Latest from Horse & Hound in Woodlander-stud

End of an era for Woodlander Stud

Polly Bryan — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:16:32 +0000

Woodlander Stud’s Lynne Crowden has made the decision to step back from the business, and will hand over the day-to-day running of the stud and livery services to head rider Carsten Sandrock.

“I am now in my 70^th year and my husband Dave has been ill, and that really makes you value the time that you have. I’ve found myself too thinly spread trying to do everything,” Lynne, who also runs a recruitment business, told H&H.

Lynne will continue to breed and produce stallions and sport horses, on a smaller scale, and intends to stay active within the breeding industry.

“I’m not disappearing and I will still have mares at Woodlander Stud — I will be a customer of Carsten’s — but I don’t want to carry on with the same level of activity with it,” she said.

“Carsten has been with us for 11 years, and is the best person I know for dealing with horses. It’s like he can read their minds. The horses are like his children, his family, and this is so deserved.”

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Although stallions will still stand at the stud, Lynne plans to downsize her mare herd, with several top mares now available for sale as a result, as well a number of unbacked youngsters.

“I’d rather do embryo transfer with just a few really significant mares,” Lynne, the winner of this year’s Stallion AI Services Meritoire Lifetime Achievement award, explained. “Now we have become better at breeding, we can be successful with a smaller number of horses.”

Lynne and Dave have bred more than 400 foals and are known for their focus on the very best mare lines. Among the horses they have bred are the double world young horse champion Woodlander Farouche, and the champion stallions Woodlander Wavavoom, Woodlander Wild Child and Woodlander Wild Love (pictured).

“This is not a negative thing — I’m so blessed. We’ve had some amazing foals this year, and I could never stop breeding altogether,” added Lynne.

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‘I turned down a lot of money for Farouche — I wouldn’t do that again’: Lynne Crowden’s top tips for breeders

Polly Bryan — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 17:08:12 +0000

Woodlander Stud’s Lynne Crowden received the loudest cheer of the night at the 2018 British Breeders’ awards dinner in London (13 January 2018), when she was unveiled as the winner of the Stallion AI Services Meritoire Lifetime Achievement award, presented as recognition for a lifetime’s contribution to the breeding industry.

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Among Woodlander’s stars are the double world young horse champion Farouche, as well as the record-breaking home-bred stallion Wild Child, and the highest scoring Futurity entrant of 2017, Gloria.

Northamptonshire-based Lynne shares with H&H her advice for aspiring breeders.

1. Don’t waste your time with poor mares

“In the early days I wasted a lot of time with mares that weren’t good enough. The time is wasted both commercially and literally — you’re always getting older. I tried to talk up the mares I had and make the best of them, but that best simply wasn’t good enough.

“If you really can’t afford a very good mare, buy a really good foal instead. Spending the time waiting to breed from the foal won’t be time wasted.”

2. Know what you want to breed

“However much you love a mare, there’s no point breeding from her is she doesn’t have good pedigree, type and movement, and if she isn’t bred to breed what you want. You can’t try to breed a showjumper from a dressage horse — be clear about what you’re aiming to get.”

3. Think in generations

“You have to be able to look ahead, and learn from mistakes. I turned down an awful lot of money for Farouche (pictured, below) when she won at the world young horse championships, but if I could go back I wouldn’t turn it down again. For a breeder, you have to take your first profit and use it to carry on trying to make great fillies that are a development on the mares you have. That’s how you can continue breeding.”

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4. Focus on the foal

“If money is short, focus on breeding a fantastic foal that you can sell well, before you have to fund finding a rider and everything else that goes with it — a killer for all of us! Even if you don’t sell your foal for a huge profit, it can help you go on to breed the next one, and that’s your development.”

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5. Know your dam lines inside out

“Get to know your mare lines really, really well, so you are able to breed the sorts of horses you want. I don’t know why we so late to knowing mare lines in this country. I learnt it from thoroughbred breeding and the focus on ‘black type’ mares. If you want to sell a foal, it’s the mare that influences the price you get for a thoroughbred foal. I always knew it would be the same with warmbloods.”

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Young British rider lands the ride on Wavavoom [H&H VIP]

Martha Terry — Sat, 31 May 2014 08:00:50 +0000

British Young Rider Dressage Scheme member Bobby Hayler has landed the ride on Woodlander Stud’s Wavavoom.

“He is the ideal young rider’s horse with his wonderful temperament, and so generous,” said breeder Lynne Crowden, who owns the 8-year-old stallion.

“He was in training with Isobel Wessels and showed his potential for the higher level so we look forward to some fun.”

Bobby, 22, said she was “looking forward to seeing how far they could go”. The pair won an advanced medium qualifier at Keysoe on their debut earlier this month.

