|
|
|
|
|
|
Durris Stud is situated in the North East of Scotland near the city of Aberdeen.
The Durris stud is conveniently situated five miles from Aberdeen Airport on the A947. Visitors are welcome, but please do contact us first.
Pat spent her youth running amok in Cheshire, Devon and North Wales. She inherited her parental grandmother's love of horses and from a youngster right through to her late teens, was never happier than when messing around with ponies. Although she never owned a pony herself, she had at her disposal, two Welsh Cobs due to their owner sustaining serious injuries in an accident.
Horses were put on hold in her twenties, whilst she pursued a career in American Tax in England and the USA. However, in 1988 she married her boss and was forced to retire. Poor George, a real townie from Edinburgh's Morningside District, didn't know what had hit him. Having gone from never touched a horse when he first met Pat, by the end of their first year of marriage, they owned three Cobs! All three horses were competed locally with some success, in particular Ashridge Action Man who regrettably had to retire from driving some years ago due to injuries he sustained in a driving accident. In 1991, Pat and George decided to buy two fillies, the yearling Badentoy Lyndie from Dr Mary Alud and the foal, Scole Starlight from Gladys Dale, to put together at a future date as a pair or tandem. That winter Lyndie appeared to put on weight whist living on apparent fresh air. by February they were very suspicious and on Friday 13 March 1992, at the age of 21 months, Lyndie gave birth to a part-bred filly foal and the Durris Stud was born.
From these humble and unplanned beginning the Stud has quickly grown in a very short time. Ponies from this stud have been sold to Argentina, Sweden and Germany as well as all over the UK.
We now have several people who help us out at the Stud on either a full or part time basis, including the following rabble.
 |
Having been approved as a BHS SVQ Training and Testing Centre in February 2004, we have Julia Gorley as our Chief Instructress who not only teaches but also assesses our students. Julia is a BHSI and LHHI who has recently become Grampian Regional Chairman Of the BHS, following in the footsteps of the redoubtable Annella Cowan. Julia was previously Chief Instructress at Gleneagles |
|
Josie came to us via the Pony Club and showing Shetlands before moving on to Welsh Cobs and catching the Welsh ‘Disease’! She is now the proud owner of Broughton Disraeli (Llanarth Rheinhhalt x Derwen Queen of the Isles), Cwrtycadno Awel Aur (Sarau Golden Cloud x Parc Ann) and Forbesfield Deideaj Gemma (Gartconnel Salad x Forbesfield Christmas Cracker).Josie competes the Cobs in all disciplines including, working hunter, show jumping, x-country, dressage and showing. |
|
Whilst studying for her SVQ and BDS exams, she also manages to study music full time at Aberdeen University, graduating in June 2005 when the real hard work starts! She and Lisa (whom you will meet shortly), are regularly tested by Julia on their ability to drink tequila and dance on tables!! |
|
Lisa rejoined us in March 2005 having previously worked here up until October 2002. She is a very hard working girl who spends the Spring tired out as her partner is up and down all night lambing! Lisa, who has an HND in Horse Management, long ago got bitten by Welsh Cobs bug and has a four year old gelding called Durris Hopscotch who in his short life has taken many Championships and Reserve Championships. |
|
Rachel came to help out four years ago at the tender age of 11. She can be relied upon to help and be there whenever the need arises but, unfortunately, her love does not lie with Welsh Cobs but with a big hairy Clydesdale gelding called Jim who was gifted to me early in 2007! Rachel has no aspirations to compete but is quite happy to be a ‘Happy Hacker’ at home! She does like to come to shows as a groom though. |
|
Gemma came to us to buy her first horse having had several on loan over the years. She ended up buying the 2 year old Welsh Section D gelding, Durris Lasting Spirit and catching the Welsh bug!! She keeps Luke at livery with us and although still learning, is proving to be a great asset to the stud along with her fiance, Ryan, who gets roped in to driving the lorry. |
|
Lou, seems to have been here forever and is really part of the furniture. She has been with us for eleven years and I really cannot remember what it was like without her. She has rarely had a day’s sick leave, never lets me down and is always there when needed, even if it means changing her plans. At thirty-two, she is still as nutty as a fruitcake and as blonde headed as she was when she was twenty-one!! Lou also has a Welsh Cob Section D called Durris Evereddie Teddie (known as Spud!!) who won every time out last season. Needless to say, Lou cried her eyes out each time and flung her arms round me to thank me for breeding him!!! Good thing I was wearing a jacket!! |
|
Anna and
Lucy Craigie arrived at various stages during 2004
courtesy of Faraway EC via Craigie Equestrian. Anna and Lucy completed their
SVQ and BHS training with us before Lucy left last September to take up
employment with Tim Stockdale as one of his riders. Anna shares her time
between here and her family’s business of dealing and training. Anna will be
leaving the UK in July 2007 for a new life in Spain. She will be much missed
but our love and best wishes go with her . |
We would not have been able to succeed so quickly, without the help of the Waxwing Stud whose encouragement, instruction, and inspiration have never failed us. Tom Best and David Blair have supported us and have influenced us to try to achieve even higher standards and for this and their friendship, we thank them.
E-mail: pat@durris.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1651 862370