News
August 2008
What a month! - Following a very busy stud season the final of the mares went home.  Storm went to the BSPA champs.  He was presented with his Elite status award.  Congratulations must go to Steph, Tim and Molly (Palamo Picasso) she went fantastic being Lightweight Hunter champion In hand and Ridden along with beating Storm in the Section championship where he was Reserve to her.  Picasso then went on to be 1st Reserve Supreme Ridden Horse in the Evening performance.  We also managed to defend our title to win the Pairs ridden for the 2nd year.  Well done!
 
FOR SALE
Broodmare - Lets Reflect 16hh 11yrs pretty bay T/B with full verified parentage by MTOTO / Northen Dancer Lines., Reg Wetherby's.  In foal to Storm due beginning March 2009.  She has bred two filly foals to date both of which of super quality and have fantastic temperaments, both skewbald Tobiano with good markings.  Both foals Dressage / County show / Event quality.
To approved home only £2250 ono
 
Skewbald colt foal born 15/7/08 by Storm out of top quality TB mare. To make 16.2hh. Very elevated and has plenty of bone. Full verified breeding and blood DNA'd.  Registered & microchipped with Wetherbys. Deposit secures. Available at weaning in December £2950ono
 
Chestnut & white colt born April 08.  He is by Storm out of a 16.2hh chestnut mare by Eugano.  He  currently stands at approx 13.2hh with good bone, a very straight mover with plenty of elevation from behind and balance.  His markings are unique as he has a big heart shape on one side. He has a good head with a white blaze.  He will be passported with CHAPS. An asset to any stud or suitable for any sphere will make 16.2hh hunter.  His full brother a 4 year old stands at 16.2hh now.
June 2008
Daniel Kinson has qualified for the RIHS 2009 - well done!
More Foal pictures
   
Foal Updates: 
29.06.08 - Karen Smithurst - skewbald colt
Out of a batch of mares all covered the same day we are pleased to announce the safe arrival of:
10th June - Cathy Beatram - Skewbald filly
16th June - Ruth Hancock- Skewbald colt
20th June - Karen Smithurst - Chestnut filly
21st June- Lizzie Norfork-Chestnut colt(Hugo Silver Storm)
 
7th & 8th June - Storm qualified for the RIHS 2009 and was reserve champion, Daniel Kinson's Stallion Storm Dancer 3rd in the same class. Jill Blundell's Electric Storm looked fantastic winning a very strong class at Somerford Park taking the HOYS qualifier and then reserve champion. This means her 4th visit to HOYS - Well done !!
 
01.06.08 - Virginia Stewart was having heart failure as her mare foaled at 5pm.  Being quite local I was able to help as Dazzle (Skys Pattern Dazzling Illusion) gave birth to a beautiful skewbald filly.  Both are fine...
 
May 2008
28.05.08 - just had news that Daniel Kinson has qualified for the RIHS with his stallion Storm Dancer, meaning that we have 4 horses qualified this year, see you there !
 
26.05.08 - Sonya Keen's mare from Sheffield has had a big stunning skewbald colt named Mika.  Unfortunately the nightmare of breeding took hold when the mare rejected him instantly, leaving Sonya to bottle feed him for 24hrs.  Then with help from Joanna Varden at the National Foaling Bank he travelled to a mare in Macclesfield who had sadly lost her foal and they are both now doing ok.  On this note please send both families lots of love to help with this traumatic time and please visit and support the National Foaling Bank as they are really short of funds due to a bank error.
Storm is back from Holden Fold Dressage & Stud after having semen collected and frozen.  I would like to thank Brian, Angela and all the staff for caring for him as one of their own and making AI more understanding for all.  We had a fantastic write up in Horse Deals May edition along with some wonderful pictures, thank you Michelle and all involved.
Malachi (24hrs old)
Foal Update - Susan and Sarah-Jane Roper from Leeds have a beautiful chestnut filly born 15.05.08 out of their 16.2hh warmblood mare Nikita.  Having seen her today she has a lot of bone and is very stocky in build.  she very cheeky and loves attention.  Both are doing really well.
                   
