LAUREL GLEN, the source of two Rothesay colts, one by Hidden Dragon and a Loves Conquers All filly, in the catalogue for the April 2 Capricornia Yearling Sale, is conducted by a family of horsemen, Kerrod and Glenda Smyth and their offspring Beau, Nelson and Libby.
Their involvement in breeding in their own right began just over ten years ago when the Laurel Glen Equine Centre was established as a boutique Broodmare and Yearling producing farm at Alton Downs, the hub of Central Queensland thoroughbred breeding, close to Rockhampton, a bustling city with a population of just under 90,000.
An Emerald (central west Queensland) Pastoral College Animal Husbandry and Gatton Stock Inspector course graduate, Kerrod Smyth was a prominent racehorse trainer for 25 years and also gained valuable experience as the manager in the mid nineties of the Stewart Park Stud, one at Alton Downs which at that time stood four stallions and over 120 mares.That "began my love of foals and reproduction Kerrod," told the Australian Thoroughbred.
Besides building a broodmare band, one continually being upgraded, at Laurel Glen, the Smyths diversified by taking retired racehorses and re-educating them as showjumpers.
They received a lot of help from Liberty, a first rate rider who was on the National Squad at twelve, and Nelson. After winning Champion Part C Jumping Horse and Rider at the Brisbane Royal Show, Nelson was on the National Elite Young Rider Squad for three years.
The backbone of the Laurel Glen Equine Centre is thoroughbred production, but they also breed high quality show jumpers by combining Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.
"We realised that Thoroughbreds were important in producing top jumpers with Warmbloods, as while Warmbloods bring the vault and some carefulness, the Thoroughbred brings the speed and agility required to win the short course and we had a surplus broodmare supply," Kerrod said.
Continuing, he commented "So in the last five years we also crossed some of our mares with known jumping blood to international Warmblood semen by use of AI and frozen semen.The known Thoroughbred jumping blood in Australia comes from the influence of descendants of Grey Sovereign, Brilliant Invader, Sir Tristram and Quest for Fame, to name only a few, is well recognised and provides a market for Off The Track Horses and broodmares with the blood to be outcrossed providing us with diversity."
He also pointed out there are special classes for OTT Horses now being run at major shows, this also fitting in with the racing industry and Animal Welfare efforts to find a new life for horses retired from racing.
Production methods at Laurel Glen
includes, says Kerrod, something that may be unique in it involves after
weaning and after the mares have dried up, the weanlings are put back with the
broodmare herd to run with the mob and learn to be real horses until 90 days
before sale. At this juncture they are prepared by stabling of a day and put
into runs at night.
Represented by a small draft each year at the Capricornia sale, the methods have resulted in some good results, including Mythologist Let It Hail (10 wins including Capricornia 2YO Classic), Tinto Elemento (6 wins from 10 starts), Diable (6 wins) and Samba Rio (current 2yo, won Rockhampton by 2.8 lengths on debut).
The best could be to come as the quality of the four lots they have this year, two colts by Rothesay, one by Hidden Dragon and a filly by Loves Conquers All is among the highest ever for Capricornia yearlings. Their pedigree credentials and photos are on the Capricornia Sale website.
This is the only market used by Laurel. "We sell our best at Capricornia Sales, they are not culls, fourth draft or other sale rejects," Kerrod Smyth said. He can be reached on mobile 0438 34 1062 or email kn.gj.smyth@bigpond.com
