Kirtlington Stud
Kirtlington
Oxfordshire
OX5 3EU
United Kingdom
Fax +44 (0)1869 351199
Email info@kirtlingtonstud.com
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Kirtlington Stud Limited. Registered in England No. 00820649
Our Team
Chris Budgett – Stud Owner
Chris was born in Oxford, the son of Arthur and Bay Budgett, and was raised at ‘Whatcombe’, the famous racing stables. Following school, Chris spent three years at Cirencester Agricultural College before gaining valuable experience at Haras d’Etreham in Normandy, Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm in Kentucky and Lindsay Park Stud in South Australia.
Chris returned to England to work with his father and took over managing the stud in 1984. In 1989, Chris made the bold decision to relocate and purchased 350 acres ‘across the road’ from Kirtlington Park. With the support of a loyal and select group of owners, Chris has been developing the present stud ever since.
Charlie Oakshott - Manager
Charlie grew up on a farm in the South West of Scotland where he developed a passion for horse breeding, livestock and land management. After leaving school he enjoyed a working holiday in Australia, working on cattle and sheep stations, a stud farm, and a large arable farm.
On his return home, Charlie worked on the family farm before taking up a role at Coolmore where he worked for three breeding seasons as a stud hand and barn foremen and traveled with a stallion to South Africa. His career took an exciting turn when he was asked to design and help build the 3,500 acre Baramul Stud in the Hunter Valley, NSW Australia which he also managed before being asked to manage Carrington Stud also in the Hunter Valley and then Glen Appin Stud in Victoria.
Charlie returned to England to oversee the design and build of Newsells Park Stud of which he was also the Managing Director until it was sold in 1990. He was then a manager at Whitsbury Farm & Stud before starting his own family business in 2014, building up a successful boarding stud on a small estate in Hungerford Park.
Charlie joined us in February 2025 and brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Manager.
Ruth Johnson - Stud Secretary
Ruth was born in Oxford and grew up riding and competing at a local level and as a member of the Pony Club Show Jumping Team. After leaving school, Ruth studied for a HND in Business and Finance, Stud and Stable Administration at West Oxfordshire College. Whilst studying, Ruth spent a summer working at Kirtlington Stud followed by sales and weekend work. She then joined the team as Stud Secretary in July 1997.
Ruth has enjoyed re-training ex-racehorses and eventing with Xanthus who was bred on the stud. Ruth now has an Irish Draught mare called Nellie and they are members of the local Riding Club.
