Highclere Estate has been held in consistent ownership by the Carnarvon family, since 1679. In more recent years Lord Carnarvon and his father worked in partnership to produce premier oat crops for horse feed. Which has led to the Oats and Haylage to become synonymous with racing.
The outstanding products grown on the Highclere Estate encourage high performance in horses, attested to by a number of leading trainers, eventers and polo teams.
All our products are grown, processed and packed on the Estate which means that we can retain control of the quality throughout the process providing a wholesome, natural and superior quality feed.
History of horse feeds and racing at Highclere Castle
Lord Carnarvon’s family have been breeding racehorses since the end of the 19th Century. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon founded Highclere Stud in 1902 and was one of the first founders of Newbury racecourse in 1905.
The 6th Earl of Carnarvon further developed the stud. He owned Queen’s Hussar the sire of Brigadier Gerard who was a Group 1 Champion.
The 7th Earl followed in the footsteps of his father and introduced new bloodlines of mares to Highclere. As well as owning Queen Hussar’s dam JoJo whose bloodlines produced countless winners, the Earl started farming in-hand at Highclere after World War Two.
Highclere Horse Feeds was established in late 1999 by the 7th and 8th Earl of Carnarvon whom to this day continues to produce premium crops for both human and horse consumption.
The current Lord Carnarvon, like his father, takes tremendous pleasure from the handful of brood mares and foals kept at pasture on the chalk downland surrounding the castle. Lord and Lady Carnarvon throughly enjoy watching the foals grow and develop in preparation for being sent into training.
