Bobbie Bruce
Acknowledge: Australian Stock Horse Society 40th Anniversary Compendium
See: https://www.ashs.com.au/the-society/about-us/about-us/
See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/australian-stock-horse-society-40th-anniversary-compendium/
Featured Image: Clockwise from top left: John Cowley as a teenager, mustering on Bobbie Bruce; Bobbie Bruce as an old horse; Ernie Cowley flag racing on Bobbie Bruce, an event in which the little stallion was never beaten.
This great ‘pony’ of Ernie Cowley has had a profound influence on the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book. Bred at Glendonbrook, Singleton, in the Hunter Valley, Bobbie Bruce was by the well-known racing pony Bruce, who was by Moorefield (TB). Moorefield was by Cheviot, out of Bengal Light. Bruce’s dam was a TB mare.
Bobbie Bruce’s dam, Cadger, was one of the great campdraft mares of her era, winning three Australian Championship Campdrafts. In a long competitive career, Cadger was only beaten once in a flag race, and she won campdrafts in many areas, including Wallamba. Cadger was by the TB sire Sylvander, and out of a mare who was by the imported pony stallion, Docken. Cadger was bred by Lindsay Wood of ‘Melrose’, Reedy Creek, Singleton. Ernie Cowley purchased her as a young mare, broke her in and rode her during her competitive life.
From a limited number of outings, Bobbie Bruce won eight of the ten campdrafts he contested, and was unbeaten in flag races. He sired the Foundation stallions MUSTER – FS and SCRUMLO FIRELIGHT – FS. He is also the sire of Respect, the dam of ELLIOTTS CREEK CADET – FS. He is the sire of two foundation mares, STANTON STUD SAUCER – FM and SCRUMLO VICTORIA – FM, and the grandsire of Foundation mare FOREST NANCY – FM.
Co-founder of the Australian Stock Horse Society, Bert Griffith, had great faith in Bobbie Bruce, and he sent his highly regarded mare, Flame, to him on two occasions. In 1959 she produced the Foundation mare SCRUMLO VICTORIA – FM. This mare, at her first outing, won three campdrafts on the one day at Rouchel. She went on to be a great broodmare, producing the Impact stallion, SCRUMLO VICTORY – IS. In 1960 the Bobbie Bruce/Flame combination produced the Foundation stallion SCRUMLO FIRELIGHT – FS.
The first foals by Bobbie Bruce were born in 1937 and the last foals were born in 1963. During his long life Bobbie Bruce served over 1000 mares. The Cowley Family have a record of all mares served.