Gelded 4-star eventer sires filly foal

Thistledown Poposki, who finished 18th at the Mitusibishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this year (above), has sired a foal via frozen semen. The semen was collected before he was cut as a 2-year-old.

The dark bay filly (below) was born last week.

The unnamed filly by Thistledown Poposki, out of Bluebell

Thistledown Poposki, by the National Hunt sire Petoski, was bred by his owner, Lady Anne Whiteley, widow of 1967 European individual silver medallist Martin Whiteley.

He is ridden by her niece, Izzy Taylor, who is currently having a run of excellent form and is a favourite for the British eventing squad for the World Equestrian Games.

“Anne Whiteley approached me and asked if we had a suitable mare to breed a foal from using Thistledown Poposki’s semen,” explained Jane Holderness-Roddam, owner of West Kington Stud and a former Olympic eventing team gold medallist and double Badminton winner.

Jane suggested Bluebell, a Windsor Heights mare who has competed at novice level in affiliated dressage and been placed at BE100 eventing. This is her 2nd foal — her first, another filly who is now 3 years old, is by Woodlander Rockstar.

“This foal is likely to be a one-off because Thistledown Poposki’s semen is not of the greatest quality as it was quite immature,” added Jane.

The new filly has not yet been named as Jane is waiting for Lady Anne Whiteley and Izzy to see her.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.