Old Lodge Stud Interview Continued...

As Corrina admits herself, they are always looking to improve on what they already have, so I asked her what stallions she rated in the sport of dressage, showjumping and eventing:

"In Show Jumping we love power jumpers such as Arko, Contender, Vigo and Sandro Boy but they have not had many mares for one reason or another - proven breeding stallions we rate are Indoctro, Cassini and Diamant de Semilly to name a few, and of course our own stallions - we would not stand them otherwise. Dressage - I like Sandro Hit, Florestan and Sir Donnerhall lines. Eventing is a strange one - there are so many, and I think this is a hugely changing market. I had a look at the list of horses with World Ranking points and in the top 200 there are very few with similar breeding."

Moving along the same lines, I asked Corrina what stallion she would choose in the world today, and why:

"This year we have done something a bit different and swapped coverings for Super Trooper with Arko and Argento....Argento is the same age as Super Trooper and although we do beat him lots he has also taken a few prizes off us too!!! .... He will be a lovely horse for the future and therefore we should take advantage of using him and at the same time use his sire Arko as we have a suitable mare for him too. It is good to go British when you can."

Estrella DV (Calvaro Z x Jalisco B)
Grade A Showjumping Mare
Purchased Elite Fences Auction, France

As I stated at the start of the interview, Old Lodge Stud has had great achievements over the years, but I was keen to know which one stood out from the rest:

"We are very lucky and have had lots of good results. At HOYS last year, we won the Foxhunter and Grade C final with the same homebred horse - Sultan. That was quite awesome. We have won the British 4, 5, 7 year old championships with homebred horses and had a 4th and 10th in the 6 year olds."

Besides the above achievements, I asked Corrina what other memorable moments she had had:

"Of our homebreds, last week Abeer qualified HOYS Grade C, Foxhunter and 7&8 year olds in 9 days for the finals in 2010; Little Lefanie has won many International classes, Little Miss has won the Young Riders at Hickstead 3 times, Hickstead Grade C Champions twice, Area Trials, British Equine Federation Young Horse Champion. Then from horses we have bought in, we have won the Windsor Grand Prix, CSI 5*, HOYS 7&8 years, International Stairways Stairways, Winter B and C champion and reserve in the same year, Hickstead Speed Horse of the Year, Leading Horse at Olympia, numerous Newcomers and Foxhunter finalists (both homebred and foreign) and we presently have 5 horses on the Equine Pathway.

On top of this we were also awarded “Stud of the Year” at the British Showjumping Awards in April. So that was quite cool!!"

Abeer

Little Miss (Corland x Glennridge)

Coming towards the end of the interview I asked Corrina what the future goals were for Old Lodge Stud, and she put it very simply but with a high impact.

"2012 Olympics!!"

I went on to ask Corrina what breeding incentives Old Lodge offer to mare owners?

"Our stud fees are very reasonable - if you compare them like for like they are very good value for money....Super Trooper is only £500."

With her years of breeding behind her, I asked Corrina what advice she could offer to breeders?

"Truly look at your mare and decide exactly what she is really capable of breeding. Not everyone wants an International horse."

As Old Lodge Stud have had many successes with several homebred stock, I asked Corrina how she would like to see breeding in Britain evolving:

"Sporthorse breeding has moved on lots in the last 20 years but we really need one true body which represents us so we can market ourselves on the International scene. Our results show that we have everything here in the UK for a British stud to be a success on the World Stage."

My second last question was regarding the many comments that are made In Britain regarding the lack of horse power for our top riders, so I asked Corrina how she thought this gap could be bridged between UK breeders and British riders:

"We need to look after potential owners better. There is no support network for owners in showjumping and this is something I am in talks with the BS about. There are just not enough breeders in the UK in the sport industry to take on the likes of Germany and Holland."

 Val Blanc Van Het Panishof
International Showjumper

Lastly, I asked Corrina if someone was to think of “Old Lodge Stud”, what would she like that thought to represent with their horses? Again she put it very succinctly:

"Well bred quality horses with a strong future in top class sport."

We would like to take the opportunity to thank Corrina at Old Lodge Stud for taking the time to speak to us and give readers an insight into another very successful breeding operation that is available to mare owners throughout the UK and world wide. They are justly trying to improve British Breeding, not only by their own homebred products, but by making sure that all the youngstock they breed are passported and registered with a British Studbook, which is very notable indeed.