The National Stud Tour, Newmarket... 2017

Marcel.. new to the stud this year...

This week I had my first ever trip to Newmarket, known in the racing world as HQ or Headquarters..

I had the chance to visit The National Stud, situated next door to the July Racecourse just 2 miles south west of Newmarket.

The Stud is home to the stallions Marcel, Toronado and the magnificent grey, Gregorian.

Here's a run down of my visit..

We started the morning with coffee in the on site shop, Wavertree's and a little visit to Chris Winchs art studio, the stud artist in residence..

Little foal statue at the entrance...

paddocks and the first of many stable units opposite Wavertree Coffee shop...

 

We then headed off through into the main part of the stud passing fields of mares with their foals which is always a beautiful sight to see... first stop was the foaling unit...

the mares their newborn foals at the foaling unit paddocks...

The Foaling Unit

the weather vane even has a Stork carrying a Foal!

Next we visited the paddocks that were home to all of the stallions, in the middle of the stud is this statue of Mill Reef..

The blossom lined orchards make the stud feel very picturesque and peaceful..

The stallion, Marcel being led from his paddock to the stables for a visit to the vets...

 

waiting in his stable..

The Stallion Unit, where the magic happens!

stallion unit

The graves..

Finally time to say hello to some the young Foals and Mares... these two were very social..

such a sweet face!

This concluded the tour, so we took a little trip around Newmarket before bracing ourselves for the long drive home again..

The Newmarket Stallion Statue... sculpted by Marcia Astor and Allan Sly..

It was a nice way to spend a Spring day and see the Foals, the tour doesn't include seeing that much and my tour guide was paranoid about getting too close to the horses which kind of ruined the day for me so i'm glad i've been but i'll be sticking to Epsom Downs, my local, friendly stables and Lambourn in future as that drive to Newmarket was too much for me!

The National Stud
Newmarket
CB8 0XE.
Tel: 01638 663 464
click here to visit the website

Evie xxx