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 Cheval Stud is home to sire Express Duke (Kenmare/Daring Way) and more recently El Hermano (Pins/Palos Verdes).
It is situated at Pukeatua, 22kms from Kihikihi (just south of Te Awamutu) off State Highway 3 on the Arapuni Road. A 225 acre property right in the middle of the highest producing dairying area in New Zealand. The rolling contour and top summer rainfall experienced in the area makes for some of the best grass growth year round to be found anywhere in New Zealand and an ideal location for producing top quality bloodstock.
Ably run by husband and wife team Frank and Faye Drummond, Cheval Stud offers breeders friendly and personal service, access to some unique bloodlines at very affordable prices and many years of experience.
Proprietors Frank and Faye Drummond started out dairy farming at Te Rapa just west of Hamilton City. Frank having met Faye whilst at Massey University where she was a private secretary to one of the Deans. They moved on to share milking at Otorohanga, back to Te Rapa and then to their own property.
After 26 years of committed work milking cows, paying the mortgage and bringing up their three children they sold the dairy farm and moved just 10km further west to Te Kowhai West onto what they consider to still be the nicest medium sized dry stock unit to be found anywhere! With much of their spare time spent at Pony Club and Eventing with their children it did not take long for Frank and Faye to decide to diversify their sheep and cattle farm including a "Riding Centre" named "Cheval". With the keen interest of two of their children in riding the Riding Centre soon expanded from treks across the farm to providing ajistment for horses, the development of sand arenas, a full "Area Trials" cross country course and show jumping facilities being established.
In 1985 Frank and Faye were offered a half share in the grand old stallion "DESPERATE DEE". This being the start of their involvement with breeding horses. At the same time Frank and Faye were agisting broodmares, young stock and spelling racehorses. The sheep and cattle were now at Cheval purely to compliment pasture management! With the increased number of horses it became apparent that the soil type "Hamilton Clay" was not ideal for grazing large numbers of horses particularly in the winter time. So in 1991 the property at Te Kowhai West was sold and "Cheval" relocated to Pukeatua which Frank says "has the kindest soil God ever created - Maeroa Ash".
 DESPERATE DEE was in his twilight years when he came to Cheval but he did wet the appetite and was soon joined by the impeccably bred J.O. DAHLIA. Then followed GLOBETROTTER, son of the exceptional galloper "Balmerino", whose early demise after minor surgery was one of our lowest points of our involvement with horses.
Since relocating to Pukeatua Cheval Stud has had the privilege of standing the grand old champion sire Crested Wave, who was only recently sent to god at the ripe old age of 32.
Frank having now fully recovered from bilateral total knee replacements we have decided to accept the opportunity to stand at our Stud the impressive young full brother to "El Segundo", winner of 4 Gr.1s in Australia, including the WS Cox Plate and amassing earnings of Aus$3,964375
El Hermano was sold at the Australian yearling sales at Sydney for A$500,000. This extremely impressive young individual unfortunately suffered a career-ending injury during his breaking-in.
The unbelievable part of all this is that with the agreement of the syndicate who own this horse (the same syndicate that own's "El Segundo") have agreed to stand him for a mere $1000 + gst booking fee.
 Well known racing identities Ron & Pat Nash secured Borstal Boy around this time and asked to stand him at Cheval Stud on their behalf. He was later purchased by Frank and Faye based upon the quality of his foals, an attribute this fine stallion is still passing onto his progeny today.
Over the past years Frank and Faye have enjoyed training a small team of racehorses which included Joken, Rangipo Boy,and now Young McKenzie and Sent to Sea with a good deal of success. Ably assisted by the very competent and accomplished horse woman Shelley Patterson who has been with the farm for the past seventeen years, they also train and bring on young stock to sell at trials.
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