Raemoir Stud

Kim had always had ponies and horses but particulary enjoyed the 'posh ponies' and loved the hacks, both of which she breeds at Raemoir Stud, based near Banchory. Kim works single handedly on the farm as well as running an Aberdeen Angus herd, so good temperament and an easy going nature comes high on the desirable attributes. He stood with Jerome Hartforth in Yorkshire, and together with the mare

s Waxwing Wood Anemone and Roslyn Delphine were the foundation of the stud. She then started breeding hacks, having purchased the RIHS champion Morning Flight. "She was an extremely succesful hack and was also champion hack broodmare at the RIHS," remembers Kim. It was over 10 years ago when Kim was visiting Joanna MacInnes's Whalton Stud in Cumbria that she spotted Whalton Above Suspicion, known as Hugo and there was an immediate attraction. "Joanna had bred his dam, Whalton Heavens Above, and I was a huge fan of her," explained Kim. "When I first saw Hugo as a yearling he was actually sold but Joanna called later and said the sale had fallen through." Hugo was duly purchased and travelled north to stand at stud. He has been lightly shown, being supreme in-hand at the NPS Scotland Summer Show, supreme in-hand and champion part-bred Arab at the NPS Summer Championships. As Kim shows a brood-mare it's not practical to show both and there are few classes for stallions. After his arrival the stud moved on to breed larger ponies and hacks. Standing 14.2hh, Hugo is by Kilvington Scoundrel, himself a sire of many champions and last year won the leading sire of the year award at the Horse of the Year Show and it was fitting that the same year Hugo won the 2012 NPS top young stallion award for his progeny. There's around 30 horses at the stud today, ranging from brood mares and youngsters up to three years old. The brood mares have all had careers under saddle – something Kim is a big believer in – before being used for breeding and a foal is taken from them every second year. "I think by not taking a foal every year the mares make a better job of their foals. I'm not in a hurry to wean them; most are naturally weaned and it's less stressful for the foals," points out Kim. It also allows Kim to have an early foaling season. The mares are examined and injected to bring them into cycle, it helps with planning to have a close foaling season, "although Hugo has a busy fortnight!". The colts are gelded as foals and Kim likes to retain the fillies. "I'm fortunate that we're on a farm and have the space to run the youngsters on until they are three years old. "I'm in no rush to sell and the ponies tend to find their own homes," said Kim. "Progeny range from ponies to make 148cms to large ISRT and have fabulous temperaments," said Kim. The careful matching of mare to stallion has been successful with many quality show and performance ponies and horses being produced over the years. Raemoir Flibertigibbert and Raemoir La-Di-Da were succesful ponies in the show ring for Riley, and although he no longer rides, Kim says he has a good natural eye and will help show the ponies in-hand during the summer. "I'm very selective about the mares hugo covers. He did stand at public stud in Lancashire but only to selective mares which include the HOYS champion hack Take Silk, the HOYS champion show pony Broadgrove Chatterbox, and a few top class county winning mares. He also covered a very quality coloured mare which the outcome was very sucessful," explains Kim, who is also a NPS judge. "When you consider how few mares he's had his progeny have been top class. The most important thing is quality over quantity." His progeny include the HOYS Cuddy finalist, Brindlebrook Prime Suspect, placed fourth in the ponies. "All Hugo's stock have inherited his fabulous temperament, movement and conformation and are winning at the highest level both in-hand and under saddle and across the board from show ponies, show hunter ponies, intermediates, hacks and competition horses/ponies," added Kim, who also likes to pick one brood-mare to show. The stud has a reputation for providing quality youngstock for both showing and performance, however they can go to any discipline, not just showing. "I enjoy showing, but I know that it's not everyone's cup of tea. I look for a lovely family home for the animal, and they rarely come up for sale on the open market. "I'm a great advocate of people going to breeders direct, and with help from professionals buy the best you can afford. "It's important to have fun, but don't rush the horses and take short cuts. All horses need some free time, they shouldn't be rushed and in the long run it will work out."