Meet the Braidwood horse stud owners keeping traditions alive and kicking

In a quiet part of capital country, a horse stud is keeping traditions for gentle giants alive for future generations.

At Darkmoor Shire Horse Stud in Braidwood, in the NSW Southern Tablelands, carpenter Cai Thomas and his wife, Emma, took the reins of a horse-breeding stud several years ago.

“I had horses as a kid, but we went back to horses when I was in my early 20s [and] we bought a couple of them,” he says.

“We’ve been breeding [the horses] since then.”

Darkmoor is normally home to about 20 Clydesdales and Shire horses, including two or three stallions.

“Amongst the full-time job, I have what I jokingly say is another full-time job,” Cai told Region.

“I always like a challenge, and there’s that element there, particularly with the Shires.”

The Shire horses are quite rare, Cai says, with about 450 across Australia.

“There’s not that many being born each year. I also like the fact that we’re helping save a rare breed, or at least preserve it for a bit longer,” he says.

“That’s where our passion runs from.”

In the early morning, Cai feeds the horses before heading off to work as a carpenter and works with Emma to care for their herd.

While there are similarities between the two breeds, Clydesdales came from Scotland, while Shire horses originated in England.

At Darkmoor, Cai and Emma oversee the births of about five foals each year.

“We’ve got certain bloodlines that we like, but what we try and do is work out what the strengths and weaknesses are of each horse – from looking at the two animals and also in their pedigrees,” Cai says.

“I’ve got a little bit of a photographic memory for pedigrees, so I’ll try and balance what I know are weak points in that family tree with a family tree that might have a stronger point.”

While breeding the horses might seem straightforward, Cai says the process does involve some guesswork at the human end.

“With cattle, they have a lot of the indicators in the breed, so you can nail cattle down to a more scientific approach,” he says.

“But when it comes to horses, there’s none of that data. You’re really trying to do the research yourself and make an educated guess.”

The family-owned stud also enters its horses into various shows.

Preparation for a show “starts at home”, Cai says, with the soon-to-be show horses given a once-over to check their condition before show season starts.

“It’s really important that they have lots of soft, silky hair on their legs that covers their feet,” he says.

“We’ll put special leather cuffs around the foot that cover the hair on the front, so they don’t step on it and pull it off.

“There’s lots of meticulous care to get the horses to what we would call show condition.”

Cai and Emma are bringing the show charm to regional NSW with the Braidwood and District Heavy Horse Show, which is returning for its second year on 3 May.

“Our aim is to create a friendly competition,” he says.

“We try and showcase all of the events, or all of the different things that they [these breeds of horses] can do.”

Just like the older shows, theirs will give draught horses (and their owners) a chance to test their skills in obstacle courses, ridden events and other competitions.

Cai hopes the show will encourage people to consider the breeds.

“They’re rising in popularity with people for hobby riding and use,” he says.

“Probably, the majority of the horses that we sell go on for riding because they’re known for a pretty gentle, quiet disposition.

“Sometimes we’ll sell them to people who do compete in harness, but more often than not it’s just someone who wants a nice, quiet horse to have around the family and that can go out for a pleasure ride.”

Darkmoor Shire Horse Stud, at Braidwood, can be reached by phoning 0401 693 025. The Braidwood and District Heavy Horse Show will be held on 3 May from 9 am, with more information available on Facebook.