The Welbech Arabian Stud lies within the vast 13,000 hectare Schanskraal Private Estate, located in the Great Karoo of South Africa, (90kms from Graaff Reinet).

It was established in 2003 by Leanne Wels in partnership with Roger Beach, the owner of the Schanskraal Estate, to breed pure Arabian and Arabian cross Endurance horses for sale to both South African and overseas buyers. The hardiness of terrain and altitude of some 1,500 metres making it an ideal environment in which to breed and train Karoo Endurance horses.

Over the years, Leanne, a champion Endurance competitor herself and past captain of both junior and senior South African teams, has applied her extensive knowledge to the breeding, training and maintaining of our stable, hand picking superlative blood lines, predominantly Crabbet and Egyptian.

Each year in October we also host the Schanskraal F.E.I. Endurance Ride, with a terrain and supporting facilities highly praised by officials, organisers and participants who attend from across South Africa and neighbouring countries. 

In 2012, The Schanskraal Estate  was chosen to host the South African 160km Championships during their FEI Ride in October. A foremost event in the annual endurance riding calendar attracting a high level of competition.

For 2013, for the 2nd year running, the Schanskraal Estate is once again to host the South African 160km Championships. 

Since 2010 an extensive development has been taking place at the Welbech Stud to incorporate new landscaped fenced and gated paddocks with large individual areas for mares and foals, the endurance horses and the stallions. We recently completed the installation of 3.6km of post and rail fencing to create 5 hectaries of paddocks, a 60m showing arena and ring and covered Welbech grandstand. The landscaping programme is still ongoing.

In 2013, the Welbech Arabian Stud is offering internships to accomplished young riders to ride its endurance horses, both in training and in competition.

Welbech has now grown to in excess of 80 horses and is now able to offer trained Karoo Endurance Arabian and part-Arabian horses for sale.

In the years to come we are confident in achieving our aim of becoming an “internationally renowned breeder of Arabian Endurance horses”.