HISTORY

Top Cat was born in 1990, the year Mrs S Burt and Pat saw him on his mother, they immediately decided that he was the one. Pat, being no stranger to stallions and colts relished the challenge of bringing on and passing a Connemara colt.

He arrived after Olympia Horse Show in December that same year, and though not have had seen him since the viewing they could not have been more delighted with him.

Top Cat stayed at home until his 2 year old inspection of which he passed, and on his return was then turned out with his "wife", Bearwood Sugar Plum. The resulting union produced his first foal, a dun colt, Walstead Champagne Charlie, who went on and won the BCPS Breed Show. From the first foal, the stud took off and Top Cat's stock now needs no introduction. Tiercel Top Cat

Top Cat himself was only been shown twice, as a 3 year old, winning and Reserve Champion of both Surrey County Show and Kent County Show, due to his busy stud life, he stayed at home, although broken as a 4 year old and ridden regularly in all company, up to present date. He proved himself as a safe and honest ride, accompanying youngsters out on hacks during their early training and being ridden by Mrs Burt's young grandchildren.

TC, as we called him was with us for 19 years, really far too short, and passed far too quickly. When Mrs Burt and I went up to the Tiercel Stud to find a replacement filly for the wonderful Grayswood Galaxy, little did we know a bay colt on his dam would take our hearts. So it was that he arrived with us in the December of 1990, having stayed with Mrs Sanders until after Olympia.

Straight away his wonderful temperament shone through and that alone made him a star. Never did he give us any trouble, and he was so considerate and kind to his mares when covering in hand or running out with his mares and foals. Many a time would he be left with all the foals to “nanny” while the mares went off for “rest time”. He was broken and ridden regularly, he would hack out and accompany youngsters on their first hacks, being the father figure. His stock are amazing, very much of a pattern, from past to present. There are far too many to list, which has enabled him to win the Penny Verner ten times and Rudgeway Trophy seven times at the BCPS show. With that gives us the pride we have of owning and knowing this outstanding stallion. We thank Mrs B Sanders of the Tiercel Stud for Tiercel Top Catbreeding him, and all the wonderful people and ponies, through owning him, we have met.

But the biggest Thank You goes to Top Cat, for endless pleasure, whether it was in the show ring, with his stock, jumping at home, to hacking out with his wonderful mane flying in your face! Or just bringing him in from the field. Memories are gold, his are platinum.

Thank you TC. Will be forever missed.

Sonia Burt and Pat Taylor