Breeders Guide Leading Breeder Awards

The winners of the Breeders Guide Leading Breeder Awards were announced last night during an exclusive reception, hosted at Horse of the Year Show.

The Breeders Guide Leading Breeder Awards aim to recognise and honour the efforts of dedicated breeders across the country who continually strive for excellence in breeding.

Based on information collected on the Grandstand Online Entries System, the award winners were decided using a points scale of five for first place, down to one for fifth place in Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, which were then added to a league table.

Sixteen Breeders Guide Leading Breeder Awards were presented for horses, ponies, Arabs, Miniatures and the 12 native British breeds; the winning and reserve breeders in each invited to the reception for the presentations.

The overall Breeders Guide Leading Breeder, who had gained the most points among all of the ridden categories, was the winner of the Leading Pony Breeder of the Year: the Barkway Stud based in Royston, Hertfordshire. Owned and run by Anne and Claire Smalley, Barkway stud was established in 1979 when the family bred their first foal. Today the stud breeds and produces quality riding ponies, Welsh Section B ponies and Welsh Part Bred ponies, many of whom have experienced success at Horse of the Year Show.

“We are really pleased that someone has at last acknowledged the breeders and are absolutely thrilled to have won the overall award,” said Anne.

Anne’s daughter Claire Smalley added: “We are also very grateful to everyone who has bought our ponies over the years. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

Claire and Anne were treated to VIP hospitality at Horse of the Year Show this evening when a second presentation took place, this time in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.

Gail Chapman, editor of the Breeders Guide, commented: “We’re delighted so many people have attended the awards reception tonight and we look forward to carrying the series on into future years.

This exciting new way of recognising and rewarding those who perform at the highest level during the qualifying season is planned to expand in future.



Winners of the Breeders Guide Leading Breeder Awards:


Breeder Name

Name of Stud

Breed Section

Ms Alison Graham



Leading Horse Breeder of the Year

Mrs Joanna MacInnes

Whalton Stud

Reserve Leading Horse Breeder of the Year

Mrs A Smalley

Barkway Stud

Leading Pony Breeder of the Year

Mrs G Davies

Chiddock Stud

Reserve Leading Pony Breeder of the Year

Mrs S Felix



Leading Arab Breeder of the Year

Pyrah & Hunt

Judals Stud

Reserve Leading Arab Breeder of the Year

Joanne Ross (USA)

Scott Creek Miniature Horse Stud

Leading Miniature Breeder of the Year

Mrs Wendy Edgar

Apollo/Zealhouse Stud

Reserve Leading Miniature Breeder of the Year

Mr R Fallon

Cashlebay Stud

Leading Connemara Breeder of the Year

Jytte Bank Mikklesen (DEN)

Banks Stud

Reserve Leading Connemara Breeder of the Year

Mr William Ireland

Kilmannan Stud

Leading Dales Breeder of the Year

The Late Mrs E Heap

Waterside Stud

Reserve Leading Dales Breeder of the Year

Ms J Newbury

Newoak Stud

Leading Dartmoor Breeder of the Year

Mr D Hinde

Pumphill Stud

Reserve Leading Dartmoor Breeder of the Year

Mrs Jackie Webb

Blackthorn Stud

Leading Exmoor Breeder of the Year

Mesdames Ablett and Langdon

Tawbitts Stud

Reserve Leading Exmoor Breeder of the Year

The Late Mr D Crow

Castle Hill Stud

Leading Fell Breeder of the Year

Mr and Mrs T Good

Abervale Stud

Reserve Leading Fell Breeder of the Year

Mrs S Wardrop

Carlung Stud

Leading Highland Breeder of the Year

Miss A Mitchell

Dunedin Stud

Reserve Leading Highland Breeder of the Year

Mr and Mrs CA Large

Willoway Stud

Leading New Forest Breeder of the Year

Ms T Turnball

Bisterne Stud

Reserve Leading New Forest Breeder of the Year

Mrs P Atkinson

Horninglow Stud

Leading Shetland Breeder of the Year

Mrs J Burrows

Buckberry Stud

Reserve Leading Shetland Breeder of the Year

Mrs G Farrow

Waitwith Stud

Leading Welsh Section A Breeder of the Year

Mr S Anderson

Thistledown Stud

Reserve Leading Welsh Section A Breeder of the Year

Mrs J Stephens

Annandale Stud

Leading Welsh Section B Breeder of the Year

Sue Easton

Gigman Stud

Reserve Leading Welsh Section B Breeder of the Year

Mrs J Cooper

River Valley Stud

Leading Welsh Section C Breeder of the Year

Mr and Mrs Keyte

Oakmill Stud

Reserve Leading Welsh Section C Breeder of the Year

Len Bigley

Llanarth Stud

Leading Welsh Section D Breeder of the Year

Mr N Fell

Brynseion Stud

Reserve Leading Welsh Section D Breeder of the Year


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