Posted: November 13, 2006

Watermark Farm - A Family Steeped in American Breeding Tradition
By Jeannie Blanq for HorsesDaily

Ellie Rawle Carries on the Watermark Mission

Ellie’s riding career is certainly nothing to sneeze at. She is also a USDF Gold and Silver medalist and has been the leading young rider at many prestigious shows. She has competed in over 100 FEI classes with accomplishments too numerous to mention here. The Rawle girls certainly inherited their talents from their mother and father. A quick look at their web site will prove to anyone that every member of the Rawle family has the kind of riding talent any equestrian would envy. Anne is also an S dressage judge and has been since 1971.

Watermark Farm’s mission is simple. “All we’re trying to do is breed the best quality adult amateur friendly and safe horses as possible.” The Rawles admit that they breed for temperament first and then movement. “If a horse isn’t cooperative and tolerant enough to be handled and trained then it really isn’t right for us or our customers.” Anne likes to call this breeding for “the interior qualities”. Ellie feels incredibly lucky to be in this business every day and is grateful that her family can make a business of what they love. She confides the biggest secret to their success is understanding U.S. horse sport, mostly geared to women, and offering everything on the farm for sale. “I even have a price tag on me according to my parents,” jokes Ellie. Their theory is to make the most of every opportunity. “If someone comes in and it feels right you can’t say ‘but that’s the one I want to keep’. Unfortunately that doesn’t pay the bills. It is a sacrifice, but you have to have good business sense and you have to really love it.”

Ellie is currently schooling a few of the Watermark Farm geldings at third and fourth level and rides their stallion, Waldaire, fondly known as Wally, at the Grand Prix level. “Wally is kind and generous to a fault and fortunately passes this on to his offspring along with his solid work ethic. He stamps all of his babies with his good character along with his impressive top line, conformation and movement.” She and Wally placed 15th in the AA Grand Prix division this year.