Oldlands Stud was originally founded nearly 50 years ago in Gauteng, but relocated in the mid 90s to the beautiful Hemel ‘n Aarde Valley near Hermanus in the Western Cape. Owner/Founder Barbara Sanne, born to a family of noble descent in Silesia and settled for many years in South Africa, has taken the pristine farm forward with the overriding philosophy of giving Oldlands horses quality of life.
With Barbara still firmly at the helm, her son Professor Ian Sanne and his wife Ingeborg have become increasingly involved with the intention of continuing the family tradition. Stud management is in the hands of the owner together with stud manager Morne de Villiers leading a team of staff, most of whom have been with Oldlands for many years and live with their families on the farm, accessing nearby schools and other amenities. Conditions in the Hemel 'n Aarde Valley support some of South Africa's finest wine farms but it is the environment impact on the nurture of young horses that makes Oldlands Stud such an effective cradle for equine growth and development
In the Free (of African Horse Sickness) Zone, the farm benefits from a generally more temperate climate than farther inland, with the hint of Walker Bay’s sea breezes not far from the consciousness. Rain in the low mountains provides unpolluted water for drinking and for the grazing land on which no fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides or herbicides are used. Each horse is treated as an individual, fed on the fresh grazing and by organic rations from the best possible sources, scientifically formulated with minerals and supplements and adjusted according to periodic soil samples taken on the farm. Oldlands mares visit various Western Cape stallions in which the farm has invested, allocated according to detailed matings analysis. Major stallions are used regularly with seven figure results at the elite sales alongside Oldlands' other propensity for offering "trainers' horses" which have success at sensible prices. Among the farm's best performers are international winners Lucky Find and Sanshaawes plus English Garden, Astro news, Darling Moon and many others coming right up to date with Tar Heel actually bred by Prof. Ian Sanne on the farm. The resident stallion is the veteran Gone West horse Indigo Magic who has served well with a strong strike rate of winners, providing the market with affordable successes whilst generally turning a profit. His future as a broodmare sire seems assured. Stagelight has sadly passed away but this Guineas winning gem by the great sire and sire of sires Montjeu from an Aga Khan family leaves a legacy of well made, carefully bred stock after his short stay at Oldlands. Veterinarian Martin Denkhaus is focussed on equine reproductive health thus making an enormous contribution to the Oldlands system as does the vigilant stud farrier. All in all, a well-drilled and highly experienced holistic, organic and horse-sympathetic operation
