In the shadow of the magnificent peaks of the Helshoogte and in among the vineyards of Thelema, Eikenhof and Rus en Vrede, is Farm France, home to the Rivendell Warmblood Stud. The farm stands two stallions, is home to about 13 mares and also offers semen collection and shipping, artificial insemination facilities and a quarantine station for both outbound and incoming animals.

In January 2008, Johan Lotter’s liver chestnut stallion, Rendement (Burgraaf), was on the farm waiting to go into quarantine at Kenilworth before flying to Europe. His company in the stallion barn were the two resident stallions, Rivendell Wangu and M.O.T Diaghilev.

Wangu is a son of Whistling Wood XX (Fort Wood) and out of the Pik Boy mare Piaffe (Imp). He is bay, stands an impressive 176 cm and was born in 2002. Diaghilev, also bay was born in 2000 and stands 164 cm. He is by Highwell Flambard (Imp) out of Holmegrove Dynasty (Imp), is full Trakehner and moves with a rare supple elegance. Both stallions are backed and ridden regularly.

Another colt that will be retained for breeding, is a half brother of Wangu called Rivendell Saruman. He is a red bay son of the imported Oldenberger stallion, Saliner (Sandro Song), and out of the Austrian mare Piaffe. He was born in 2005. Already he cuts an imposing figure as he cavorts with his mates in the paddock.

The manager

Karin Koep very ably manages the farm. Karin was born and brought up in Windhoek. She started vaulting at age five and has had a successful competitive career followed on a chestnut mare called Cremona (Graveur).

When she was sent to high school in Cape Town, she decided to breed with Cremona who produced two foals – a filly by Galapagos which is in Namibia and is still owned by Karin, and a colt born while Karin was writing matric. Cremona died shortly after the colt was born and Karin rushed home to bottle-feed him. They both survived. He was named Gandhi and has since formed a successful partnership with Karin, eventing and in the dressage arena.

Since matriculating, Karin studied at Stellenbosch University – obtaining a Masters degree in animal science – and spent time in Germany where she rode with Claus Ernhorn who was Chef d’equipe for the German eventing team at the Sydney Olympic Games. She has had lessons with Rainer Klimke, Nicol Uphoff and Maria Gunther.

Quarantine facilities

Equine quarantine laws dictate that incoming horses spend 30 days in official quarantine in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Thereafter stallions and barren mares are released, providing that they test negative for contagious equine metritis (CEM). Pregnant mares must remain in quarantine until a month after foaling down.

Both mare and foal are tested for CEM. Should the blood tests be positive, they are either returned to the country of origin or destroyed. Rivendell is an approved pregnant mare quarantine facility that is able to accommodate six horses. A large foaling barn forms the nucleus of the facility, with roomy stables and shady paddocks around it.

The morning of our visit was a very special one for Karin and her team, because just a few hours before they had welcomed a very special foal into the world. The bay colt is a son of Sir Shutterfly (Silvio I) a full brother of the great show jumper, Shutterfly, and out of the chestnut mare Calvyra Z [CalvaroZ – Itzaz (RamiroZ)]. Karin purchased the mare, already in foal, from Paul Schockemohle in Germany.

Waiting to foal down was another chestnut called Bijou [Balou du Rouet – Paris (Pikoer)] who is in foal to the Meckelenberger stallion Chacco-Blue [Chambertin – Contara (Contender)] and a beautiful black Hanoverian mare called Delovely [Don Crusador – Hauptstutbuch Ronja (Rotspon)]. Delovely is in foal to the Sandro Hit stallion, Scolari, who is out of a de Niro mare.

Also in quarantine was a mare that belongs to Debbie Wallin, co-author of the book The International Warmblood Horse. Wallin has a number of horses under Karin’s care on the farm. An imported Quarter Horse mare, in foal to America’s most expensive Quarter Horse stallion, was also in the quarantine station and Karin was awaiting the arrival of an American Saddler mare.

Passion and energy

The South African Warmblood horse can only become a better animal with the infusion of the genes of quality mares such as those imported by Karin. Not only is she passionate about the Warmblood horse, but her knowledge of international pedigrees is deep.

When she plans a mating, she takes into account the performance, conformation and temperament of both stallion and mare in an attempt to breed an animal that will be both athletic and easy to work with. With this in mind, she has a number of Thoroughbred broodmares on the farm, and until recently stood a Thoroughbred stallion on the farm.

Karin is also highly competent and manages her duties at the stud around the time that she commits to competitive riding and to the South African Warmblood Society (she is the Western Cape representative).

Farm France is indeed a beautiful and tranquil place and the Rivendell Stud is sure to become synonymous with quality, as more of the foals bred on the farm reach maturity and the competitive arena.