Ascot Stud and Show Stables are run by Kerry Muller and Melanie McGuire-Muller and is located in the Macedon Ranges district on a small 40 acre farm in Sunbury, Victoria, Australia. It is the home of senior stallion "Gaylord Of Ascot" and future sire "Ascot Classic Silk" who has just reached 2 years old. Ascot Stud has been established for 20 years and runs a small group of select mares headed up by the foundation mare Downland Solitaire (IMP U.K).

The main emphasis at the stud is breeding ponies in small numbers of the highest quality and producing a distinct "look and type" of pony suitable to carry a saddle. Breeding stock ranges from 12.2 to 14.2 in height. The stud has professionally and consistently produced, bred and exhibited it's own Riding Ponies at Royal Show, State and National level for many wins and Championships in hand and under saddle over the years.

From the age of 5, I began showing ponies with much backing, assistance and encouragement from my mother Judy. Like most people of the time still showing today in Australia, I came through the ranks riding some beautiful ponies, galloways and eventually on to hacks at Royal level doing most of the schooling myself. I was very fortunate throughout this time to have some extremely well regarded people to teach me not only to ride but to have an eye for the horse and it's conditioning.

I was fortunate to win Riding Competitions twice at Melbourne Royal and also place many times. One memorable occasion was the win in Girls Riding Competition 14 & Under 16 years at Melbourne. With 123 entries that year, and with the late respected dressage rider, Marianne Gilchrist, the riding judge at the time - it was a proud moment. Here I rode Tudor Park Tradition, a Galloway mare who was an excellent riding competition horse.(see photo).

Melanie also competed on the lovely 16 hand throughbred mare, Tudor Park Illusion who she rode in the Garryowen Trophy event at Melbourne Royal at the age of 18. That year she placed 4th in the near equivalent class, The Esquire Equestrian Turnout for lady riders who own all gear and the horse (see photo).

At the age of 12, Melanie was given her then Barastoc Pony Of The Year winner, Boolara Beywen and FS1 Welsh Section B mare (Trefescob Septimus x Joanna) by her mother soon after riding her to win the award in 1980. Ascot Stud was actually named after Rae Curcio's beautiful black throroughbred hack - Ascot, who was the winning Barastoc Saddle Horse of the Year - alongside their own Boolarra Beywen being the pony (see photo).

This pony was bred for saddle being by the same sire as the then famous, Gaiety. A few years prior to her win, this mare was invited to parade at an exhibition day as an example of a Riding Pony Foundation mare held at Cranbourne Racecourse where a gathering of ponies and enthusiasts was held. This was the beginning of the Riding Pony Stud Book in Australia and the beginning of Melanie's love for the Riding Pony.

Around 20 years ago, Keston Royal Ocassion (UK) had just arrived in Australia and Melanie decided that she would breed Beywen to him for her first Ascot foal. She started her breeding program at the age of 13 with the arrival of a colt in 1984 from this mating, named Ascot Royal Invitation who went on to many wins at Royals and in later life was a top child's pony. This was the start of Ascot Stud and more ponies to arrive.

Beywen's next and last foal under this prefix was Gaylord Of Ascot (by the great Sir Percy Of Paxhall UK), and he is still a treasured part of Ascot Stud. Beywen only had three foals and sadly passed away. Beywen was also the dam of the great saddle pony "Master James" under Melanies mother's prefix prior and he was by Pennwood Bodine and owned in South Australia by Sally & Jim Lawrie. He won many awards under saddle including Champion Saddle Pony at Adelaide Royal Show.

Today, Gaylord is senior sire at the stud and produces chestnut, black and grey colour in his offspring. All offspring possess superb heads, fronts which come up from the shoulder and good moving ponies for saddle and the show ring. He is proving outstanding as a sire over the larger mares and will be invaluable in Ascot Stud's future program as a "Cross back".

The pinnacle for Ascot Stud was the arrival of the Welsh Section B mare Downland Solitaire (IMP U.K). Given to Melanie as a 21st Birthday present. Solitaire is one of the most beautiful mares, standing at 12.3 hands, liver chestnut with a blaze and the biggest doe like eyes. In addition, Solitaire has one of the most gentile and kind natures you would find anywhere, which she passes on to all her children. Bred in the purple as far as Section B's are concerned, being by the famous Downland Chevalier from Downland Camelia (x Downland Dauphin).

As an indication of the strong genetic pool within Solitaire's pedigree, her full brother Downland Kruggerand, now head sire at Downland Stud today, replacing his now deceased sire Chevalier.

Solitaire was shown lightly as a dry mare, winning Supreme Champion Welsh B at the Victorian Stud Show and a year later judged Supreme Welsh Exhibit of all sections at the same show with Ascot Design (x Baughurst William of Orange UK) at foot. From there she has had 6 foals for Ascot Stud - each one has either won or been a Championship winner at a Royal without exception.

Meanwhile, Solitaire's son who is owned out of Western Australia - Ascot Royal Portrait was also a Pageant Reserve Champion and Royal winner both as a yearling and 2 YO before going to his new owners. Royal Portrait has now been leased to Victoria to Torrensway Pony Stud at Werribee, where he is sure to benefit Victorian Pony breeders with his presence here over the coming 2 breeding seasons.

To date we are unaware of any other mare to achieve such great success with Riding Pony youngstock at the Riding Pony Pageant. In Victoria this is truly one of the highlights & showcases for this breed. It also proves the strength of Part Welsh show stock.

