Taraco Ghazaleh 

(Photo courtesy of Ivisualise photography)

Ghazaleh (pronounced gha-zah-leh); this is an arabic name meaning deer or antelope.

I was absolutely delighted when Blanche Glisten joined Taraco Stud in 2008 and was very grateful to Jan Hazeleger and family for considering my request to buy Glisten and letting me cover her with their lovely stallion Friars Superman. After having five colts and only one filly whilst overseas I was absolutely delighted when Glisten decided to honour us with a beautiful bay filly. After a slightly worrying first day this lovely lady has gone form strength to strength and will certainly be retained at the stud alongside her dam as a future show and broodmare. Cheeky, elegant, graceful and full of character this beautiful filly is an absolute delight. Fortunately my concerns on day one seem to have been misplaced and it was nothing worse than a rather greeding foal guzzling and gurgling more milk than she needed! She is therefore affectionately known as 'Guzzles' at home!

Her dam Blanche Glisten is out of the superb mare Springbourne Gemma a multiple champion show mare by the renowned stock-getter Penual Mark and as such is a maternal half sister to Barry Shepherd's Blanche Glimmer. Glisten's sire, Breachwood Marwyn, needs little introduction - he was Supreme Champion Royal Welsh Show 1989 and won many championships including Northleach 1986, Supreme Champion Shropshire and West Midland Show 1987, Champion Royal Show 1987.He was little used at stud but produced the fantastic colt Springbourne Boyblue who was exported to Canada where he has been incredibly successful. This filly is a half sister to the fantastic young stallion Ysselvliedt's Golden Boy by Blackhill Picalo as well as countless other champions.

Guzzle's sire is the outstanding medal winning stallion Friars Superman who was exported to Holland in 2003. Before being exported Superman was retained and used at stud at Friars where he sired some exceptional foals including Friars Supernatural (Overall Champion at the Welsh National Show) and Friars Superstition (Champion at the Northern Counties Pony Association Show). A great success as a stockgetter in Holland Superman continues to sire some exceptional foals including Ciejans Arjan (Best Foal 2005 section A and International Overall Reserve Foal Champion).

'Guzzle' is bred to show ~ the stallions in her immediate are: Friars Superman (Bronze Medal winner), Friars Freelance (Winner of many championships Silver Medal Winner), Pontgam Supreme (prizewinner, champion and top stockgetter), Penual Mark (top stockgetter), Friars Ranger, Breachwood Marwyn, Rondeels Pengwyn and Revel Jeeves. The mares are no less exceptional: Blanche Glisten (equivalent of supreme champion when shown in Holland); Springbourne Gemma (champion and dam of champions), Friars Golden Charm, Springbourne Glenys and many more.

I cannot thank Jan and family enough for letting me persuade them to sell Glisten and also for covering her with Superman. It is a privilege to have such a beautiful addition to the stud!    

Taraco Stud, Canterbury, Kent

A small stud specialising in breeding quality palomino and buckskin welsh ponies and cobs