Ron Brewster has dedicated his life to working with these gentle giants... despite being allergic to horses

One of the most popular and spectacular sights at shows around the country are the heavy horse turnouts.

Everyone appreciates the grace and beauty of these gentle giants along with the hard work that has gone into turning out both horses and hitches.

One person who knows more than most about the Clydesdale breed, driving and turnout is Ron Brewster, who runs a professional yard at Drumbauchly Farm, Methven, with his partner, Helen Carr.

The couple keep around 40 heavy horses for clients and have 16 of their own, not counting this year’s foal crop.

Ron has Clydesdales in his blood; his grandfather, John, started the Bandirran stud in Ceres, Fife, in 1945.

Dad Tom and mum Cate then took over and following several successful sales of horses to Canada and America, including a number to the Budweiser team, they moved to Lockerbie to concentrate on breeding horses.

Ron and older brother Tom, who is an international curler, were bought a pony at a very young age but as soon as Ron sat on the pony it was discovered he was highly allergic to horses.

He loved the pony though so he learned to drive it and by the time he was nine he was driving a mini team consisting of a pony and two donkeys.

He still battles with an allergic reaction but says it is just something he has to live with to do a job he loves.

The Bandirran stud went through a lull when Tom and Cate gave up and Ron went to work with Percherons in the south, before coming back to Arbroath to work with John Anderson’s Redcastle horses.

Ten years ago Ron and Helen moved to Methven and brought with them a foundation filly foal, Redcastle Precious Helena, to restart the Bandirran stud.

Although much in demand for producing heavy horses for clients, the couple were both doing other jobs too.

Helen had a cleaning company and worked as a groom in an event yard, while Ron spent his winters driving a forklift for a farmer and driving lorries.

Ron said: “Three years ago we decided we had a good enough client base to set up Bandirran Stud and Livery. We were confident we could make a success of it as we are offering something no-one else in Scotland does.”

Helen said: “We cover all aspects including taking mares for foaling and serving, livery and breaking and producing horses for showing in-hand, riding and driving. Ron also runs teaching seminars and earlier this year held one in Germany.”

He is also in demand as a judge and last year was invited to the Calgary Stampede and the biggest draft show in the world, Michigan Great Lakes. This spring he judged Royal Sydney Show.

He said: “I love judging and find there is always something to learn and ways to improve, which I think is important to be able to attract clients.”

At the moment they have eight clients with horses At Drumbauchly but they have never advertised and find their reputation and their performance at shows is the best form of promotion.

This year they have had success with a Shire gelding belonging to a lady from Essex. Walton Bomber was bought by Ron as a foal and sold to the client who asked him to continue to produce him. They have high hopes for Bomber who has won the singles at Norfolk, the Shire breed show and Newark this year.

One of their most successful horses is Redcastle Brelee Majestic, an eightyear-old stallion which was the first male Clydesdale to beat the female for the supreme at the Highland Show in 32 years. This was in 2014 when he went on to be supreme horse and win the Queen’s Gold Cup. He is a proven sire, with Collessie Jennifer, the “face” of last year’s Highland Show, one of his progeny. Ron and Helen send semen from him all over the UK and they are planning frozen semen this year as there is a demand from Australia, Canada and the US.

Last year they were delighted to win the Royal Highland Show’s Cawdor Cup with Captain Jim Anderson’s Westglen New Dawn and also the driving with the Mcintyre family’s four-horse team of Clydesdales. This year saw a first for them though when Glenside Flower of Scotland, broken and produced at Drumbauchly, took the ridden class and HOYS qualifier for the Mcintyres.

It is Ron and Helen’s ambition to win male and female Cawdor Cups with home-bred horses while also trying to breed top-class driving horses. In the meantime, their focus is on the summer shows and a project to build an arena and create more stables for liveries.

Ron Brewster and Helen Carr keep around 40 heavy horses for clients and have 16 of their own, plus this year’s foals, at their yard at Drumbauchly Farm, Methven.