South African-born A.J. Bruwer, Owner of Bruwer Stables in Versailles, Kentucky, offers training and sales of various show horse breeds. Specializing in American Saddlebreds, Bruwer has made a lifetime career out of discovering and showcasing the finest show horses.

Bruwer’s father trained Saddlebreds for clients, and A.J. starting riding at age 5, then showing at 12. At 19 he came to the U.S. and began working for John T. Jones. His original plan was to stay for a year, learn everything he could and then go back to South Africa, which he did. Just a month later Jones called asking me to come back. Just two weeks later he was back in America and as he says, “I’m so glad I made the decision, it’s been the experience of a lifetime.”

An avid fan, and now participant of the World’s Championship Horse Show, A.J used to watch videos of Saddlebred legends Tom Moore and Don Harris. Now, for him, the WCHS means everything. “I have to remind myself that you can’t base success in the business at Louisville, but that’s when we want to be the best. It’s such an important part of our breed. I love the competition; it’s the best of the best. Anytime we can do well at Louisville, means that everything else leading up has been a success,” he states.

His WCHS accomplishments include Cary on Broadway MBA won the Junior Five-Gaited Mare World’s Championship in 2011; My Royale Charm was Reserve World Champion in the Five-Gaited Stallion Stake in 2014. Kalarama’s New York Lady was the Fine Harness Mare World Champion in 2017; and Hi Fling won the Ladies Amateur Three Gaited World’s Championship in 2018

As Bruwer says, “There’s no breed like the Saddlebred. I always said that if I couldn’t train Saddlebreds, I don’t want to train anything. Their beauty and charisma is what attracts me to them.”

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/BruwerStables/.