Sanctuary Hills Stud

31/03/2025

Weaning is well underway for Pip and Rip. It will soon be Nova’s turn, which is timely because she’s almost the same size as mum Aurora 😂

Pip will be looking for a new home once she has mastered the basics. I’ll post her ad here first when the time comes, or if you’re interested feel free to send me a message.

13/03/2025

The results are in…

Our latest foal is a bay dun splashed white appaloosa, and to top it off he is also homozygous w20 (carries 2 copies).

And with that, we have named him Brooks - ‘Sanctuary Hills Brooks and Dunn’.

10/03/2025

Gorgeous Percy is looking very grown up. Thanks for the update Demi, he is just thriving with you! Percy was our first Appaloosa x Clydesdale which is proving to be a very popular cross, and for good reason.

05/03/2025

When you asked nicely the first 3 times 😉

Aunty Bella is doing a wonderful job of keeping the fillies in line. I can’t believe they are already 4 and 5 months old.

03/03/2025

Thinking of our friends in SE QLD, especially those with livestock.

🌪️ Cyclone WARNING SEQ/NSW: How to Keep Your Horse Safe 🌪️

Here’s a guide and a few suggestions, as a good plan can make all the difference when wild weather hits. what you can do to prepare and protect your horses before, during, and after a cyclone.

✅ Before the Cyclone: Preparation is Key

* Identify the safest paddock — Choose an area that’s high and free from large trees, powerlines, or loose debris. Avoid low-lying areas prone to flooding.

* Secure feed and water — Store extra feed in waterproof containers and fill water troughs and tanks ahead of time.

* Remove rugs and halters — Rugs can become waterlogged, get caught on fences, or restrict movement. Halters can also become a hazard if caught in debris or fences, especially in rising floodwaters.

* Tag your horse — Tag horses mane, Use a livestock grease marker to write your phone number on their coat, in case fences come down if you don't have of these options some use nail polish on the hoof.

* Check fences — Make sure fences are secure but easy for a horse to see if they need to navigate in strong winds or heavy rain.

* Prepare a cyclone kit — Include first aid supplies for horses and humans, extra halters and lead ropes, and emergency contact numbers (vet, neighbours, local council).

* Plan for evacuation — If you’re in a flood zone, know where you can safely move your horse ahead of time.

🌬️ During the Cyclone: Safety First

* Shelter vs Open Space? — In severe winds, open paddocks are often safer than small stables or sheds that could collapse. Ideally, choose a large paddock with natural shelter like thick trees (but not near gum trees or tall palms).

* Minimise flying objects — Remove loose items like buckets, jumps, and feed bins that could become dangerous projectiles.

🧹 After the Cyclone: Assess and Support

* Check fences and property — Walk the property carefully for broken fences, debris, or contaminated water.

* Watch for injuries — Check your horse for cuts, swelling, or signs of stress.

* Provide clean water and safe feed — Floodwaters can contaminate drinking water and spoil feed, so ensure fresh supplies are available.

👉 The best plan is made before the weather arrives — Cyclones can change quickly, so having a clear strategy gives you and your horse the best chance of staying safe.

Stay safe everyone!

Please note: These are general suggestions only. Every property, horse, and situation is different, so it’s important to make decisions based on your specific circumstances.

17/02/2025

A few quick snaps of our newest baby born last night.

Worth the 3hrs sleep and what felt like 974 false foaling alarms 😆

We are really impressed with this guy already, he has so much personality and presence.

09/02/2025

A quick update from us… you may have seen that we’ve had a slight name change as we move away from solely breeding Clydesdale sport horses. On that note, we’ve had 3 positive preg scans for some of our paint mares who are in foal to the imported Quarter Horse stallion WWR Idaho Joe. We are excited to meet these babies in November.

We are also following our love for American Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys and will be sharing more on them as we embark on this new breeding venture.

Thanks for following our ever evolving journey.

26/12/2024

Our lovely girls are getting so big. Pip (left) is now 3 months and Nova (right) 2 months. Their mums are the best of friends and these girls are much the same, doing absolutely everything together. Pip is sweet and shy, while Nova is sociable and bold.

Unsure at this stage if they will be keepers or looking for new homes… Watch this space.

04/12/2024

Love getting updates on our babies.

Here are Bandit and Phoebe (Apollo and Airlie) living their best lives in their new home. They are growing into such beauties.

27/11/2024

A new addition to the farm… welcome Princess. She looks like a drowned rat this afternoon after a sudden downpour of rain (that we are super grateful for!). Her little legs didn’t make it to the shelter in time 😅

For size reference, here are some of our mini donks next to our cocker spaniel and spoodle.

06/11/2024

Our lovely big Theia girl is starting to round out. She’s our next mare due to foal. Super excited for this one!

29/10/2024

Aurora and Nova have graduated to a bigger paddock, specifically the one where we had planted a white jacaranda tree to honour the memory of our mare Mia who sadly passed away earlier this year.

How special that on the morning after we moved them in, the tree has sprouted flowers for the first time.

20/10/2024

3 days old and thriving. Our new filly Nova is really starting to unscrunch now.

For the colour nerds like me she’s smoky grulla overo with the untestable Clydesdale sabino pattern and beautiful blue eyes.

Soo much personality already.

17/10/2024

The power of a Facebook post… less than an hour after our last update, Aurora finally delivered the goods with this huge filly born today at 2pm.

More spectacular than we ever could have hoped for, and very much worth the wait.

Dam: FNI Dreams Catch Me (Paint)
Sire: Wouriepool Highland Thunder (Clydesdale).

6 panel clear as she is frame overo. Heres hoping both parents passed on their wonderful temperaments to this very special girl 🤞

17/10/2024

The average horse gestation is 340 days. Aurora is currently on day 386 😱

We are so excited to see what she has, hopefully she doesn’t hold out for too much longer 🤞

29/09/2024

Pip is already a week old. She is such a friendly and confident girl who just loves a scratch.

22/09/2024

We are so over the moon with this little one 🎀

BV Some R Uniquely Ripped (paint) x Wouriepool Highland Thunder (Clydesdale).