A bay horse and a foal with a white blaze on a frosty morning, more horses grazing behind them and snowy mountains beyond

Stock Horses

Muller Station Stock Horses

Muller has had a long association with horses since the runs were first established. Throughout the years they have played a vital role in the operation of the station and are now used more than ever.

Our own breeding operation

Horses on Muller

Over the last 20 years a number of St James, Molesworth and home bred horses have been used as station and personal horses. In 2024 it was decided that we wanted to start our own breeding operation and the look for a suitable Stallion began.

The working stock horse

A horse should be a tool and not merely a means of transport

Muller has a practical outlook on what makes a good working stock horse. We firmly believe a horse should be a tool and not merely a means of transport. Having a horse capable of working a cow out from the herd, cutting out a bull and being able to push stock through the yards are all part of being on the payroll for a working pony at Muller Station. As well as having a good walk, smooth gait, sure footedness on rough/steep terrain and stamina to work all day.

A rider on a grey horse working a calf away from the mob in a dusty yard, trees behind

The stallion

Nonda the Sun King

When looking for a potential stallion we decided that if we wanted to breed something with a strong natural sense to work cattle as well as improving overall athleticism, we would need to look overseas. That led to Alice and Ben making a trip over Australia to look at a potential sire.

The breeding and disposition of the stallion was exceptional and after discussions with the owners it was decided that we would import Nonda the Sun King back across the ditch.

Nonda's breeding is exceptional, he's by Hazzlewood Conman an 11 million dollar heritage stock horse sire, that is one of the most influential and sought-after performance horse sires in Australia. He left a legacy that has left a permanent mark on the Nutrien Classic Sale and Campdraft, Nutrien Masters Sale and Graduate Campdraft and the broader performance horse industry.

His quarter horse mother Nonda Lets Talk Later also has impressive genetics, her sire Doc Freckles is a famed cutting horse and Hall of Fame stallion sired by Doc Bar. Doc Bar was inducted to the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1993 and his direct offspring earned over $1,178,484 in official NCHA cutting events.

A chestnut stallion with a white blaze held on a lead by a woman in a pink shirt, trees behind

Temperament and ability

Calm to be around, natural with cattle

After riding Nonda and having him now running with his broodmares, there are some things that really excite us. Firstly his temperament could not be better, you can walk up to him with his mares and pat him out in the paddock, he's relaxed and calm to be around. Secondly his cowiness and athleticism while working cattle is amazing, the natural ability he possesses is a super exciting prospect for us. His length of rein and stride still allow him to have a meaningful walk and give him the ability to perform in all aspects of station work, not just working cattle.

A man in a green jacket nose to nose with a chestnut foal on a tussock flat, mares in the distance

The broodmares

Station mares, proven at work

In 2025 he went over 11 of our broodmares and got every single one in foal, and is shaping up to do that again this year. What's also exciting is the quality of the mares he's being put over. With nearly all of them being broken in and used as working station horses, we have great insight into each mare's ability, strengths and nature.

The broodmares are made up of some of best picks from the previous three St James sales as well as some top quality mares brought down from Gisborne and other areas of the country. Overall the mares feature sound conformation, balance and easy going natures. The majority stand between 15 to 16 hands.

A chestnut mare with two foals on green pasture, hills and cloud behind

Progeny for sale

Progeny for sale within the next two years

Within the next two years we aim to have some of his progeny for sale giving interested buyers a unique opportunity to purchase some high quality stock horses. With Nonda the Sun King's proven genetics and the quality of broodmares, we believe that his progeny will be one of a kind with New Zealand's horse industry.

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