The Pohlands Stud in the Eastern Cape, was started in the early 1990s when my husband, a wool and mohair farmer, capitulated and allowed me to fulfil a lifelong dream to breed showjumpers.

The ground rules were clearly laid down. I could run five mares and buy a locally bred colt. With a colt in mind, good friend David Stubbs and I set off to Gerrie du Toit's Alzu Stud, where Alzu Walkabout (Wachmann III / Alzu Anet) was purchased. With the help and advice of another good friend, Rogan Asken, I was able to put together a small group of Thoroughbred mares with valuable showjumping lines.

Soon after Walkabout's first crop of foals from these mares, of which three later jumped A-grade or JA, Gerrie du Toit contacted me to say that he had decided to sell Wachmann III as he now had other imported stallions and many of Wachmann's daughters in his stud.

A dream stallion

Wachmann III was imported from Germany by Gerrie and had already sired international A-grades. For me, Wachmann had the look of eagles and I thought he would be ideal for my Thoroughbred mares and, quite frankly, I couldn't believe my good fortune!

Wachmann is the sire of over 30 open grade showjumpers and has been the top producer of A-grade horses for many years in South Africa. He is one of the few sires in the country to produce international A-grade jumpers.

In addition, his sons, Walkabout, Wunderbar and Wedekind, have themselves sired A-grades. He also has two grandsons, Eagles Warrior and the international A-grade, Wundervogel, which were approved by the South African Warmblood Horse Society as breeding stallions.

Not only has Wachmann proved himself as significantly the most consistent sire of top showjumpers over many years, but his daughters have also given him the distinction of being a top dam sire of showjumpers. Alzu Quincey and Alzu Quixote are probably the two best-known international A-grades to have Wachmann as their dam sire.

Wachmann was 14 when he came to Pohlands. He died two years ago at the age of 27. He not only sired top showjumpers, but also winning showhorses, including two South African working showhorse champions, Winchester and Pohlands Warburton, eventing winners such as Alzu Wyford, Alzu Watergate and Pohlands Wytchwood, and top dressage horses, including a South African medium champion. Pohlands Stud now has some of his daughters in the band of broodmares to carry on his proud heritage.

The Pohlands mares

But a stud is not only about a top stallion. It is the mares that have the major input. Using the Thoroughbred as our foundation mares, we have eight mares to date that have produced two or more open showjumpers.

Two Thoroughbred mares stand out. These are Zest for Life by Master Polly out of an Argentinian-bred mare, who has produced the A-grades, What's Up and Westpoint, both by Wachmann, a JA by Gratuity and Pohlands Abracadabra by Acclaim, who has her points to jump open.

Crimson Silk by Flower Power also consistently produced good jumpers. Her progeny includes Pohlands Waynesboro (A-grade), Pohlands Witch Hazel, the current South ­African junior champion, Pohlands West­cliff, the winner of the 2008 junior Derby in ­Gauteng, and Pohlands Whyle, currently doing well in the young horse classes. All of these are by Wachmann.

Pohlands has always had the policy of putting one or two mares to outside stallions. With Wachmann's demise, we decided not to try to replace him, as our small number of mares does not warrant the expense of another stallion. We also stand Milan, an imported Dutch stallion whose sire, Holland, and grandsire, Concorde, are both known for producing a high percentage of jumpers. Milan is best suited to big Warmblood mares as he adds quality, forwardness and sharpness.

The South African National Equestrian Federation for the first time awarded trophies in 2008 to give recognition to breeders for their efforts. Pohlands Stud was the proud recipient of the Duncan Asken Trophy for the breeder of the top SA Warmblood, Warrangal P (Wachmann III / Spanish Temptress xx). Warrangal was bought from Pohlands as a two-year-old by Lisa Williams, who produced him. The pair of them have an impressive number of wins to their credit at the highest level – international A-grade.

Also awarded to Pohlands Stud was the Northlands Trophy for the best sire of SA Warmbloods, which was, of course, Wachmann III.

Breeding horses is not an easy task, but one tends to forget the losses and disappointments due to injury and disease when you watch a Pohlands horse, partnered by a diligent and talented rider, make light work of an imposing track. Then it all seems worth the effort!

Pohlands will continue to strive to breed that special champion and to build upon the sound foundation laid down by Wachmann III and a small band of wonderful Thoroughbred mares.