Woodlander Wavavoom was previously campaigned by Carsten Sandrock, Maria Eilberg and Leah Beckett. He is the sire of the 2011 futurity colt Woodlander Wild Child, whose dam is Woodlander Farouche.

First published in Horse & Hound magazine on 29 May 2014

Foals dominate the upper echelons at Keysoe Futurity

Horse & Hound — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:57:51 +0000

At the first of two days of Futurity Evaluations at The College, Keysoe, four Elite premiums were awarded, all to foals. Grafenstolz sired two Elite scoring potential eventers and the top six scores of the day were all foals.

Katy Holder-Vale’s Flammen D’or took the top score of the day for the Witcham House Farm Stud. This black dressage colt foal scored 9.21. He is by Flammengold, who is jointly owned by Katy and Volker Brodhecker in Germany. Flammen D’or’s dam is the Riccio sired, Raica.

Showjumping colt foal Grande Calvarma took an Elite score of 9.14. He is by Legrande, out of Calvados mare Parma and is owned and was bred by Samantha Williams.

Two Grafenstolz sired eventers took top honours in the eventing section. STX Muscovado scored an Elite premium of 9.04. He is owned by Vicky Laing and is out of Xucra De Foja by the Selle Francais Beau Harry.

Little Lion Man also scored an Elite for Jenny Gray-Wallis. This colt foal is out of Pembridge Copycat who is by Minstrel Star.

On day two, the last Futurity of 2011 the theme continued. Five foals attained Elite premiums, with Higher First premiums being awarded across the disciplines and age groups.

An Elite score of 9.39 was awarded to colt foal Corouet in the showjumping section. He has achieved the highest mark in the 2011 Futurity for a potential showjumper. He is by Balou Du Rouet, out of a Lovis Corinth mare. Event rider Sarah Bullimore bred and owns Corouet.

The Oldenburg colt foal Stallone was top of the dressage section at with an Elite premium of 9.18. He is owned and bred by Gloria Ann Smith and is by Sarkozy out of a Donnerschlag mare Coady Bay Villa.

Moorlands Totilas also sired an Elite premium foal, the filly Tantalize. She scored 9.14 also in the dressage section for owners, the Esberger, Woodcock and Hobson families. She was bred by Joanne Hobson and is out of the Hanoverian mare Delphi, by Dimaggio.

Le Parisur, a colt foal by Legrande took home a premium of 9.07 in the dressage section. He is owned and was bred by Fiona Coleman. Le Parisur is out of Rouletta, by Royal Angelo.

A sports pony, Bolero was top eventer of the day, with an Elite premium of 9.00 for owner and breeder Sarah Baker. This colt foal is by Bernwode Brokat, out of Welsh Pony and Cob Society registered, Grey Squirrel, by Grenadier 11.

For further information on the BEF Futurity Evaluations, visit www.britishbreeding.org

Three Elite Premiums awarded at Scottish Futurity

Horse & Hound — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:45:00 +0000

The 2011 Futurity at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre (SNEC) in West Lothian produced three Elite Premiums in the eventing and show-jumping sections — two for the same local stud. Several horses from across the disciplines went home with Higher First premiums.

The evaluators for the day, Polly Lochore and Lesley Peyton-Gilbert were very impressed by the high standard of entries.

Ben Wentink of the Scotland AI Service, in nearby Winchburg, had a very successful day. His colt foal Glen Nevis Scais (pictured) took the top mark of the day with an Elite of 9.07 in the eventing section. This KWPN colt is out of Oldenburg mare Chikalita, by Concetto and is by the young KWPN showjumping stallion Ben Nevis.

Ben said: “The sire’s damline is one of the best you can find in France, having produced many approved sons and with a good percentage of thoroughbred blood.”

The top showjumper at SNEC, Gamble Scais is also bred and owned by Ben. Gamble Scais is a colt foal by Campbell VDL. He is out of KWPN dam Jigeunerin, by Nimmerdor, and also took home an Elite premium of 9.07.

Tanganyika, another colt foal, also took an Elite premium for owner and breeder Elizabeth Agnew. He scored 9 in the eventing section. Tanganyika is by current highest ranking Futurity eventing sire Grafenstolz, out of thoroughbred mare Hendersyde Limpopo, by Its Without Doubt.

Three-year-old filly, Craigmanchie Tango was awarded a Higher First premium of 8.82 in the eventing section for owner Sarah Swannie. She is by Craigmancie Gold, out of a Proud Knight mare, Craigmancie Tara.

“It’s a long drive from Orkney but worth it,” said Sarah. “This filly also scored a Higher First premium as a two year old in Aberdeen last year”.

Ben Wentink’s Lancelot sired Gancelot Scais took 8.75 in the show-jumping section. He is a colt foal, out of Darina by Cardento and top dressage scorer of the day was Liz Anne Dobson’s three-year-old filly Debonaire Way with 8.75. She is by Depardieu, out of Sunley Way by Sunley Builds.

