For over four decades, Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, ON, has been carefully matching quality mares and stallions to produce exceptional offspring that have excelled in the show ring and put the farm on the top of leading breeder lists. In 2019, Augustin, 80, announced that he was planning to retire. The breeding program will continue in the capable hands of his daughter, Inge Walch-Allard, who has been the breeding manager at W. Charlot Farm for over 20 years.
Augustin came to Canada in 1980 from Germany with his foundation Hanoverian mare Sarabande, her two State Premium daughters Sabrina and Sandra, and two Hanoverian colts. Every breeding season, he selected the distaff cream of the crop, matching them painstakingly to suitable stallions. Soon the young Hanoverian stallion Rio Grande joined the program and went on to be a legendary producer and grand prix horse, ridden by Eric Lamaze. Other notable W. Charlot stallions included Futurist (ridden by Erynn Ballard), Viva Voltaire, and Cabardino – all decorated athletes. In 2017, the Oldenburg stallion Diamo Blue joined the stallion roster.
The farm has led the USEF Leading Breeder of Hunters list from 2004 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2019. Cabardino was USEF Leading Hunter Sire in 2017 and 2018 and finished in the top three in 2019. Some winning offspring from the W. Charlot program include Rio Bronco and Rio Renoir, hunter champions in the US; Viva’s Salieri, ridden by Tom Dvorak to team silver and fourth place individually at the 2011 Pan Am Games; Catwalk, who represented Canada at the 2008 World Cup Finals with Darrin Dlin; and in 2019 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby winner at the 2019 Royal, Chantilly Lace, with Kristjan Good in the irons; and Waverly, Green Hunter Champion at 2019 Capital Challenge in Maryland with Holly Orlando.
Foreseeable Future
“My father has been my mentor and it will be a challenge to follow in his footsteps, but I am certain that I can call on him anytime for his advice,” says Inge. “I can only hope to continue his legacy, and make my father proud, by continuing to produce such amazing and talented equestrian athletes which will continue to excel in the show ring.”
Memorable Moment
While Augustin names Futurist as his special ‘heart horse,’ he says, “Rio Grande definitely put us on the map; one of my proudest moments was when Rio finished second in the Olympic selection trials for the 1996 Olympics and was part of the winning Nations Cup team at the 1995 Royal with Eric Lamaze. That horse, I will forever be grateful to him.”
