When Dawn and Danny Hartley bought Wood Top Farm in 2004 little did they know that this was not just a new family home but the start of a new adventure which would enrich their lives with the Arabian horse.

 By complete chance, a knock at their door to ask if the farms equestrian facilities could be rented, started not only a new friendship but a new passion.

Mark Hardcastle was looking for somewhere to run his show training centre from and Wood Top Farm, with it’s internal stabling, indoor and outdoor schools and 18 acres of rolling, wall lined pasture fit the bill perfectly.

Soon after moving all the show liveries in, Dawn and Danny were so taken by the breed that they decided to buy some Arabians of their own. Hotspur Arabians was born with their first mare. Purchased from America, Shahsonata (JK Amadeus x Shahzamila) a stunning, tall, white mare with a showy attitude and long, elegant neck, set the tone for the stud… ‘When purchasing our first breeding stock we knew that type was key but we didn’t want to just go out and buy a load of horses with dished heads!’ Danny says, ‘We wanted horses that ooze quality, with smooth bodies, a show ring attitude and classic type’. They certainly got that! Mark and Janine, as programme and breeding co-ordinators, flew to America to choose the new additions to Hotspur’s barn.

 Having spent time working for the world’s best Arabian horseman, Michael Byatt, at his farm in Texas, Mark had already seen horses of the type they wanted to bring to the UK. Four horses were purchased, Divine Destination (Padrons Psyche x Divine Faith) a lovely chestnut mare, in foal to Marwan Al Shaqab and with a stunning chestnut filly at foot, Divine KT by Besson Carol. Astorija LK (FS Bengali x Amira Madrona) a tall, extremely classy grey two year old filly and Marieta B (Besson Carol x Magic Star by El Shaklan) who has since claimed the crown of ‘darling of the stud’ her classic type and beauty leave all the visitors smitten!

Later that year the king of the stud arrived, HB Bastille (Besson Carol x Credit to Society) an iron grey colt, with a beautiful head, stunning neck and shoulder and fabulous temperament. ‘Bastille was selected not only for his classic beauty but because he is of the type and bloodline that can compliment many mares’, says Mark, ‘the Ali Jamaal – El Shaklan cross is one we have always admired and wanted to include in our breeding programme’.

He isn’t wrong, in 2006 Bastille’s first Hotspur foal was born, a bay filly to Shahsonata. DH Eponine is a combination of the best of both parents and has a wonderful showy presence. She was shown as a foal with excellent results becoming champion foal at the North Staffs ‘C’ Show. Eponine will make up part of the Hotspur Arabians 2007 show team.

 In 2005 another mare was purchased from America, Magic Star, by the immortal El Shaklan, and dam to the beautiful Marieta B. She arrived with a very special colt foal by Marwan Al Shaqab at foot, Keyser Soze, who had an excellent 2006 taking Junior Male and Reserve Supreme Champion titles at the North Staffs and Northern Group ‘C’ shows. Keyser also became a very deserving crowd favourite at the UKIAHS in the hands of Janine, coming 3rd in the yearling colt class to rapturous applause from the British crowd!

Other 2006 wins include HB Bastille’s class win at HoCoN ‘C’ show and reserve Junior Male champion at the Midland Group ‘C’ show and Astorija LK won a very strong 3 year old filly class at the Midland group.

 2007 is an important year for this young stud. So far 5 beautiful foals have been born, four by HB Bastille and a very special bay colt foal by Marwan Al Shaqab out of Marieta B, most definitely one to watch for in the future!

Two more foals are due, a full brother or sister to DH Eponine and the studs first straight Egyptian by one of Danny’s personal favourites Imperial Bareez and out of Imperial Orrapha, a special snow white daughter of Orashan (US), imported from Imperial Egyptian stud last year.

This year’s breeding season is already upon us, and you can’t help but wonder what 2008 will have in store for Hotspur. Keyser Soze will breed his first mares this year, whilst a very special breeding will take place between Imperial Orrapha and Al Adeed Al Shaqab. In the meantime, you will get to see some of these beautiful Hotspur horses, gracing the British and European shows this year, and the way things are going, for many, many years to come.