Tullis Matson (Founder and Managing Director)
Tullis began his career with horses working in racing stables where he spent two years as Assistant Trainer to Philip Hobbs. In 1990 he came home to run his father’s non thoroughbred stud at Twemlows Hall.
In 1993 he left for a study tour of New Zealand where he visited 17 studs and racing stables. Whilst travelling around New Zealand he completed a course on the Artificial Insemination (AI) of horses. At this point he returned home and Twemlows Hall Stud Farm began practising AI for the first time.
In 1996 the stud had grown on such a large scale that at this point Tullis started his own business Stallion AI Services Ltd, a Stallion Semen Collection Centre running from Twemlows Hall. From the outset he had a contract with Genus to carry out their collecting of semen prior to freezing. This soon developed into taking stallions in for freezing, chilling and fresh insemination. In 1997 he undertook further training at the University of Utrecht in Holland.
During the 16 years that stallion AI Services has been running Tullis has frozen semen from some of the world greatest stallions. He has frozen semen from more than 700 stallions and carried out over 10,000 collections.
In 2008, Tullis set up Equine Reproduction Supplies which is now the UK’s largest distributor of equine artificial insemination equipment and in 2010 was given the exclusive rights to distribute the world renowned “minitube” products in the UK.
In 2011 Tullis Matson received the Marsh Christian Award for Conservation in Genetic Bio-Diversity. He has been given the award for the technological advances he has brought to the field of equine semen freezing which has enabled some rare breeds to be collected from and frozen successfully for the first time. The award, run in conjunction with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, recognises significant technical, scientific and practical contributions to the field of genetic bio-diversity. The Prince of Wales is among the award’s previous winners.
In his spare time Tullis loves nothing more than throwing himself out of planes, having done over 1600 skydives!!!!
Kate Ashmore (Stud Manager)
In 2005 Kate completed her BSc in Equine Science with Honours at Rodbaston College in Staffordshire and over the next two years worked at the college as the Assistant Manager.
In 2008 Kate decided to follow her passion for equine breeding and came to work at Twemlows Stud Farm where she completed her training as an AI Technician and went onto become the Assistant Manager caring for the 300 plus mares which pass through their doors each season for insemination.
After a season at Twemlows Stud Farm she was offered the opportunity to manage a leading Arabian Stud Farm based Shropshire, working with world class stallions, mares and foals. Kate was in charge of all the aspects of the stud including inseminating the mares and foaling. Kate worked there for two years getting a great insight into Arabian breeding.
With all the knowledge Kate has gained working within the breeding industry she returned to Twemlows to work for Tullis and has now been with Stallion AI Services since August 2010, she is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the semen collection centre and most importantly keeping Tullis and all the girls happy, and is always at the end of the phone to answer any questions you may have.
Kate got married in the summer of 2011 and when she’s not at work (which isn’t often) she enjoys spending her time off with her family and little dog.
Faye Durrant (Stud Secretary)
In 2007, Faye completed her BA Hons degree in Classical Studies at The University of Manchester with a 2:1 and had a gap year as a Working Pupil for dressage trainer Gareth Hughes.
In 2008 Faye started working as a Sales Co-ordinator for a health insurance broker where she learnt to use various computer systems and support the Sales Team. In 2009 she gained the opportunity to work on a new project where she advised customers on International Medical Insurance packages.
In 2010 she decided to embrace her passion for horses and became a groom and rider for a private dressage yard in Cheshire, where she cared for and rode a variety of horses ranging from novice to advanced level. Whilst there, Faye’s interest in breeding prompted her to gain her AI Technician qualification and complete the Foaling The Mare course at Twemlows Stud Farm.
Faye became a member of the Stallion AI team in May 2012 and takes care of the invoicing and endeavours to answer any queries you may have. In her spare time she rides and competes her dressage horse, Viva Verdi at Advanced Medium and is aiming for top hat and tails, hopefully in the not so distant future!
Pamela Leach (Stud Groom)
Pam joined the team in Febuary 2011, and has proved to be skilled at many tasks from looking after the stallions to processing semen in the laboratory. Pam also spends allot of her time in the office, so it may be her jolly voice you hear at the other end of the phone!
Previously Pam worked as the Yard manager at Weybridge Equestrian Centre in Surrey for 11 years. In 2000 Pam completed a National Certificate in Equine Studies at Merrist Wood College in Guildford.
Pam’s spare time is spent with her own horse, a Welsh Sec D Cob, leaving sometime for her neglected husband. They are now expecting their first baby in January 2013, but Pam plans to be back at work in September.
Clare Sellwood (Stud Groom)
Clare has come to us from Writtle Collage after completing a BSc Hons in Equine Breeding and Stud Management. Alongside her studies she worked for Suffolk based show jumpers and competed her own horses at affiliated level. She also worked at Capitol Sport Horses, assisting in the backing and bringing on of young horses. This love of young horses encouraged her to breed from her own mare, and she is now the proud mum of a Holstein colt Castillo De La Luz.
When she gets a few days off, Clare heads back to Essex to visit her horses, family and friends. Clare also enjoys Tae Kwon Do lessons and motorbike rides!
Nickoletta Gouzopoulou (Stud Groom)
Nikoletta has just completed successfully her first season at Stallion AI Services. Nikoletta is responsible for the day to day care of all the resident stallions at the centre, as well as being involved with everyday semen collections.
In 2007, Nikoletta completed her First Diploma in Horse Care and then in 2009 her National Diploma in Horse Management. During her time in college, Nikoletta worked as an assistant yard manager at Welsh College of Horticulture. Moreover, as part of the National Diploma course, Nikoletta worked alongside Richard Owen’s Equine Clinic, which gained a great insight into the veterinary world.
In 2012, Nikoletta completed her BSc (Honours) degree in Equine Breeding & Stud management at Writtle College, whilst working voluntary at the College’ s own stud, during open days. During her BSc course, Nikoletta decided to upgrade her training skills by completing the AI Technician’s course at Twemlows Stud Farm and becoming a fully qualified Defra approved AI Technician.
Camille Best (Stud Groom)
In 2010 Camille started an apprenticeship at a stud and AI centre, where she worked with a variety of performance horses and learnt about all aspects of stud work, from handling stallions during collections to foaling.
She then went on to manage an Arabian stud, where she looked after ridden show Arabs and endurance horses. Camille also handled the stallions during natural coverings.
In 2012 Camille completed her level 3 Diploma in work-based Horse Care and Management.
Camille is responsible for the day to day care of the stallions and assisting in semen collections. She is also in charge of keeping Tullis hunter fit and raring to go!
In her spare time Camille likes to go back home to the Lake District and see her horses, dog and her family.
Charity (Head Teaser Mare)
Charity is the most senior member of the Stallion AI Services team. She has been with us for 12 years now and over the years has really seen it all!
Charity is responsible for the smooth running of the collections in the mornings, and is excellent at showing young stallions how it’s all done. She is a kind, sweet natured, placid mare and will stand for the most inexperienced of stallions.
It’s extremely important that Charity is looked after to the highest standards and kept happy, happy Charity = happy stallions = happy staff.
At night charity demands to be taken to her 5* stable where she receives her evening banquet!!!!!!
Sheila (Apprentice Teaser)
Sheila is Charity’s No 2, she has been with us for 3 years now and is currently in her final year of studies. Charity brings Sheila with her to collections every morning to continue with her training.
Before coming to Stallion AI Services Sheila was a ridden mare but decided she would like a change in career. She wasn’t here long before she got the hang of things and now is on her way to being Charity’s Deputy.
Sheila is a lovely mare and has beautiful temperament, there’s not many stallions that can resist her black and white bum!
