We have tried to breed the best conformation and movement, however, we have always maintained that temperament is more important than anything.
We are so hugely proud of the wonderful successes at shows and in competitions that our ponies have had but the photo on the left makes us equally proud. Hollybrooke Sky Rocket age just three who left us only a month ago and his new best friend, also age three. How amazing is that!
Another lovely photo received this week is of Hollybrooke Jupiter at a WHP clinic. What a super shape he is making over the fence.

Our very limited show season came to an end when we took Hollybrooke the Duchess to Romsey Show. We wanted to give her another outing after she had got upset at Ellingham and sat down, because of a fly. We double checked her for crab flies before we went in the ring and removed four. We have no real idea if it was a crab fly (which she has all the time) or some other biting insect but this time she behaved absolutely perfectly and was placed second. She is a really lovely pony and has the same kind and gentle temperament as her brother Duke and sister Halo. We plan to keep her but as yet, are undecided as to whether to back her or breed a foal from her first.
Another pony the two year old gelding Hollybrooke Jet (Hollybrooke Tinker/Hollybrooke Sparkle) who now lives in Sussex, qualified for the Sunshine Tour Championships at Hickstead. He was placed fourth in a very large mixed young stock class. Another one who behaved brilliantly at a big show with lots going on.
Our two foals are now five months old and have grown really well. They are already sporting thick woolly coats in preparation for winter. The 2024 foal page has been updated with the last photos of them as foals.

Hollybrooke Annie continues to do an amazing job of promoting the New Forest breed. Her photo was on the front cover of the BRC Championships programme this year. Sadly she did not compete this time as her family were away for the qualifiers.
However, she did go to the the Veteran Horse Society championships for the first time. She took part in the fancy dress to music and won her Elementary test by nearly 9%. As she had the only elementary score over 70%, she was also awarded overall Elementary Champion. What a star this pony is, she has been an amazing ambassador for the breed both as a family pony and as a talented competition pony. Huge thanks must go to her family who have given her so many opportunities to shine.
I could have used a lovely photo taken in the fancy dress dressage to music but instead I have chosen a photo of Annie here at Hollybrooke as a foal. She was sired by our wonderful and still much missed foundation stallion Burley Branston (who also turned his hoof to anything) out of a Forest bred mare we bought as a foal. She was special as a foal but we didn't dream that she would be so successful.

Another pony we are hugely proud of is Hollybrooke Jupiter, who has had his first attempt at an open ridden class and his first outing in a double bridle. He looked amazing, he was still needs more experience at that level, but promises much for next year. Another vote of thanks must go to his owner and rider who has produced him so carefully and patiently.

The three year old gelding Hollybrooke Sky Rocket has left us for a super new home, where he will be a very special friend to a small boy while giving his Mum something to have fun with. We look forward to lots of updates. I am sure he will be brilliant at both.

In the middle of August we were thrilled to have Hollybrooke Nespresso (right) now five to stay with us over night. We sold her two years ago to a family in Cambridge. She is a sensible easy pony and was on her way to a holiday on Exmoor.

She obviously knew where she was as she started to whinny when the lorry crossed the cattle grid. It was lovely to see her looking so happy and well and so loved by her family.
Our ponies were not to the judges liking at the Breed Show this time. The exception was our yearling filly Hollybrooke Elegant (above) who was third in a strong yearling filly class.

We always try to support our local Ellingham & Ringwood Show which has a whole range of classes for New Forest ponies. We usually take some of our young ponies who are at the start of their showing career or who have not been shown before. This year was no different, we took the yearling Hollybrooke Elegant who had only been to a show with her Mum and the three year old Hollybrooke Duchess who had only ever been out once, a few weeks ago.
Duchess had gained in confidence from her last outing and was first in the ring walking past the banners and other spooky things without taking any notice. We started our trot round for the judge and she was going beautifully until she got a crab fly that caused her a great deal of distress. She is a gentle and polite pony and despite being really upset she didn't try to knock me over or take off. When she was unable to get rid of the offending fly she

then thought sitting down was the only option. She rolled a couple of times got up had a shake and was fine. Much to the amusement of every one round the ring!
She was foot perfect after that and despite being pulled in last she went up to second.
There were no such dramas for Hollybrooke Elegant who was beautifully behaved to stand second in the yearling class.
Hollybrooke Jupiter made his first attempt at BD a winning one, qualifying for the BD Native pony championships in the process. Brilliant result, well done Heather and Jupiter.

