Founding of Gwaihir Stud

Like many studs, Gwaihir Stud developed over a number of years. First came the acquisition of the anglo arabian stallion San Domingo (known fondly as Donald) in 1981. Then the stud was purchased in 1987 and the first foal was born in 1988. Over the years the stud has moved location and Donald’s son, Gwaihir Aubusson, has followed in his sires hoofsteps to become the stud stallion.

Pictured right - San Domingo Anglo Arabian stallion (Picture by Fran Adams)

The original aims still hold strong …’to breed horses with exceptional temperaments, which have outstanding beauty, that are conformationally correct and have the athleticism to excel in all equestrian fields, from Royal Show Hack to Olympic Eventer.’

The purchase of Donald was as though finding the love of one’s life. It began when Victoria went property hunting in Randwick. The property (where Donald resided) was soon forgotten as her heart was captivated by the stallion himself. It turned out that Donald was a resident there and was to be evicted upon it’s sale. Two weeks of heavy negotiating with Max and Cheryl Crockett, via her instructor Bruce Carnes, resulted in the magnificent stallion moving into the next phase of his life. Victoria was very lucky to get Donald as the owners didn’t want to part with him. He spent the next six years living at Centennial Park, before moving to Gwaihir where he lived the rest of his happy days in a three acre paddock with his girls on a picturesque hillside in East Kangaloon.
Pictured left to right - Genevieve Ross and Victoria Ross

Gwaihir was the name of the original property purchased by Victoria in East Kangaloon. The name originates in J.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gwaihir is the ‘Lord of the Eagles and King of the Winds’ and is himself an eagle. Gwaihir is a challenge to pronounce, as are most of Tolkien’s names, we pronounce it as “G-why-here”- the ‘g’ is like the ‘g’ in grape. As the stud was founded at Gwaihir, this great name is used as the prefix for all horses bred and bought by the stud. As Donald’s time passed and Aubusson came to the fore as the stud’s sire, the prefix then became a suffix, and hence for all of Aubusson’s progeny, their names are followed by “… de Gwaihir”, which means ‘of Gwaihir’. Aubusson’s name is pronounsed “Oh- boo-ss-on”.) Horses shown or bred by the stud but which do not carry on San Domingo’s lineage have the prefix “Gwaihir’s”

Gwaihir Stud has moved into the valley over which the original property over looked. The property is 165 acres, offering the best of hills and dales for growing young horses. Over the years the stud has stood other stallions to enhance and complement the studs mares. At the current property Gelriano, an imported warmblood stallion stood in 2002. Gwaihir’s Zodiac also stood at the current stud, in 2001 and 2002; he is a Thoroughbred by Zadkine whom Victoria and Genevieve stood at the original Gwaihir. (The stud bred Zodiac and later sold him to Alan Skinner of Sydney, Zodiac is cur

rently eventing successfully with Heath Ryan.)

Gelriano (Picture by Nicole Emmanuel)

The future of Gwaihir Stud remains, like most things, partly a mystery and partly planned. Gwaihir Aubusson will remain the stud stallion for many seasons to come, the successful freezing of his semen ensures that. All the while, the Stud is looking for the next outstanding colt with an impeccable temperament and awesome movement to carry the Gwaihir name to success in each and every equestrian discipline in the future.