A view of Whalton Stud

Jo MacInnes and her old favourite 'Java Tiger'

My visit to the Whalton Stud in North Yorkshire was not just to meet two very special equine personalities that I had heard so much about, but also a very special lady, Jo MacInnes, who is retiring this year from the British Horse Society after 16 years as Development Officer for Yorkshire.

On a rather cold and gloomy April day I set off to meet Mrs MacInnes and her two stallions, Kilvington Scoundrel and Java Tiger, at their farm home near Harrogate. I had lost my directions before I left home (!) but I called at the local newsagent to ask the way to Park House Farm. Just by chance a gentleman overheard me and asked, "Are you looking for us?" It was John MacInnes, Jo's husband, and he pointed me in the right direction for the Stud. A couple of miles from the village of Spofforth near Harrogate, along a little-used country lane, I duly came upon the stud farm nestling on the side of a hill in a lovely valley. Literally five minutes from the main A1 road and the hustle of commuter life, I could nevertheless have been anywhere, it was so peaceful and seemingly remote.

I was certainly given a warm welcome; Jo MacInnes took me straight into the farmhouse kitchen where I was greeted by two very friendly lurchers! We chatted over coffee and Jo told me all about her work with the BHS, her horses and the stud farm. The Stud originated in Whalton, Northumberland and its name was well established when Jo married John MacInnes over thirty years ago. With their marriage they moved to Cumberland, taking the Stud and its name with them and this was followed by a further move in 1983 to Spofforth in Yorkshire.

Jo has been Development Officer for the British Horse Society in Yorkshire and the North since settling in Spofforth. Amongst other responsibilities she has assisted many dedicated volunteers to carry out the work of the Society in equine welfare, safety and bridleways. She also takes the BHS trade stand to many of the major shows and events in the North to promote the work of the Society and to recruit members. The Society works on behalf of horses, and all who are interested in them, both at local levels and by lobbying at Government level. It provides the main teaching qualifications and, through high standards of education, aims to improve the care and welfare of all horses and ponies. (It also runs competitions for members, enabling them to have fun with their equine partners.) Her work for the welfare of horses really has qualified Jo for an unsung hero award and, as if to demonstrate the fact, there was a recovering pony in one of the paddocks, a rescue case that she had taken in. His new home will be very carefully chosen.

Jo with 'Harry'

The time soon came to meet the other important personalities, the horses; Jo had told me so much about the two stallions at stud there and their offspring that I felt as if I already knew them. She took me to meet Kilvington Scoundrel first, affectionately known as 'Harry'. Jo said that when she had first looked at Harry as a youngster, with a view to buying him, he was very backward and looked like a clothes line on four limbs, but he moved right from his withers and shoulder, and had the most beautiful head, so she bought him.

Harry is by Cusop Discipline; he is an outstanding mover and passes that quality and his tremendous front onto his progeny. Harry is Yorkshire born and bred and just the day before my visit had won the overall Supreme Trophy (a huge Gold Cup) at Malvern, a fantastic accolade.

Continues........

Photographs © Jenny Grzybowski

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