Ascot Design (x Baughurst William Of Orange IMP UK) the first filly from Solitaire bred at Ascot Stud has been an invaluable member of the Hughes family in NSW having been a Champion at Sydney Royal at three years of age. She has also gained many championships, Royal wins and placings under saddle with daughter Catherine on board.

Another filly, Ascot Toy Show (A.I) (x Strinesdale Matador) is owned by Whiterose Pony Stud in Victoria and has also won in hand at Melbourne Royal as well as an extensive list of Supreme Championships in both Riding Pony and Arabian Derivative classes.

This is by no means an extensive list of her progeny's show ring success but merely a summary of highlights.

At 20 years of age Solitaire is not likely to produce further offspring but will continue to have influence at Ascot Stud for many years to come through her beautiful daughters and now grandsons.

Another outstanding broodmare in our mare band is Kirreway Welcome, who was brought into the stud due to her height and superb pedigree. Welcome stands at 14.1 hands and is by Rotherwood Acrobat from Downland Delft (IMP UK and another Chevalier daughter). Delft is also the dam of Kirreway Ovation (x Keston Royal Ocassion) who was the first National Riding Pony of the Year at 2 years of age when leased by us to produce (see photo).

Welcome's first colt bred at the stud, Ascot Royal Emblem (x Small Land Mascot) was acquired in 1997 by the Nala Stud in New Zealand. A pony with excellent height and with a super nature to match. He has excelled in the show ring in New Zealand. Amongst many other wins he was awarded National 2YO, Supreme Youngstock and Grand Champion In Hand at the New Zealand Horse & Pony Show 1999 under Mr Gould UK. Royal Emblem's connections are delighted with of his year 2000 foal crop. With one filly already being named NZ National Champion Junior Arabian Derivative at the tender age of 6 months.

Welcome's second foal, Ascot Silver Dream by Sianwood Silversmith (IMP UK) has also excelled in the show ring being first and Reserve Champion Filly Foal at the Victorian Riding Pony Foal Show in 1999 and again winning her class at the 2000 Victorian Riding Pony Pageant as a 2 year old. Silver Dream has now been broken to saddle and has all the promise of a top show pony for saddle. Watch for her under saddle in the Newcomers, she won't be missed!! This year we are expecting a third foal from Welcome by our own Ascot Classic Silk. This cross should prove interesting since we are line breeding back to Downland Chevalier along with the lovely Sir Percy and Westacre Concerto blood.

Our young broodmare, Ascot Satin Doll is the first Solitaire daughter to carry on a second generation. She stands 12.2 hands and has one of the most beautiful of heads, as well as being a big moving pony she has a great temperament. Satin Doll's impact on the show ring was very impressive and so far she seems to be doing just as well as a broodmare to date. Her first foal, Ascot Classic Silk (A.I) by Liz Mansfield's lovely Riding Pony sire Westacre Concerto is all we could have wished for in a colt. He is to be retained by Ascot Stud as a future sire.

This breeding year, Satin Doll foaled a chestnut colt, the first and only foal bred via A.I. in Australia by Keston Tribune( UK). Again he is all we could have wished for in a future sire. Movement to burn, along with a superb conformation and temeperament we have come to expect from his dam line. His name is Ascot Royal Tribute and he has already won two Championships in hand at his first foal show in May 2001. We feel this is just the start of many more to come.

Finally, today the stud is fortunate to have a number of foals bred via A.I in the wings to carry the breeding program into the future. Our new sire being the brown colt Ascot Classic Silk. Currently rising 3 years of age, Classic Silk should mature to around 13 hands and should be most useful in breeding mares up or down in height. He has all the lovely pony attributes of his sire such as tiny ears, huge eyes, tons of presence and a great temperament. He should produce a pretty animal with the ability and movement to fit the bill under saddle. Classic Silk has been bred to two of our own best mares Kirreway Welcome and Ascot China Doll this season. In addition we allowed only one outside mare to him this season - the Solitaire daughter, Ascot Design. A Sydney Royal Champion and prolific saddle pony in her own right the resulting foal is sure to be stunning.

It is felt that the stud is almost self sufficient going into the future, with a wealth of the worlds best blood already brought into the fold with the use of frozen semen from some of the best pony stallions over a strong mare base over the past 5 years. We feel that now have a strong genetic pool to breed the type of pony we like and to fulfill the vision.

The aim at Ascot Stud has always been to breed a very distinctive look about the ponies we breed and show. The main purpose of the breeding program is to produce ponies that will excel both in hand and under saddle. Temperament in our ponies is also important which is why we maintain the Welsh Section B blood throughout. We will remain very much a hands on stud by keeping numbers small and select and continue to be very passionate and committed to breeding Riding Ponies for the long term. We continue a policy of offering our very best stock to the market and will continue to do so in the future.

Enquires and visitors to the stud are also most welcome. We can be contacted on:

We would like to dedicate or website and our stud to one person, without whom we would not be where we are today. Mr Keith Govan, Melanie's grandfather who sadly passed way suddenly on April 12th 2000.

Keith took an interest in our ponies and Melanie's riding throughout her whole life. Keith was the reason we kept going with our stud and breeding program as you see it today - despite the many disappointments and losses of a breeder. He was 'nurse' to most of our mares at foaling time and delivered almost all of the ponies you see in the photos on this website. He often sat up with the mares throughout the night to ensure their foals arrived safely. He watched them grow up with pride as he was responsible for their 'coming into the world'. He followed their show careers, attending the shows when he could to see them. He smiled with pride when they came out of the ring with the Champion Sash around their necks. And……oh how proud he was when it was at a Royal!!

So Keith, we thank you and know that you are still watching over our prized mares and foals, and that you are still there when the babies are competing in the ring for the first time!!