2012 season

FLAX LION INTERVIEW CONT......

Cheryl has bred and stands many successful horses at stud, so I went on to ask her which have been the most memorable to her.

"I think producing Samaii (Sambertino / Elite Berolina) has to be the biggest achievement so far, particularly with owning both his parents.

Sambertino has been an outstanding sire, especially when you consider he has covered relatively few mares and a lot of them have been far from top performance mares. However, out of these, he has produced Grand Prix winning progeny in Europe and the USA, along with a Paralympic World Championship triple Medal winner and several licensed sons.

Don Ricoss has achieved more than we could ever have imagined from the day we first bought him; 30 Day Test Champion, Vice Champion 3 year old at the World Championships and 3 times Bundeschampionat qualifier. He is also sire of multiple Champion foals and 1 licensed stallion to date.

In the short time GWM has been open we have been extremely lucky to have Licensing Champion and Bundeschampion stallions standing with us."

Samaii (Sambertino / Elite Berolina)

As Cheryl has a vast wealth of knowledge, not just from her own breeding achievements, but also through networking with her German counterparts, I asked her what she felt the best advice was that she could offer to breeders.

"Use the best mares you can from proven dam lines. Research the pedigrees and choose the best match for the mare, not necessarily the most popular stallion of the day.

Decide what you are trying to produce. In Dressage, sires of ‘Young Horse Class’ type winners, are not necessarily the same as sires of potential Grand Prix horses.

Although you don’t ride a passport, I think the choice of studbook that a foal is registered with can make a difference when selling, particularly if it is potential breeding stock that may be sold outside the UK. Pink papered BHHS horses are also eligible for entry to the Verden auctions."

As with all my interviewees, I asked Cheryl about her thoughts on the discussion that always seem to be the main stay in Britain regarding the lack of horse power for our top riders, and wondered what her thoughts were on this topic.

"I think British breeders are producing some very good horses, but they often don’t get the opportunity to be placed with good riders. I feel the breeders and individual disciplines need to have much more contact with each other. A good “shop window” for stock for sale would be the various disciplines National Championships - perhaps there could be a catalogued parade of selected UK bred youngstock, along with viewing area made available."

Lastly, I asked Cheryl what she would like Flax Lion Stud or Gestüt WM to represent if people thought of the name, and like my previous interviewees, it was a very simple message….

"Quality horses and good service!"

I would like to take the time to thank Cheryl for doing this interview with us. I for one enjoyed reading just now she came into breeding, as I think it always amazes me just how people get involved and what it is that leads them down that direction, and I think considering she was only originally looking for a top quality coloured horse, that it is quite amazing what she has done over the years, not only with her own Studfarm and breeding, but also the setting of up an EU Approved Stallion Station in Germany, which is no mean feat at all!

SANTANO (Sandro Hit /Elite Berolina (Brentano II)) - Winner of the Heinz Timmel trophy & WBS Reserve Champion stallion

VERITAS (Democraat /Rosita ster (Sullivan)) - KWPN Premium foal

PAPILLON (Sambertino/ Zonneglans) - 1997 KWPN sport mare & winner of 2 Silver & 1 Bronze World Para Championship Medals (World Cup Sash photo)

RENATINO (Sambertino/ Droomwals) 1998 KWPN mare - won her first Grand Prix in the USA this year
 
PIONIER (Sambertino / Tango) 1997 KWPN gelding - winner of his first Grand Prix at 10 yrs old

SAMAII (Sambertino/ Brentano II) - 2004 Premium stallion

TAMBERONIE (Sambertino/Festival) 2000 KWPN gelding - World Class team member & Inter I winner

DIORISSIMA (Don Ricoss/ Rohdiamont) - Champion Hanoverian filly foal – breeder Sandra Tinker

DON ROLIETO (Don Ricoss/ Balzflug) - BEF Elite Premium yearling & now a WBS licensed stallion - breeder Sue Botha