58 | Good reputation and industry-wide respect Ribchester on the move. Sue Russell The engaging history of thoroughbred stud Haunui Farm is something stud master and owner Mark Chitty is extremely proud of. Mark and wife Sara are the third generation of the family to have devoted themselves to breeding some of the best performing thoroughbreds this country has seen, with a reputation that’s garnered industry-wide respect throughout New Zealand and overseas. Haunui Farm has been in the stud business since its founding by Mark’s grandparents Geoff and Peg Chitty in 1955. Foundation broodmares came from the estate of Peg’s late parents and one of these mares, Foxona, would prove over successive generations to have the stuff great thoroughbred foals are made of. “We’re now breeding from the ninth generation of her family. She was not a race-horse but the quality of racehorse she left us, both sons and daughters, is unparalleled,” Mark says It’s certain that the aspirations of Geoff and Peg, then Ron and Carolyn Chitty and now Mark and Sara to work with the best bloodlines in the stud’s breeding programme has resulted in what Haunui Farm, located at Karaka since 2010, represents today. While the stud sells commercial stock the driving interest is in the performance based breeding programme. Mark says that back in the early 2000’s the stud operation was then larger than it is now, however that reduction in numbers is off-set by a continued improvement in quality. Asked how a broodmare and its progeny are assessed for potential, Mark says it’s not always possible to know what’s ‘under the hood’. “You can get a brother and sister and on initial observation have a sense of which one is the performer and then be quite surprised by how the animal grows out and what it subsequently achieves on the track. Good looks don’t necessarily mean great performance.” Each January, Haunui Farm presents colts and llies at Karaka’s Yearling Sale. It’s a time much anticipated by the Chitty family, where the results of their breeding programme meets the expectations of the market. All horses share a common birthday each year, 1st August with every horse turning another year older on that date. ON FARM » Haunui Breeding at Haunui Farm each season starts on the 1st September with progeny born anywhere between 1st August and 10th December of the following year. “Thoroughbreds are bred solely by natural service and the rules are quite stringent in terms of when we can breed.” Mark explains that when it comes to breeding their mares, most stallions are residing on other stud farms, with the mare sent to the stud where the stallion resides for service. “Most mares foal at night and we seldom intervene unless a situation presents. Over 90% are uncomplicated, however occasionally there might be a presentation issue we need to assist with.” As a quali ed and experienced large-animal vet Mark brings the advantage of being the resident vet on site at Haunui Farm, with a referring vet practice close by. “I get a lot of vet and ag students visiting. The technologies we use to assess animal conditions are very sophisticated. We now routinely x-ray the young horses before sale along with videoing their upper respiratory tract. They can be positive determinants of how they sell.” A team of about a dozen staff work solely with the horses, however in the breeding season that number will double. As foaling time approaches, each mare is observed 24/7. “You have to love the job as there can be some long hours during the breeding season for sure.” Mark’s also happy to welcome people to Haunui to see how a modern thoroughbred stud operates. “People are getting further and further away from real rural life, so those visits give us an opportunity to show and explain what really happens day in day out at Haunui Farm.” Information as to the stud’s proud history of producing winning bloodlines can be found on its website: www.haunuifarm.co.nz. It would seem that, in the case of Haunui Farm, the brand name ‘Thorough+Bred’ is most apt. 7 Heights Road Pukekohe THE FEED THAT SUPPORTS HAUNUI FARM NRM - PROUD TO BE THE FEED OF CHOICE FOR HAUNUI FARM. PHONE NRM TODAY - 0800 800 380 For growing horses and for breeding, choose NRM Evolve and Progress. Two high-quality feeds containing Kentucky Equine Research’s revolutionary Buffered Mineral ComplexTM – an ingredient shown by research to improve bone density in young horses, while also potentially assisting in the prevention of gastric ulcers and hindgut acidosis.
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