After 20 years of breeding and training Andalusians, Lusitanos, and more recently, Friesians, in Elkhorn, WI, Gareth A. Selwood is moving his operation to Bradenton, FL.
“When I started here in 1989 there were not very many Iberian or Baroque horses in the Midwest, and now I am happy to say that this year our Regional Championship show in Elkhorn was the biggest in the nation for 2009,” said Selwood, proudly. In fact horses traveled from Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Minnesota and all over Wisconsin to compete with handlers coming in all the way from California. Selwood will continue to manage and produce the Baroque Horse Classic at the end of May and the Regional Championships in mid-August as he has done for the past 15 years. In addition to the shows, Selwood will be returning to the Midwest on a regular basis for clinics, horse fairs and breed inspections.
“This was a tough decision to make after 20 years of hard work and the wonderful clients I have been supported by. They have all become my friends and their children have grown up with me at the shows. It is going to be very difficult to leave them all,” Selwood stated. “However, the time is right to move, and it has been made all the more appealing by the fact that I am leasing a barn from my good friends, John and Simone Brown of Spanish Legacy Andalusians near Sarasota.
"This year was a banner year for our clients and their horses, as Selwood Park accumulated a record 21 National Championship titles and 21 Reserves at the IALHA Finals in Fort Worth, TX, with their Andalusian horses. The Friesian show string was just as successful, bringing home over 20 World and National Championships from Lake St Louis, MO."
Selwood, a 2004 recipient of the Norman K. Dunn trophy and USEF Equestrian of Honor for his work in the show ring, is also a multi-carded judge in the Morgan, Western, Andalusian/Lusitano and Friesian divisions, as well as a certified equine appraiser. Among the many awards he has received over the years, he is most proud of his multiple Performance Horse Registry Silver Stirrup Awards for Leading Breeder.
As of December 1, Selwood was again in the lead for Andalusian/Lusitano Leading Breeder and Owner; Nevado OTR, recently purchased by Erin and Steve Whalen of Lake Geneva, WI, looks to be the next USEF National Grand Champion Half-Andalusian; Zima BA from Bricco Andalusiansis the USEF National Champion Half-Andalusian Halter Horse of the Year; Ivy’s Nova the National Grand Champion Part-Bred Friesian for Ryan Stark: Esteban and Hein from Deb Goldmann’s Heavenly Gaits Farm National Champion Friesian Driving and Friesian Junior Exhibitor, respectively, and a Champion and Reserve win for Tom and Sandy Jacob with their mothers on combination of Wiesje and Baudewijn Van Bosma in Friesian In-Hand.
The future looks bright for Selwood Park horses with the first foal due in March at the beautiful facility at Spanish Legacy Andalusians and the first show in Tampa the same month.