8 minute read
Summerhill Equestrian
by hqmagazine
Photography: Hilary O’Leary
An equestrian paradise
Summerhill Equestrian is situated in the Hlatikulu valley, 12 km outside of Mooi River, on the Giants Castle side, and the sleeping giant is the last view accompanying you as you enter the property. Your real experience of the energy encased within Summerhill Equestrian begins as you approach the famous Hartford Gates. Driving in, you are met with a feeling of the rich history and the years of quality, style and opulence that have been lived out here. This kind of atmosphere takes generations to create, build and establish through carefully thought-out foundations and meticulous attention to detail, and spaces like this are hard to find.
As you enter, with Hartford House straight ahead, your eyes see the double stable block with perfectly round hay-nets at every door ready for the afternoon occupants. A right turn takes you on a meander through part of the property to the main stable block, where among the grand trees, manicured lawns, lakes and rolling lush green pastures, you fi nd the grazing horses, the famously beautiful stallion barn, and the iconic stable office.
The famous horses and people who have been a part of creating the legacy that is Summerhill have left an energy that every visitor to this space encounters. The horses seem to feel it too, either standing majestically against the exquisite scenery or with their heads staring out of the stable doors pensively, seemingly considering their brilliant futures.
History
Hartford’s beauty was discovered by the Moor family almost 150 years ago, when they came by its vacant landscape in the early 1870s. First Deeds of Grant for Hartford and Summerhill were issued to the Moor family by Queen Victoria. Originally home to the family of John and Sir Frederick Moor, the last prime minister of old Natal, the property is now part of the greater Summerhill Estate. The family’s endeavours left a rich mark on what the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal represents today.
Some 70 years later, Raymond Ellis founded his all-conquering Thoroughbred enterprise on these historic acres, when any horse carrying his black and green silks was said to be as good as money in the bank. Such was their dominance that the Hartford horses carried off every major prize on the southern African turf. Their exploits compared with the mighty strings of England’s Lord Derby, the Agas Khan and the Sheikh Maktoum, Ireland’s Coolmore, France’s Boussac, Italy’s Tesio, or those of America’s Phippses and Calumets.
The Goss family took over the Stud in 1979 and owned it up until Henning’s purchase of the property in 2019. Under Mick Goss, the legendary racehorse trainer, the Summerhill Stallion Barn was a showcase of the finest Thoroughbreds in the southern hemisphere.
Today, with Capital Stud now based on the property, the estate is also home to the very best warmblood sporthorses, including stallions, mares and their offspring. Breeding only from the world’s best bloodlines, this fresh new addition enriches the history with a modern element. The quality of horses on display on this beautiful property is really something to experience for yourself. It’s safe to say that the future of Summerhill Equestrian and Hartford House is exciting with Henning Pretorius and his very capable team and the helm.
The property
The properties collectively known as Summerhill lie in a belt of high fertility and excellent rainfall in the KZN Midlands. Millions of years ago, the Drakensberg lay where Hilton is now, but due to the soft sandstone, the mountains eroded back to their current position, where they rest on a stabilising layer of basalt underlay. This shift left a remarkable endowment of mineral richness in its wake. The resultant soil, and the pastures it produces, are the fi nest available for growing animals, and this unique environment explains Natal’s world-famous beef and the enormous number of champion horses originating from the property.
The facilities
To build on the rich history of this beautiful property, Henning has introduced some new elements, including a complete renovation of Hartford House and the property as a whole; the relocation of Capital Stud; and the establishment of his world-class Brangus herd on the property.
There are a total of 117 buildings on the property, including almost 260 boxes in twelve stable blocks spread evenly across its various titles; a stud office, as well as an administration office (on each of the two principal properties); an attractive but eminently functional stallion barn and its associated paddocks; and a modern, well-equipped foaling yard. In total, Summerhill Equestrian encompasses more than 2500 acres of fully fenced secure paddocks. This state-of-theart equine facility has been completely renovated and now meets all the demands Capital Stud require for their breeding and producing program. The property also houses an incredible facility, the only one of its kind globally, the School of Equine Management Excellence. Then, of course, there is Hartford House which needs no introduction. The completely renovated hotel, which has long ranked among the leading boutique hotels in the country, won a further handful of prestigious awards in 2021.
Hartford House
Summerhill Services
Summerhill Equestrian proudly boast some magnifi cent facilities and a top-quality team with years of experience behind them. The facilities and the services provided by this world-class team have recently been made available to horse owners globally. These services consist of boarding and spelling services, and anyone wishing to take advantage of these facilities and services would be advised to get in touch with the Summerhill Equestrian Team.
BOARDING FACILITIES
Summerhill Equestrian prides itself on offering the highest possible standard of care and fi rst-class communication with owners, all at a reasonable cost. The experienced team works alongside some of the industry’s most respected vets and farriers, ensuring that you and your horse receive the optimal care at every stage of the process.
The team welcome seasonal boarders visiting their own stallions or other KZN based stallions. When your mare is ready to be covered, the team take care of booking transport and making sure that all of the necessary paperwork is in order.
Horses resident with Summerhill Equestrian on a permanent basis benefit from a preferential boarding rate and are cared for year-round by the team of highly skilled stud staff. The whole process is taken care of for you, from regular farrier and worming routines to registrations and vaccinations.
FOALING
The foaling boxes are purpose-built to cater for mares and their newborn foals. Mares are monitored 24 hours a day with a member of experienced staff always on hand. After foaling, the owner will receive a detailed foaling report and photos of the new arrival taken during the first 48 hours after birth.
DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNGSTERS
The team firmly believe that there is no better upbringing for a young horse than on the enormous acreage of Summerhill Equestrian. With the opportunity to move and interact with conspecifics, combined with careful handling and steady introductions to the demands of domesticated life, your horse is given the time he needs to develop to the fullest of his potential. Henning believes so strongly in the benefits of this regime that he insists that all of his sporthorses are now raised at Summerhill Equestrian. ◊ SPELLING
The importance of rest and recuperation for our equine athletes cannot be understated in this demanding industry. At Summerhill Equestrian, they offer tailored programmes to meet the resident horses’ needs. Their spelling facilities can accommodate almost any requirements, and they work alongside top vets and farriers to ensure every base is covered, all with the goal of returning your horse to training early on.
Embracing the future
The feeling of great excitement and anticipation that accompanied Henning’s purchase of Summerhill and Hartford House in 2019 is still very much palpable. Capital Stud is proud to write the next chapters of this beautiful estate and to continue to contribute to the rich history surrounding sporthorses and Hartford: a beauty and promise that the Moor family first discovered over 150 years ago. Henning and his Summerhill Equestrian Team are committed to providing the best services and boarding facilities for sporthorses living here in South Africa. The next few months and years will be a time of great growth and development on the property, and we are excited to see what the future holds for this magnificent estate and the dedicated team living and working there.
Henning Pretorius
For more information
For more information on the facilities and services on offer at Summerhill Equestrian please contact stud2@capitalstud.com
