Draught will always dig deep and keep going.” One Irish Draught that stands in high demand at Thorpeley Stud and has a special place in Bruce’s heart is ‘Cos me is Black’ Aka ‘The Black Horse’, that is owned by Bruce’s mum and shown by his Aunty Jenny. “He has been Side saddle National Champion for two years running and under me, is the first stallion to complete all three Melton Hunt rides, the Silver Spur and this year was the first stallion ever to complete the infamous, Ledbury Golden Button Challenge!” Bruce’s love of the Cleveland Bay dates to his childhood when his
father bought him a Cleveland Bay x Thoroughbred. “We called him the ‘Mad Monk’ due to his thick black mane”, recalls Bruce fondly. “I always liked the breed as a make and model and Aunty Jenny also shared my passion.” Aſter a freak but fortunate set of circumstances Bruce welcomed a
carrying Cleveland Bay mare and her colt to the stud. “The breeder called up and said she was done and offered me the full package aſter we had shown an interest at Equifest”, says Bruce. “We bought the lot and still have the mare whose offspring I named aſter the beautiful and perhaps not, totally available woman that had blessed my path at the time!” Bruce’s other, and perhaps more surprising passion for the robust
Suffolk Punch began aſter a good friend, Robert Lambert introduced him to the breed. “Rob is, (and he won’t mind me saying this) a big ol lad and was working as a groom for the Suffolk Punch Trust”, explains Bruce. “At first, I thought I would humour him and went and had a look, I then went on to Gateridge Stud where I spotted a nine-year-old stallion called Craikhow Hall Jenson and I instantly fell in love. I walked straight in the paddock and asked for a leg up and the
breeder said ‘no, no, no he has never been sat on, he is only a breeding animal!’ I instantly thought……nine years old, never been ridden, only been used for breeding…. This horse has me all over it!” Conformationally, Craikhall Hall Jenson had it all going on. “In my
eyes I hadn’t bought a Suffolk, I had bought a heavy man’s hunter”, says Bruce. “He had been beautifully handled and was in top condition and I was excited about what could be.” Bruce did not hesitate and bought the impressive stallion, and within three days had him backed and hacking down the road. “I
prepared him for the hunt season and took him out with the Ferney”, says a proud Bruce. “We got featured in the Daily Mail and contradictory to what people think, the Suffolk can jump and my goodness, didn’t we! I have jumped hedges and timber on him, and he just goes! I only put him in a little snaffle because at the end of the day, he is that big and strong I have little say anyway, so I just let him do his thing!” Bruce undeniably has a good eye for a ‘proper’ horse and to him a
stallion must look like a stallion. “A stallion must have presence and say, ‘look at me’, a horse can have a nature to die for but if it looks and acts like a gelding with testicles I’m not interested”, laughs Bruce. “A breeder I respect, and trust is Jim Cooke from Ireland. I wanted to buy a colt blind from Jim but he was hesitant about selling me a horse unseen, I explained that if I didn’t like what I had bought I simply wouldn’t deal with him again and sure enough Jim delivered me one of the most quality Irish Draughts I have ever owned.” To be sure, Jim had delivered the goods and Bruce was blessed with arrival of Carrigfada Grey Mist who went on to be unbeaten on the county showing circuit. “I then unquestionable purchased a colt from the same mare as Grey Mist from Jim”, says Bruce. “I learnt early on from racing to buy from the same lines and sure enough that colt became the All Ireland Colt Foal Champion.” Bruce’s passion for quality breeding and competing at the highest
levels in all disciplines shows no signs of slowing down. However, refreshingly and admirably, Bruce’s belief in the importance of preserving the Cleveland Bay and Suffolk Punch is at the top of his priority list. “There is always going to be a market for part bred, Suffolk’s and Cleveland’s”, concludes Bruce. “But, for every part bred there must be a full bred, it’s paramount to their survival.” www.facebookcom/thorpelystud/
Photos by Nico Morgan Media Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements MAY/JUNE 2019 29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
