In 2005 Rynardt and Tracey Venter headed to the North of England and the beautiful village of Cartmel in the Southern Lake District. Here they were given the opportunity to become caretakers of the beautifully positioned Greenbank Farm, a 120 acre farm overlooking Cartmel Valley, owned by Tracey’s family for over 100 years.

With a lifetime of experience with horses, Tracey initially worked within the Thoroughbred industry, working with broodmares, foals, and running facilities for leading trainers in the USA and South Africa preparing young thoroughbreds for their racing futures. Having also spent a number of years as Event Manager for Kempton Park Racecourse and subsequently as Customer Service Manager for leading retailer John Lewis, Tracey is able to combine her equestrian knowledge with the very highest standards in service and presentation to their own business today.

Following their marriage in 2003 Rynardt and Tracey spent 12 months travelling the world giving them an opportunity to experience a wide variety of lifestyles and cultures. It was during this time they fell in love with the Friesian Horse and on returning to the UK set about developing a business, but more importantly, a lifestyle centered round them.

Tracey and Rynardt moved onto Greenbank Farm with their five Friesian horses in 2006, where her great grandfather used to breed pedigree cattle and thoroughbred racehorses. Over the last 40 years it was a tenanted dairy and beef farm which had fallen into significant disrepair. Day by day, piece by piece they are rebuilding the farm and developing facilities specifically for the breeding and training of the Friesian horse. The horses immediately gained themselves a reputation in the area for their presence and elegance and nothing brings greater pleasure to locals and visitors alike to see them gently trotting round the village lanes.

Without a doubt the biggest influence on the carriage driving side of this business came from Susan Townsend and John Parker, Chairman of the British Driving Society. Tracey and Rynardt spent six months at the Swingletree stables where they were given the opportunity to learn every aspect of John and Susan’s own driving business. During this time they drove many combinations of horses, learnt about the different types of harness - making, repairing and caring for it. Rynardt, showed himself to be particularly talented in the restoration of carriages and spent many hours with John learning about their care and maintainence whilst Tracey put her skills with young horses to the test by training some of John’s youngsters to ride and drive. Being able to work with the Swingletree team at a variety of events gave them the insight to build up their own thriving driving business today.

Although the carriages were to play a significant part in the business, it was very firmly all about the horses, the Friesians. With very little information available at the time in the UK about the breed Tracey and Rynardt went over to Friesland where they spent considerable time visiting studs, dealers, private breeders and Friesian events in order to learn as much as they could.

During this visit they identified 3 stallions who would become the primary driving horses and a mare who would become the foundation mare for the development of the breeding programme at Greenbank Farm.

There was no debate over the horses selected - Rynardt and Tracey, despite having looked at hundreds of horses instantly knew which horses would be making the journey back to the UK with them. They knew what they liked and their keen eye for a horse has been since been officially confirmed, firstly with HIDDE, one of the stallions being awarded STER status in 2006 and subsequently, FEMMA L being given the ultimate accolade of MODEL**, an award given to only a handful of friesian horses worldwide every year.

The Friesian family will continue to grow as Femma and her daughter Vela build their breeding careers and from time to time their offspring will be offered for sale along with a small selection of horses hand picked by Rynardt and Tracey and imported to the UK from the Netherlands.

** A Model predicate may be awarded to mares 7 years and older of really exceptional quality. The mare must achieve a 1st premium at a Breeders’ Day and at the Central Inspection within the same year, be at least 160cm at the withers and must have produced a foal to be considered for provisional Model status. For definite Model status, the provisional model mare must complete an AFBP or IBOP test, before the end of the next calendar year, with a minimum score of 77 points and an average of 7.0 for the walk and trot, or to have attained the Sport title in the same period of time.

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

• 

   

   

•