British Breeder Magazine May 2020

Feature - BREEDER PROFILE
Di Lampard
Images courtesy British Showjumping
European Champs team last year where GB qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games by taking Team
Bronze. Image is Scott Brash, Di Lampard, Amanda Derbyshire, Holly Smith and Ben Maher.
World Class Performance Manager
for Showjumping, Di Lampard, would
typically be travelling the international
show circuit at this time of year.
However, at the time of writing, Di is
currently in lockdown at her Spring Farm
home in Oakham, Rutland as a result of
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Depsite the sport closure and everyone
in lockdown, she is incredibly busy
keeping in touch with all stakeholders
from riders through to much valued
owners and grooms. “Like everyone else,
we are dealing with the unknown so it’s
important that we check in and keep
moral and motivation boosted. Within
the World Class Programme we are
continually refining and double checking
process ready for when we back to
normality”says Di.
This has however given Di the
opportunity to follow the progress of
her small breeding operation.“I’m not
a professional breeder – I’ve only bred
about 10 horses in my life,” said Di,
who delights in watching two recipient
mares and foals in a field at the side of
the house – “They’re growing & showing
their characteristics so quickly it’s so nice
to watch”.
Di’s home-bred Ruby VIII, an
international winner with Louise Whitaker
and Holly Smith, with bloodlines of sire
Balou Du Rouet and Adieu Z dam Equity
– successfully competed at International
level by Di – is the mainstay using
Embryo Transfer. Nick Skelton’s Rio 2016
hero Big Star was the first choice. “He
complemented Ruby with substance,
bone, stride, scope and temperament,”
assessed Di. “The colt was purchased
by Old Lodge Stud and they update
me with his progress. So far he looks to
be ticking all the boxes” said Di. “I use
recipient mares from Twemlows Stud and
I took their professional advice on which
mares to use & hired three this year.
My local Oakham Veterinary Hospital
did the stud work and transported the
embryo to Twemlows for insemination
into the recipient mare (Classic). When
scanned in foal with a heartbeat at four
weeks she came to us to foal.”
Di with current Individual Gold medallist and
London 2012 Team Gold medallist Nick Skelton
56 | BRITISH BREEDER