Angrove Stud and Stallion Client Testimonials and Letters

Ricco has excellent conformation and bone, a fantastic temperament, and incredible elastic, off-the-ground paces with superb balance and extension. He also has a very scopey, careful and powerful jump, and is a quick thinking, intelligent horse. He is well and evenly marked, has a good head, huge presence, and is a tremendous stamp of horse that will breed excellent sports horses.

I own and compete a piebald gelding who is a fantastic little horse, CJ, by Captain Maverick. CJ is Ricco's half brother, and is like a mini-version of Ricco. He is an excellent allrounder who competes successfully in unaffiliated and affiliated showing classes, BSJA, Riding Club, unaffiliated showjumping, and dressage. Among many other successes, CJ's most recent notable achievements include: qualified for the CHAPS Championships Show on his first outing two years running, overall Coloured Champion at the Dabbs Spring Show 2006, 3rd at the Royal Highland Show in the CHAPS Non-Native In-Hand 2006, 1st in the CHAPS NN In-Hand at the Scottish Horse Show 2006, 1st in both his CHAPS classes at Drymen County Show 2006, 1st at the CHAPS NN Ridden Open at the Scottish Spring Show 2007, qualified for Saltire Series Intermediate and Open Championships (showjumping) 2007, 2nd in the Open SJ Riding Club National Championships Qualifier 2007, and has qualified for 5 different classes at the Champions of Scotland Show in October 2007, including showjumping, coloured and veteran classes.

In 2006, I decided to put my two mares Chardonnay (Chardy, by Eugano) and Carnaval Empress (Gem, by Carnaval Drum) in foal to Ricco, to breed a replacement for myself, as CJ is getting on in years, and sell the other foal to recoup my costs. Unfortunately Chardy was unable to conceive naturally, and has to be inseminated artificially. Gem however conceived quickly, and produced a fantastic skewbald filly by Ricco in July 2007.

The filly, Knickerbocker Glory (Cookie) is an extraordinary horse that should make a top-class competition horse that will excel in any sphere. She is very well put together, with a good sloping shoulder, a well-set neck, exquisite head, strong rounded quarters and superb straight limbs. She is well marked, has a very friendly and relaxed temperament, and fantastic paces, with a huge amount of energy, balance and elegance. She has been sold to a lovely family in Livingston to have a career in Showing, Working Hunter Classes, BSJA and Eventing.

Due to Chardy not being in foal, I had a free return to Ricco in 2007, so I sent a charming Irish Sports Horse, Leather Lady, to Ricco. Lady is kindly on loan from Clare Peddie in Crail. Lady is a cracking big horse with excellent movement, conformation and temperament. She has successfully competed in County level Showing and Hunter classes, Riding Club and Pony Club competitions, but has sadly retired due to a tendon injury. I am very much looking forward to the result.

I feel the service offered by Heather and Lev at Angrove Stud is second to none. They are very professional and accommodating; especially with Chardy who is a "difficult" mare to put it mildly, and with Gem's foal Bella that was at foot while Gem was at the stud in 2006. I am over the moon with little Cookie, and am planning to send Gem back to the stud in the future to breed another for myself! CJ will have to wait to retire for a few more years – in fact he is going to compete in affiliated Veteran classes in 2008!

Jeanne Simpson MA - Elvingston Farm - Owner of Knickerbocker Glory - 21st September 2006

I began looking for a coloured stallion during the winter months of 2005. I went all over searching for the right type of stallion, and to much disappointment I couldn't really find what I was looking for. Then in January 2006 I noticed the advertisement for Ricco whilst in the horse shop. I rang Heather and arranged to come down and see him.

As soon as I saw Ricco I knew he was what I'd been searching for and would compliment my bay thoroughbred mare by Queen's Soldier. From both of them I wanted to produce not only a coloured but something with the potential to be a top class show hunter. I have certainly got that! Ricco had the breeding I was looking for with good strong clean limbs and the right amount of bone I wanted. He is an upstanding horse with a great shoulder and presence. He complemented my mare by adding more length in the body and we've bred a foal that's inherited his wonderful temperament.

Together they have both produced a wonderful coloured filly, Yorkshire Rose, who we hope will have great success in the show ring next year. I will definitely be using Ricco again to further our breeding of coloured show horses.

Miss J Hooks - Owner of Rosie - 20th September 2006

If you have something to say about Ricco then please send your testimonial - if we haven't spoken to you already!