April 2008
We have had reports of the first foal, Janet Sykes in Leeds tells me they have a stunning, well marked chestnut and white big colt out of a 16hh mare by Eugano. His full brother Rubin 4years old and currently 16.2hh will be out under saddle this year, if his movement is anything to go by this will also be a star of the future. :o)
    This colt is for sale POA
March 2008
We had a fantastic but cold weekend over the Easter Weekend.  Storm qualified for the RIHS then went to take the championship.  He also won his class in hand and was reserve champion.  we travelled in the horrendous snow on Sunday further north to just miss out taking 2nd in the HOYS qualifier at BSPS.  Picasso qualified for the RIHS on Sunday at BSPA and Adenso Storm received a Blue Preferred award in the youngstock evaluations. Well done !!
 
It is all systems go weaning foals and getting Storm ready for the season.  He has just come back from being in the capable hands of Holden Fold Dressage Stud to look at options with semen for the future.  I can confirm we are now able to offer Fresh, Chilled and Frozen AI options for your mares along with his Natural coverings.
 
Palamo Picasso - Molly passed the Grading at BSPA with flying colours gaining 75%. 
 
Storm Dancer - Rocko is now standing at stud in Cheshire as a sports horse stallion graded with BSPA.  Daniel cannot wait to hit the circuit this year to see how he fairs at the county shows.  You cannot miss this young horse as he is the double of Storm but with a bit less bone.
January 2008
Happy New Year to you all !  BSPA have informed me that Stormhill Mink has enough points and has now passed as an
Elite Graded Stallion.  We have worked so hard and we would like to thank everyone for their support with his career so far and success with his offspring.  We cannot wait to see you all out having a very successful 2008.
 
October 2007
We can now add our experience of HOYS to the list.  I am really pleased with the way Storm performed with Julie in the class and he looked a picture.  Electric Storm completed another visit to HOYS with a 3rd meaning she has been placed in the top three each year since her championship in 2005.  I must also congratulate Daniel Kinson with Storm Dancer for passing the grading with BSPA.  We will look forward seeing him on the circuit in 2008.
 
September 2007
Following a fantastic but hard season at stud the final mares have just gone home, it is all systems go in getting Storm ready for HOYS and putting in the final touches to his appearance.  Stormstone Amber went to her first show and won the youngstock class, Lesley informed me she was exceptionally well behaved.
August 2007
What a month! - We finally did it - Stormhill Mink has qualified for HOYS by winning the non-native coloured and taking the ridden championship at the Scottish horse show.  Also, following on from our fun and coming 3rd in the ridden pairs in 2006 we were then nicknamed the father/daughter combination, Steph and I were blown away winning the class this year at the BSPA champs. I was really shocked when I saw the pictures of us together.
 
July 2007
With reports of some lovely foals I thought it would be nice to put some pics of them on the website
  
Above Meet Sunnybanks foals for 2007
 Stormstone Ruby 16.06.07 on left (full sister to Amber)
& Stormstone Sapphire born 14.05.07
Paul Sims mare had a skewbald filly (Just Storm's Mosaic) and Janet Sykes a stunning chestnut filly.
 
Paul Hartley's filly - Pandora & Sally Becketts colt - Chip
 
 
 
 

  

If you know any horses sired by Storm (previously known as Minky), we would love to hear from you.
 
June 2007
The season is well underway and Sunnybank is having good reports all round.  Palamo Picasso has qualified for the RIHS along with Mink and Electric Storm.  Reuben has been backed and was out to his first show last weekend gaining 2nd in both the hunter and coloured class.  Daniel has been having loads of success with The Storm Dancer in dressage and jumping. 
Vanessa Hill has the full sister to Electric Storm named Dawn Light (Tosca). She has been backed,  has fantastic paces with an exceptional jump. 
Definitely some to watch out for this summer!!!
 
Stormstone Amber has been sold to Lesley Clark based in Leeds.  Lesley is looking to show her in hand and then embark on a dressage/eventing career.  I will keep you posted with their progress
Foal Updates 
14.05.07 - A bay filly - out of a 16.2hh dark bay T/B
30.04.07 - A skewbald filly - out of a 16.2hh bay Holstein mare
Electric Storm - Jigsaw has started another promising year by qualifying for the RIHS and HOYS in the same week.  Well Done!!!
 
Palamo Picasso - Molly looks really well and has qualified for the in-hand championships with several societies.
 
