Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Breeding champions a lifetime commitment

Published:Sunday | April 24, 2022 | 12:13 AM

THE ORANGE Valley Estate is among the most prestigious horse-breeding farms in Jamaica, touting an impressive record of top performers such as ViceRoy and Golden Wattle.

The farm, which has been owned by the Henderson family since 1955, became a racehorse stud farm in the 1960s. It was owned and operated by businessman Ian Henderson and managed by one of Jamaica’s greatest horsemen, Calvin O’Sullivan. Management of the establishment was passed down to Ian’s son, current owner Alec Henderson, and his wife, Jacqui in 1991. After more than 31 years of breeding, Orange Valley Estate continues to play its role in providing quality horses for the horse-racing industry in Jamaica.

Henderson says he and his family are dedicated to the care and protection of horses in their custody.

“We love what we do. Our passion is demonstrated through our dedication to their care, especially when things go wrong.

“As we all know horses are very delicate, so we pride ourselves on acting quickly with as much knowledge and information as possible,” he said.

He credits their success in breeding top-performing horses to years of experience in the business.

LUCK AND NUMBERS

“Apart from our standard practices, it’s luck and numbers, winners come in all shapes and sizes. However, the environment in which the horse is raised also has an impact. It is important to handle the foal as early as possible so that you can build the necessary trust. The more trust there is, the easier it is to manage them as they grow. Hence, how you handle a horse can make or break their career as a potential racehorse,” he shared.

Henderson and his family also had to overcome growing pains during the initial stages of operating the farm. Nonetheless, he touts the support of his management and supervisory staff who are highly experienced and very dedicated. He acknowledged the contributions of Hall of Fame groom, Herman Neish, his son Dannavan and nephew, Calvin Samuels.

Henderson also shared some of the significant investments that were made in order to provide the best care for horses on the farm. These included the implementation of new technology to monitor pregnant mares, the production of hay and the upgrading of the property’s fencing. The property is now one of the most innovative, well-equipped and self-reliant stud farms in the English-speaking Caribbean, producing up to 13,000 bales of hay annually.

“Simply keeping the farm going, while many others have given up, in my mind is a great achievement. It takes continuous management and dedication,” Henderson said.

“It has been painful at times and my wife and I have made huge sacrifices. But it has been worth it and we look forward to handing over the reins to our children.”

In the meantime, he hopes to continue offering the best horse care on the island to his clients.

sports@gleanerjm.com