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Fairfield Stud was established in 1977 and was the first Riding Pony stud in Tasmania. However, its roots go back to the year 1917, when my grandfather who lived at Lilydale in Victoria received a letter from a neighbour offering him a pony, which belonged to his son who had been killed in the First World War. She was a bay 14.2hh by Mystery, who went back to one of the first ponies ever imported to Australia in the mid 1800's, namely Tam o'Shanter. Her dam was by Boston, a registered thoroughbred. Consequently, she ended up with my father, who luckily for me, bred her and her off-spring along the lines we now know as Riding Pony type.

When he came back from the Second World War, he bred her grand-daughter to a thoroughbred stallion and the bay filly Daintree was given to me. She in turn was put to Cedar owned by Mr R.G. Ritchie from Delatite Station at Mansfield. Cedar was the son of the well known, elegant 14.2hh thoroughbred "flapper" Cedric, who goes back to the immortal Carbine. The result was Rhumba, who as a galloway was almost unbeaten in the show ring in Victoria and NSW. When she was retired from showing she came to Tasmania and had three foals. Her first foal Fairfield Calypso was twice Champion Ridden Pony at the Royal Hobart Show - the only time she was shown there. When she was retired in 1977, she went to Treharne Talisman (Imp.) at the Chippenham Stud. While there she was classified with the RPSBS and became Fairfield's first registered Riding Pony and the foundation of the Stud.

In later years two of her foals Fairfield Allemande and Fairfield Samba (by Rotherwood Digby imp) were Champion Ponies at Hobart Royal Show. Another of Rhumba's foals Fairfield Mazurka (by the thoroughbred Citatus) was an outstanding galloway and in her final year in the showring was unbeaten, culminating in the EFA Galloway of the Year. Two of her daughters Fairfield Minuet and Farifield Harmony by Rotherwood Digby (imp.) by Keston Royal Occasion (imp.) were excellent broodmares, both producing ten foals each. A full brother, Fairfield Troubadour, was EFA Galloway of the Year three times. All nine of Harmony's surviving foals have been Champion at Royal or State level, which is a great record. Pictured at right:- Fairfield Harmony with Bernadette Murray (Warren). Winner of many Championships & successful Broodmare as mentioned above. Chippenham Jasmine (Treharne Talisman Imp / Perkins of Spring Imp) was acquired from the Redpath Family, thus introducing the wonderful bloodlines of both Bwlch Valentino and Pretty Polly. She proved a wonderful breeder, having eight foals all of which were fillies! Her best known off-spring are Fairfield Grizabella (by Carolina's Cats Whiskers) who was a Royal Show Champion as well as Pony of the Year.

Pictured at left:- Fairfield Troubadour & Bernadette Murray (Warren). Multi HOTY & Royal winner. Fairfield Wildflower (twice Champion Pony at the Hobart Royal amongst other wins), Homevale Fuchsia (Supreme Champion Led Show Hunter at the NSW Riding Pony Show), Fairfield Wistaria who in a short show career had numerous Championships including Royals, and lastly Fairfield Fleur, was SHC Show Hunter Pony of the Year 2004, Champion Ridden Show Hunter Pony and Supreme Ridden Pony at the 2007 Tasmanian Riding Pony Show. The last four are full sisters, all being by Spring Storm of Astral (Rotherwood Footlight imp / Solway Magnolia imp). Stormy as he was known, was a unique sire with all his progeny having magnificent movement.

Fairfield Ballerina (Rotherwood Acrobat / Fairfield Minuet) has to date been the most successful pony bred at the stud, with numerous Royal Championships both led and ridden, two Pony of the Years and to cap off her career she was the National Pony of the Year at Werribee in 1998 - the first Tasmanian bred pony to achieve this honour. On her retirement from showing, she went to Kirreway Ambition and the resultant foal Fairfield Nijinsky, now standing at stud at Alinda Park, where he is proving to be an excellent sire. Ballerina's next two foals were Fairfield Bolshoi and Fairfield Fonteyn, both by Spring Storm of Astral. Bolshoi is with the Gorst Family in Victoria, where he has had considerable success. Fonteyn has had an excellent short first season in 2008 and we are anticipating a great future for her. Ballerina also has two young geldings by Willowcroft Royal Salute.

Pictured above:- Fairfield Grizabella, multi winner in hand.