Life at Longacres Stud with Samara Fly
Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Mandy Sanderson and together with my partner Alan Rowland, we run Longacres Stud, based on the Lancashire/Yorkshire borders, a small place called Whitworth.
I have been involved in the equestrian world for well over 40 years (my goodness, am I that old!?) both as a competitor (show jumping) and now as a breeder. I spent time in Germany, learning their training and breeding techniques before importing some top quality breed lines.
At Longacres Stud we aim to breed quality sport horses for the dressage and showjumping market. Our resident stallion, Samara Fly, (Eric to his mates) is now 6 this year and competing successfully BD together with his young rider Alex Ingoe Topham. Samara Fly came to us as a 2-year-old, as we sold our previous stallion Emir who is now in Australia. It was only by chance we spotted him advertised as we were coming into the breeding season with no stallion. Panic had set in for me at this time as I feel there are a lot of colts out there for sale who are not stallion potential.
After a long, long chat with Sally from Brackenspa Stud and me saying if I come all this way to you and he is not what you say he is, I will not be happy!!!! True to her
he was presented to the German Zfdp for stallion grading at Moulton College. He got his Grading and was the youngest stallion in the UK to gain a grading with them. Now into backing and riding we went! Taking everything in his stride, but had to for the first few weeks of riding out have his comforter with him, which was Alan walking at the side of him, when Alan stopped, he stopped. Try as I might though, I could not get Alan to trot uphill! So that was how we ended up being rid of Eric’s comforter.
Samara Fly AES Stallion Grading 13.4 11 Fully Graded Stallion!
Our fourth year saw Eric going into training with his young rider, Alex Ingoe Topham. They train together 2 or 3 times a week depending on how busy I am with the Stud. I hack
word, he was all she said he was and so he came home with us. For me when I saw him, he had that ‘Look At Me’ presence, something I believe a stallion must have, I did feel he was a little small but at only 2 years old, I was willing to take the chance he would grow. He did and he is 17hh now! He also had a fantastic temperament and a nothing-upsets-me outlook on life. By Sambertino out of a mare by Tullibards Shakespeare, I thought he
could go either way, into dressage or eventing, well he jumps like a stag and moves like a dream. A dressage career for you, boy! His first covering season as a 2-year- old we covered our own mares and a couple of friends’ mares. He took to covering in hand as though he had done it all before, in fact I think he has been here before the way he picks things up, he is so quick to learn! We call him our Grammar School Kid. His 3rd year came and
loose jumping Eric
him out when he is not on a training day or competing. He ended his first year of competitions on 50 BD points, qualified for the Pet Plan regionals finishing 7th, qualified the Novice regionals finishing 8th. That year our top score was 77%.
We went off to Addington Manor in April 2011 for the Anglo-European Studbook Stallion Licencing. He got his full breeding licence and was the only stallion in the Dressage section to gain a full licence that day! The judges’ comments were “We believe this young stallion has the potential to go to Grand Prix.” They also paid compliments to his young rider Alex and found it hard to believe she was only 16 years old. We had a very busy covering season last year 2011 which saw Eric covering some days before we went out competing.
Our season finished in 2011 with him having qualified for Badminton Young Dressage Horse Of The Future, finishing 7th at Badminton House in the high performance stakes, qualified regional championships at Elementary finishing 11th in a class of 60. He qualified for the Pet Plan in Medium but was unable to attend due to other commitments. He finished his dressage season on 150BD points with many wins at Elementary and Medium.
I will, in future editions, keep you updated on the start of our breeding season and more in depth information on our competitions and everyday life at Longacres Stud including a look at our breeding mares and their youngstock.
Mandy, Eric and all at Longacres Stud
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk
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