history

"Springmead" means a meadow with a spring in it, and was named after a family home near Hampstead, North London. Originally established at Ingleburn NSW, as an agistment property for Mr. Hirst's horses when he joined the Light Horse, Springmead principally bred ponies during its formative years.

It was a life long sorrow to Mr. Hirst that he was rejected at the embarkation medical examination because of what was then called a "smoker's heart". It was this heart problem which eventually forced his retirement from the British Electric Company, where he was Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, and his death in 1956 at 'Burraburoo' Gulgong NSW, where his family and the stud had moved.

When Mr. Hirst first went to inspect Springmead he took a train to Liverpool and then proceeded by taxi, a round trip of 16 miles (25kms). He was told that the road from the station to the property 'must be clear as a car passed through last week'. When Mr. Hirst married and moved permanently to Springmead he traveled to the office in Sydney by dogcart pulled by 'Brightshot' his Hackney stallion or, when running late, a sulky pulled by 'Stanage Perfect Day', his Welsh Mountain Pony stallion. Later Mr. Hirst traveled to the office by car but never learnt to drive, as he preferred to sit and think.

In 1915 Springmead's first sire Traveller's Joy (imp) was put over Sally Moore to produce our first foal Springmead Muriel in 1916. Notable sires owned by Springmead include Forest Comet Flyer (Welsh Cob, used in 1919), Brightshot (Hackney used from 1919 to 1930), Stanage Perfect Day (Welsh Mountain Pony imported by Mr. & Mrs. Hirst, 1923-1935) Louvain (Thoroughbred imported by Mr. & Mrs. Hirst in 1922 and used at stud after a brief racing career, 1924-1930), Craven Master Sprite (Welsh Pony, 1936-1944), Rakib (Arabian imported by Mr. & Mrs. Hirst, 1940 -1945), Rikham (Arabian imported by Mr. & Mrs. Hirst, 1948 - 1962), Heatherbrae Peregrine (Riding Pony, 1994 - current), and Integrity (Arabian, 1995 - current). Other sires used include Little Briton, Springmead Hector, Glendallo Wee Greylock, Good Too, Genghis Khan, Manning Kaddabbra, Nickson and Polished Copper.

Apart from horses, the farm also had a large herd of Jersey cattle and produced consistent show winners from imported stock. Mr. Hirst was one of the foundation members of The Jersey Stud Book Society of Australia. The entire herd was sold to the Western Australian government in 1934 to establish that state's Jersey herd. Only one other cow was purchased and that was a Springmead bred. Springmead also had extensive bird aviaries and bred Berkshire Pigs, Dalmatians, Airedale and Scotch Terrier Dogs over a number of years.

The Springmead horses and other farm stock were shown extensively and in the early days when entered in The Sydney Royal Easter Show had to travel to Sydney by train to Darling Harbour and then walk to the showgrounds. These trains arriving at Darling Harbour goods yard were met by hordes of men and boys offering their services as stock leaders. At the time this was the only practical form of transport. Sometimes the Springmead team would become lost in the back streets of Darlinghurst and would not be found until after dark, when out of the gloom would emerge the little white stallion Stanage Perfect Day, heading the team of stallions, mares, bulls and cows. Most notable was the seeming monopoly Springmead bred horses had over the team events and hack classes at these shows

Stanage Perfect Day was also used on R.S.P.C.A. Appeal Days in Sydney, when he would carry a collection box on either side of his roller and collect for the society. On at least one occasion he collected so much money he had to have a police escort.

Stock was sold to most states in Australia, including Tasmania, and overseas to New Zealand and England.

In 1938, Mr. Hirst while on a business trip to England purchased Rakib, a four year old Arab stallion. Before leaving England, Rakib was hunted regularly and was also placed third in his Arabian saddle class at the Olympia Horse Show. Rakib arrived in Australia just before the outbreak of World War II. Riding and generally utility horses and ponies were in great demand at the time due to petrol shortages and many Rakib foals were sold to become hard working horses. Rakib was used over the pony stallions' daughters and these Arabian Ponies and Partbreds were some of the first to be registered in the Arabian Partbred Registry. Rakib was also used over Louvain's daughters to produce Springmead's first Anglo Arabs. Eventually most of Springmead's broodmares were by Rakib who was sold to Mrs A.D.D. Maclean of 'Fenwick Arabian Stud' in 1945. At Fenwick Rakib was used over their beautiful purebred mares to produce the outstanding horses that Fenwick is famous for.

In 1948 Springmead imported the famous Rikham and used him over Rakib's daughters to continue the Springmead tradition of producing outstanding Arabian Ponies, Anglos and Partbred Arabs that consistently dominated the placing's at major shows. Before being sold to Ron & Val Males of 'Ralvon Arab Stud' in 1962, Rikham sired Springmead Lucy-Anna. Lucy-Anna was one of the most prolific endurance producing mares having six endurance offspring; five of which are Tom Quilty buckle holders. While owned by Ron & Val Males, Rikham produced many noteworthy offspring but the best would have to be the 1978 International World Champion Ralvon Pilgrim.

Mr. & Mrs Hirst were both active in many equestrian fields, both practically and promotionally, initiating many innovative ideas. These included using the curb bit to balance the horse and riding forward into the bit instead of pulling the horse's head back onto the chest, (quite an unusual idea for the 1930's). It was also recommended that pony hack classes be split into novice and advanced sections with an age limit set on the rider and formats for children's equitation classes were given. In the 'Australasian' newspaper (17-12-1938) there is a long article written by Mrs. Hirst titled 'Improvement of Horses and the Art of Riding'. Many of the innovations suggested have become common practice and eventually the R.A.S. did include equitation classes for all ages, which evolved into the dressage classes we now know.

Mr. & Mrs. Hirst also introduce to Australia the game of Polocrosse with Mrs. Hirst re-writing the rules to suit Australian conditions after seeing a similar game being played indoors on horseback in England. The game proved popular and has now been exported to many other countries.

Mrs. Hirst also founded the Ingleburn Horse and Pony Club. It was from the ideas put forward by the club that the Pony Club movement in Australia grew.

Mr. & Mrs. Hirst's involvement with the Arabian Horse Society of Australia commenced when Mrs. Hirst was a member of the R.A.S. Advisory Committee, which was formed in 1950 to collect and maintain the records of Arabian Horses in Australia. When the Arabian Horses Society of Australia was formed, Mr. Hirst served on the Council until ill health forced him to resign.

Mrs. Hirst took his place and served for several years as Vice President and then as Patroness. Margot Stuart-Smith (nee Hirst) was also involved with the Council in the Society's formative years and served for sometime as Treasurer. Mrs. Hirst wrote the first standard of excellence for the Arabian Horse in Australia.

From the late 1960's until 1982 Springmead Stud was dormant. It was then that Ron & Val Males gave Springmead Stud the Springmead Lucy-Anna daughter Ralvon Lucy. In 1987 the present property, 'Craig Elachie' at Rydal , NSW was purchased and the threads of Springmead were gathered together again.

In 1995 Springmead progressed into Riding Ponies as a complement to our Anglo program. We are now able to offer clients suitable horses throughout their lives.