Why Brexit has been a boon for Yorkshire’s horse breeders

It means that over recent months riders have been paying more attention to British-bred horses when it comes to looking for their next mount for eventing, dressage and other equestrian disciplines. And not before time, one Yorkshire breeder has told Country Post, as two of her home-bred horses are set to compete as part of the programme at Burghley Horse Trials, which runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Krista Brown started Couture Stud Sports Horses from her base at Sheriff Hutton more than 30 years ago and says it is a breeder’s dream come true to get a horse qualified for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse class series.

She said: “It is really hard to get your horse qualified as the competition is strong. The judges are looking for potential for the future. An athletic, brave horse with a promising jumping technique, attitude and a good gallop to become an international event horse.

“It is a really good class and wonderful for breeders. It is every breeder’s dream to see their horse qualify for the finals. You have ups and downs and it is a real emotional rollercoaster, like anything with animals, but to get a bit of luck like this makes it all worthwhile.”

After going to college and working abroad, Krista returned to the UK, got married and was earning enough money to fulfill a childhood dream of having her own horse. She bought April Princess for £2,200 more than 30 years ago and says at the time it was a lot of money to spend on a horse. When the horse had an injury she put her into foal and from there her own stud developed with April Princess as the foundation mare.

She is the great, great, great, great grandmother of Sandro Couture, who is a five-year-old gelding. He qualified for Burghley at Ryedale Show and will be ridden by jockey Alex Postolowsky. Zeus Couture is a four-year-old gelding and achieved his Burghley ticket at Hambleton Show and will be also ridden by Postolowsky.

He is the first hopeful out of Krista’s stallion Eros RT, who is licenced and graded by the Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain, whom Krista bought by chance as a yearling.

She recalled: “He was in a yard and a guy had bought him as a yearling for his fiancee but they split up. I said ‘I will have him’. That is how I got him and he is 14 years old now.

"I evented him and we competed in the dressage Young Horse Championships at Hickstead. Since then we have competed in all Regional British Dressage Championships and currently competing at Prix St. George’s Dressage.

"Everybody said you need to castrate him, you can’t manage a stallion but he is phenomenal. Once they are on side they will do anything for you. He is 17.1 hh and a gentle giant and looks after me.

“I was worried about using him for stud and that it would change his temperament but it didn’t. This is his first crop of four-year-olds with Zeus Couture and there are three and two year olds below him.

“Breeders are involved from the inseminating of the mare to the foal at foot and then it’s development to become a successful sports horse in equestrian disciplines.

While, you may think you have a superstar in the making, you don’t know until you go into the ring and perform.“

There are 22 horses at Couture Stud, the oldest is 34 year-old Master Couture, who completed at both Badminton and Burghley, and his retirement role is to nurture all the youngsters at the stud.

There has been an increased interest in British breeding which is set to continue.

Krista said: “Events such as Burghley’s young event class series and Brexit has actually given British breeders more confidence in their profession. Equestrian riders are now acknowledging the success of the British stallions, this has led to an increase in looking at UK breeders. This avoids any Brexit problems dealing with bringing horses in from abroad.”