Brookside Stud

An Introduction to Brookside Stud

Brookside Stud was founded and registered in 1979 with the original intent to breed and produce top quality useful Welsh Mountain ponies (Section A's) for the North American market without losing type.

On May 12th 2001 Sandy Costanzo, married Gene O'Brien of the well known Virginia based Lakeview Stud, combining both studs and their ponies in harmony. Both Studs continue to keep their prefixes, and to maintain the same high standards previously expected in their individual breeding programs.

Sandy Costanzo-O'Brien, founder, owner and manager of the stud, was raised in and around the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales and Liverpool, England. She had the good fortune to have first hand experience of the breeding of useful up-to-height Welsh Mountain ponies which her uncle bred along with an enormous herd of prize Welsh Black cattle. He was in fact also a respected judge in both categories in those days. She obtained for herself, in the process, invaluable lifelong opportunities and experiences. Making the process of learning easier with reference to Welsh ponies, and the comparisons and opinions on the different types within the breed standards more comprehensible.

It seemed fairly logical, when the need to import for the foundation of stud was apparent, and the introduction of new bloodlines was necessary to North America, returning to that particular region of Wales was to be a natural reflex action in the quest to finding marketable foundation stock for Brookside Stud.
 
The influence on the stud of Welsh ponies of Riding type,(Section B's) occurred in the early eighties, when ponies purchased as hunter prospects became possible broodmare potentials. When it became apparent that there was a demand for also the larger scopier pony for the discriminating buyer as Welsh breeding stock, performance potentials, and children's friends, Brookside Stud again took up the challenge.

In both of the above cases, without taking away from the breed standards, foremost in the stud's policy was, and still is, temperament and movement.  Much sought-after by many potential clients is the pony that offers to be "A safe equine friend and companion," and, "The complete family pony", which, in today's changing economic times makes good common sense.  The stud has faithfully tried to produce this stereotype with much success, and, certainly over the years, this policy has proven itself successful by the return of many previous clients to purchase further ponies... time and time again.

Brookside Stud is enormously proud of the ponies that it has produced.  The "show" and "breeding" records of the ponies owned and bred at the stud are internationally respected, and have been in most cases in the literal sense, "second to none."  It is rewarding and satisfying to have ponies that win at shows, however, breeding stock is only as good as it produces, and again the ponies at this stud have excelled all dreams and expectations in all disciplines.

There is indeed nothing more pleasing for any Welsh owner or Stud farm than winning a prestigious show such as the Royal Winter Fair (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) with a pony that you own. To win it with ponies that you have bred carrying your prefix is a rewarding experience that makes all the hard work and dedication worthwhile.

Brookside Stud has produced in-hand homebred and imported ponies to win multi supreme and grand championships at the Royal many times, and for the past several year the ponies from the stud have virtually swept the Welsh Mountain youngstock championships in both the male and female divisions, for both ponies retained by the stud, and purchased by clients. The results of our breeding program are now being felt all over North America. With Stallions of both sections 'A' and 'B' standing and breeding at such prestigious American studs such as:- 'Madoc' and 'Rosemel' in Texas, 'Gayfields' in Arkansas, 'Wynnbrook' in Virginia, and Canadian studs such as 'Greyhen' and 'Calluna' in Ontario, and 'Northern Cross' in Manitoba.

The present stud consists of seven Stallions:- five Section A's and two section B's.
The broodmare band consists of twelve mares:- approximately twenty breeding mares (A's, B's and Partbreds).

Our policy has been, and always will be, quality not quantity.

Brookside Stud foals down approximately six to eight mares each year, most of the resulting foals that are born are offered for sale after weaning to approved knowledgeable loving homes with references. It has always been the stud's policy to point out honestly the value and worth of each animal that is offered for sale, making it clear the animal's potential in the opinion of the stud, before being sold.

Our Champion Stallions stand at stud from February until July of each year to approved mares.  Stud fees are available on request and are competitive.