Who We Are

Nestled in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside near Kendal, Willowsway Stud is a family-run breeding stud dedicated to producing exceptional Traditional Gypsy Cobs, Highland Ponies and coloured plaited/sport horses.

Breeding on a carefully selected scale, our focus is on quality over quantity, combining proven, traceable bloodlines with outstanding temperament, correct conformation and true breed type. Home to an exciting collection of licensed stallions and carefully selected broodmares, our breeding programme is built on generations of knowledge, passion and an unwavering commitment to preserving the qualities that make these breeds so special.

Showing has always been at the heart of Willowsway Stud, and our horses and ponies are bred with the presence, versatility and character to excel both in the show ring and beyond. Every mating is thoughtfully planned, with the aim of producing the next generation of champions while safeguarding some of the most sought-after bloodlines in the UK.

At Willowsway Stud, breeding is more than a passion, it’s a legacy.

Our Story

Willowsway Stud is built on three generations of passion, dedication and a lifelong love of horses.

Hilary’s passion for horses began as a young girl, inspired by her father, whose knowledge, encouragement and love of breeding laid the foundations for everything that followed. Together they bred Hilary’s very first coloured foal, igniting a fascination with coloured horses that has remained at the heart of Willowsway ever since. That same passion was passed on to Hilary’s daughter, Jo, making horses not simply a hobby or profession, but a way of life for three generations of the family.

In 2013, the arrival of our foundation stallion, Too Smart, marked the beginning of a new chapter. Sired by the legendary Bob The Blagdon, Too Smart carries one of the most sought-after traditional bloodlines in the UK and remains one of the few sons of Bob The Blagdon standing at stud today. His exceptional show-ring career saw him crowned Supreme Champion at TOYS on three occasions, alongside multiple qualifications for HOYS and RIHS, establishing the foundations of the breeding programme we continue to build upon today.

Since then, Willowsway Stud has grown into a specialist breeding stud, proudly standing a carefully selected collection of licensed stallions representing some of the finest bloodlines available. Alongside our Traditional Gypsy Cobs, we are proud to breed Highland Ponies and coloured sport horses, each chosen for their quality, temperament and proven performance. Our Highland Pony stallion, bred by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, reflects generations of exceptional native breeding, while our sports pony stallion has enjoyed an outstanding show-ring career, earning championship honours and remaining unbeaten at many of the country’s leading county shows.

Today, every breeding decision is guided by the same values that inspired Willowsway from the very beginning—preserving exceptional bloodlines, breeding for temperament, conformation and true breed type, and producing horses and ponies capable of excelling in the show ring while leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. Although our stud has evolved over the years, our philosophy remains unchanged: to breed with purpose, nurture future stars and honour the generations of passion that made Willowsway Stud what it is today.