Our Way 1
STONER CREEK At Stoner Creek the horses are able
to move over quite large pastures and are outdoors in all kind of weather. STONER CREEK • The collaboration between Stoner Creek and Menhammar began after Margareta WalleniusKleberg bought the Stoner Creek-bred mare Eager Lassie in 1974. • Stoner Creek is Menhammar’s US breeding base and Menhammar has some 30 broodmares and a handful of young horses stabled on the farm. Menhammar has some 30 broodmares stabled at Stoner Creek. • Stoner Creek covers 700 acres or 283 hectares. • Stoner Creek has bred no less than six winners of the Hambletonian Stakes, the world’s most prestigious harness race for 3-year-olds: Super Bowl, Bonefish, Duenna, Giant Victory, Tagliabue and Trixton. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OLD LADIES ARE WELL Stoner Creek also has an important function in a social context. The US harness racing world works differently to its Swedish counterpart; it is less a sport of the people and more a status symbol. The beautiful farm that Margareta has carefully refurbished and renovated is therefore an excellent place to greet guests and hold social gatherings and, as the good hostess she is, she is more than happy to arrange lunches and various events. 8 OUR WAY MENHAMMAR “Every year in connection with the horse auctions, I invite all of the Scandinavians over there to lunch, with herring, salmon and Swedish coffee. On the last occasion, I believe there were 80 guests.” The Kentucky horse farm is a valuable resource for Menhammar. However, today there are no plans to expand the operation beyond its current scope. Margareta values the insight she has gained into the US breeding tradition through her collaboration with Stoner Creek and says that she has learnt a great deal about breeding from her American contacts. “In Sweden, we have earlier tended to breed from mares that we knew have run well on the track, but over there they have always taken a more overall view. Of course, the horses need to be able to handle tough training, but they also need to be easy to handle and pleasant to be around. I have learnt that horses are born in a particular way. Already at an early age you can clearly see in their eyes what they will be like. Horses must be allowed to be horses,” says Margareta. Stoner Creek is a good complement to the breeding operation at Menhammar, and Margareta is happy with the collaboration and exchange of both genetic material and knowledge. The large horse farm is also important on a personal level and means a great deal to the family. ”Stoner Creek is my oasis. It is a real horse paradise,” says Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg.