Sandbourne Royal Ensign
Published in: Stud Book on: 10 Jun 2009
Sandbourne Royal Ensign27th June 1981 – 28th May 2009 "From little acorns mighty oaks do grow." Born a diminutive foal, Ensign acquired the apt name "Dinky", which remained with him throughout his life. From the moment he was born at the Sandbourne Stud (of which I was lucky to help set up, and 5 yrs later, sadly disperse), Dinky was destined to be something special, he had that twinkle in his eye not often seen in a colt, that to me meant he was to become the studs main man and no one earth was going to tell me different. I put my job on the line for him several times, having utmost faith in him to be a great sire. How true that was to be, with his first crop of foals being major winners in the show ring, but sadly the stud was to be dispersed at the end of that year in 1984. Dinky was the only Sandbourne colt bred left entire, which emphasised the responsibility the Stud placed on keeping breeding stock of only the highest standard. I was fortunate to keep Ensign, following the dispersal of the Stud, and took him to the Oakley stud in Berkshire, when I became Stud and Show Manager for Mrs Sybil College, who bred the famous Oakley Bubbling Spring, Simone etc, I bred my first foal by him while at the Oakley Stud and in 1985 Deanhills Royal Diplomat was born, out of an old fashioned Welsh Section B mare, although a big riding pony winner going Supreme yearling riding pony at the West Midland Stallion show he matured up and went on to be a great show hunter pony qualifying for the Royal International and the Horse of The Year show At Oakley Stud he was unable to stand at public stud but we did cover three mares of Mrs College’s and a couple of outsiders that were walk in mares as they new me and Dinky, one mare from the Coveham Stud who have from the same mare covered, produced two pony of the year ridden show ponies at HOYS. From the Oakley stud the next year Ensign and I went to join forces with the Radway Stud so this was also to be my breeding prefix for the next fifteen years. In this time, Ensign sired Sandbourne Royal Emblem the last foal born at Sandbourne, the 14.2 Show Pony Champion, and Overall Supreme Champion at the Royal International and the Horse Of The Year Show, and later the 13.2 Show Pony of the Year at the Horse Of the Year Show, Radway Flashdance. Ensign would be best known for his outstanding record of sire of three 12.2 Champion Show Ponies at The Horse Of The Year Show, Bradmore Catkin, Glenmoss Juliet, Drayton Penny Royal, Ensign's sire record at The Horse Of The Year Show remains unequalled, four different Overall Show Pony Champions, the 13.2 Show Pony Of The Year and the Lloyds Bank (now Cuddy) In Hand Champion Pony Of The Year.