Sponsored Riders
Stanley Grange Show Team
INTERVIEW
The Stanley Grange Stud in North Yorkshire was founded some 36 years ago by famous show horse producer and breeder, Jerome Harforth, and the stud has now also become home to the successful Stanley Grange Show Team. Jerome comes from a non-equestrian background and he taught himself to ride on a Shetland Cross pony when he was just three years old. Having started riding in his early years, Jerome progressed to having his first formal riding lessons at the age of nine and his talent as a horseman developed rapidly. Jerome says: “I rode a succession of ponies that varied greatly in terms of temperament and capability. I really enjoyed jumping when I was a youngster myself and some of the ponies that I rode were completely unsuitable, but nonetheless, I learnt something from each of them.”
Becoming one of the most successful studs in the UK
Jerome formed Stanley Grange Stud back in 1975 with his mare Philomena, who was a show pony mare that had taken Jerome through his 138cm showing years. During 1975, Jerome’s Great Uncle bought two mares called Norwood Jemima and Groundhills Golden Girl, who were both bought for the stud and subsequently helped Jerome get the stud off the ground. From this point onwards, Stanley Grange Stud grew very rapidly and with the addition of a stallion called Seaholm Julius, who was a 148cms Riding Pony Stallion and the first stallion to stand at public stud, the stud began to attract a number of outside mares. Stanley Grange has since grown into one of the most successful studs in the UK and a number of their ponies have also been exported around the world.
With all of his years of experience and numerous successes behind him, Jerome is now one of the best known show horse breeders and producers in the world. Jerome has had outstanding wins with event horses, show jumpers, dressage horses, but it is in the show ring where Jerome’s expertise shines with in-hand ponies, show ponies, riding ponies, hacks, hunters, Thoroughbreds and Mountain & Moorland horses.
Producing top class show horses
Jerome classes the following as his most memorable wins: “Firstly, my most memorable win would have to be Colbeach Starlight Express winning Hack of the Year, he was a homebred horse as the Colbeach Stud is based at Stanley Grange. Breeding really is the foundation of our sport. We have also been lucky enough to win the Cuddy InHand Championship at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on several occasions and that is always a very rewarding experience.”
Jerome also sits on a number of breed society judging panels including the National Pony Society, the British Show Pony Society and Ponies UK and he has also judged and held seminars all over the world, including in the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Jerome’s passion for show horses is driven by his aim to produce horses and ponies to the highest possible standard: “The show team prides itself on producing horses that are well mannered and education is essential for producing top class show horses. You can never do enough training and the results will speak for themselves.”
