Enda Carroll and Courtney Vince of Ashford Farm, in partnership with Jos Lansink Horses, have sold the horse Nice Stephanie to Penelope Leprovost of France.
Ashford Farm, based in Lasne, Belgium, bought the eight-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Cardento x Ralme Z) in June of 2011 in partnership with 2006 World Champion Jos Lansink of Belgium. Purchased as a sales investment, Nice Stephanie competed under Vince of Milton, Ontario, Canada, before being sold to Leprovost in April of 2012.
“When we first tried ‘Stephanie’, she had all the qualities that we look for in a young horse; she was careful, scopey and had blood,” said Carroll, who has represented his native Ireland in Nations’ Cup competition as well as at the 2005 European Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship. “We concentrate on buying the best young horse prospects and producing them, and I had wanted to invest in a horse with Jos not only because he is well-respected in the industry as a rider, but also as a dealer. ‘Stephanie’ presented us with the ideal opportunity.”
In 2011, Vince competed with Nice Stephanie in the young horse divisions, qualifying for the World Young Horse Breeding Championships held at Zangersheide in Lanaken, Belgium. Of the 206 horses competing in the Seven-Year-Old Division at the World Breeding Championships, Nice Stephanie was one of only 23 horses to jump clear in both qualifying rounds.
This winter, Vince moved Nice Stephanie up to the 1.45m international division, competing in their first CSI2* Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain. Following that event, the horse was sold for Leprovost to ride. Ranked 16th in the world as of May 1, Leprovost is a regular competitor on the international show jumping stage representing her native France. Leprovost and Nice Stephanie made their debut together at CSI4* Antwerp, Belgium, held April 26-29, where the mare competed in her first 1.50m competition.
“I am thrilled that ‘Stephanie’ was sold to Penelope; I have so much respect and admiration for her,” said Vince, who has been based at Ashford Farm since 2010. “‘Stephanie’ is a very special horse. She has so much scope, she is so careful, she has an unbelievable mind, and she truly has a heart of gold. She is incredibly sweet and easy to work with. We will miss having her in the barn and hearing her nicker, both to us and to her stable mates.”
In addition to Nice Stephanie, Ashford Farm has sold several top horses over the past few years. Wilton Porter has experienced great success riding Patriot (formerly named Calvin K), owned by the Porter family and Sleepy P Ranch, while Cara Raether of Trelawny Farm, the Harrison family of Double H Farm, and Ali Wolff through her trainer, Michelle Grubb, have all recently purchased horses from Ashford Farm. Two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Ainsley Vince has also purchased several horses through Ashford Farm including Utopie des Hautes and the promising new eight-year-old mare, Darling.
A full-service training center, Ashford Farm specializes in organizing a complete European horse show package for North American customers. Customized to suit each individual’s preferences, services offered range from flight arrangements, horse import paperwork, airport and competition transport, all horse show arrangements and entries, board with full use of facilities, training, accommodations, truck and mobile home rental, and experienced grooms.
For more information, please contact Enda Carroll at +32 474 083 498 or Courtney Vince at +32 474 081 437, e-mail info@ashfordfarm.net, or visit http://www.ashfordfarm.net/.
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