Stud History
Nearly forty years ago, influenced by the last head of the Hungarian
Horse Breeding Branch, Colonel Bundy Imrik, Peter and Jan
Powles set about to fulfil a dream of breeding an Australian riding
horse with the temperament and physical ability to compete at the
top level of competitive dressage.
When the achievements of horses bred by the Northern Warmblood Stud
are analysed objectively most would agree that this dream has been
realised. Over the last two decades, Northern Warmbloods have
featured prominently in dressage throughout Australia. This
achievement is most noteworthy, as the stud only sells about fifteen
horses per year. A small number indeed, when compared to other studs
presently producing horses for the Australian warmblood market. They
have also demonstrated that Australian bred horses if properly
trained, ridden and judged, are the equal to their expensive
European cousins when it comes to success at the highest level.
Pictured above right - Northern Warmblood Stud's foundation sire
Northern Congress. He has a huge influence on many generations
of horses bred at the stud and is noted for his
fantastic temperament and producing horses with good paces and
'trainability'!
When asked about the success of their venture into breeding an
Australian Warmblood, Peter and Jan acknowledge that there have been
a number of occasions when they were proud to be able to say that
they had bred the horses concerned. The 2000 Sydney Olympics was
such an occasion, when they bred the only Australian horse in the
team, Northern Aphrodite as well as the reserve horse, Northern
Greta, who was a prolific winner in her own right at the state and
national level. Most people see it as an achievement to breed an
Olympic horse, but to breed two in one team, was indeed a memorable
occasion for them.
To be the breeder of a finalist in the World Cup is also something
most breeders aspire to achieve. For Northern Warmblood Stud this
happened when the International Dressage horse and Australian Grand
Prix Champion, Northern Charisma represented Australia in the World
Cup finals in Dortmund in 1999 and followed this up later with a
very credible placing in the CDI in Hamburg.
Right - Northern Warmblood Stud is situated in Victoria's most
productive irrigation country and plentiful pastures allows the
young stock to grow naturally.
The currant generation of Northern Warmbloods continue to carry-on
where the past generation have left off. Northern Simba (right) convincingly
showed that whether it is serious dressage or young horse classes,
he was the equal of the currant crop of highly priced overseas
imports, or frozen semen bred horses. He joins another Northern
Warmblood in the National Development Squad, Northern Campion, who
was the 2006 National Grand Prix winner. Campion is by Northern
Congress who was also the sire of Northern Charisma.
A Northern Warmblood Stud offspring who excites a great deal of
interest with his extravagant and correct Piaffe and Passage and
great ability to collect, is Northern Hector.
A horse who was in the 2006 Development Squad, and showed great
potential for the future, was Northern Invader. Rumour has it that
he will recommence his dressage career after the EI restrictions are
lifted, and much is expected from this horse in the future if this
happens.
Although the focus of Northern Warmblood Stud breeding has been to
produce dressage horses, several are making a name for themselves as
showjumpers. An exciting young prospect to hit
the stage in 2006 was
Laurie Lever’s La Liana, (pictured right), who was bred by Northern Warmblood Stud’s
Northern Villius. Villius was an
exceptionally
talented young stallion, whose life ended prematurely with an
inoperable twisted bowel. La Liana topped off a very successful 2006
season by winning the Champion Young Show-Jumper at Dressage
With The Stars in December 2006. The talented chestnut mare
is another outstanding performer by Northern
Villius
who
looks to have a great future ahead of her.
Some horses are born
with a talent for both dressage and jumping. The bay stallion
Northern Favus is one of these rare individuals. Ridden by Paul
Brent, he has risen steadily through the ranks and is well on track
to reach World Cup level in the not too distant future.
