About Rivendell Stud
Competitive horses bred for temperament, strength & spirit.
The aim is to breed and produce a horse that is strong in type, sound in mind and body with exceptional temperament and great rideability. A horse that is willing, noble, well-proportioned and correct. This combined should result in a horse with the greatest aptitude for competitive or recreational riding, which leads to happy horses and riders.
FACILITIES
At Rivendell Stud we have learnt a lot over the years and have been able to set up a facility that is horse friendly and encourages a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for horses and people.
37 extra large stables are split into four separate barns, each with their own staff and facilities. There is a dedicated maternity ward as well as stable block for livery clients.
We have an indoor arena, 75m x 28m, in which we can train horses irrespective of extreme heat and sunshine or rain and cold. It has a fiber footing, which is maintained regularly.
An outdoor dressage arena, 60m x 20m, doubles as a showjumping arena when required.
Mares
In my opinion a mare counts for at least 75% of the foal she is producing. 50% generically and the other at least 25% from nurturing in utero as well as during lactation. I was extremely fortunate to come across amazing broodmares, which I personally selected based on pedigree, conformation and a gut feeling.
Stallions
In South Africa we are so limited and restricted with imported semen that it creates a major challenge at times. I believe that most horses are imported for their training and not their pedigree, and just because a horse is an import, does not make it automatically better than a horse that was bred here.
Foals
As soon as all foals have been weaned from the previous season, I am already thinking of which matings I am planning for the next season. My boards are written months before the breeding season starts and discussions had with my reproductive vet as to embryo transfers etc.
Karin Sarah Coles Koep
Born in Windhoek, Namibia, I was raised in a trilingual household in the middle of town. I started vaulting as a young child before going onto horse riding lessons. In Namibia, children rode horses straightaway and not ponies, and as the oldest of four daughters, having my own horse was always a dream.
My first horse was a chestnut mare called Bodenhausen Cremona by Graveur. She was hot and opinionated but taught me so much. When I moved to South Africa in 1992 to go to Boarding school, I decided to start breeding with Cremona.
Her first foal was by the stallion Galapagos and she produced a filly called Rivendell Cascaya (Gayega), who in turn produced the filly Rivendell Caprice, who is in Johannesburg and has produced foals of her own.
Her second foal was by the stallion Glückscup and she unfortunately died 24 hours after her foal was born. He was then raised by bottle and only died in 2023. Rivendell Gandhi competed successfully in dressage and eventing.
After school and one year at UCT, I was invited to go and ride in Germany, at the stable of Claus Erhorn. Toward the end of that same year I was working and riding for Swarovski family in Austria, where I met the mare Piaffe. I then also decided that I was coming back to SA to further my studies at Stellenbosch University.
