Glendening Farm Ltd, owned and operated by David and Joy Levison, has been breeding and selling top quality registered Canadian Sport horses since the 1960s. Glendening’s line started with the foundation mare Pandora, a foal out of a mustang mare. This mare had 17 offspring in Glendening’s first generation of breeding, with the foals sold across North America to compete in a variety of disciplines, from open jumper to dressage and eventing. Two of Pandora’s offspring were kept by David to continue the line of Glendening horses. One, Iesha, was sired by the thoroughbred stallion Sid Ol’ Boy, while the other, Pandora’s Choice, was sired by the thoroughbred Choice Mink. Both of these stallions were owned by Joy’s father, Alf Sutton of Midhurst, Ontario. Every horse that is now within the Glendening barn can be traced back to one of these stallions.
David Levison on Golden Fleece (3 yr old) at the Royal in the 1960s. Fleece was a maternal brother to Glendening's foundation mare
Since then, Glendening has sought to breed their mares to stallions with athleticism, intelligence and kindness. The second generation of offspring were sired by the dutch warmblood stallions Burioso and Adamo, owned by the Kemper’s in Orangeville, Ontario. The third and fourth generations of the Glendening line are out of the trakehner stallions Adrian GS, Heiling, Hilton GS and Ferrari GS, stallions owned by Galten Farms in Markham, Ontario.
Glendening’s offspring have been successfully shown on the line, and within riding competitions. Young horses taken to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto have captured many titles, including 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th in the Lieutenant and Governor General’s Cups, 1st place and 2nd place in the under saddle sport horse suitability class, Junior Champion for colt or gelding, and Reserve Grand Champion Sport Horse, an award won with the six month old filly, Glendening Adelaide. Glendening’s offspring have also been competitive within the eventing scene across North America, ridden by both Levison family members and professionals Bob Holman, Sarah Irving and Penny Rowland.
David, Morgan, Jana, Lena and Joy Levison out for a ride, on second and third generation horses
Along with the breeding program David Levison runs a 500 acre farm which produces corn, soy, wheat, and oats. Joy Levison is a lawyer with more than 30 years experience in Barrie, ON. Their daughters, Jana, Lena and Morgan Levison all help with the running of the farm while also pursuing other careers. All the horses at the farm are first backed by David, with the other family members also aiding in their training.
