Our Way 1
BY CECILIA BILLGREN PHOTO CLAES KÄRRSTRAND STONER
CREEK Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg of horses as well as genetic material, i.e., semen, between the two farms. “This resulted in a handwritten contract that remained in place for 25 years.” The stallion that started this new partnership was none other than Zoot Suit and with him in place at Ekerö, the foundations were laid for the successful breeding operation that today places Menhammar in the very top. Today, Stoner Creek is owned by Margareta, who purchased the farm in 2003 after her partner Norman S. Woolworth passed away. The farm is leased and managed by the Stewarts, a couple who breed horses under the name Hunterton Farm at Stoner Creek. Margareta usually has about five to ten broodmares and their foals on the farm, while the Hunterton stock runs to anything between 200 and 300 horses. Stoner Creek does not have any stallions of its own. The mares are either covered by a successful American trotting horse or matched with one of Menhammar’s stallions. Margareta often takes semen with her when she travels to the US. She makes sure to visit the farm several times a year and brings home a number of foals each year in early December to be trained and raced in Sweden. Similarly, she sends the occasional horse bred at Menhammar to be trained and raced in the US. “This year, we will be taking two mares after Maharajah that will start training and racing over there,” says Margareta. Each year she also travels there with Menhammar’s veterinarian and general manager Johan Hellander to inspect the broodmares. “Of course, we have to make sure that the old ladies are well.” * The story about Stoner Creek and the mare Eager Lassie started with the yellow harness box on the cover page. OUR WAY MENHAMMAR 7 > PHOTO: LARS JAKOBSSON /TR BILD