February 2011
We took Rughavens Jackpot to the inaugural Stallion Showcase GB held at Addington Manor EC and had a very enjoyable day. This was a fabulous opportunity for stallion owners to present their stallions under saddle and for prospective breeders to get to meet the stallions in the flesh as each stallion had a stable for the day and with several well planned breaks throughout the day there was plenty of time for people to go and visit the stables. JJ took the whole day in his stride, he enjoyed having a stable rather than standing in the lorry all day and he gave a lovely ridden display which can be seen on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcqBijqlamc
There was a silent auction at the Stallion showcase GB with some fabulous lots available to bidders. This proved to be a very popular event with over £12,000 being raised for the Help4Heroes charity. Congratulations to Virginia on being the winning bidder for a covering by our lovely stallion Rughavens Jackpot.
We took Rughavens Sheik out to Norton Heath EC where he won both medium classes earning valuable qualifying points for the Summer Regional finals.
January 2011
Hurray, the snow has gone and we're back riding! After a month's enforced rest it's now time to get back fitness of both horses and riders.
In our first competition of the year, Rughavens Sheik wins both his Advanced Medium Restricted classes securing qualification for the Summer Regionals under the new British Dressage points qualifying system.
A few days later we are out again, this time taking Fingretto, a 5yo black gelding who is with us to be sold (see more on our For Sale page). Finn coped very well with a series of first time experiences, gaining praise from the judge for his paces and attitude, and showing a lot of promise for the future. At the same show Rughavens Jackpot won his section of the Elementary qualifier with a a score in excess of 67% gaining valuable points towards qualification for the Summer Regionals.
We finished off the month with a long journey up to Hartpury where Rughavens Jackpot was taking part in the British Stallion Event. The stallions were shown in hand and then had the opportunity to do a 5minute ridden display. JJ went in and strutted his stuff in fine form and even took a banner falling down in his stride whilst being ridden! Kevin Sparrow, the official photographer has captured some lovely photos of him which can be seen on his website.
December 2010
Heavy snow and freezing conditions throughout December made riding an impossibility and the year ended the same way it began - very cold!
It was lovely to share a very good evening with many of our liveries, owners, friends and family at Alec's restaurant in Navestock Heath just before Christmas. We braved freezing weather and icy conditions but we enjoyed a lovely meal.
A big thank you to all of you who helped make 2010 a successful and enjoyable year for Jackpots Stud and we look forward to seeing all of you throughout 2011
November 2010
Rachel Maddocks and Sheik travel to Arrow riding and RDA Centre in Kent to contest another Para Dressage class. They score an excellent 67.6%, securing second place and yet more valuable qualifying points.
Sheik also went out competing with Claire and qualified for the Winter Regional finals in Medium Freestyle and Advanced Medium freestyle levels. With Rughavens Jackpot qualifying for the Regional finals at medium freestyle and Jackpots Zoe qualifying for the Novice Freestyle it looks as though it's going to be a busy time for Jackpots Stud.
Here at Jackpots Stud we are always keen to look at ways to improve and increase our services to mare owners and wanted to be able to offer frozen semen from both our stallion. We were very happy to get the chance to work with Chris Phillips of Rossdales & Partners on doing a test freeze of semen from both stallions. It was good news to hear from Chris that both boys' semen froze and thawed successfully. From January 2011 we will be offering frozen semen in the UK and hope to make it available to overseas breeders later in the year.
At the end of November we traveled over to Kreuth in Germany to watch the ZfdP stallion grading. This event was well attended by a very knowledgeable audience and it was great to see so many different stallions representing many of the different studbooks held by the ZfdP. The Zfdp are coming to the UK in August 2011 for a Stallion, mare and foal grading. Further details of this event can be found at http://zfdpgrading.webs.com
October 2010
Jackpots Zoe wins both her elementary classes with Claire Knowles on board. This lovely mare is one to watch for the future, showing lots of promise. Rughavens Sheik was also on winning form with Claire, taking his section of the Advanced Medium class.
Sheik and Rachel Maddocks do well again in Para Dressage, gaining second place and earning valuable qualifying points.
September 2010
We had a very enjoyable Open Day and it was lovely to see so many new faces. It was a shame that we couldn't have arranged a bit more sunshine but a big thank you to everyone for your support. The homemade cakes proved to be a big success and we donated the days takings to Macmillan Nurses. A full report of the day and some photos can be seen here.
Rughavens Sheik and Rachel Maddocks contest their first ever Para Dressage competition and win the class with 69%. This was only the third time Rachel had ridden Sheik and what a way to start to start competing - well done Rachel and Sheik!!
August 2010
The ZfdP came to Jackpots Stud as the final visit of their 2010 Inspection tour. We were thrilled when all three of the horses that we presented, Jackpots Jazz-Time, Jackpots Horatio and Jackpots Jabulani, were awarded Premiums.
We took Jackpots Horatio and his full sister, Jackpots Hat-Trick to the KNN Grading held at Moulton College and were thrilled when both youngsters did very well. Jackpots Horatio was graded with an 8 overall earning some very good marks in his evaluation and was awarded "Best Foal". Jackpots Hat-Trick was also awarded an 8 overall and gained a 9 for type. She was the only horse to be awarded a 9 that day and was awarded "Best Youngstock".
July 2010
Stavsdals Jackpot has a beautiful chesnut filly, born on 26th July, out of premium graded mare, Ulkah Bunders. This elegant little filly, Jackpots Jabulani, floats across the ground and has real star quality.
Trixi Von Nordstern is one of the team horses for the Havering branch of the Pony Club in the Pony Club Team Dressage competition. Trixi and her rider, Kaile Sherry, do very well in this their first ever team dressage competition. Trixi is in foal for 2011 to the Hanoverian stallion Flammengold.
Rughavens Jackpot and Rachel Maddocks are invited to be on the Central and Eastern Regional team for the Para Dressage Inter Regional competition held at Milfield School in Somerset.
June 2010
Born on the last day of the month, Jackpots Horatio, a stunning leopard spot colt foal by Hussar of Independence out of Stavsdals Julliette.
Rachel Maddocks and Rughavens Jackpot compete in the Para Dressage National Championships held at Hickstead. They come third in their class - Congratulations Rachel and JJ!
Stavsdals Jackpot's first foal of 2010 arrives safely on 4th June, a super big, strong, colt which is Jackpot's first UK bred colt foal. His dam is an event bred mare by More Pokey and this stunning handsome fellow is already showing he has all the qualities to be a top class sports horse.
Lucienne Mahoney and Stavsdals Jackpot win their Elementary class with over 69% with the judge commenting on the score sheet "this lovely horse is a delight to the connection - a joy to watch".
May 2010
Another good month with our Knabstruppers again showing their abilities and flying the flag for the breed.
Rughavens Sheik has qualified for the Hickstead Masters semi-finals and the Sheepgate Tack and Togs Championship at Medium and Advanced Medium.
Rughavens Jackpot has been out competing with Rachel Maddocks in Para Dressage classes with great success, having 4 wins in a row and qualifying for the Para National Championships to be held at Hickstead in June. Rachel and JJ have formed a great partnership and we wish them every success in their Championship class next month.
JJ followed these successes by going out with Claire and gaining over 69% at Medium level - a phenomenal score that was well deserved by this very talented young stallion whose work is just getting better and better all the time.
April 2010
A winning start back to competition from father and son duo when Stavsdals Jackpot and Lucienne Mahoney won their elementary class with over 66% and Rughavens Sheik and Claire Knowles won their medium class with over 67%.
A first for Jackpots Stud and our Knabstruppers when two of our boys helped two GCSE students gain a perfect 10 in the riding section of their PE GCSE. Megan Chase rode Rughavens Sheik and Kaille Sherry rode Rughavens Jackpot to successfully gain maximum marks - another demonstration of the rideability and fantastic temperament of these lovely horses. We wish Megan and Kaille every success with the rest of their exams.
March 2010
Competitions are on hold again, this time due to our horsebox undergoing some necessary repairs. We've been working on updating adverts for the coming stud season and have two Stud outings planned for March.
On 21st March we will taking Rughavens Jackpot to the PHSP Stallion Parade at Hartpury.
On 30th March we will be at the Breeding Lecture organised by local vets House and Jackson at Mulberry House, Ongar. For more information on the evening and tickets contact House and Jackson on
Do come and talk to us at either venue if you would like to know more about our stallions and the Knabstrupper breed.
February 2010
The days are getting longer but the weather is showing no sign of improvement. All the horses competed in their classes at the BD regional finals and we were pleased with how they performed, especially Sheik who was 9th in the Advanced Medium class and will now be going to the Winter Nationals in April to contest the Advanced Medium Area Festival Championship.
