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2 - "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2001 Team converts farm to eq By Heather McCrae The Star What was once the home of one of the finest Holstein herds in the world is now home to fine standardbred horses. Hanover Hill Farm, owned by Peter Heffering, is now leased by Kristi Lynne Wagg, owner of KLW Equine Breeders. Offering a vari- ety of services, from year-round boarding to foaling mares, breed- ing, embryo transfers and year- ling preparation, the farm is home to almost 200 horses. This number includes mares, foals, yearlings "and old retirees. "It's the highest number we've ever had," said Kristi. She's been involved in horses most of her life, but this venture is her most ambitious by far. Growing up on a horse farm in Udora, where her father Bruce Wagg had standardbreds and show horses, Kristi was the only one of three sisters to pursue a career with horses. After taking the Harness Horse Industry Operations course at Seneca College, she was hired at Prince Lee Acres as manager of the broodmare operation. She stayed at the farm, owned by Norm Clements, owner of the infamous racehorse Cam Fella, for the next 11 years. When Mr. Clements chose to disperse his breeding stock a few years ago Kristi leased the farm from him, and KLW Equine Breeders was born. The number of horses grew, especially when Peter Heffering moved his brood- mares to the facility. Three years ago KLW Equine - Breeders shifted its base of oper- ations to Hano{er Hill, south of Manchester on the 4th line of Scugog Township, west of Hwy. 12. Kristi is the owner and part- Kristi Wagg (left), along with Monica Abbs, Joanne ---- and Elaine Bayard, of KLW Equine Breeders. The operation is on the site of the former Hanover Hills cattle farm, a renowned institution itself. owner of 30 horses, and people throughout North America and the UK own the rest. Kristi over- sees the all-woman operation, joined by her two sisters, Joanne Curnow of Pefferlaw and Elaine Bayard, who lives with her hus- band Rick and their three chil- dren in the farmhouse situated on the farm. Also helping with the daily tasks is Monica Abbs and, for the past year, Shannon O'Neill, a co- op student from PPHS, helped out too. All three sisters have varying roles. Joanne and Elaine both worked in the health field before embarking in the horse industry. "J]oanne's our off-staff nurse," said Kristi. "She looks after all the vet- erinary records and keeps the 'most detailed charts on each mare, foal and foaling. When a mare foals the next year, we can refer to charts to refresh our memories as to how the last birth went." Elaine is the brood mare man- ager. Which is remarkable, - because there was a time when Elaine wouldn't even look at a horse. "I wasn't fond of horses; they were too big and scary," she said. "But when Kristi was recuperating after having her appendix out, | came and helped out during the foaling season at Prince Lee Acres. | got to like being around horses after that episode." "For someone who didn't know anything about the horse business a few years ago, there's not much she doesn't know or can't do now," said Kristi. "Elaine's my right-hand woman." Kristi oversees the daily oper- ation by looking after entries to the fall sales, staking of the year- lings, and doing all the PR work. The women will be busy this summer, as they prepare 30 year- lings for sales this fall. "Starting July 15, we begin to work on them. That's when we walk them, put their shoes on, cross-tie them daily, and brush them for hours on end," said Kristi. "We have six weeks to get them ready, and hope they reach their peak in time for the sales." To some it may seem glam- eration orous work, but there's a lot of stress that comes with the job. "It can be dangerous," said Kristi. "These young horses are not used to being handled, and there's always the chance of being kicked or bitten." It isn't only standardbreds that graze on the lush, green pastures. A Clydesdale mare, with a stan- dardbred foal by her side, has caused a lot of eyes to turn. "She's a nurse mare," Kristi explains. "The foal's mother was put down at the University of Guelph after her liver shut down. That's one of the hardest things to deal with, the death of an ani- mal you've looked after so long. But, we rented a mare and it took a few days for them to adjust, but they are fine together now." It's almost a year-round job, with only three weeks of rest after the sales. "And then on Dec. I, we start barren mares under lights again to stimulate their cycles," said Kristi. After Jan. 15 comes the foaling season, which lasts until mid-July, then there's the prepping of year- lings for the sales. One look at any horse or foal in the field, and all three can tell you their parentage instantly: "We know these horses," said Kristi. "We know these horses well, and do a lot with the pedi- grees. That's our business." "We offer state-of-the-art facil- ities with all the modern technol- ogy, including DNA testing on each animal." Does she ever regret getting into the standardbred business? "Most days I'm glad my dad introduced me to horses. But | never thought I'd ever come this far with them," said Kristi. "We are now regarded as one of the largest transient horse farms in Ontario." A ATW SO AEN, SINT \\ 985-8552 -- FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE TO PORT PERRY! AER ANN RRS woe 7 o Annual Rates ° Clean e 3M Scotchguard e Broadloom e Upholstery Ingo | nose Rugs 852-6711 EU YAN YANN FP = = ow XA MAY APPLY 'What is your favourite thing to do? 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