From Sport Ponies to Standardbreds: The Bridgford Family Take the Leap

The path to standardbred breeding is rarely linear, but for Andrea and Jason Bridgford, it’s one that began not at a racetrack or a sale ring—but at an Airbnb in Cambridge.

“We were just staying there and the people happened to breed thoroughbreds,” Jason recalls. “They were kind enough to show us around, and that’s what really sparked our interest. We started looking into the industry, and somewhere along the way, we came across Andrew and his Off N Racing syndication.”

Already involved in the equestrian world, the Bridgfords—who live near Awanui in the Far North—weren’t strangers to breeding horses. Andrea had spent years developing sport ponies, and the couple still owns a homebred stallion named BE Supreme (Ares), the last foal by their foundation sire Windward Rebel.

“Rebel had fantastic show jumping lines,” Jason says. “That’s what we were aiming for—ponies that could go to the top in show jumping but also had the looks and nature to excel in any discipline. The last foal we had from Rebel was Ares, so we decided to keep him to carry on Rebel’s breeding line.”

That curiosity about racing eventually led them to dip a toe into the standardbred world with a small share in Monaro Meg, a trotting daughter of Imperial Count. “We just grabbed a couple of shares to see what it was like,” Jason says. “We were still learning.”

Monaro Meg gave them a full introduction to the highs and lows of racing trotters.

“She was actually really exciting to follow—we’d watch her races on the New Zealand Breeders Association website,” Jason says. “Sometimes she looked like she was going to win, then she’d get caught up, but she’d still place well. She seemed like a pretty good horse.”

Unfortunately, she suffered a bleed in her final start, bringing her racing career to a close. But rather than walk away, the Bridgfords leaned in.

“We thought, ‘Let’s see if we can get her for breeding.’ We want to get into this properly and she looked like a really good place to start,” Jason explains. “Andrew was great—he said, ‘Of course, we’d love to rehome her.’ And with help from him, Dylan Ferguson, and Darryl Brown at Wai Eyre, we were able to get her down south. She’s just arrived, and now it’s about getting her ready to go in foal.”

The Bridgfords are actively researching potential matches with guidance from both Fitzgerald and Brown.

“Andrew immediately mentioned Aldebaran Eagle as someone to look at, and he’s gone back to check her lines for the best match. Darryl’s doing the same. They’ve both been really helpful—it’s been a proper team effort.”

While Monaro Meg is their first venture into standardbred breeding, Jason says it won’t be the last. “We’ve already been looking at other mares—even before Meg came up,” he says. “It’s tough though—especially with thoroughbreds, where we started looking originally. The good ones don’t often come up for breeding. That’s why we were keen to jump on Meg when she became available.”

Despite the distance from the sport’s major hubs, the Bridgfords have felt anything but isolated.

“We’re right at the top of the country, so getting to Cambridge or Christchurch isn’t easy,” Jason says. “But we’ve been kept in the loop every week by Dylan, and Andrew as well. Everyone’s been really helpful.”

Coming from a sport horse background, Jason admits they weren’t sure what to expect entering a new code. But their experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve definitely been made to feel more than welcome,” he says. “Everyone’s been open, encouraging, and willing to share knowledge. It’s made us really excited for what’s ahead.”

And while Monaro Meg’s racing days are behind her, her breeding journey—and that of the Bridgfords—is only just beginning.