Black Velvet as a foal , 1st June 2019
Rackwood Black Velvet, home from Hamsterley in November 2020
Black Velvet at home in October 2021
The Family
Rackwood Black Velvet (2019)
Dam: Rackwood Black Magic Sire: Linnel Riddler
Rackwood Black Velvet was one of four filly foals that were born during 2019, so they were all wintered together, with the plan to handle and show them during 2020. Unfortunately the covid pandemic changed my plans as the lockdown restricted our travels and all events/shows were cancelled. My four yearling fillies were taken by trailer to my land at Hamsterley during April 2020 so that my broodmares could come home ready for foaling. They were joined by my two, 2yr old fillies and very quickly were christened ‘my wild bunch’. Grazing 16 acres of rough, hill land and not being handled gave them the opportunity to grow and develop naturally. During 2021 and 2022 I sold them individually as 2yr and 3yr olds; that is all except Black Velvet, who was definitely one of my favourites.
In the spring of 2022, my husband’s ill health was taking up much of my time, so I decided to put Black Velvet in foal. Allowing a young mare to have a couple of foals early in her life gives her the opportunity to mature mentally before being broken to ride. She was a perfect mother and very attentive to her foal so I decided to let her have another one. My stallion, Dalewin Victor, was a good match for her so she could continue as a broodmare. She became more confident around me and was happy to be caught, tied up, brushed, feet dressed etc. She had missed out on this basic education during her early years, but as she was a lovely pony with quality flat bone and lots of mane and feather, I wanted to keep her in my herd. When foal number two arrived, I did plan to keep her geld so that I could break her in, but my circumstances had changed and I found myself involved with a dressage team with very little spare time, so I decided to let her have one more foal.
Black Velvet is now 5yrs old and has matured at 13.3hh. She has exceptional movement so a ridden career will follow at the end of 2025, after foal number three.
Black Velvet and Krystal, May 2023
Black Velvet and Mabel, May 2024
Black Velvet’s Family
Rackwood Krystal, 2023, Filly
Rackwood Mabel, 2024, Filly, Sold