pony
Meet our cover star on page 3!
MARCH 2022 ISSUE 151
Welsh Pony flies the flag in the USA!
• Discover Native Performance Ponies • Behind the scenes with Settvalley Stud info@showingworldonline.co.uk | March 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 1
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A word from our editor Dear Reader, It seems only yesterday that the first Native Pony issue of 2022 was released, and I can’t quite believe that we’re already well into March. Although there haven’t been any major shows or events since our last issue, it seems lots have you have been busy competing with both open and novice ponies. Through age and the persistent niggle of an old injury, I am nowhere near as brave over fences as I used to be. However, I love watching ponies jumping, and have enjoyed seeing a flurry of social media posts celebrating qualifications for Hickstead in both show jumping and working hunter pony classes. I’m also thrilled for all those who have been competing at the Petplan Area Festivals; it’s wonderful to see that even our heavier native breeds are excelling at affiliated dressage. I’m already excited to see how some of you get on at the championships in April. Just as we have been enjoying a return to normality from one COVID induced global crisis, it seems that our friends in the Ukraine face an entirely different and unnecessary threat to their safety and wellbeing. Footage of Ukrainian citizens, their children, their homes and their cities has been heart wrenching and so I find myself supremely humbled by the efforts of charity workers and volunteers who have risen to the challenge of providing real aid. Our own equine community has also pledged its support in myriad ways, but none deserve more praise than Phil Judge and Louenna Hood who have succeeded in garnering so much support, so many packages and so much money in aid of the Ukrainian refugees. More on that in a few pages’ time.
at them go!” My second thought was, “That pony looks Welsh; I wonder if it is?” A few hours later, I had tracked her down. I hope you’ll enjoy finding out about Emma Crawford, her Welsh section A, Heavenly Gabrielle, and the Rosemarkie Highland stud in Australia, too, whose beautiful photos also caught my eye. Whilst we’re on the subject of photos, Ruth Chamberlain’s are as wonderful as ever in her feature, Ruth on the Hoof. How I’d love her ability to capture moments with my own ponies so deftly! In opening my first issue, I said that I was grateful to the wonderful people who contribute content to the magazine. Once again, to all of you who contribute columns, photos and information, your efforts and your time are wholeheartedly appreciated. I hope you enjoy the issue,
- Beth
In fact, there are a few poignant tales in this issue, and more than once I’ve found myself touched whilst pulling together these pages. Thank you to those who have allowed me to share their story. Of course, there’s also plenty to make you smile in this issue. American photographer, Andrew Ryback, shared a photo recently of a young girl with a palomino pony on Facebook. My first thought was, ‘Wow! Look
Front cover courtesy of Stallion AI Our cover star for this issue is Amy Derber’s Welsh section D stallion, Ynyslyns Orlando. He is registered with the WCPS and is SPSS and AES graded. You can contact Amy at www. rsadastud.co.uk Or, find out more about him in Stallion AI’s directory. He’s on page 330 of The Directory 2022 and is available fresh, chilled or frozen.
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Contents
Features 8. Pony in the Spotlight: Blackwood Fernando 10. NPS Awards and Bursaries 25. Ponies and Progeny in the Peaks 28. Flying the Flag
Regulars 32. Ruth on the Hoof 38. Performance Ponies 44. Shetland Breed News 46. Welsh Breed News
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50. Fell Breed News 54. Exmoor Breed News 58. Connemara Breed News
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32 Disclaimer: The view and opinions expressed within the magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or Showing World Limited and while every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in the magazine is correct and current at the date of publication, Showing World Limited will not accept any liability. Showing World Limited will not be held responsible for the appearance of photographic material supplied without the necessary consent, copyright and/or photographer’s details. In
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addition, Showing World Limited offers no guarantee of publication and reserve the right to edit any reader’s letters, press releases, reports and articles submitted. Showing World Limited 2022. All rights reserved. No part of Native Pony may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or shared in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to; electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying,
Acts of charity SHOWING WORLD UNITE FOR UKRAINE The showing and wider equestrian world recently united in a superb initiative to take aid to the Ukrainian border.
