Staff Profile – Bev Spriggens

This week we caught up with Night Foaling Unit Manager Bev Spriggens as she heads into her eighteenth foaling season with Waikato Stud.

Q How and when did you get involved in the thoroughbred industry?
A My summer job during high school was working at Potomac Polo Club, Maryland, USA. When Ken Browne brought over a boatload of ponies and a team of NZ players and their wives/grooms, I had to check out New Zealand. My first job was working for Brian Mollet. I went on to marry Tom (stallion groom Ra Ora) have two daughters and breed/race a few horses. We were lucky enough to race a good Zamazaan filly and she bought us 50 acres in Waharoa when we sold her in 1987. Horses have been very good to us.

Q Is there a mare you look forward to having through the foaling unit each year? If so, why?
A So many of the old girls, now gone. Escada, Gio and Jacqwin. Now I love seeing their daughters in the paddock. We even have a stunning 2-year-old Rock ‘n’ Pop filly at home who is a great, great granddaughter of Jacqwin.

Q What is your favourite part of working at Waikato Stud?
A Foaling time of course but I also love the sales. Cooking breakfast for the staff and getting the yearlings ready for the ring.

Q Do you have any special tricks for staying up through the night?
A I am a pretty good sleeper during the day but I walk around if I feel drowsy.

Q How many mares do you think you have foaled throughout your career?
Á I have just started my 18th season at Waikato and was at Fayette for 5 years and did 5 seasons at Ra Ora plus a few others at Brian’s and Matamata Stud. It must be 2000 plus.

Q What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?
A I love my garden and growing roses, I’m very proud of my strawberries too. Not a great talent but gives me a lot of pleasure.

Q What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?
A So many crazy things! I have enjoyed several of the New Zealand’s great walks with much encouragement from my wonderful family.

Watch Bev and the foaling team in action.