The Stud

In 2021 the ESB program changed to focus on producing horses for carriage driving as well as novice and nervous riders rather than the original plan of breeding for international equestrian competitions.

This change was initiated by Vanessa's experience with some Gypsy Cob's that were being agisted at the property and being super impressed by their temperament.

She leased Kintara Blacksmith (pictured below) as a stallion to cover a handful of nice mares and has since purchased him as a gelding. You can see his progeny and read more HERE.


Equine Sports Breeding (ESB) - the original breeding program of Irish Sport Horses (ISH) 1986 - 2023.

After thirty seven years of research and genetic selection ESB has become one of the largest and most successful performance horse names in equestrian history.

The ESB stud has consistently produced more top-level eventing horses than any other stud in Australia.  The bloodlines have competed at major international events in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA and the United Kingdom as well as winning a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 with Megan Jones’s Irish Jester. 

And so, founder Vanessa Hawkins has certainly achieved her goal of breeding nice horses with more than 78 of her horses currently registered with Equestrian Australia, her bloodlines have produced ten 5*, six 4*, nine 3* and more than thirteen 2* horses and countless 1* horses.

ESB Irish Date is still available for live cover or chilled semen. Limited frozen semen is also still available to ESB Irish Descent, ESB Irish Endeavour (5* eventer); and ESB Irish Edition. CLICK HERE for more ...



ESB Irish Enough (ISH) the sire of 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, Irish Jester.