29/09/2025
🎉 Congratulations Harry & Jess! 🐴💒
We are absolutely delighted to celebrate the wonderful news that our much-loved Stud Manager, Harry Thirlby, married Jess Lee on Saturday, 27th September.
Everyone at West Kington Stud sends their warmest wishes to the happy couple for a joyful and fulfilling future together. We couldn’t be more pleased for them both!
As many of you know, West Kington Stud will be closing at the end of the year, and this moment feels like the right time to pay tribute to Harry and all he has brought to the stud over the years.
Harry first joined WKS in 2010 as a groom and stallion handler, and quickly established himself as an integral part of the team, later becoming Assistant Manager, and then stepping into the role of Stud Manager in 2019 following the retirement of Tessa Clarke. His extensive knowledge of breeding, bloodlines, semen export and horse care is truly extraordinary, and he has generously shared that expertise with everyone around him.
He has worked in a number of leading UK studs, is a DEFRA Certified AI Technician, and has a particular passion for breeding, including his own small herd of rare Caspian horses and their part-breds.
Harry is not only a consummate professional but also a kind, funny, and thoughtful member of the West Kington Stud team. His dedication, warmth, and wisdom have left a lasting mark on all of us, and we are so grateful for everything he has done.
Please join us in celebrating Harry and Jess’s marriage and in thanking Harry for his incredible contribution to WKS over the years.