Although it’s a drop in the ocean when you look at the bigger picture, one of the many sad consequences of Covid-19 was the cancellation of sport including almost all equestrian events worldwide.
But out of the gloom came some great news.
Once the curtain was brought down on the 2020 season, the owners of Paulank Brockagh, Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Jules Carter, together with Brocks’ rider of 10 years Sam Griffiths, took the difficult decision to officially retire the champion mare.
Dinah and Stephen then called us and asked if we would be willing to take Brocks back home to Callowhill, where we bred and looked after her until she was seven years old. Would we ever!
We are beyond happy, then, to let you know that Brocks has arrived back safe and sound and has rejoined our herd of broodmares (which includes some of her siblings). Still only 17 years of age, she is in fabulous condition and has settled really well back into life here in the Wicklow hills.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the Posford family and Sam for taking such good care of Brocks over the past 10 amazing years. They are the best owners any horse could hope to have and we’re proud to call them our friends.
It’s a mark of how deeply they care for their animals that the Posfords took the decision to retire Brocks at just 17. She delivered so much success to them over the years, and they decided that she deserved a long, healthy and happy retirement – a decision any horse-lover will respect and admire.
For our part, we are thrilled to have our most successful ever horse back home. Brocks has been a serial winner since she started her career but two highlights stand out – a superb Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and of course her unforgettable win at Badminton in 2014.
It’s also fitting that we get to welcome Brocks home the same year as we lost our beloved foundation mare, Calendar Girl (Callie), who of course was Brocks’ dam.
Welcome home Brocks and here’s to many more years on the farm!
Frank and Paula
