparing for a significant stock reduction sale, following the death of its founder Cyril Light.

Cyril, who established the stud with his wife Valerie at Pyecombe, West Sussex, in 1965, died in September aged 82.

The business is headed by his daughters Shirley and Caraleen (Caz).

Shirley told H&H: “I always said I would downsize a little bit when Cyril was no more, to get it to a more manageable size.

“It would be nice to get it down to 100 horses. I have about 150 at the moment and there are 36 in the sale.”

The sale of youngstock and ridden horses, which takes place tomorrow (24 November), includes progeny of some of the stud’s leading sires, including Warrior, who jumped at the London Olympics with Azerbaijan’s Jamal Rahimov, and Unbelievable Darco, whom they lost to colic earlier this year.

There is also youngstock from this year’s Royal Windsor grand prix winner Don VHP Z (pictured), who was sold abroad in September, and ridden horses described as amateur rides.

“I have consciously put in some of my best horses,” said Shirley. “Probably the two with the most interest would be Warrior’s Gold [by Warrior] and the two-year-old by Don VHP Z, called Aire De Don.

“I have a few Don VHP colts so I can afford to sell one, although Lou [Louise Pavitt, stable jockey] said, ‘If we get beaten by him for the next five years, I’m going to kill you!’”

Brendon Stud, she added, is advertising for a stable jockey as Louise Pavitt is expecting her first child.

For more information: www brendonpyecombe.co.uk.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 November 2012)

Farewell to… Cyril Light of Brendon Stud

Flora Watkins — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:58:09 +0000

Cyril Light, founder of Brendon Stud, died on Monday morning (17 September). He was 82 and had been ill for some time.

He and his wife Valerie established Brendon, in Pyecombe, Sussex, in 1965.

With their daughters Shirley and Caraleen, they transformed the yard from a riding school into a stud, producing and standing some of the best stallions in the country, including Unbelievable Darco and Don VHP Z (pictured).

Mrs Light said: “We built it [our business] up from zero through to the Olympics.”

Azerbaijani rider Jamal Rahimov rode Warrior, produced by the Lights, at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Mr Light’s funeral will be held at The Downs Crematorium, Brighton on Tuesday, 25 September at 3pm.

The Light family say all are welcome at Hickstead Members at the Hickstead Showground afterwards, to celebrate his life.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (20 September 2012)

Showjumping stallion Don VHP sold to America

Flora Watkins — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:52:18 +0000

The Brendon Stud’s exciting young stallion, Don VHP has been sold abroad for a reported £3million.

“Paris”, who is by Diamant De Semilly out of a Voltaire mare, is understood to have gone to an American rider who is based with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

The eight-year-old stallion enjoyed a successful partnership with Louise Pavitt.

They won the grand prix at Royal Windsor in May and were fourth in the Hickstead grand prix in July.

In 2010, Don VHP was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) six-year-old champion. He was Grade C champion the following year.

Shirley Light of Brendon Stud had hoped to form a syndicate to keep Don VHP in the country. She bought him in Belgium as a two-year-old.

Her sister, Caz Light, posted on Facebook: “Caz here… The jungle drums can stop now. Yes, Paris has been sold and [is] now en route to Europe. Wish him all the best.”

What you didn’t know about… Don VHP Z

Horse & Hound — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:07:49 +0000

Shirley Light of Brendon Stud on the Royal Windsor showjumping grand prix winner.

Fact file

Stable name: Paris

Age: eight

Height: 17.1hh

Breed: Zangersheide Studbook

Sire: Diamant De Semilly

Owner: Brendon Stud

Rider: Louise Pavitt

Discipline: showjumping

Best results: HOYS 6yo champion 2010 and grade C champion 2011; Royal Windsor grand prix winner 2012

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Five things you didn’t know…

1 He loves having a fuss made of himand would never dream of kicking or biting.

2 He’s so laid-back that he’s been known to have a rest and fall asleep on the dummy mare on occasion.

3 He’s a typical teenager. He loves his bed and would happily sleep forever. He needs rocket fuel feed to liven him up.

4 Two of his yearling fillies have already jumped out over big hedges and fences, so he’s definitely passing on his jumping genes.

5 He gurns when you scratch him.

Read all the latest showjumping news

Are you looking to buy a showjumper? View our online database of horses for sale

Unbelievable Darco has died, aged 15

Charlotte White — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:31:58 +0000

The Brendon Stud’s stallion Unbelievable Darco has been put down, aged 15, after a colic attack.

The Darco son was a former H&H Foxhunter champion who won the Bunn Leisure derby tankard in 2008 and was also a successful and popular sire.

“Freddie” was put down in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“He will be forever missed but never forgotten,” said his owner Shirley Light. “He was a member of the family – a real gentleman and friend to us all.

“We’d had him since he was a foal. It’s really sad.”

The successfully stud competes a number of his progeny and a limited amount of semen is still available.