SERVICES | STUD PHILOSOPHY | PERSONNEL

FACILITIES

Cheryl Wilson riding CH Maddison

Craighaven Sporthorse stud is located 45 minutes south-east of Rotorua and Tauranga, approximately 20 minutes west of Whakatane and backs on to the Te Teko Racecourse. The stud consists of two main properties – Craighaven and Haven Heights.

Craighaven consists of 100 acres of flat land situated at Otakiri. This property sees most of the work and homes the main part of the stud including 5 stallions, the broodmares, stock up to yearling age and all the in-work horses.

Heather Virbickas riding CH Abigail

We have a large stable unit, which contains 7 boxes, an indoor vet crush, indoor yard, wash bay, tack room, large saddlery, groom accommodation and semen-processing laboratory. Out the back of this complex are a large set of yards that contains an outside vet crush, 5 holding pens and 2 larger yards that are invaluable for the early handling and breaking in of the young stock.

Haven Heights is located at Manawahe approximately 20 minutes from Craighaven. This farm consists of 200 acres of rolling hillside on which we run and grow our young stock, and spell the older riding horses or empty mares. We brought Haven Heights with the intention to run the young horses to teach them to run over uneven ground, for coordination and to build strength and stamina. We also run 70 beef cattle on this unit.

SERVICES

Martin Gow riding CH China Beach

STUD PHILOSOPHY

Craighaven is run as a partnership including Angus and Esme Gow and Martin and Karen Gow, with Martin filling the role of Stud manager. Angus has been breeding horses for many years and when his son Martin became involved 15 years ago numbers increased and the idea of Craighaven Sport horses was realised. Angus purchased the stallion Waingata (by Aberlou) who became the stud’s foundation stallion. Waingata daughters where retained for breeding and each year select mares were outcrossed to the best jumping stallions currently available. Good stationbred and jumping mares were purchased and bred to Waingata.

Karen with Yearlings

Craighaven mares are selected for their bloodlines, conformation, progeny performance, type and importantly temperament. The progeny are selected for their willing and easy temperaments and athletic ability. Any individuals that don’t meet our standards are removed from our programme.

Craighaven foals are handled at birth and regularly handled for worming and trimming throughout their early years resulting in young horses with superb temperament, trainability that are a pleasure to own and we are proud carry our CH brand.

 

CH horses present at the EBOP Closing Hunt (Te Teko Racecourse 2003)

PERSONNEL (Staffing)

Martin & Karen Gow

Craighaven boasts a great team bringing a great variety of experience and expertise.

Martin is involved with the stud full time. All farriery work, stallion management, semen handling (both fresh and chilled), mare and foal management, handling of young stock and breaking in and riding on is managed by Martin and his father. In 2000 Martin and family shifted to the UK to manage the famous Welton Stallions at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire alongside Sam and Linda Barr. The stallions at stud included Welton Crackerjack, Welton Apollo, Welton Ambassador and a young colt Welton Adonis. Martin was able to leave at the end of the 2002 stud season with 100% mares successfully in foal.

Martins wife, Karen is a qualified veterinary surgeon who graduated from Massey University 1988, spending time in Kentucky, studying stud practice with a particular interest in foal medicine. While in the UK, Karen lectured and helped develop the new Veterinary Nursing Science Degree at Hartpury College, assisted in the running of a new national Equine Veterinary Nursing Qualification and was involved in the Foot and Mouth Epidemic of 2002. Karen is a working director of Edgecumbe Veterinary Services and manages the small animal branch in Whakatane. She is part of the EVS team of vets who service Craighaven Sporthorse Stud.

Hayden Morressey riding CH Roquette	Martin riding Blue Tatoo (Cassie)	Hayden Morresey riding CH Full Monty

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