Fourmerk Farm is situated between Kippen and Gargunnock, eight miles west of Stirling, with the Gargunnock Hills to the south and impressive views across the Carse of Stirling to the north. The farm is at least two hundred years old and was originally part of nearby Boquhan Estate. Until 1985, it had been in the hands of one family, the Mores, for almost a century. They grew crops and kept livestock, including Clydesdale Horses, many of which were prize winning animals, although their prime purpose was agricultural work on the farm.

We moved to Fourmerk in 1988 from our previous home at Burnton of Boquhan, one mile down the single track road. The stud name, Boquhan, now belongs to our daughter Vicki (now Fletcher).

To get detailed directions to Fourmerk from streetmap.co.uk, click on the map image.

Ronnie is a lawyer at Bartys in Dunblane and I was - in another life - an English teacher. I have served for two three year terms as a Highland Pony Society Council member and was Breed Show Secretary for the 2000 show. I began my third term in 2005. Although not on the Highland Pony Society In Hand Judges' Panel, I have been judging all breeds and disciplines since 1990 and have judged throughout Scotland and also in Germany. I was secretary of Gargunnock Show for five years and took on the job again in 2004. I served as a committee member on Central Scotland Highland Pony Club for several years and was also on BHS Central Scotland committee for some time. I have worked as a freelance equestrian journalist with 'Stirling Observer' and had articles published by 'Scottish Farmer', 'Riding' magazine, 'Riders' Journal', 'Scottish Equestrian' and 'Horse and Hound' as well as 'The Highland Pony Gazette' and various enthusiasts' magazines.

When we moved to the farm, I did a crash course in agriculture. We gradually built up a herd of forty hill cows with a Simmental bull, a fold of twenty Highland cattle and forty seven ponies, the majority of which were Highlands, but also a Clydesdale, two Welsh ponies and three Thoroughbred mares. The non Highlands were used for producing part breds.

At that time, Ronnie was working in Glasgow and after a few years, he found that getting up early to feed and bed cattle and doing the same in the evening was too much. We didn't have a holiday for several years, either. When our groom left, we didn't replace her and we cut back on the numbers.

The stud usually has over twenty ponies, including a Thoroughbred mare who produces quality part breds. Six ponies were sold to Germany in 1999 and four in this country. There are Fourmerk ponies in Scotland, England, Belgium, America and Germany. In 2003, Fourmerk Honour (Kestrel of Fourmerk x Fourmerk Hazel), was exported to Holland, where Fourmerk Flora already lives, and Fourmerk Roseanne, served by Haakon, was sold to Lee Ann Bunn in Virginia, USA, along with Sharian Primrose, served by Rannoch of Fourmerk. Both mares produced filly foals in spring 2004. Boqhan Highland Glory and Fourmerk Rosanna have been sold to Machiel and Ina Dalebout in Holland in 2004. In 2005, Cara of Auchendarroch, by Kestrel, was sold to Sweden, along with Shaniadene who is in foal to Kestrel. These will be the foundation mares of the first Swedish stud.

We have three stallions at stud: Kestrel of Fourmerk (Atholl of Fourmerk x Kelpiedene); Rannoch of Fourmerk (Kestrel of Fourmerk x Fourmerk Rosemaree) and Tuskerbister Jarl Haakon (Jock of Invervack x Bonnie Lass of Finnlarig).

We occasionally do Bed and Breakfast with your horse or pony, preferably with Highland Ponies, although we will take other breeds.