Windrush Kelpie Stud was established in 1982 with the goal of breeding dogs capable of performing farm and ranch work in diversified livestock operations. Thorps expect their dogs to gather and drive and then be able to watch gates, keep stock off feed bunks, sort, pen, fill alleys and chutes and load livestock into trailers. This same dog must be one that is confident, strong and powerful and yet, kind to his stock - a dog that can be safely left with the livestock to do a job and not rush in to savage them when your back is turned. Finally, the dog should have the ability to calm livestock.

The first litter of top notch Kelpies was born in 1984 to Clovaville Oak and Scoriochre Emma II. Oak and Emma produced Windrush Mahogany Rose owned by Jan Wesen, Windrush Fury owned by K.J. Stewart and Windrush Dogger owned by Susan Thorp. These dogs are in the pedigrees of well-known Kelpies in the United States.

In 1988 Thorps traveled to Australia and brought back Scoriochre Jim III. Additional trips were made to Australia to learn more about the working Kelpie and to further enhance Windrush's breeding program. Later imports include Whites Scout III (1994), Whites Chocko (1988), Capree Busy (1996), Capree Ollie (2000) and Scoriochre Ripper (2005).

Windrush Kelpie Stud has chosen to breed a litter when a dog is needed on the farm. Both Vern and Susan have dogs of various ages available to help them daily. Windrush is a closed stud and only breeds to those dogs that have been bred by them and to a minimal number of approved outside bitches by private treaty.

*Clovaville Oak (Liscannor Huck x Clovaville Nimble) - Oak was imported in 1982 from Bruce Browning's Clovaville Kelpie Stud, New South Wales, Australia.  He was a useful, tough, brainy, feral dog that easily worked sheep and cattle.  He died November 2, 1996.  Frozen semen has been retained for future breedings.  Windrush has a grandson, granddaughter and two great grandsons.

*Scoriochre Emma II (Scoriochre Gunga x Scoriochre Georgie Girl) - Emma arrived in 1983.  She was bred by John Gedye, Scoriochre Kelpie Stud, Victoria, Australia.  She was a stylish worker and our original brood bitch.  She can be found behind many good Kelpies across the United States.  She died in June, 1996.

*Scoriochre Jim III - (Wundurra Mister x S/Bred OBrees Sadie III) - Jim came to the United States in 1988.  He was bred by John Gedye.  Jim was a Barambogie Mack grandson.  His bloodlines included the Liscannor and Horton lines.  This exceptional dog won the Working Kelpie, Inc. National Trail three times.  No other Kelpie has ever matched his record.  He was an outstanding working dog with calming influence on his stock and the uncanny ability to read his stock correctly.  He died June 30, 1998.  Frozen semen has been retained on Jim for future matings.  Windrush has a daughter and a son.

*Whites Chocko - (Liscannor Marco x Whites Tally) - When Chocko was eight, she came to the United States.  She was bred by John White, Nyngan, New South Wales, Australia.  Most of her working life was spent with Ray Wilson doing station work and winning and placing in sheep dog trials.  She possessed tremendous intelligence and patience combined with eye, power and style.  Windrush has her grandson, granddaughter and two great grandsons.

*Capree Busy - (Joes Pride x Capree Touch II) - Busy was bred by Chris Stapleton of Capree Kelpie Stud, New South Wales, Australia.  Most of her life was spent with Joe Attenborough doing station work with sheep and cattle and successfully competing in sheep trails.  She died in May, 1998.  Ledge Rock Working Kelpies has her daughter, Windrush Sadie.  Another daughter, Windrush Joe, is owned by JoAnna Yund.  Vern uses a son, Windrush Bruiser, to do the daily farm chores.

Windrush Never Never (*Clovaville Oak x *Whites Chocko) - Never was a big black and tan female who enjoyed working sheep and cattle.  She won several ASCA trails and competed successfully in obedience.  She died in 2003.  Windrush has a son, daughter and two grandsons.

Windrush Gunn (*Scoriochre Jim III x Windrush Never Never) - Gunn was Susan's primary working dog on the farm until his retirement in 2003.  He is a big, black and tan, easy moving dog that loves to work.  Gunn has won and placed in numerous trials.  He won the 1998 Ranch Dog Trial at the Minnesota State Fair.  His sons, Pan and Bud, are now helping with farm chores.  Frozen semen has been retained on Gunn.

*Whites Scout II  - (Capree Watch x Whites Wren) - Scout accompanied John White to the United States in 1994 when John judged the WKI National Kelpie Trail in Hardin, Montana.  Scout's sire is the legendary Capree Watch who was owned by Chris Stapleton.  Wren is a daughter of Whites Nap III.  Nap was an excellent station dog and outstanding trial winner.  Scout won the 1996 Working Kelpies, Inc.  National Kelpie Trail and has won the Minnesota State Fair Trail several times.

*Capree Ollie (Lauries Laurie x Capree Julie II), CERF Normal - In 2000 Ollie arrived in the United States.  She is a lovely, stylish black and tan bitch with good natural balance and walk up.  She is the dam of Pan, Bud and Red.

*Scoriochre Rip (Scoriochre Sheedie x O’Brees Reeba) Ripper is our most recent import from Australia arriving in 2005 with John Gedye when he came to the US to do a stock dog clinic.  Ripper has eye, strong presence on livestock.  An extremely athletic dog Ripper is structurally correct.  His pedigree picks back up many of the old dogs in Scoriochre Emma’s  and Jim’s pedigrees.

Windrush Red Boss Lady (*Clovaville Oak x *Capree Ollie), CERF Normal -  Red, a deep chestnut red, joins the Windrush crew of chore dogs.  She has eye, style, walk-up, correct bite and tremendous athletic ability.

Windrush Pantalaimon (below) (Windrush Gunn x Capree Ollie), CERF Normal, OFA Good - Pan has been going to the barn since he was seven weeks old.  He helps with the sheep and goat work and occasional cattle work.  He is a wide casting black and tan dog with strong "eye" and excellent balance and cover.  Pan, a kind dog, possesses the ability to calm his livestock like his grandfather, Jim.