Bremervale Silver Prince - 30 years young!
1988 (Oxford Prince x Oxford Cinderella)
Words and pictures by Jane Shepherd of Lionnah Arabians, Qld, Australia
On Easter Saturday 2018 we held a 30th Birthday Party for our special Crabbet bred Stallion Bremervale Silver Prince. His party was attended by his previous owner and many friends who knew him as a young show horse as well as breeders and owners of his foals and progeny over the years.
Our special guest was my very good friend Phyllis Hopf who knew Prince’s breeder Sir Clarence Leggett very well in the early days. Phyllis herself has been breeding for over 50 years and was the owner of the magnificent Zenith II (General Grant x Zirree El Wada) after he came out to Australia as a young horse. Everyone enjoyed asking her many questions about the early days and horses she had seen and used over the years. We hoped that Prince’s two foals from last season would be born about the time of the party but they decided we might wait a little longer!
Bremervale Silver Prince’s breeding is both illustrious and closely connected to famous horses of yesteryear. Sir Clarence Leggett of the Oxford Stud in Queensland imported his grandfather Silver Minstrel. Silver Minstrel is by Sunlight’s Allegro (Indian King x Dancing Sunlight) and is out of the mare Silver Sheen (Bright Shadow x Silver Grey) –incorporating both beauty and performance genes of the highest quality. Prince has a double of Silver Minstrel as his grandfather as his father Oxford Prince and his mother Oxford Cinderella were half siblings.
Prince with Amy Francis from Ekala Arabians Victoria
One of Prince’s Grandmothers is the imported mare Indian Dream who is by Indian Magic (Raktha x Indian Crown) and she is out of the mare Sunset (Bright Shadow x Silver Gilt). Prince’s other Grandmother, Contessa, who was bred in Australia is also of English bloodlines as she is by Count Manilla (Count Dorsaz x Namilla) and out of the mare Electric Ray (Electric Silver x Nasifa).
Prince with Rachel Morssink from the NSW Crabbet Group
With such a pedigree it is no surprise that Prince has been an incredible saddle horse (retired at the grand age of 27) and show horse over the years. With his wonderful temperament he has taught people to ride and gain back lost confidence as well as be the regular mustering horse on the farm
He was a late starter in the breeding barn but he has been a great producer of purebreds and part-breds used in all areas of performance from mustering cattle, showing, cross country jumping, dressage and pleasure riding.
He is a beautiful horse to look at with his lovely conformation, deep jowl, small ears and big eyes. He has glorious movement and still loves to turn it on at times, even at his age.
On top of all this he is the best horse you could ever hope to own and it is a pleasure to watch him in his retirement with his new mate the English Springer Spaniel puppy – Lord Gilbert. They spend many happy hours playing or sleeping together.
I hope you have enjoyed my little story on this wonderful horse who has quite a connection with his English family. Here’s looking forward to more babies to come and more birthdays to celebrate.
Jane Sheppard
Iionnah Arabians
Mundubbera Qld, Australia