Stud History

Silverlea Dougal

Kilncopse New Forest Ponies are all bred for a combination of performance and temperament. Our New Forest Ponies have been exported all over the world. One of our ponies is now based in Australia and has been tremendously successful winning at their most prestigious show for New Forest Ponies, the Barastoc Horse of the Year Show where she was New Forest female champion at the age of 18. Other ponies have gone to France, Holland and Finland to name a few.

It all started in 1978 when our foundation New Forest Pony stallion Silverlea Dougal was purchased at the Beaulieu Road Pony Sales. Bred by Mr & Mrs Don Stainer he was the only one of their pure bred New Forest Pony foals to go to a private home that day, although even that needed a helping hand. Having decided Dougal was too expensive we stopped bidding at which point the late Don Stainer lent across from the sale ring and said "go the extra one and you'll get him." The bid was made and hammer went down. Don Stainer then came across the sale ring and gave us a pound note; the rest as they say is history. Dougal had a wonderful temperament which he passed on to all his offspring; he took part in all activities; winning the novice race at the Boxing Day Point to Point; he also excelled at jumping. All Dougal's offspring have become performance ponies taking part in all activities from driving to show jumping and dressage to the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society Boxing Day Point to Point where is name sake Kilncopse Dougal has a most impressive record in open and veteran races with his owner Mr Brian Ingram.

In the summer 1979 we went back to Beaulieu Road and purchased a yearling filly, Wootton Moonlight bred by Mr & Mrs Hawkes. Although technically Moonlight was the first New Forest filly we bought; we later brought her Dam; Wootton Sherry, at the Wootton Stud dispersal sale so Sherry was really our foundation mare. Two years after we brought her Moonlight was to become young stock Champion at the Annual Breed Show, she went on to have a very successful inhand show career.

Silverlea Dougal was succeeded by Farriers Playboy. Playboy did most things from running the New Forest as a stallion to the annual Box Day point to point to the New Forest Pony Enthusiasts Club teams. Kilncopse Black Label and Kilncopse Gold Label are our current stallions. Black Label has competed in the Boxing Day Point to Point and is used by a Shephard in his day to day work.

Over the years we have kept a number of mares as broodmares as well as buying one or two in to introduce some fresh blood.