Colin and Melba have owned Laundry Cottage Stud since its inception in 2004 when they turned their land into a Stud Farm. Melba takes a hands-on role at the farm, from feeding to mucking out to offering her much respected opinion on stock development. Colin does the matings and deals with the bill-paying and other admin with occasional foaling duty and feeding.
Charlotte worked for Laundry Cottage Stud for a number of years after graduating from Shuttleworth College. She left to spend a few years at a nearby Stud before returning as Stud Groom in 2021. Recently promoted to Stud Manager, Charlotte is responsible for all the pastoral care and for her staff of grooms. Charlotte is also foaler-in-chief during the breeding season.
Melisa has been a long-time employee of LCSF, with an interregnum of working and managing a non- thoroughbred farm, also working at The National Stud before returning to LCSF in 2023.
Claire is a member of a well-known local equestrian family and is passionate about horses, owning three of her own which she shows and jumps competitively. Claire joined LCSF after a period riding out for trainer Mike Murphy, until suffering a foot injury. Claire also does much of the transporting of mares to be covered.
Hollie recently joined us and is also a horse owner, passionate about her ponies that she keeps near Hertford. Hollie also knows her carburetors from her alternators and she is quite the petrol-head. This comes in very useful when we need to make small repairs to our vehicles.
Dempsey worked at LCSF for many years before qualifying as a paramedic but we can’t keep her away and she is a regular visitor, with her son Lincoln, when she has spare time. She is always happy to lend a hand and is an expert stable power washer!
Maz is currently studying for a degree in Agriculture and joins us to help out at weekends. Also, a keen horsewoman, Maz rides out some of the ex-racehorses we have at the Stud.
Renowned agent and son-in-law, Alex is the Bloodstock Advisor and much more at the farm. A regular mucking out and with a keen eye on the progress of the mares and followers, we are fortunate to have him giving freely of his time.
Daughter Gina is an accomplished equestrian in her own right and best known for her broadcasting work with Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 Live. She holds the honour of being the first female in 73 years to commentate on the Grand National when invited by lead race caller, John Hunt, to take the third leg of the race in 2025. She has graduated to the second leg for 2026 but, busy with two young children, she has shown no signs of taking up commentary work more widely.