For further information on the BEF Futurity Evaluations, visit www.britishbreeding.org

Seven Futurity Elite scores in a day at Solihull 2

Horse & Hound — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:21:54 +0000

The 2011 BEF Futurity continued on Friday at Solihull 2. There were seven Elite scores awarded across the eventing and dressage sections.

Competing stallion and Burghley 2011 entrant Chilli Morning sired the top two Elite premium scorers of the day and the Woodlander Stud also had two youngsters attain Elites.

Early Morning took the highest score of the day for Nick Gauntlett. This colt foal by the Phantomic (TB) son Chilli Morning scored 9.21 in the eventing section. Early Morning is out of the thoroughbred mare Tenderfoot, by Be My Chief.

Filly foal Tretinney took an Elite score of 9.07 also in the eventing section. She is owned and was bred by Vin Jones of Preci-Spark and is also by Chilli Morning, out of Treliffick, who is by Hand In Glove.

The Woodlander Wavavoom sired Woodlander Wonderful World took an Elite of 9.04 in the dressage section for Lynne Crowden. This filly foal was the fifth Woodlander Wavavoom foal to take an Elite award in the 2011 Futurity. Woodlander Wonderful World is out of Dulicema by Don Davidoff.

Two-year-old Rosie Green attained an Elite of 9.04 in the eventing section for breeder Robert Lindsay Parkinson. She is by thoroughbred sire Green Card, out of Criminal Law mare Law-Wood Rosabelle.

Azikiwe, another eventer, also scored 9.04, this two-year-old gelding is owned by Dr Carol Brawn and was bred by the Picanini Stud. He is by Dalcotes Kreighoff and out of Lux Z mare, Nkwezi.

Darlingscott, a three-year-old dressage filly achieved an Elite of 9. She is by Jazz, out of Promisses by Flemmingh. Darlingscott is owned by Michelle Dawson and was bred by Nicola and Sam Burton.

The Woodlander Stud took the final Elite of the day with Woodlander Betty Boo, a two-year-old filly. She is by Benetton Dream out of St Pr Limoncello, by Londonderry. She scored 9 for Lynne Crowden in the dressage section.

For further information on the BEF Futurity Evaluations, visit www.britishbreeding.org

World champion Woodlander Farouche’s colt foal breaks records

Horse & Hound — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:37:06 +0000

Six Elite premiums were awarded yesterday at the 2011 Baileys Horse Feeds/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity at Solihull (1), four of which came from the Woodlander Stud.

An embryo transfer colt foal out of the recently crowned five-year-old world champion dressage horse, Woodlander Farouche, achieved the highest score ever awarded in the Futurity. Woodlander Wavavoom, an up-and-coming dressage stallion, sired a whopping three of the six Elite foals.

Woodlander Wild Child (pictured), a chestnut colt by Woodlander Wavavoom, out of Woodlander Farouche (by Fuerst Heinrich) showed his potential with an Elite premium score of 9.79 in the dressage section for breeders Lynne Crowden, Alison Walton and Ferdi Eilberg. He follows in his mother’s footsteps with a perfect 10 score for his walk.

Another dressage colt foal, Woodlander Wirginia Plain scored the second highest Elite of the day with 9.18 for Lynne Crowden. He is also by Woodlander Wavavoom, out of the Hanoverian dam St Pr Savanah (by Sao Paulo) – also dam of the approved stallion Woodlander Rockstar.

A Grafenstolz colt foal, Tredegar, scored 9.18 in the eventing section. Tredegar, owned by Vin Jones of Preci-Spark is out of a Bolivar mare, Trebetherick, an advanced eventer who has completed Badminton.

The Elite score of 9.18 was awarded to another Woodlander dressage colt foal: Woodlander Freddy M, who is by For Compliment, out of Elite Dornroeschen (by Dimaggio), who is Farouche’s mother. He was bred and is owned by Lynne Crowden and the Eilberg family.

Sports pony eventer, Woodlander Wagalina scored an Elite premium of 9.14. This filly foal is also by Woodlander Wavavoom, out of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society registered Synod Galina (by Synod Rum Punch). She is owned by Lynne Crowden.

The final Elite of the day went to Larkshill Rheindancer, a dressage filly foal by Sarkozy, out of Larkshill Rheindayla (by E.H Hohnestein). She scored 9.00 for Heather Stack of the Larkshill Stud.

Head of Equine Development at the BEF, Jan Rogers said: “It’s very exciting to see the progeny of these hugely talented horses brought forward for evaluation. The considered, long term plans of British breeders are delivering.”

For further information on the BEF Futurity Evaluations, visit www.britishbreeding.org