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Spain (by Jean Llewellyn) During the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, I had the pleasure of meeting Viscountess Petersham at her studfarm tucked away in the Spanish countryside not too far from Gibralter. She left her British homeland some three years ago, and acquired a derelict farm that she and her husband, a retired Irish international four-in-hand driver, have since beautifully restored to it’s former glory.
Q What is your background with horses?
I was practically born on the back of a horse,and have competed all my life, until our move to Spain. I rode for Douglas Bunn at Hickstead for four exciting years, and competed both in international classes,and the British Jumping Derby.
After getting married I rode on the flat for a couple of years, and then after having my children I returned to eventing and finally to dressage. So I have had a fairly varied career with horses!
Q When did you decide to become a breeder and how has your enterprise developed?
In ‘92 I was given Diddicoy by my husband, as a ‘carrot’ to take up dressage and give up jumping. He felt I was getting too old to go on leaping over fences! In order to fullfil Diddicoy’s full potential I decided to use him for breeding, as well as compete with him. Things just grew from there. We ended up having our own band of a dozen mares, mostly thoroughbred, and taking in mares, plus distributing chilled semen. It became a full-time job, much to my husband’s dismay!
Q When and why did you decide to move to Spain, and what are the advantages,or disadvantages of breeding there?
After my husband drove in the World Equestrian Games in Italy in 1998, he decided to retire from competitive driving, and the English climate. We cut down from 52 horses to eight, plus six dogs and three parrots, and set off with one animal keeper (Alison - who used to groom for French international driver Christian de Langlade) for Andalusia. The advantages are many, particularly that young horses thrive in this climate, and the cost of living is much less. The disadvantage is the is no ‘home’ market in Andalusia for sport horses that are coloured, so I send youngsters back to England to sell.
Q As you’ve been involved in competition at a high level, do you think this gives you advantages as a breeder, and in what way?
Both my husband and I have competed at international level, and in several different disciplines, so we
know what truly makes a competition horse. He has a wonderful ‘eye’ for a horse.
Q What breeds/types of horses were you riding as a competitor?
Thoroughbred, either pure, or part-breds.