Congratulations Traynham Family!

Highland Empress as a two year old

Congratulations to the Traynham Family of Timber Ranch on their selection of Highland Empress as their foundation broodmare for their breeding program. There simply aren't better bloodlines than hers for the purpose of eventing and this proven producer of champions will certainly be the cornerstone of a very successful program.

Highland Empress is by MASTER IMP, OUT OF A CAVALIER ROYALE/CLOVER HILL MARE,  a combination of Ireland’s very best blood, with close up relations including William Micklem’s stallion, Jackeroo, Zara Phillips’ High Kingdom,  Karen O’Connor’s Mandiba, Clayton Fredrick’s Ben Along Time, Mary King’s Imperial Cavalier, and Tiana Coudray’s Ringwood Magister.

She is currently in foal to The Twain, our Nation’s best bred Thoroughbred stallion for Eventing. The Twain is by Green Dancer, who was a stakes winner in France, winning the French Classic before retiring to stud. He went on to Kentucky for breeding, where he sired many million dollar winners, as well as steeplechase stars. Green Dancer was named the French Leading Sire in 1991. The Twain brings the blood of NIJINSKY to the front of his papers as his grandsire. During Nijinsky’s brilliant career, he became an English Triple Crown winner, set a European earnings record, was Europe’s Horse of the Year in 1970, and was syndicated for a world-record price. He was historically important for establishing the international reputation of his sire, Northern Dancer. Retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, Nijinsky was the Leading Sire in Great Britain, Ireland and eventually the Leading Broodmare Sire in North America. Sir Tristram, sire of The Twain’s dam, was the greatest Thoroughbred stud in New Zealand racing history. He was Irish-bred and raced in Ireland, England, France and also in the U.S. in the Kentucky Derby. He was then bought and retired to stud in New Zealand, where he sired over 140 stakes winners and an extraordinary 45 group one winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners. One of the most sought after performance sire lines of modern day breeding, Sir Tristram’s influence has been incredibly widespread, particularly in International Show Jumping and Eventing. THE TWAIN IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OVER 40 RECENT WEG, OLYMPIC, AND 4**** TOP TEN FINISHERS.

We are very pleased to be a part of this mare's future and the breeding program at Timber Ranch. We know that there will be exciting years ahead for Young Rider, Megan Traynham, and the future super stars her family will be bringing along!