Northern stars

Becky Murray investigates the health of breeding in Scotland, and finds there is much to be excited about

- Becky Murray

WHILE Scotland is known for its beautiful landscapes and as the home of golf and, of course, the Shetland pony, should we be adding sport horse breeding hotspot to its accolades? With several studs having grown from small family farms in the heart of Scotland to breeders of top international horses, it seems the country has made a significant mark on the breeding map.

Nestled in Aberdeenshire on the northeast coast is Caroline and Gordon Ironside’s Moray Firth Stud (MFS), breeders of eventers, showjumpers and dressage horses. Caroline says they launched the stud, which was established in 1996, as “hobby breeders”.

“We had just a couple of horses back in the day, and — knowing what I do now — the quality we had then was really riding club types,” says Caroline. “In 1999 we went to the VDL Stud in the Netherlands and looked at more than 300 colts. We picked one and they told us to take care of him as he was going to be a good one.”

It was that KWPN colt, MFS Royal Geneve (Silvio II x Ahorn Z), who became the foundation of the stud’s breeding programme. The stallion achieved grading with the British Bavarian and Scottish Sport Horse studbooks, showing a promising future in dressage with rider Jo Barry, but sadly died in 2006 following colic surgery.

Over time Caroline grew the stud, seeking quality mares in the likes of Elegan-Zitchy (Jazz x Ferro), Willisa Rosa (Emillion x Damiro B) and full sister to KWPN stallion Vivaldi, Chirana-Utopia (Krack C x Jazz). As Caroline retained fillies along the way, the stud has an established herd of 18 mares, alongside Hanoverian stallion MFS Don Aqui by Don Bosco x Gardeulan II, and Holstein stallion MFS Cayden HH by Contender x Caretino.

“We’re at the stage of breeding and keeping our own young mares because they are, we hope, of good enough quality,” says Caroline.