The showing and wider equestrian world have come together in a superb initiative to take aid to the Ukrainian border. Louenna Hood was saddened to hear accounts of families walking into Polish towns destitute. Feeling that she wanted to do something to help, she placed an appeal on her Instagram account @nannylouenna for children’s clothing and other childcare related goods. “I spoke to a contact in Poland who said that children were freezing cold and in need of essentials such as baby food, nappies and clothing. I offered to cover postage of the goods directly to where they were needed if my Instagram followers were willing to
donate,” said Louenna. However, within hours, it became clear that she would have far more than a few boxes to send. She contacted family friend, Phil Judge, for assistance with the logistics of getting a large load overseas. Phil, who was happy to help, said: “It’s wonderful what Louenna’s done. It’s a really positive, lovely thing and we’re thrilled to be a part of it and to work as a team in this way.” The wider showing world have also pledged their support through donating goods via Louenna’s Amazon Wishlist or funds a JustGiving page. At present, the page has amassed more than £106,000. A fellow showing enthusiast and businessman kindly sponsored the diesel and the crossing fee, and the Grandstand Media team filled a horse lorry with supplies to be added to the donations. Many of us were gripped to our screens during Phil’s live broadcasts on Facebook. The first loads were welcomed by volunteers who hastily unpacked the load. Within hours of the good arriving, they were distributed among 80 children in need, all of whom were under 12 months of age. As we go to print, Phil and Nigel will be steering a further load from Dover to Callais and the 1000 miles across Europe.
Country Haylage’s Ross Giles initiates fund raising to support Ukrainian horses and ponies. Ross and co-owner of Country Haylage, George Baker teamed up with Sidhill Transport to arrange haulage and initially planned to take two lorries of haylage, feed and bedding to Ukraine. However, the idea has grown beyond their expectations, and they now plan to send eight lorries as we go to press. Companies including Baileys Horse Feeds, Mole Valley Farmers, Spillers, Bedmax, Blue Chip and Dengie have all donated products totalling over £60,000 in retail value. An additional £22,000 has been donated via Just Giving to cover transportation and other costs, bringing the total value raised to over £80,000. When it became apparent that there was almost enough for eight loads, Connemara breeders Cathy Wood and Emma Rugman
decided to donate nomination fees to two Connemara stallions, Clover Hill Magic and Glencarrig Tempest. Magic was shown a handful of times during the 2021, making a significant impact. He stood champion at Devon County, Bath and West, the NPS Spring Festival, Three Counties and the Connemara breed show whilst Tempest is a sportier option being a full brother, Glencarrig Dolphin, who is eventing successfully. Cathy, who heads up the Retail Buying Team at Mole Valley Farmers, said: “Emma and I thought if we each donated a nomination, we could buy the last few pallets to fill the eighth wagon. We’re just trying to do something to help. So far, we have raised £1175 which is a lot of feed”.
Dewi Roberts of the Trofarth stud was moved by the news of Louenna’s humanitarian efforts and decided to auction a covering by any of his stallions despite having previously decided that the family would not be taking any visiting mares. The winning bid of £600 for Menai Cosmos was made by Vicky Kirby and was paid directly into the Just Giving account. Upon seeing the winning vote announced, the underbidder, Alun Davies, decided to match the bid for a covering by Danaway Rossi. A total of £1200 has now been transferred to this urgent and extremely worthy cause.
Jet Races for Air Ambulance
Chelsea Colebrook and her Welsh section D mare, WNDA Jet entered a charity flat race at Larkhill Racecourse on February 27th, 2022. The race was run in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance. “It was a completely impulsive decision to enter and it took weeks of intense training for myself and Jet to get ourselves fit and ready. She’s only 14.2 hands, so you can imagine how quick her little legs had to go. We didn’t win, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and was so rewarding. Jet has a bit of a troubled past, so it was extra special to prove that she’s worth her weight in gold. She took to it like a fish to water and we got lots of compliments on how small but feisty she was. I’m so proud of her”. (Image by E-Motion Media)
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