WINTERWOOD FARM ~ Breeding for Excellence

Winterwood Farm, situated in Glanmire NSW, 2.5 hours west of Sydney over the blue mountains is a 200-acre property dedicated to producing beautiful horses for riding and driving.

The farm is owned and run by Cath McDowell and David Mansfield of McDowells Herbal. It is here that they live alongside their horses over seeing their care.

Cath has a great eye for beauty, presence and movement and this has really helped when choosing the stock. However, her primary focus has been on temperament.

The stud has three main breed types – Hanoverian, Friesian and Andalusian. Cath wanted to experiment with her three most favourite breeds. There is no doubt that Cath is a romantic at heart! Horses have been her life, and this farm is the ultimate expression of this passion.

The focus of the stud’s progeny is simple. Healthy, happy horses that are reared as holistically as possible, gently preparing each foal for entry into our Human world with as little trauma as possible.

The stud is relatively young coming into its 5th breeding season. It has been an exciting journey choosing the stud stock, seeing what each mare produces and getting a feel for each bloodline’s potential.

As the stud develops and as Artificial Insemination became an option, international bloodlines are now making their way into the next generation. The stud was awarded Gold and Silver for two foals from the 2023 drop by the Hanoverian Society. Both foals were from IFS – Gold to a colt by So Unique (Salvador WW) out of a Rhineland stud book mare Just Love (Jive Magic) and Silver to a colt by Danciano (Demarco WW) out of a IFS Rhineland studbook mare Seven Oaks Tanqueray (Prestige / Temptation). This was the first season of using IFS and was a wonderful acknowledgement of the choices that Cath has made in her breeding program.

It’s winter and it’s cold. Kelsey, the farms key employee and young horse trainer is rugged up as she loads the feeds on the cart to start the feed run, checking each horse along the way as all small boutique studs do. There is always a little problem to treat – from small cuts and greasy heel to Sarcoids. Farms are never a place of unwavering wellbeing. Like all agricultural pursuits there is the dark side. Stock losses, illness, accidents and heartbreak. As an old timer might say - “If you have livestock, you have dead stock”! Something that is not often discussed in the glamourous world of breeding high performance horses.

At Winterwood however there is a strict dedication to the wellbeing of each mare and the subsequent foal, as well as each riding horse. The aim is for optimal health, resilience and soundness for a long and healthy life. Cath practices what she preaches - she uses herbs, natural feeds, holistic methods of healing including body work (Specifically EMRT with Dearne Coombes from Mudgee) and functional classical training for every horse in her care.

Cath and Kelsey know intimately each horse’s personality and wellness priorities and strive to keep them all vital and blooming.

Cath does have excellent relationships as well with her local Veterinary team at Cudgegong Valley Vets (Dr Wes Rohr) and Bathurst Vet Services (Dr Jack Holman). Whilst management and natural support goes a long way there is always the need for veterinary care. There is no doubt though that with good management veterinary intervention is a min requirement and reserved for genuine emergencies and breeding procedures.

The Horses

Currently Winterwood is home to approx. 30 horses. 10 Broodmares, 2 x 3 YO, 7 x 2 YO, 5 x yearlings, Cath’s 2 dressage horses Remi of Winterwood and Bloomfield Viva Winterwood, Shandy the pony and 3 retirees. Cath is expecting 2 foals this season out of our two prime mares Harvest Oracle (Fusionist IFS) and Penton Repertoire (Total Diamond PS IFS). These two foals will be assessed by the Hanoverian society and available for sale this season. Last seasons foals comprised of Hanoverians, Friesian and Friesian crosses as well as an Iberian and Warlander foal.

Classical Training

Cath has always been an advocate for the horse and kind training methods that enhance connection between horse and rider. Training that considers each horses limitations and builds on their strengths. Classical training is that time honoured foundation upon which we can build our horses. With developments in our understanding of biomechanics and equine behaviour we can really take our horses on an enjoyable journey.

Selecting your equine partner is also such a challenge. Even if experienced in purchasing horses, there is so much we don’t know about a potential horse’s history that we take a punt each time.

It is this guessing that Cath wanted to take out of the equation. Cath’s vision was to breed horses that had such a good foundation that it was an easy next step for their new owner to connect and step into the role of horse owner and partner.

Cath offers support post purchase on diet, health and wellness management and training goals if needed and has many connections in the equine industry to refer people to for help.

Open Day with Jose Mendez

This year the Stud had its first Open day in March where 13 young horses were presented. The day was super successful with live music and classical riding demonstration with Jose Mendez.

You Tube Video https://www.facebook.com/winterwoodhorses/videos/388446744128547/

Jose Mendez is a regular visitor to Winterwood and is presenting clinics up to 8 times a year. Jose brings his lifetime of training and love of horses to Winterwood where he enthusiastically shares his knowledge for the betterment of our equine partners.

Facilities

The stud boasts full breeding and training infrastructure to ensure that horses can be managed and monitored closely as well as provide a safe handling environment for people and the horses.

There are 10 open air stables, covered arena, round yard, 3 wash bays and vet room. A larger grass training and jumping area also provides plenty of exposure to the surrounding environment, as well as areas to gallop and trail ride.

Environment

It was an important decision to make the farm as environmentally sustainable as possible. Where other farms are shooting their kangaroos and cutting down trees to make way for more paddocks Cath and David wanted to incorporate nature into their management.

Winterwood farm has an endangered ecological community of the white box woodland. When listed as critically endangered in 2006, the Australian Government estimated that as little as 0.1% of the original White-Box Grassy Woodland exists in pristine or near pristine condition. This has led to the farm also being a Land for Wildlife partner. Land for Wildlife is a voluntary scheme, which aims to encourage and assist private landholders to provide habitats for wildlife on their property, even though the property may be managed primarily for other purposes. The design of the paddocks is to fence off these regeneration areas and encourage native regrowth which also serves as small habitat encouraging wildlife.

Pasture and management

Having 200 acres means that management of the land can be done in a way that preserves the top cover of native and seeded grasses. Weed management is important. Cath and David use the neighbours 3000 sheep on rotation behind the horses to clean up weeds and spread their manure. This is an effective and sustainable approach to land management that minimizes impact and protects the soil which is the critical element. Soil moisture content is maintained well with good cover meaning that you can drought proof your land.

If you want to know more about Winterwood Farm, future clinics and the young horses available please see Winterwoodhorses.com.au or email Cath@winterwoodhorses.com.au