In 1999 Kevin and Susan Mercer purchased two adjoining farms on a rolling Welsh hillside in Monmouthshire. Both farms had been used for rearing cattle and there were few facilities for breeding thoroughbred racehorses. In the years since, this beautiful property overlooking the valley of the river Usk has been transformed into a top class thoroughbred stud, producing equine athletes of the highest quality.

We pride ourselves at Usk Valley Stud in maintaining the highest standards of equine care. The stud enjoys a sheltered location and mild climate, the rich, fertile soil and 140 acres of prime pasture makes this all the easier and we have an exceptional success rate with our breeding regime, walking in each of our mares to Newmarket from home.

We have a range of purpose-built indoor yards, although we prefer the horses to spend as much time outside as possible. The centre of operations is our foaling barn which is an original 17th century barn lovingly restored, containing two large foaling boxes.

We have already enjoyed many racing successes, Croeso Cariad, purchased as a yearling was a champion in Italy in 1999 and is now one of our finest broodmares. She is from the family of Reprocolor and has so far produced four quality foals.

In 2000, Zanzibar, another yearling purchase was the run-away winner of the Group 1 Oaks d’Italia, and is also enjoying a broodmare career on the stud her first offspring - Spice Route is already top class winner.

Our yearlings are prepared for sale in-house.

Please see our    page for full details of our winners.