January 2010
More snow and ice have put paid to our competition plans this month. The foals have been out having great fun in the snow but the rest of us have had enough now and are counting the days till we get some spring weather.
December 2009
A quiet month for Jackpots Stud as we get through the shortest days of the year and some awful weather. We wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
November 2009
More success in freestyle classes for horses from Jackpots Stud. Rughavens Jackpot won the restricted section of the Elementary Freestyle with Lucienne Mahoney. Claire Knowles rode Jackpots Zoe to win the open section of both Novice and Elementary Freestyle classes and then qualified for the Advanced Medium Freestyle regional Final on Rughavens Sheik.
October 2009
Jackpots Stud Knabstruppers have been out winning again! Lucienne Mahoney and Stavsdals Jackpot won their Elementary Freestyle class with 68% to secure qualification for the Winter Regional finals. Rughavens Sheik, not to be outdone by his sire, proceeded to win the Medium Freestyle with 70% and also his Medium class, booking his place in both classes at the Regionals.
Our Open Day was a great success and we hope everyone enjoyed seeing our Knabstruppers and finding out more about this rare breed. See the full report on our Open Day page
Rughavens Sheik wins PetPlan Advanced Medium Restricted at Step by Step dressage with nearly 68%, booking his place at the BD Winter National Championships. Sheik was the youngest horse in the class at only 8yo but proved that youth (and foul weather) was no barrier.
September 2009
Jackpots Jericho and Jackpots Tinkerbell were both awarded first premiums at the BEF Evaluation at Plumpton College with Jackpots Tinkerbell finishing as the highest scoring Sports Pony foal of the day. Both these foals are by the outstanding young Knabstrupper stallion Rughavens Jackpot.
August 2009
On 30th August we took Jackpots Jericho, by Rughavens Jackpot, and Jackpots Hat-Trick, by Hussar of Independence, to the ZfdP UK grading held at Moulton College EC, Northants. Both foals were awarded premiums by the judge, Hans Britze, breeding director of the ZfdP.
Trixi vom Nordstern gives birth to a delightful chesnut spotted filly foal on 18/08/2009. More details can be found on the foal page.
July 2009
Stavsdals Jackpot wins the restricted section of the elementary qualifier at Norton Heath EC. Fantastic preparation for the regional finals. Rughavens Sheik wins the Restricted section of the advanced medium at the same show.
Claire wins 4 classes in one day! Riding Z-Vivaldo, a 5yo dutch warmblood belonging to Lian Magors, Claire took both novice classes and then went on to win the elementary and medium qualifiers on the young Knabstrupper stallion, Rughavens Jackpot
Stavsdals Jackpot and his son Rughavens Jackpot win at elementary gaining half their qualification for winter regionals at their first competition of the new season - another successful family outing!
June 2009
Rughavens Sheik, an 8yo gelding by Stavsdals Jackpot, comes a close 2nd in the Elementary Open Sheepgate Tack and Togs Championship - a good boost before he contests the elementary open regionals on 2nd August.
Stavsdals Juliette has a filly, the first UK bred foal by Hussar of Independence.
AC-Bellestar af Engvang has a lovely spotted filly foal by Rughavens Jackpot
Ulkah has her first foal in the early hours of 13th June, a fantastic chesnut colt by the outstanding young Knabstrupper stallion Rughavens Jackpot
Lucienne and Jackpot have a write up and photo in the dressage pages in Horse and Hound (11/06/09) following their recent success at Harolds Park Farm.
May 2009
Lucienne Mahoney took Stavsdals Jackpot out at Elementary and won both of their classes, completing their qualification for the regional finals. For the first year, Jackpot and both of his sons are all qualified for the same class at the regional finals so there will be a family trip in August!!
Claire and Rughavens Sheik are selected to compete on the inter regional squad for the Eastern team at medium level. They finished 2nd in their arena on Sunday with a score of over 67%.
April 2009
Claire and Rughavens Sheik compete in the Petplan Advanced Medium Championships at the Winter Nationals and finish 4th in their class.
March 2009
Claire and Rughavens Jackpot win at Advanced Medium, qualifying for the 2009 Summer Regional Championships.
Claire and Rughavens Jackpot, a 7yo Knabstrupper stallion win at Medium, qualifying for the 2009 Summer Regional Championships.
February 2009
Claire has three horses qualified for the BD regional championships - Rughavens Sheik, Rughavens Jackpot and Z - Vivaldo.