About Us

About the Stud

Blackington Stud is a family-run business based on part of the family's arable and dairy farm in Oxfordshire. Mother and daughter, Juliet and Francesca, run the stud and both are responsible for the daily care and upkeep of the ponies. Juliet is also the UK agent for the semen of Hilken's Black Delight and Casino Royale K, while Francesca chooses the stallions for each mare, and will break and produce each pony when the time comes.

We started breeding ponies in 2006 after putting our FEI dressage pony mare, Naturell, in foal to Hilken's Black Delight. Francesca developed an interest in pony breeding and German pony bloodlines - which has since developed into a passion - after buying Naturell late in 2001 and researching her pedigree and German competition record.

Our aim is to breed top quality German riding ponies for both sport and breeding, selecting for conformation, temperament, rideability and movement. We hope to breed ponies of the necessary quality to contest German stallion licensings, mare gradings and the Bundeschampionat, but also suitable to be ridden by children. We believe that a pony with correct conformation and a solid temperament will be much easier for a child to ride successfully - the purpose for which the German riding pony was bred.

The quality of the mare is of upmost importance to us in the breeding of consistently good ponies. We view the mare as a template upon which to build, carefully selecting the most suitable stallion to complement her strengths and improve any weaknesses. In this way, by breeding from the highest quality mares and selecting the best stallions for them, we hope to produce ponies of a consistently high standard.

Francesca started riding at the age of 8 and developed an interest in dressage at the age of 13, competing in her first affiliated dressage test in 2001, aged 14. The family purchased Naturell from Germany very late in 2001, and Francesca competed on the FEI pony dressage circuit with her in 2003. Together they achieved many high placings and percentages, and represented England and Great Britain, as well as qualifying a number of times for the Regional Championships and the Winter Championships.

Francesca with her young horse Real Ruby

at the Midlands Regional Dressage

Championships 2007

After turning 16 in 2003, Francesca was no longer eligible to compete in the FEI pony tests, but continued to lightly compete Naturell at Medium level in 2004, winning the Midlands Medium Restricted Summer Regional Championships, and so qualifying for the National Championships, where they finished 7th.

After completing her A-levels in 2005, Francesca took a gap year to focus on horses. She competed her 5-year-old, Real Ruby (Rubin Royal x Davignon), in young horse classes, qualifying for the Rhinegold British Young Horse Championships and Pavo Potential Young Dressage Horse Championships, all with over 80%. They were placed 4th in the Rhinegold National 5-year-old Final 2006, again with over 80%, in a class where Francesca was the only non-professional rider.

Francesca is now training Real Ruby up through the levels, hopefully to Grand Prix, and also competes her Dutch gelding, Pavarotti, at Advanced level.

Francesca and Naturell

Mercedes-Benz

National Dressage Championships 2004

Mercedes-Benz National Dressage

Championships 2004: Prizegiving