Stormhill Stud
                                     is a small stud in Devon, situated near Tiverton.

 We specialize in breeding top-class event-horses.   For the last few years we have been very successful, particularly with the offspring of Kremlin. It is amazing to think that a small Devon stud has produced horses that are representing Australia,  New Zealand and Italy  in World-class 3-day events.

Some of the stallions I have bred and sold on are also doing very  well, if you go to the Stallions Page you can read more about them. Stormhill Miller, a thoroughbred, in Ireland and Stormhill Mink, a coloured horse, in England are the two who are having the most impact. Kremlin, our own Latvian stallion, who has served very few mares indeed has quietly made a name for himself.
 All this is really quite amazing as I have only bred horses on a small scale for many years. It has never been a big operation although when we lived in France and later, Spain for some years after the Foot and Mouth outbreak in England in 2001, the horses did, of course, come with us.
 When you think of the word stud-farm you see in your mind’s eye miles of white railings , smart boxes, busy grooms leading shining horses about, stallions with glossy coats wearing coloured  paddock-sheets with their names on them.

Well, Stormhill Stud is not quite like that... We do have a smart paddock sheet from our racing days but, somehow it is never used any more. The one and only resident stallion, Kremlin, is aged 22 years and normally very muddy. He is a happy horse. He has his mares, his family of youngsters and a view from his paddock.   He has had a busy life. Kremlin was born in Russia, trained in Wales, competed in England, Wales and Italy. He has travelled with us to all our various homes, in Shropshire, Devon, France and Spain and back to Devon again. Apart from loving his wives he really did enjoy his hunting, most of it done with the United Pack on the Welsh Borders.

 Our visitors are probably a little disappointed when they arrive and see nothing but three muddy broodmares and their offspring, who are also muddy. These are tended by a muddy, middle-aged woman, with occasional help from her at times, slightly reluctant, but very patient, husband.  Due to a planning restriction we cannot use Kremlin at Public Stud but we will co-operate with Vanessa Cheffing and stand him at Downe Farm this year, 2010. For the end of the season we also have a small thoroughbred stallion this year, as we cannot use Kremlin on his daughters.

These are the two International horses we have bred,  Stormhill Michael, seen here competing at Badminton 2009, under Paul Tapner, for Australia. The grey horse is Stormhill Kossack, ridden by Giovanni Ugolotti for Italy, at Knaptoft in 2009.

STORMHILL STUD

Anne Ratcliff

33 John Street, Tiverton, EX16 5JP

Tel: 01884 257503 or 07971 620416

E-mail: anne@stormhillstud.com
This site tells the story of a small horse-breeder, the problems, disappointments and occasional successes. Updated 29.08.10

The Staff:
We have one important  our team: His name is is Wolfie, a black German Shepherd. His proper name is Eastcheldon Black as Coal. He is now two years old. He is a very outgoing dog and writes his own column, Wolfie’s Voice on www.countrytalk.co uk.

I got Wolfie as our nice Ifor Williams trailer was stolen and then we had another break-in attempt. Obviously, isolated country places with no house are vulnerable to crime. Since we have had Wolfie I have felt much happier. I have also learnt a lot about how to train German Shepherds.. Their enthusiasm knows no bounds but they are very tough dogs, not at all like the Border Collies we always had when we were farming, or like the Spaniel we had in Spain.
Wolfie is available at stud, should anyone want to bred a black German Shepherd, he would love to have a girl-friend!

Welcome to Stormhill Stud, a one-woman operation in mid Devon. This is the home-page, which is  fairly stationary, whilst Latest News keep changing.

Stormhill Firestar has become an Intermediate Eventer. See Latest News for further information.

Stormhill Michael  placed 8th in Advanced International 3* at Aachen, Germany.21.07.10 Go to latest News.
A new boy has joined us, see the Stallion Pages for news of Spirit Land.

Goodbye Rosie. Orbituary on Latest News.
 

We lose Rosie, our stable cat, seen here in former days, finding a cool place to rest in Spain.It is indeed a year of losses and farewells. Decicions are currently being taken on who to overwinter...