We have had two memorable events in the last week. Firstly we had a visit from more than thirty Swedish New Forest Breeders and enthusiasts, closely followed by the New Forest Show.
It is always a pleasure to welcome visitors to the stud and our Swedish guests, which included many old friends were both interested and knowledgeable. They started by looking at both our stallions Hollybrooke Tinker and Skywalker, then went on to see some of their progeny and both the mares with foals at foot and those in foal for next year. At the end of their visit we were presented with this lovely picture of Burley Time Lord, who we sold to Sweden as a three year old. Although not bred by us he was conceived here and came to us as foal. He had a very successful career in young stock classes. Which included reserve champion forest pony at the New Forest Show. He has been a hugely successful competition pony in Sweden and a very influential stallion. We only sold him as he was too closely related to our other stallions. We were both touched and proud to receive such a lovely gift.
New Forest Show did not quite go to plan for us. Hollybrooke Grace was entered in the second class in one ring. Her daughter Hollybrooke Favour (left) in the fifth class in the other ring. No possibility of a clash you would think. However, that was not the case and poor very lame John had to step in and show Favour. We were more than pleased with the way she looked, the way she behaved and her second place. Grace was pulled in third in a huge, large yeld mare class but demoted to seventh for poor behaviour. It is really strange as Grace is the most laid back pony with lots of experience of shows and competitions but there is something about New Forest Show that really upsets her. It is not the first time she has become really unsettled there.
The progeny of both our current stallions were well represented in the placing's. Including Hollybrooke Tinker's Gold (right) who won the two year old gelding class. We were thrilled that the overall New Forest Champion was the mare Crabbswood Surprise who was also conceived here by our beautiful late stallion Hollybrooke Rambler.

Hollybrooke the Duchess left the farm for the very first time in her life to go to a local show. She is the full sister to both Hollybrooke Duke and Hollybrooke Halo. She has inherited their most wonderful temperament and took all the new experiences in her stride. We were thrilled that she was placed second in a large and very strong New Forest young stock class. Interestingly third in the same class was Hollybrooke Tinker's Gold (both are sired by Hollybrooke Tinker) and fourth was a yearling gelding by Skywalker. So a great day for the stud. Also this weekend, her brother Duke was third out of fourteen in the HOYS flat qualifier at the NCPA Staffordshire Festival. We already have a lovely photo (left) of Hollybrooke Skylight in her new home having an after school grooming session with her new family.

Two Hollybrooke ponies have gone to lovely new homes.
The four year old filly Hollybrooke Skylight (right) has left us to begin the next chapter of her life as a ridden pony. She joins her younger brother Hollybrooke Galaxy. We kept her with the intention that she would join our band of broodmares but realistically she would have been wasted with us, so we are thrilled that she has gone to such a lovely home where she will have the opportunity to compete and be a very special family pony.
News of another pony who has gone to a different home is Hollybrooke Duke who has been loaned by his owners Jo & Chris. He will have a varied life which will include jumping, competing and hacking. The photo shows him having a great time Arena Eventing last weekend.
Hollybrooke Jupiter had a brilliant day at the Northern New Forest Show. He won the novice ridden and was then reserve Ridden Champion beating some seasoned HOYS ponies in the championship. He then went on to be reserve supreme of the show. He is a real credit to Heather his owner/ rider who has worked extremely hard with him. Hollybrooke Annie has been a super star yet again. She went to the Pony Club Area dressage competition, having not competed since last September (her rider has been doing A levels) She came second individually and helped her team to first place in the Open Dressage (equivalent to elementary). We wish them the best of luck at the championships later in the summer.
Sadly we missed our next intended showing outing. We had planned to take two young ponies that have not been out before, but the need to make our hay and silage got in the way. It dominates our life at this time of year and being so weather dependant it is impossible to plan in advance. Hopefully we will be able to find them a show later in the summer.

Another lovely photo has arrived of the two year old Hollybrooke Galaxy (right) and his future rider. What an amazing family pony he is going to be. We hope he will be just as successful as Charlotte Nelson & Hollybrooke Halo who won the junior 80cm section of the Riding Clubs Horse Trials hosted by Area 17 at the weekend. A super achievement. Interestingly second in the same class was Trenley Tomorrow, both he and Halo are sired by Hollybrooke Tinker.

