Brendon Stud prepares to downsize operation

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)

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