Above - Greylight (imp)

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The Nilton Stud is a small stud of select breeding, based on the Milton Stud (registered 1910) of my Grandfather Anthony Hordern & on Nattai Stud (registered 1933) of my Mother Dinah Creswick.

The influence of the early imports of Greylight, Cream Of Eppynt & Ceulan Comet, as well as the mares Topsy & Little Queen are still most evident today. Those lovely old bloodlines were complemented by the vision of Dinah Creswick, in her imports of the stallions Coed Coch Proffwyd, Coed Coch Bari, Twyford Maple & Coed Coch Nerod as well as the two beautiful mares Coed Coch Serch & Coed Coch Rowena. All of these lines currently in the stud.

Nilton was first registered in 1975 after the purchase of the multi-champion stallion Nattai Shon (S: Coed Coch Proffwyd [imp] x D: Coed Coch Serch [imp]) & Nattai Pelydryn (S: Nattai Sunlight x D: Nattai Grey Lady). Nattai Shon was the sire of Nattai Pollyanna (Llanfairbryn Stud) - winner of the first ever Leading Rein Class at the Victorian All Welsh Show. Nattai Pelydryn was a lovely, typey mare who was in foal to Coed Coch Bari (imp).

Nattai Stardust  (S: Coed Coch Proffwyd) followed shortly after, from the Glenmore Stud of Janys McDonald. Stardust had been a wonderfully successful show mare, in harness and under saddle. She was not only a beautiful mare and broodmare, but a fabulous child's pony for us. She was the dam of the multi-champion led and ridden Nilton Starshine (S: Coed Cock Bari imp). Starshine in turn is the dam of multi-supreme champion stallion Nilton Showdown (S: Nattai Cream Of Eppynt) as well as Nilton Sanchia (S: Kent Park Nerod) and Nilton Showtime (S: Nattai Madog).

Nattai Model (subsequently Victorian All Welsh Supreme Champion & dual National Performance Winner) was purchased as a weanling, after a rather long wait for a lovely Coed Coch Bari (imp) filly. She turned out to be the most super show pony led and ridden and was also successful in dressage. Model has ultimately proven to be possibly the most influential mare in the stud. Therefore, it can be seen that this stud is based on Coed Coch, Twyford, Nattai and Milton bloodlines.

Nattai Cream Of Eppynt (S: Coed Coch Bari [imp] x D: Nattai Summertime SOD: Nattai Apollo) was purchased from Mum as a weanling in 1987 to use over the progeny of the above ponies. He was broken to saddle as a 3yo, quite the easiest pony I have ever educated, the best ride with a huge stride for a small pony. He started his ridden career with a Championship then went on to be Supreme Ridden Exhibit at the Victorian All Welsh Show and Ridden Pony of the Year. He also won dressage competitions. His led career was unbelievable really, Supreme Champion at many, many shows including Melbourne and Sydney Royals. He has been a wonderful sire of led, saddle and harness ponies. 

Nilton Stud has always had a small number of thoroughbred mares primarily to breed racehorses, but with quality and substance also in mind to enable them to compete in the showring or eventing. The foundation mare, a beautiful dapple brown with the most exquisite head and eye, a gift from my Father Alec Creswick - was called River Tan. She was a very successful hack and show mare, notably Supreme Champion Thoroughbred at Sydney Royal. River Tan was by Dad's multi-talented Centreway, sire of nine Olympic Jumpers including one World Champion (Regal Realm) and many outstanding racehorses. River Tan proved to be a wonderful broodmare of 100% race winners, including the stakes winner Erato, who was by Court Sentence. Her final foal was exported to Canada as a Three Day Eventer after winning three races as a galloper. The Stud has produced over 50 individual race winners.

Meath, a lovely small chestnut with a wonderful temperament was used for polocross as well as showing! She also produced seven winners, including the stakes winner Spring Theme (S: Northern Spring). Her influence is still in the stud today. Her Grandson Mount Townsend, a super jumper, ran 3rd in the 2009 Grand National Steeplechase. Also bred at Nilton was Princeton, a chestnut gelding by Cerretto, was Victorian Barastoc Horse of the Year for Russell Bracken.

Macelli, a six-time race winner was joined to my sister Viola Myers' beautiful imported Cob, Gwibedog Sportsman. Producing Nilton Soccer a Section D FS mare, who was a multiple Champion and National Performance Winner. Nilton Soccer became a foundation mare for the C,D & Part Bred lines, which includes the C mare Nilton Theirri - winner of the National Performance Award for Trent Forge of the Kimberley Park Stud.

Since the introduction of the Nattai Stud ponies (including the stallion Nattai Madog and 17 mares) in 2003 after Mum's passing, the numbers are now a little larger and we have some Section B mares and a few Part Breds. Nilton is home to four stallions and some 30 mares and fillies. All foals are comprehensively handled and stabled at weaning time - showing trust and respect, enabling all to be sold as children's ponies.

The Stud has had wonderful success with both led and ridden ponies at all the major All Welsh Shows and Royal Shows Australia-wide. Through this involvement I have met many wonderful, knowledgeable people who have been so helpful. I have been honoured to have judged at the major shows throughout Australia and also in New Zealand.

I aim to continue the wonderful foundations laid by my forebears as I am totally captivated by the beauty and presence of the Welsh Breed. The future looks very bright as my grandchildren are showing infectious enthusiasm. The two eldest Charlotte and Matilda are showing in Leading Rein and Handler classes - they being the Great, Great Grandchildren of Anthony Hordern.

Mrs Sally Bayles.