Lots happening at this time of year. Hollybrooke Jupiter's owner sent this lovely photo of him competing in his first ever show jumping competition which he won. Hollybrooke Jet's owner also sent photos. He went to the South of England Show and was placed. second in his class also winning best of breed. He is a two year old gelding by Hollybrooke Tinker out of Hollybrooke Sparkle and this was his first big showing outing. We are very proud of both ponies.

Our foals are growing fast and we are really pleased with both of them. At the moment they start to look very scruffy as they losing their baby coat, Particularly Hollybrooke Amethyst who was born bright orange and is changing to dark liver chestnut like her father Hollybrooke Tinker.

Our foals are growing well despite getting constantly soaked. It is amazing how quickly nature compensates as have grown unusually warm fluffy coats. They both have lovely bold temperaments and have already been micro chipped and will be registered as soon as we can properly see their markings underneath all the hair.
Another Hollybrooke pony who has wintered well, is the two year old gelding Hollybrooke Tinker's Gold (left). The photo was taken at his first showing outing of the year. He is so like his Dad, Hollybrooke Tinker was at that age. What a very smart ridden pony he is going to be.
Hollybrooke Jupiter (right) is just being introduced to some jumping. What an amazing shape he is making over this jump.

Hollybrooke Halo had a super day at the Elite NFPEC Show, winning the Junior 148 cm WHP class and the reserve championship.

At last we have a foal. This huge colt by Skywalker out of Hollybrooke Melitta arrived at a very civilized six o'clock in the evening, which was actually just as well as Melitta retained her afterbirth and needed the vet. Thankfully she is fine now. He is very smart and extremely quiet so we are thrilled. The photo is taken at just 18 hours old and shows what a big boy he is.
I have made a completely new page about the amazing journey made by two of our New Forest mares because I felt it should be recorded. The journey they made is as amazing as it is unbelievable. It shows how little we really understand about what our ponies are thinking and that we frequently underestimate them.
Read about it here.
I make no apologies for including the second photo. I think it is quite the largest jump I have ever seen any Forest Pony tackle but most certainly a Hollybrooke one. This is Hollybrooke Martini and her young rider age just twelve jumping a fence that is 1m 20 cm high. She looks so confident and relaxed. A brilliant achievement by pony and rider.

What a ghastly winter and still the weather doesn't improve. Even the fields that we haven't used at all are like paddy fields. We have two foals due next week. Thankfully the mares do not look at all close yet as I have no idea where we can safely turn out babies. Sadly the Breed Society has not been able to publish the Elite Scheme this time however, all four stallions that have stood at Hollybrooke sired a mare that passed her grading in 2023. Hollybrooke Annie also achieved her dressage grading at Prelim, Novice and Elementary what a super pony she is.
This month we have two videos of the ponies we bred have that have managed to get out and about.
Hollybrooke Jupiter made his debut in the dressage arena and was placed third, with some lovely comments from the judge and scoring 67%. He also had his first showing outing since the NPS Championships last August and was again placed third in a huge and very strong mixed M&M class. His owner was delighted and is planning more dressage outings for him.
Another pony who has been trying her hand at something completely different is Hollybrooke Treasure who went on a Ben Atkinson Liberty Clinic with her handler Isobelle. Ben said she was the most polite and well trained horse there. The video below show what a wonderful relationship she has with the pony.

Some young Hollybrooke ponies have been out gaining experience at clinics during the winter. Hollybrooke Theodore age six on the left and Hollybrooke Destiny age five on the right. Both behaved beautifully and gave their owners and riders a great deal of pleasure.

The new year got off to a great start. The NFPB Society published the results of last Autumn's mare grading. Hollybrooke Grace not only passed her grading but was also the highest scoring mare so we were doubly thrilled. It was an amazing achievement for the stud as the last three mares we have taken to be graded have all won the award for the highest scoring mare of the day.
Other Hollybrooke ponies have put away their showing and dancing shoes for the winter and have been having fun out hunting. Hollybrooke Duke has been hedge hopping with the University Drag Hounds while Hollybrooke Annie has been enjoying herself out with the South Downs Bloodhounds.