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Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Jill & Jules Walker
www.southerncrossstud.com

Jill & Jules WalkerThe next Totilas. Owners talk for the first time about their plans for the future

Fingers crossed. He could be the next Totilas, the Dutch wonder horse that is currently dominating the world of Dressage and is estimated to be worth between £5 £10 million.
What’s more he’s British-owned and his owners are based in Kent.

He is Baron de Ley. A Westphalian stallion. Five-years-old. 16.2 and still growing.

His father is Breitling. A Grand Prix dressage stallion. Eighteen-years-old. Ranked number-one in the German breeding index. To try to ensure the greatest possible success for his off-spring, he has only ever covereda limited number of mares.

His mother is Devisa, a brood mare, who is by the Thoroughbred stallion, Diego. Her mother was a Westphalian. Together with Breitling, she has produced two licensed stallions, three Grand Prix horses not to mention a string of winners at several top German and World Breeding Championships.

He is Baron de Ley. A Westphalian stallion. Five-years-old. 16.2 and still growing.Already Baron de Ley is one of the few British-owned horses to have qualified for the prestigious German Bundeschampionships.

How much did he cost ?

Jill Walker, 34, doesn’t want to talk about it.

But if Baron de Ley, whose stable name is Baron, is destined to go a long way, Jill herself has already come a long way. So, too, has her husband, Jules, 43.

Born in Scotland, Jill first started riding as a child in Edinburgh. When the family moved to Bromley, Kent she went to the local riding school.

“I remember my first pony, Ellie,” she says. “She was 15-years-old. Cob. 57 varieties. We did a bit of everything. My next horse was Sir Bedivere. He was a TB X Dutch Warmblood. He was a 21st Birthday present and the first horse I had owned as a youngster. He had a super temperament, so we were able to compete in several different disciplines . Again, we did everything . We even won a few local championships.

He is Baron de Ley. A Westphalian stallion. Five-years-old. 16.2 and still growing.“Over the years I got more and more serious about dressage. We also invested in competition horses, some of which we still have today. It was during this time that my interest in the breeding side of things grew and Jules and I began to study bloodlines and visit other studs to improve our knowledge.; We took lots of advice from other breeders and around five- years ago we decided to take the plunge and establish Southern Cross Stud together with my father, John Stewart.”

As for Jules, he served as a Royal Marine for 18 years. Until he met Jill, he had never been near a horse. Now he works full time on the yard. His physical training from his years spent in the marines, comes in handy when handling the stallions or unruly youngsters!

Today with over 60 horses on their books, Southern Cross Stud is beginning to establish a reputation as one of the leading dressage studs in the country. They are also slowly establishing a growing reputation in Europe.

Says Jill, “Our dear friend, Christian Heinrich, the renowned horse finder, has played a key role in helping us build our breeding programme  and has been able to source horses who would otherwise not be available on the open market such as our most recent acquisition, an exquisite State Premium mare by the Grand Prix stallion Royal Diamond out of a Ramino mare who is a full sister to the legendary Sandro Hit.”

Today with over 60 horses on their books, Southern Cross Stud is beginning to establish a reputation as one of the leading dressage studs in the country.

With their first batch of horses now coming under the saddle, they have decided that the best deserve the best.

Jill and Jules have sent two horses to Tim Sillevis, who is reputed to be the most successful young dressage horse producer in this country.

Says Jill, “Baron is based with the phenomenal husband and wife team of Brigitte and Wolfram Wittig but It would also be a dream to work with top British Grand Prix riders such Richard Davison and Carl Hester.”

Already some of their horses they have been taken to Carl for training.

Today with over 60 horses on their books, Southern Cross Stud is beginning to establish a reputation as one of the leading dressage studs in the country.

Says Jill, “It is an exciting time for British Dressage at the moment with success at the European championships and an exciting squad for the World Equestrian Games.  We hope to be part of this success in the future. It would be a dream to have a top British rider competing internationally on one of our horses.”

Jill and Jules also have horses at some top German dressage yards.

In fact, it was while Jill and Jules were visiting top German dressage yards that they discovered Baron de Ley.

Today with over 60 horses on their books, Southern Cross Stud is beginning to establish a reputation as one of the leading dressage studs in the country.

Says Jill, “The first time I saw him, he reminded me of Sir Bedivere. He had such warm, kind almost sparkling eyes. He looked like a gazelle. He was very pretty and very elegant. He had bags of charisma. You could imagine him going into an arena or stadium and lighting it up. As soon as the girl who was riding him got off, he walked across the school to me. It was love at first sight.”

Today Baron is being trained to be a Grand Prix, maybe even an Olympic Champion. Slowly. Carefully. No pressure.  He has begun working at elementary/medium levels. He spends four to five days a week in the school. One day is a rest day. Another day is a fun day.

He is also being prepared for his debut appearance at the next Bundeschampionships.

Today with over 60 horses on their books, Southern Cross Stud is beginning to establish a reputation as one of the leading dressage studs in the country.“It is going to be so exciting,” says Jill. “The day before we’re at my brother’s wedding in Ibiza. First thing the following morning we fly to Germany. We arrive at 11 a.m. The competition starts about mid-afternoon so nothing had better go wrong.”

All being well and airline schedules and weather permitting, Jill and Jules will then see for the first time how Baron de Ley measures up to their high expectations.

Baron will be judged on only one set test but on different criteria. He will also be marked for paces, temperament and his overall appearance.

“It will be a bit like the X Factor for horses,” says Jill. “Has he got that charisma? Has he got that something extra? Of course we think he has, but who knows what can happen on the day. We will be keeping everything crossed for a fantastic performance.”

Our best wishes are with you, Jill and Jules and with the Baron, the next Totilas.

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