The honorary president of the breeders’ organisation Scottish Sports Horse, Dugald Low-Mitchell, has died aged 91.
He was a founder member of the Scottish Dutch Warmblood Associtaion, now trading as Scottish Sports Horse. In 1970 he and wife Jacky made a change of direction that was to change the face of sport horse breeding in Scotland.
They were dairy farmers near Peebles until Mr Low-Mitchell sold the farm. They moved into their new home Balcormo in Leven, Fife, complete with their two children Jennifer and Sandra, three horses and two children’s ponies.
They built some stables and began taking in hunt liveries at £7 per week. Mr Low-Mitchell’s love was hunting, while his wife had competed at top level showjumping. So they were well qualified to move into horses.
Balcormo Stud began when they bought two stallions. The couple started breeding their own horses and taking in visiting mares, while still doing hunt liveries.
They built the indoor school at Balcormo and began picking up children and their ponies so they could compete at shows.
In 1979, on a trip to Holland, Mr Low-Mitchell bought a three-year-old colt by Rigoletto out of a Porter mare. It was an inspired purchase.
As well as becoming an excellent performer himself, Secundus was one of only a handful of British-based stallions to be awarded the coveted Keur Preferent status in recognition of his progeny’s quality and competition records.
The Low-Mitchells were also at the forefront of the modern show centre movement. At the same time the stud side of the family business was growing considerably.
While Jennifer moved to South Africa with her husband, and is breeding horses there, Sandra has taken up the business reins at Balcormo Stud.
Mr Low-Mitchell’s funeral was held in private, but a memorial service will be held at Kirkton of Largo Church, Upper Largo, on Thursday.