Stud visit to Kungsbro

If you're traveling along the E4 take the exit called Linköping C, but don't turn towards the town, but instead towards Berg. Follow the road through the community and just beyond you will see signs alerting to horse and riding school. It is here that Rebecka Cassel runs Kungsbro Riding School and Stud together with Stellan Melchert.

With proper care Crazy has become young again. He carries his 26 years very lightly and his fertility is as high as could be asked for. Last year he had five foals and this year another four are expected. Thanks to his competition record Crazy is also approved for breeding Swedish riding ponies, and his mares have been fairly equally distributed between Connemaras and mares for breeding riding ponies. Among Crazy's earlier foals are several successful performance ponies, and Rebecka is keen to find out how her own Crazy foals will turn out.

As wives to Crazy, Rebecka has two Connemara mares, the danish born Höjagergårds Lady (by Frederiksminde Mighty out of Skousboe Amanda by Öxenholm Geronimo) and the Swedish Ronja Rövardotter II (by Holiday Prince out of Timjan by Tiger Boy). Ronja already has a Crazy foal in the youngstock field and is expecting the next this spring. Rebecka thinks Lady is a little too good under saddle to really be allowed to take time off in the breeding box, and she has also proved difficult to get in heat. When she last summer suddenly showed a strong heat Rebecka couldn't resist temptation, so Lady will also have a foal this spring.

Among the brood mares are also the riding pony Cimmie. Cimmie is by Kimble with Gotland pony and Arabian blood on her dam's side. Also Cimmie is in foal with Crazy this year and Rebecka believes in the combination Riding pony - Connemara. And in particular Connemaras with a dash of foreign blood and Crazy who through his sire Värnbergs Castor has both thoroughbred and Arabian blood fits her breeding program well. Another riding pony foal is also expected as the Swedish warmblood mare Flying Wind is covered with Candide.

In Rebecka and Stellan's youngstock field is a colourful collection of ponies. The two two-year-olds are in strong contrast. Aprikos, the first Connemara foal born at the stud, by Dale Haze out of Ronja Rövardotter II, is a blue eyed cream. Her contemporary New Forest friend Hembys Olympia is instead almost black. Three yearlings are also in the fielad and an Icelandic nanny. A warmblood yearling, Brim Time, has two Crazy foals to play with, the palomino Biz Mimmic out of Cimmie and the bay Boca Lazy out of Ronja Rövardotter II, so the next generation ponies at the riding school is secured.

The riding school involves a large number of ponies and horses. Most are ponies and there are only a few horses for the larger pupils. In addition there is also a Iceland horse section at the riding school. Rebecka believes it is important that the pupils learn to ride on good ponies. Many of the ponies are highly educated and most have also competed, even at the Swedish championships. She also thinks it is important that the ponies enjoy their job and those who don't do that any longer are sold to private homes.

When I ask Rebecka what she aims for in her breeding she summarizes it together with her views on the ponies' future role as competition or riding school ponies. "To breed healthy and durable ponies with a good temperament. Valuable to us is an active and courageous temperament, both for future riding school and competition ponies. The ponies should have all the necessary qualities to succeed as alround or competition ponies. Training and rider will set the limit. When it comes to type we want elegant ponies without loosing breed type. The movements should be natural, rhythmic and possible to develop and with a natural balance. To us it is important that they ponies function in day-to-day situations and can be ridden in different situations with different riders. We do not separate the breeding aims for riding school or competition ponies. The same qualities are sought for. The riding school's ponies should have the same qualities as privately owned ponies. Important is a 100 % rideability. The pony should easily adapt to different skill levels of different riders and neither take advantage of the beginner nor limit the experienced."

I wish Rebecka the best of luck with her future breeding and cross my fingers for three nice new Crazy foals this spring.

Since the article was written Crazy has become the sire of two Connemara foals (a colt and a filly) and a little riding pony colt.

Jenny Hagenblad, 2001

I have no photos from the actual stud visit. The photos here are of Kungsbro ponies taking many years later. The depict the grey Höjagergårds Lady, the blue eyed cream Aprikos, the bay Cinzana the filly foal born in 2001 and the palomino Biz Mimic