Making dreams a reality

Is it a case of first, second or even third time lucky for small-scale breeders? Jennifer Donald chats to successful multi-generation producers to find out when they struck gold

- Jennifer Donald

BREEDERS are the backbone of our sport, with passionate equestrians up and down the country hoping to produce the next superstar. But success doesn’t come easily, so what are the benefits of producing several generations of a dynasty, and what can be learned from that?

From a sheep farm in Wales, father and son Martyn and Mark Edwards have been conjuring jumping genes for showjumper Mark to ride. Through to the current fifth generation, an impressive tally of prolific home-breds has emerged, including his grand prix stars Montreuxs Tale, Tinkers Tale and Flying Tinker II, who has amassed more than £70,000 in prize money.

Martyn, formerly a leading showjumper himself, was the pioneer 25 years ago, setting the wheels in motion with his top horse Flying Mamma becoming their foundation mare.

“Starting out, you have big dreams and you think every foal is going to be a world beater, but in the early days our aim was just to breed something as good as we possibly could,” says Mark. “The first crop were actually a bit disappointing in a way, but they had foals as three-year-olds and it was that next generation that proved good. They in turn started to breed better ones.” Martyn have learned is to be “a lot more picky” with their breeding stock, and they currently have two breeding mares.

“In the beginning every filly had a foal at three and a lot were on the small side, but we’re more selective about the type we use now,” explains Mark, who also uses the best colts they produce for breeding before gelding them when they start their jumping careers. “The breeding mares have to have a bit of size and scope. It’s made a huge difference.