by Gemma and Dave Austin

Touchwood Stud was formed in 2006 by husband and wife Dave and Gemma Austin. Dave had originally trained at the National Stud in Newmarket before spending a decade at Gainsborough Stud – the breeding arm of the world famous Godolphin Racing Team. While he was working here, he met Gemma and they got married. A two year spell at the successful private thoroughbred stud – Raffin Stud in Wiltshire followed.

As anyone who gets involved in stud work knows, it is an all encompassing way of life and both Dave and Gemma wanted to start up their own stud, breeding their own horses and doing all the work for their own results rather than other peoples! And so Touchwood Stud was formed. Originally at a small base in Wantage, Oxfordshire it was here that Dave and Gemma started to put together a small herd of quality broodmares.

Gemma has ridden and competed for her whole life and has a clear vision of the kind of horses she wants to breed – something you can take anywhere, have a successful and stress free day out, and come home with the ribbons. Having been disappointed by bought horses going lame in the past, soundness is also a crucial point they focus on. Mares must be tough, sound, well put together and be easy to have around and deal with. Equally stallions must fit the criteria. Gemma and Dave always want to see stallions in the flesh before using them and rate conformation, performance and temperament highly. Inevitably, with their background the Thoroughbred plays a major part in their breeding program. They believe that a good thoroughbred is a hard horse to beat when it comes to performance and toughness – this is reflected in their choice of mares, many with high portions of both racing and non racing thoroughbred blood in their pedigrees.

The other ‘arm’ of the stud, is the AI centre and taking in boarders. Over the years, Dave and Gemma noticed that a lot of owners simply weren’t getting the service they should be as paying customers. They also noted that some people were paying an awful lot of money to try and get mares in foal and bad practice simply meant the mares were returning home empty. They have made it their mission to ensure that all stud work is meticulously done, with no stone left unturned when it comes to stallion fertility, mare fertility and good practice. This has resulted in an excellent rate of 81% of visiting mares in foal on their first cycle in 2009.

They welcome long and short term boarders and pride themselves on giving a personal service and looking after each and every visitor as if they were their own.

After time spent working with Jamie Anderson of Equine Reproduction, Gemma and Dave also provide a comprehensive AI service for stallions, standing them at stud, doing chilled collections, dummy training and freezing. Much investment has been made in the lab, and Gemma will be doing all the insemination work as a qualified technician in 2010.

The KWPN stallion Vagebont is a permanent boarder here and is also being produced by the stud for competition. He is a very popular character at the stud, having a wonderful temperament and a willingness to take on new challenges. Due to his owner’s pregnancy, he has had a bit of a delayed start in his competitive career, but together with yard rider, Mike Swannick he will be blazing a trail round the eventing circuit before long!

The stud moved to Swindon and spent a year there, but is now based in the beautiful Cotswolds where they enjoy amazing views, and have 50 acres of rolling pastureland for the horses to enjoy.

To see more visit the stud website

www.touchwoodstud.co.uk

email to contact@touchwoodstud.co.uk

or speak to Gemma or Dave on 01993 832 132 / 07769 582 590.