Our Services
Facilities
We have loose boxes, situated close to Shade Oak House, some in the converted traditional brick farm buildings and some within an American barn system.
All boxes are light and airy, warm in Winter and cool in Summer. Each box with white-washed walls or creosoted woodwork, is mucked out daily and replenished with plenty of clean, fresh wheat straw. They are all washed down with anti-bacterial wash during the stud season for hygiene.
We have 2 turnouts for winter use. There is also a lunge ring and horse walker for 5 horses.
An isolated foaling unit is there to offer our customers the best care and attention for their foaling mares. It has loose boxes all with cameras to observe the foaling mare 24 hours a day and heat lamps for the new born foals.
Veterinary Excellence
Careful observation determines when a mare is in season, with the aid of our veterinary surgeon from Fyernwy Equine Clinic. Coverings are timed to keep the mare’s womb in pristine condition and minimum contamination techniques are used for mares with high risk wombs.
A special barren unit is available to simulate ‘day light environment’ which enables the day light hours to be extended, therefore aiding an early oestrus cycle of barren mares. Scanning the mare’s womb enables pregnancies to be detected 16 days after covering and subsequent scans are used to establish a health growing foetus. Early detection of twin embryos offer our veterinary surgeon the chance of ‘removing’ one embryo wherever possible.
Foaling Unit
The Oaks- The isolated unit was built to offer our customers the best care and attention for their foaling mares. It has loose boxes all with cameras to observe the foaling mares 24 hours a day. The mares also wear a foaling alarms strapped around their chest which works via a moisture meter. Immediately prior to foaling, perspiration increases which, when detected by the monitor triggers an alarm. The mares have their own isolated paddocks all within view of The Oaks Foaling Unit. Once they have foaled they have a recovery time before being moved up to the main stud.
All mares entering the stud are required to have negative tests and swabs in accordance with the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Code of Practice.
Racing Schemes
The Great British Bonus (GBB) launched on 29 May 2020. It is an industry incentive scheme that offers multiple bonuses of up to £20,000 per eligible race for British-bred fillies and mares. Its aim is to increase the number of British-bred horses in racing and, so, safeguard the future of British breeding.
GBB is for breeders, owners and winning connections of British-bred Flat and Jump fillies and mares who race successfully in Britain, and has replaced the NH MOPS and Plus10 schemes.
Devised and implemented by The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA), GBB is regarded as a self-help initiative that demonstrates the breeding sector’s commitment at this critical time, when racing and breeding are facing up to financial concerns raised by the Covid-19 pandemic. The GBB Scheme is administered by Weatherbys.
It aims to ensure that more British-bred fillies and mares are sought as racehorses, while encouraging breeders to race fillies and owners to retain them. This will support the economics of Thoroughbred production and selection for breeding on the basis of proven racing ability at all levels.
Over jumps, all NH MOPS-registered fillies and mares have been transferred to the enhanced GBB scheme. More than 1,150 eligible races will be run this year.
For more information visit www.greatbritishbonus.co.uk
Our Team
We have a small but dedicated team here at Shade Oak who work hard to make sure your mares, young stock and foals are looked after whilst they’re away from ‘home’.