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News on a Czech visit and new horses

In 2007 a BHL Study Tour to the Czech Republic was organised. Our first visit to a professional was to Josef Svoboda at the Hradcany Centre just outside the village of Pecin. The visit proved to be the highlight of the tour and left a deep impression on me and others.

Josef with 'Brynet' 2007 on a dreadful windthrow site

I have since met Josef on a number of occasions. He has visited us at home in 2009, working with me on several sites and gaining an insight into British horse logging. I have met him at Detmold where he performed creditably against some of the best horse men and women in Europe. After long discussions he was approved as a placement provider for the Charitable Trust apprenticeship scheme and Mike Paddock spent a month with him in the second year of his apprenticeship (in 2010); I flew out with Mike to make the introductions and to meet with Josef again.

Josef with 'Jacob' at New Weir Forge for the FC in 2009 and Mike with 'Brynet' in the Czech Republic in 2010

He visited us again when we hosted the FECTU meeting in 2010 and I have now been out once more, in early June 2011, to enjoy the peace of Hradcany and Josef’s company.

The purpose of my visit? A social call? An exchange of professional views? All of these, of course, but the main purpose was of a greater significance for me and my business.

'Willpower' and 'Sunflower', Silesian Noriker mares with Josef in the Czech Republic, 2010

I work two Percherons and two coloured cobs having lost my Dales cob, Diamond, earlier this year. I have often been asked what my next horse would be. My reply has always been, “a good one.”

I can now clarify that reply and say that my next horses will be a pair of Silesian Noriker mares called ‘Agua’ and ‘Salva'.

They are both currently two years old (June 2011) and started in training. They are daughters of Josef’s deeply impressive stallion, ‘Brynet’ and out of two of his best mares, ‘Willpower’ and ‘Sunflower’. They will be delivered, carrying foals to another carefully selected stallion, in September 2012.

My new horses; 'Agua' with Josef and 'Salva' with Daniella

I had discussed buying horses from Josef before and we had agreed in principle. What we have now done is to make the selection and shake hands on the deal.

Daniella with 'Agua' on her right and 'Salva' on her left.

This is no ordinary purchase but marks the beginning of a collaboration between us to promote the breed outside the Czech Republic and to arrange breeding and sales in the UK.

Josef breeds and trains exceptional horses and sets a very high standard for himself, his horses and anyone who works with him.

The horses in early training

As to the short visit; we travelled with four mares and their 2 month old foals some miles to a scything competition. The scythes were straight handled and the skills shown were outstanding. Around fifteen 10m x 10m plots of hay were cut and Josef did a demonstration of his skills and the horses abilities with one of the pairs of mares hitched to a large log while the other two were ridden and jumped over the log that Josef was pulling.

Scything plot

Mares and foals

Two mares pulled the cart there and the other two pulled it back. When not pulling the cart they were ridden. The foals ran loose. I would say alongside but it was much free-er than that, and they had a ball, showing no fear of the cart, the people and little respect for some strawberry plants growing by one of the houses we passed.

Logging demonstration

Josef’s wife Jindriska is a very accomplished horse trainer and worker and both of Josef’s twin daughters have enormous horse skills. Daniella will be principally responsible for bringing my two on and I look forward to the results.

So, why have I settled on this breed and why am I trying to promote them?

Over the years I have travelled fairly widely and seen many very professional horse men and women and been impressed by very many horses. I have never been impressed more than at Hradcany!

The Silesian Noriker breed was established in the early 1900's. A cross between the Austrian Noriker, the Przedswit (a native Czech carriage horse similar to the Kladruber) with some Norfolk Trotter blood. The foundation sire was 'Bravo (1920)' and 'Brynet' is a direct descendant (the 'B' line) well known for its docility, working spirit and easy training.

The stallions and the mares are carefully selected, trained to a very high standard and bred pure. Any substandard stock is not bred from; so unlike here in the UK!

The breed ideal is around 16hh, powerful and full of spirit, agile and active with a keen and eager temperament, easy to train and a very efficient worker.

Largely unknown in the UK, I hope my young team will generate an interest in the breed. Mares and geldings will be available as part trained three year olds in the future.

To enquire more or register an interest email me

to contact Doug Joiner: