Simon Sweeting
Simon was brought up at Conduit Stud where his parents stood firstly HIS and then National Hunt stallions including Sunyboy, Kinglet, Relkino and Petoski.
After school he began his equine education at Colin Hayes’s Lindsay Park Stud, followed by a yearling season at Timmy Hyde’s Camas Park Stud and a breeding season at Coolmore. This was followed by three years at Cirencester where he gained a Degree (B.Sc.Hons.) in Rural Estate Management.
In the early 90s he spent four seasons at Warren Place as Assistant to Henry Cecil - years that ran from Commander In Chief’s Derby victory up to Bosra Sham’s 1000 Guineas win. This was followed by a year in New York overseeing Bobby Frankel’s string whilst Bobby remained in California with his main string, and a further 3 years with Luca Cumani which included High Rise’s Derby Victory.
In 2000 he took up the lease on Overbury Stud which coincided with the opportunity to stand Kayf Tara and the launch of Overbury Stallions Ltd.
simon@ovstud.co.uk
Catherine Morse - Stud Groom
Catherine has a degree (BSc Hons) in Equine Studies from Hartpury College. She has subsequently worked at Usk Valley & New Mill Studs, before coming to Overbury. As Stud Groom, she is the number 2 to Simon, and is in charge of liaising with the vets, and looks after the day to day welfare of all the horses on the stud.
Dan Matty - Stallion Man
Dan has lived at Overbury all his life and his family has strong connections with the Estate. He started work on the Stud in 2001, his first job with horses, and has been responsible for the stallions for four seasons. He was a county standard rugby player before injury forced his early retirement.
Colin Colebourne
Colin was born and bred in Overbury and has spent most of his working life at Overbury Stud. He is responsible for the majority of the tractor work, the machinery maintenance and operation and is a mainstay in the covering shed. He has a tremendous knowledge of yearlings, having been around when Overbury was one of the foremost yearling producing studs and knows the Stud better than anyone else.
Tom Walker - Covering Shed
Tom is also from an Overbury family. He started work on the Stud when he finished school and, apart from a season as a student at the National Stud, has been with us ever since. He is now in charge of the covering shed as well as helping with the barren mares during the season.
Janet Wescomb - Stud Secretary
Janet has a Degree (B.Sc. Hons) in Agricultural Science from Leeds University. She is trained as an Equine Nutritionist and Saddler and has worked for various Horse Feed and Veterinary Pharmaceutical companies in Sales, Marketing, Nutrition, Training and IT Management. She previously had her own saddlery shop. Janet breeds and competes her own horses in her spare time.
janet@ovstud.co.uk
Jo Impey - Accounts
Jo started in Newmarket by doing the National Stud course, and from there she moved to Cheveley Park Stud. She then moved to work in the Darley racing office before coming to Overbury in 2001.
jo@ovstud.co.uk
Charlie McCartan - Veterinary Consultant
Charlie joined the practice as his first job after qualifying, when the senior partner was Geoffrey Brain, the renowned surgeon. He is now the senior partner and has been in charge of the veterinary work at Overbury stud for over 20 years, and is at the stud four mornings a week during the season. He lives next door to our foaling unit at Conduit Farm and is therefore the unfortunate person who is called on the rare occasions that there is a problem foaling. He also sits on the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Veterinary Panel.
www.bvec.co.uk
Vickie Chorley
Vickie studied at Moreton Morrell college before starting her first (paid) job with horses at Overbury Stud. She has owned and ridden horses all her life and particularly likes working with the mares and foals.