Witcham House Stud

www.hanoverianstud.com

Katy Holder-Vale has been involved with horses from a very early age. This was initially encouraged by her Grandfather, Major Felix Russi, who was in The Cavalry and trained Polo Ponies. Following that she made the customary progression through Pony Club competing in teams for Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage as well as B.H.S. Eventing on home produced horses up to advanced level.

Katy started her own Horse Business when she was eighteen with Livery, Breaking in, Schooling and producing horses to sell (particularly in the Hunting and Eventing disciplines).

In 1981 Katy moved to Witcham House Farm and converted the derelict barn and out buildings into a house surrounded by twenty one stables enabling constant supervision. A new riding arena was laid in Spring 2002 and beyond are post and rail paddocks extending to thirty four acres.

During this time Katy carried on Eventing and selling on the young horses as well as continuing a good livery business.

In 1987 she bought her first Hanoverian Stallion, "Maple Drambuie", who proved very popular with local breeders. Katy also competed Maple in Dressage, Show Jumping, Cross Country and Drag Hunting.

Now specialising in Dressage she produced a clients International Show Jumper, "Against The Odds", from Novice to Advanced in four years.

After looking at forty two Stallions in Germany Katy finally found the young "Glücksfall" who was Licensed and one hundred day performance tested. He immediately attracted breeders and proved to be a great Dressage talent, winning through the levels and now competing at Grand Prix.

The two new Licensed Hanoverian Stallions "Elroon" and "Classic Juan" were imported at the beginning of 2004 and are already attracting a great deal of interest .2008 recieved award from British Equestrian Federation for foal Classic Prada. (see scrap book)

Katy's Knowledge and experience with horses has been complemented by a variety of Qualifications including becoming a registered assessor for NVQ Levels I, II, III plus Equitation and Breeding units with both the Joint National Horse Education and Training Council and the Racing and Thoroughbred Breeding Training Board; passing NVQ Level III Racehorse Care, Management and Breeding; gaining D32 D33 Assessor awards; passing Equine Artificial Insemination by DEFRA; training and becoming an accredited judge for the German Hanoverian Horse Society, for whom responsibilities include Stallion Licensing, Potential Stallion Assessment, Mare Performance Test, Mare Grading, Mare Showing, Foal Showing and Part Bred Classes. Other judging includes Dressage, Coloured Horses, Appaloosas, Hunters, Riding Horses and Youngstock.

Katy also spent nine years as a part-time Equine Studies Lecturer at The College of West Anglia.

She has been on the committee of Littleport Pony Club, Cambridge Riding Club, East Anglian Dressage Group and is still an active member of the British Hanoverian Horse Society for 10 years, currently holding the position of "Studbook Manager".

Horses

Rider: Witcham House Stud
Location: Witcham, Cambs
Type: Hanoverian Stud
Ponies: Stallions

Classic Juan

Pedigree
Crazy Classic - Sired two Graded Stallions and fourteen State Premium Mares. Progeny competing in Dressage and Show Jumping and to date have won €12,000. Placed third in his performance test with outstanding Dressage marks.
Calypso II - Grand Prix winning Show Jumper. He has Sired eighteen Graded Stallions, forty six State Premium Mares and twenty three Elite Auction Horses. He has also sired numerous International Show Jumpers renowned for their great technique and rideability.
Cor De La Bryère - Famous Foundation Sire. Won his performance test and has sired forty four Graded Stallions, seventy two State Premium Mares. Also siring top Sports Horses and the Olympic Medal Winners include "Corlandus" in Dressage, "Contrast" in Eventing and "Calando" in Show Jumping.
Diva - Awarded State Premium Mare with good marks for paces and jumping ability.
Don Juan - Sired nine Graded Stallions, thirty nine State Premium Mares and eighty seven Elite Auction Horses. He has also sired numerous International Show Jumpers the most famous being "Genesis" the World Cup Qualifier Winner. Another son, "Don Johnson", won the German Dressage Horse Championship for six year olds.
Wienerwald - Sired nine Graded Stallions and was famous for siring international Show Jumpers who won over 880,000DM as well as some outstanding Dressage Horses.

History and Background
16.2h Dark Bay Licensed Hanoverian Stallion.

