John Rose, the respected stud manager, breeder and producer died on 27 August aged 77.
John spent his early years in France working for Jean-Paul Guerlain, with his wife Dawn, moving back to the UK in 1979. The couple were a great partnership with complementary skills and knowledge.
John worked at Catherston Stud for Jennie Loriston-Clare from 1979 to 1984 as assistant stud manager, then moved to Warwickshire College to be stud manager and a course tutor to equine students until 1988.
John and Dawn then moved to Broadstone Stud, with John as stud manager helping create the renowned stud for Liz and Tom Walkinshaw. They enjoyed many successes in the 10 years they were there, breeding successful competition horses and standing seven stallions including Demonstrator.
John was best known for his successes in the show ring. These included numerous in-hand championships and supreme titles with different horses at the leading county shows, including the Royal Show.
The urge to return to France took John and Dawn back to Normandy in 2003, when they retired to breed more of their own horses. They returned to the UK to settle in Gloucestershire in 2011.
John was a proficient rider and had a great eye for a horse. He could pick as foals the ones that would go on to showing success. He enjoyed passing on and sharing his knowledge with others.
He wrote two books with Sarah Pilliner (now Hamlyn); Practical Stud Management, and Breeding the Competition Horse, which have both stood the test of time.
John had a great passion for cooking and his Sunday lunch was a treat not to be missed.
He is survived by his wife Dawn and will be missed by his many friends.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