The Storm Chaser - Tia is only 4yrs.  She is out of a black Friesan by Storm.  She was backed over the winter and has started a promising year winning the sport horse and middleweight classes.
 
April 2007
First foal born - I have just had reports of the first foal being born by Storm.  A tri-coloured colt out of a 13.2hh sec B grey mare (all very well) will post pics when they arrive.
 
The Storm Dancer - Saw Rocko at the BSPA grading, knew it was him straight away.  A lovely straight mover with the Storm stamp all over.  He is definitely one to watch for the future as at only 5yrs his is just beginning.  I spoke to Daniel and he tell me Rocko has been placed either 1st or 2nd every time out under saddle in dressage and at local shows.  We are hoping to have parentage issues sorted in the near future so he can then look at other societies for grading this beautiful stallion.
 

October 2006 - HOYS

Electric Storm's new home is up in Thirsk.  I met up with the Blundell family and Julie Judge at HOYS where she went fantastic in the class and was 3rd overall. 
Well Done!!
 
September 2006 
Championship Update

After a very busy stud season we attended two shows early August in the hope of qualifying for the championships, which we did.  We had the most amazing time taking the Stallion classes at both BSPA and CHAPS. 
Storm went on to win the in hand section championship, the Supreme Non-Native Horse In Hand and was crowned 1st Reserve Best in Show.  Storm was also the Non-Native Champion at CHAPS.
 
Palamo Picasso March 2006
Now 7 years old I saw Picasso (Molly) at the Spring BSPA show.  What a fantastic horse for the future, she had matured and filled out so much over the winter I nearly missed her. 
Having a fantastic season Stephanie and I competed in the ridden pairs during the evening performance at the BSPA championships.  The horses were so fantastic together with us taking 3rd out of 9 pairs competing.
Stephanie has also had a fun filled year packing her house with loads of rosettes and trophies (the most she has ever won I recall her saying on the phone).  Molly's highlights were winning and qualifying for the Star Series Finals, the Brightwell Sporthorse championships, the RIHS lightweight to which they were 10th to name just a few. 
Stormstone Amber
Born May 11th 2006 at 7.30pm
A beautiful skewbald filly with all the characteristics of dad.  She has his eyes, spots and definitely his movement.  Her mum is a 16hh Bay full T/B by MTOTO making her eligible for blood DNA registration with Wetherby's Stud Book. Amber is my first foal born at Sunnybank and boy were we all excited.  Born so quick she was a bit of a shock for mum and we ended up bottle feeding mums milk every two hours for two days till she got used to her.
 
October 2005 - Electric Storm wins HOYS

Electric Storm wins Horse of the Year Show and is crowned overall coloured champion

Friday 14th October saw the highest quality coloured horse and pony turnout at the Horse of the Year Show, NEC, Birmingham, but one owner, Mrs Sally Mariani, caused extensive celebrations in Yorkshire, being crowned the Non-Native horse champion and then the overall coloured champion for 2005.
Electric Storm Update
Jigsaw was brought back to the UK in May and sold on.  I have been desperately trying to trace her since but know she has been to a few shows and won the CHAPS Championship HOYS qualifier.
 
Did You Know:
  • » Storm (then known as Minky) was bred by Mr & Mrs Ratcliffe of the Stormhill Stud, now based in Oxfordshire
  • » His dam is a 16.3hh grey thoroughbred and his sire was a 16hh coloured I/D x cob
  • » Storm has one full brother called Stormhill Badger, born in 1994
  • » He was sold as a two year old to Julie Webb, moving up to Cheshire. Juile owned him till he was eight years old, and keeps in touch with him on a regular basis
  • » He was purchased by James Tate in 2002 and moved to Leeds
  • » In November 2003 he was purchased by Rebecca Walker and moved to Sunnybank Riding Stables in Batley
  • » Always the centre of attention, Storm jumped into a canal as a youngster. He got stuck in the mud, and had to be rescued by firemen
  • » He will always be remembered at the BSPA grading as the stallion who spent all the time looking in the mirror at the top of the arena
  • » The CHAPS grading was just as much fun where he rolled in front of the panel of graders
Contact Us:    
Miss Rebecca Walker
Sunnybank Riding Stables
Sunnybank Road
Batley
West Yorkshire
WF17 0LJ
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Fax:
Email:
 01924 473484 / 07976 535336
01924 473484
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