CJ was born in 2000 and initially schooled and trained at Celle, the Hanoverian State Stud. Once he passed his licensing and successfully completed the thorough 300 day performance test he was bought by Witcham House Farm Stud. Proving an outstanding talent he is turning his abilities to a Dressage career. Has won 26 affiliated classes and is graded Medium with157 BD Points. Qualified for 2007 winter semis in music at Elementary and Medium also qualified for Rhinegold International young horse championships at Hickstead as a 5 and 6 year old.

Fantastic performance in SEIB British Breeding Young Horse Evaluations. Qualifying for Finals of the Dressage section with a very high mark of 8.33. Also qualifying for the Finals of the Show Jumping section. - See Horse & Hound write up 17th June 2004, p60.

CJ also took part in The British Eventing Breeding Championships for four year olds, qualifying for the National at Tweseldown where he was placed 5th beating top oposition (including 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Lesley Law).2008 CJ has been consistantly placed and won his last 2 events of the season.

His progeny have won county shows, been awarded top marks at British Equestrian Federation Futurity, CJ recieved progeny award 2006 (one of 2 stallions nationaly) and in 2008 3 foals awarded First Premium and Classic Prada awaded the highest mark ever given 9.75 overall with 3 x 10's for paces!!

Glucksfall

History and Background
16.3h Bay Licensed Hanoverian Stallion.

Graded and 100 day Performance Tested from Germany. He is the new lighter type of Hanoverian bred for elegance, ability and movement. Glücksfall is now successfully competing at Grand Prix Dressage. Also jumped clear rounds BSJA showing plenty of scope. Many of his progeny are competing and winning in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing. A five year old recently won a dressage class with 70%. Youngstock selling consistently well: four year old sold for £10,000; another four year old sold for 29,000DM in Germany.

Graded With:

THE GERMAN HANOVERIAN HORSE SOCIETY
THE BRITISH HANOVERIAN HORSE SOCIETY
HESSEN BREEDERS, GERMANY
THE ANGLO EUROPEAN SOCIETY
THE BRITISH SPORTS HORSE BREEDERS GB

Elroon

Pedigree
Escudo I - Won his Performance Test at Adelheidsdorf with outstanding Dressage and Jumping marks and has been highly placed in the German Young Horse Championships. Already sired thirteen Graded Stallions and twenty three State Premium Mares and eight Elite Auction Horses. Progeny have won €41,799 in Dressage and Show Jumping to date.
Espri - Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 1995. He has Sired Seventeen Graded Stallions, forty four State Premium Mares and twenty five Elite Auction Horses. He has also sired numerous International Show Jumpers including the famous World Cup Winner "ET", as well as "Edgar" the World Breeding Championships Winner for seven year olds.
Windrose - Achieved excellent scores in Performance Test for Dressage and Jumping. She has produced two Elite Auction Horses. Her Dam has breed four Winning Show Jumpers and the Grand Dam has produced many winning Show Jumpers and Advanced Dressage Horses.
Wienerwald - Sired nine Graded Stallions and was famous for siring international Show Jumpers who won over 880,000DM as well as some outstanding Dressage Horses.
Domspatz - Leading producer of Show Jumpers and Dressage Horses with winnings of over 900,000DM. His daughters were renowned for producing many Graded Stallions. Sired Don Rudolpho, winner of two World Cup Qualifiers.

History and Background
16.2h Black Licensed Hanoverian Stallion.

Elroon was born in 2001 and Licensed by the Hanoverian Verband in 2003. We imported him from Germany in January 2004. He then returned in the Autumn of 2004 to pass his performance test at Adelheidsdorf with high marks for temperament, character and rideability. Already attracting huge interest and adoration. His first foals are very striking with presence and movement.

2005
Fantastic performance in SEIB British Breeding Young Horse Evaluations. Winning the Dressage and Show Jumping sections. A week later qualifying for The British Dressage Panacur Potential International Dressage Horse National Championships. Placed third in Burghley Young Event Horse National Qualifier with the best jumping mark of the day.

2006

Upgraded to Elementary and has 92 points. Again qualified for The British Dressage Panacur Potential International Dressage Horse National Championships and also Rhinegold Potential International Dressage Horse at Hickstead.

Elroon has won affiliated Dressage since he started competing early in 2005. Scores regularly in the high sixties and seventies. With outstanding all round ability he is a potential star for Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing.