DECEMBER 2022 ISSUE 157
SEIB British Showing World Awards – how our natives fared
Over the Fells and Faraway
Ruth On The Hoof: Rambling on Rùm
A roundup of the latest breed news and more performance natives info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 1
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2 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
OUR OWN
A word from our editor Dear Reader,
Giveaway!
This is it: the last issue of the year! It feels as if the year has flown by!
We’ve teamed up with Bluechip Horse Feeds to giveaway one lucky reader a two-month supply of Bluechip Native Balancer and a bobble hat! To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is send us your favourite Christmas or winter-themed photo of your native pony! One lucky runner-up will also receive two bags of tasty treats for their pony. Go get creative now! Email info@showingworldonline.co.uk with your photos!
Our focus of late has been on the SEIB British Showing World Awards, brought to you by Native Pony’s sister magazine, Showing World. It was a fantastic night, and we saw many native ponies and breeders enjoy their share of the limelight, something that makes me tremendously happy. I hope you enjoy this final issue of the year. I’m not going to waste time pretending that you’re all going to relax over Christmas! Instead, I’m sure you have lots and lots planned so make sure you keep us up to date. We want to hear your news and see your ponies in all their Christmas-themed glory!
*winner must be based in the UK or Ireland
Before I leave you to rummage through the dress-up kit for your festive favourites, I need to give a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our wonderful contributors. Your input is truly invaluable. Now, best wishes for Christmas and a wonderful new year. Perhaps I’ll catch a few of you at London International Horse Show? If not, see you in 2023! Yours,
- Beth
COVER PHOTO: Ruth Chamberlain
OUR VALUED PARTNERS info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 3
Contents Features 8.
Performance Ponies
14. Over the Fells and Faraway 29. SEIB British Showing World Awards
Regulars 27. Ruth on the Hoof
29
43. Fell Breed News 47. Shetland Breed News
27
14
47
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
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, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of Showing World Limited.
4 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Vintage Treasure: Peveril Peter Piper
By Robert Parker-Jones Peveril Peter Piper ridden by Caroline Smith
The Peveril Stud belonging to the late Betty Hancock had been a successful and influential stud for many years when in 1979 a small bay colt was born. Questions that persisted in Betty’s mind were, was he big enough and was he too quality? However, the decision was made to run him on and he was duly registered as Peveril Peter Piper. Meanwhile Maria Large who was at the time involved with breeding horses and riding ponies had gone with a good friend to look at a New Forest mare that she was interested in buying. The friend had bought the mare and Maria had immediately fallen for the New Forest Breed and wanted one of her own. Following on she had shared her enthusiasm with husband Clifford and daughter Caroline and the search was on to find a colt and establish a stud that would be named “Willoway”!
and shown in hand. They wanted the best start for their new colt and their choice of local producer was the right one as he enjoyed considerable success in the show ring. He returned home for the winter and then joined David and the team for further successes prior to breaking him in and showing him under saddle.
Once broken Peter who had matured at 13.1hh continued with his winning ways, initially with tremendous success on the flat, ridden by daughter Caroline and then in working hunter classes ridden by a few different jockeys. He had a huge personality and could be very cheeky, he wasn’t the easiest pony, but he was incredibly sweet
Willoway Pipers Gold a son of Peter Piper
The task was on and many colts were viewed without the family being inspired by what they saw, they were told that there was a yearling at Peveril that might suit so a viewing was arranged. There were doubts, was he big enough and was he too quality for the New Forest enthusiasts; however he appealed to them so they decided to take a chance and bought him. As they were new to the New Forest scene it was decided that Peter Piper should be sent to David Ryde-Rogers to be produced info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 5
Willoway Free Spirit at Badminton ridden by Laura Avery. Photograph by Katie Mortimore Photography
Wiloway Free Spirit at Badminton ridden by Laura Avery. Photograph by Katie Mortimore Photography
SWEET HILLS TANGO
QUEENSWOOD SOLOMON PEVERIL PETER PIPER b 13.1h 1979 NEW FOREST PONY NFS 21/093
dkb/br 1.45 m 1975 NEW FOREST PONY He. Imp. 77 NLD
PEVERIL CANDY PHLOSS liv ch 1975 NEW FOREST PONY NFM 12418
b 1969 NEW FOREST PONY NFS 2787
BLUE GENTIAN CHERRY PIE b 1966 NEW FOREST PONY NFM 6166
BRIDGELEA CANDY CANE b 1968 NEW FOREST PONY NFS 2832
PEVERIL PIPETTE ch 1958 NEW FOREST PONY NPS 11679 and wouldn’t hurt a fly. He had a lot of presence that belied his tiny stature and was known to throw in some extra moves during show classes. On occasions he would omit loud snorts, floating around the ring in his wonderful extended trot with his tail stuck up like a flagpole. He loved nothing more than to lap much bigger ponies when asked to give a gallop in a championship with several judges saying he would be very suited to pony racing. He always managed to make people smile and Jennie LoristonClark who taught Caroline on him and loved him said she had never known a pony that could be so naughty in such a charming way!
Peveril Peter Piper enjoying retirement
Alongside his amazing career under saddle Peter Piper was building himself a formidable reputation as a sire. The Large’s had when they bought Peter sourced some fillies and mares that they felt would suit him. The first purchase was a chesnut filly foal Tomatin Goldrush by Tomatin Golden Gorse and out of Summer Queen of
6 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Peter Piper meets the Queen at Royal Bath and West
Deeracres from the late Alison Taylor to be a future brood mare. She was a year younger than Peter but as she had matured well the decision was made to cover her at two years of age. The resulting foal was a chesnut colt Willoway Piper’s Gold who went on to have a very successful career both in hand and under saddle being in hand M&M champion at Royal Windsor and competing at Olympia and HOYS several times. This mating produced a host of champions that were to put the stud on the map worldwide. Peter sired many prolific winners from the family’s own mares and also from the many visiting mares. In his lifetime he was top sire on several occasions and some of his most prolific winners for outside studs have been Applewitch Pure Magic, Farriers Fingerprint and Farriers Drummerboy. The Elite Scheme was established to help breeders, owners and potential owners interested in New Forest ponies to discover the consistently successful bloodlines in the breed. The aim is to highlight not only the achievement of individual ponies, but to link these to their sires and dams and/or progeny. In 2007 Peveril Peter Piper was awarded Elite status, the highest accolade.
When Gill Wright former Chairman of the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society carried out an investigation of sires of breed show winners Peter had nearly 50 % either by him or was the grand sire. An extremely impressive record coupled with the fact that he also gave them a fabulous temperament she feels he has been one of the most influential stallions in the breed. Willoway have been fortunate to produce an impressive list of champions by Peter and the one that Caroline feels is most like him in type and personality is Willoway Free Spirit who is out of Mercury Amy. Laura Avery is now his proud owner and she recalls that when she went to try Willoway Olympic, Maria Large asked if she’d like a sit on Free Spirit. She then asked Laura to produce him and a few years down the line offered him to her to buy as she couldn’t bear the thought of them ever being separated. This meant Laura could crack on with the jumping that they both loved so much! In WHP classes they have been Champion at Royal Three Counties twice, Champion Derbyshire Festival, Champion New Forest & Hampshire County, Champion Moreton in the Marsh,
Champion Stoneleigh and winners and Reserve Champion at HOYS. In hand he has been Overall Supreme of Show at New Forest and Hampshire and at NPS Summer Championships NF Champion and overall M&M Supreme. Other successes have been best of breed at Olympia, HOYS ridden final five times and Mitsubishi Motors Cup Badminton Champion 2017. When Spirit won at HOYS it was the year Maria sadly died, and on what would have been her birthday, fortunately daughter Caroline was there to celebrate the amazing success. The first Willoway New Forest pony was registered in 1981 and when Maria died in 2021 the stud had bred 270 registered ponies. Caroline after much thought has decided to carry on with the stud and although smaller in size has been loaned some quality mares to begin the next chapter. Peveril Peter Piper lived to the ripe old age of 31 years, siring foals well into his twenties, an unforgettable stallion that has had a truly amazing impact on New Forest Ponies.
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 7
P E R F O R M A N C E
PO N I E S At Native Pony, we have been incredibly impressed by reports of native ponies competing successfully in performance disciplines.
High Hopes for Rubin Hannah Nicholson and her five-year-old Connemara gelding Ballyvary Patsy (Rubin) have had a super time this year competing in eventing. The pair are photographed here at Glamis tackling the BE90u18 section. “He is truly one of a kind, jumping everything and anything in front of him, even the field fences,” Hannah said, adding, “He has the best heart.” They are aiming to move up to BE100 next season. Ballyvary Patsy
Millie’s Cove Badminton Bound Class 1 Connemara mare Millie’s Cove class 1 Connemara mare and owner Susie Chappelhow have made a successful side-step into eventing this year, having started the season in the workers ring. Susie produces the six-year-old by Caherlistrane Bay herself. “My love of eventing got the better of me when I realised that BE had moved their qualification dates,” explained Susie. “We did our first three events on tickets. Within those events we qualified for a BE80 national qualifier, a BE90 national qualifier and the Scottish BE90 championships.” The pair’s success didn’t stop there, as at the Scottish championship held at Blair International Horse Trails, they finished tenth, gaining their ticket for the Badminton Grassroots Championships 2023.
Millie’s Cove
8 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
A Versatile Penny Wendy Chivers’ Welsh section D mare Northwick Penny Black have been having a blast attempting a range of disciplines. “We are not stars at any one discipline, but we have a go at most things,” laughed Wendy. “This summer we have done dressage, combined training and show jumping. But
I am in my 60’s now so take things a little easier,” said Wendy. Nevertheless, the sash Penny’s wearing in her photo attests that they have nevertheless been highly successful. “We also love hacking and fun rides. Penny truly is an allround pony of a lifetime.”
Northwick Penny Black
Cameo Appearance for Hound Exercise Winneydene Cameo and Darci Ward, 10, have been busy over the autumn with hound exercise. Darci’s mum, Stacey Morley explained that they bought ‘Cams’, a seven-year-old Welsh section A unbacked at three from her breeder Ann Irving.
Winneydene Cameo
Caitlin’s Crusader Caitlin Simpson and eight-yearold Welsh section C Thorngate Crusader have hit the ground running taking part in a range of activities since Cruz joined the family during the summer. Cruz is out of Burghwallis Black Lace by super-successful and versatile Menai Thomas, and he was bred by Thomas’ long-term owner, Margaret Hall. During the summer holidays, the pair attended both Grove Hunt Pony Club camp and Someford Park junior camp, winning the coach’s ‘best partnership’ award. In their first unaffiliated dressage competition, this new partnership gained a 73.27% in the Intro B, and a first ever Prelim 12 test for Caitlin saw her receive a whopping 76.66% score. “We are looking forward to spending the winter doing dressage training and workers practice for next season,” said Caitlin’s mum, Claire Evans.
Thorngate Crusader
Thorngate Crusader
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 9
A Flying Highland… As told by rider Jessica Lewis Over the August bank holiday weekend Trailtrow Glenkinchie and I entered Llanymynech Horse Trials Go BE80. Since I was 14 I had dreamed that one day, I might get to enter our local event on my own horse. I never imagined for one minute that it may actually come true, let alone on a Highland Pony. Kinchie was originally bought for me to regain my confidence on, after breaking my spine during a fall in 2018, he was meant to be for dressage and hacking. Soon after he made his feelings known that he would rather be a jumping pony. As many people know, with highlands it’s all about compromise, so of course we compromise, and we jump. Our day started out eventful where as soon as the horn went for dressage, a wasp got stuck underneath my jacket, repeatedly stinging my backside every stride. Even though the thing Kinchie hates most in the world is dressage, we managed to pull off a respectable test. During the showjumping we brought down
Trailtrow Glenkinchie
a few rails due to disagreements about canter vs trot, but it was a real shock to my system when I dared to glance down and see how wide affiliated fences are, Kinchie was unfazed, always looking for the next. I was worried we might not have enough steam left in the tank to get around the cross country. As I waited patiently for our turn, Kinchie did not and began his trademark impatient chewing of my foot. We approached the start-box like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh and we were off. Kinchie was absolutely awesome. He rose to the
Trailtrow Glenkinchie 10 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
challenge, flew around the course and even caught me when I nearly slipped out of the side door. I was on the verge of an asthma attack 4 fences from home, Kinchie brought me back to a slow trot to let me catch my breath. I then had a word with myself and kicked on. We finished with a clear round. We may not have placed, but what a pony to get us round safe and sound on his first ever 80 course, in for a penny, in for a pound. The most rewarding thing of all was being asked ‘Is that a highland pony?’ as I grinned with pride, ‘Yes he most certainly is’.”
Stowbrook Red Kite
Stowbrook Red Kite
Kite Flies High Uber-versatile Exmoor gelding Stowbrook Red Kite and owner Davinia Johnson have been extremely busy! Most recently, Kite was second in the NPS performance 70cm eventing final, and at the Midland Area Exmoor Show, Kite was ridden champion, Exmoor Pony of the Year ridden champion, Pony of the Year Show reserve supreme and overall supreme of show. They also qualified for HOYS in the 122cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony final.
Sugar Ray a Star in the Making 13-year-old Welsh section C Starlans Sugar Ray (Mason) arrived with owner Sarah Prentice as a yearling. “He is your stereotypical Welsh: full of cheeky attitude,” said Sarah. Due to ill-health, Mason has been unable to compete extensively, but this year, Sarah has “managed to get on top of his health and start to do things with him again”. They won their first ever prelim test at charity show, Dressage4Mind, with a credible 66+%, much to Sarah’s surprise. “We then ventured to Hickstead for the Sunshine tour show having entered the combined training,” she
explained. “This was the biggest show he’s ever seen, the biggest jumps he had ever done.” Sarah need not have worried, as after a 72+% dressage score, they jumped a super clear to take the win. “He is turning into a little super pony, we are now trying to decide whether to get into dressage, which is more my comfort zone, jumping if I can find some ‘brave pants’, or keep doing a bit of both. Fingers crossed we continue to get out and have fun!”
Starland Sugar Ray
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 11
Barrowby Platinum
Golden Future For Barrowby Pair Barrowby Connemara stud’s manager Frankie Hirst took part in the British Breeding Futurity with two foals. The Futurity consists of veterinary examination, “triangle” and loose assessment to find the best top level sports horses and ponies. Both the foals, Barrowby Platinum (Killour Star x Braemar Worth It) and Barrowby Du Blin (Kippure Lancelot x Quelle Du Netz) gained GOLD PREMIUMS as Sports Ponies.
Blaiseing Young Rider Young talent Ollie Rowlands has taken over the reins of his mum, Fiona Aston’s Connemara, Nimbus Blaise [Lui] this season, competing in some grassroots eventing championships with great results. At the Pony Club grassroots eventing championships they won their 80cm section, and were runners up in the equivalent section at the Schools Equestrian Games eventing championships, then at the Brigante Cup eventing final they were third in a huge section. “Before Ollie took over, Lui had only ever competed in mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes being previously placed at HOYS and RIHS, but at 18 years of age, he has taken to his new career as an event pony like a duck to water and is loving it,” said Fiona.
Nimbus Blaise
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Barrowby Du Blin
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Mum’s Winnieing Ways Tamsin Mounter’s plans to event her Welsh section D, Garthfach Winover, were stopped in their tracks when she discovered that she was pregnant. However, her “good and very talented friend, Sally Jackson, was keen to get back into the sport having had a break with a young family, too,” Tamsin explained. So a share agreement was reached: Tamsin helped keep him fit with hacking, while Sally “did all the fun – and nerve wracking – stuff!” Sally and Winnie have successfully competed in both 90cm and 100cm classes. “It’s been an absolute pleasure and so rewarding to watch their relationship and trust in each other grow. He’s an absolute star,” said Tamsin. Garthfach Winover
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T: 07774 192125 Oliver info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 13
OVER THE FELLS AND FAR AWAY Words and photographs by Anna Rubingh
14 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
It is a beautiful summer’s day when I meet Tom Lloyd and his Fell ponies in the English Lake District, the natural habitat of the Fell Pony. Together with four fellow travellers and mountain guide Sue, we will be trekking through a piece of wilderness near Haweswater, a hidden gem in the north of the Lake District. Tom’s sturdy Fell ponies will carry all necessary camping equipment, tents, sleeping bags, food for two days and everything needed to prepare it. As we settle in at base camp, the four ponies that will accompany us are munching away on the fresh green grass. Some of my fellow travellers have precious little experience with ponies. Others are more experienced around horses. “But that doesn’t matter, it’s a walking trek with ponies, not a riding trek and you don’t need to have pony experience to join in,” explains Tom. But not everyone is convinced yet of their ability to handle a pony. “By the end of the trek, you will feel completely at ease with your pony,” Tom reassures us. Dinner is cooked over a charcoal fire and Tom talks about his love for Fell ponies. Tom grew up with them, and took over his father’s herd of Lake District Fell ponies in 1994. Looking for ponies that were hardy and could take care of themselves, Walter LLoyd, Tom’s father, bought two Fell ponies in 1957. “Those two hardy Heltondale Fell pony mares were the beginning of our Hades Hill herd.” There is some more pony talk and then everyone turns in for the night. The start of our adventures awaits us in the early morning. The sound of ponies nibbling grass near our tents and that of the beck flowing by the field must be the best way to fall asleep there is. Everyday life already seems far, far away.
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Early in the morning, after a good night’s sleep, Tom explains some do’s and don’ts around the ponies over breakfast. “They’re all very well behaved, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind,” he says. “Watch where you’re going is one of them; you don’t want a pony to step on your toes, that’s something you won’t forget easily. And never wind a rope around your hand,” mountain guide Sue, who owns a few Fell ponies herself, adds. “If a pony gets startled and runs a few steps, the rope can get very tight around your hand or even injure it.” Some of our small group look a little worried. “They’re well behaved, you’ll see, but they are living creatures.” The bags and boxes the ponies will carry are packed. “That’s a very precise job,” Tom explains. “Each pony carries two packs on its back, they hang from a framesaddle, one on each side. The weight has to be exactly the same for each side to be well balanced.” Each bag and box is weighted on a hanging scale. Then there is some rearranging. “They are now around 45 kilos per pony, which is well below what they can carry.” With the ponies packed with everything we need, we are setting off into the wild. Ponies Boo, Lucky Pearl – a black mare with pretty touches of silver in her long black mane, her bay daughter, Pansy and her grey son Little Prince have all paired up with their new companions. Crossing the beck and going up through the forest, we get to a small country road. For an hour or so, it is an easy walk and a good way for everyone to get to know their pony. It is a warm day and the sun is shining. Sometimes a pony snatches a mouthful of grass along the way. “Just be careful with that,” warns Sue, “before you know it some ponies will be trying to eat their way through the trip. Try to keep their heads up.”
The road ends and we enter Swindale Valley. There are breathtaking views all around as we walk along an old bridle path. Pretty yellow flowers and flowering grasses are buzzing with insects. The ponies walk steadily in a line and everyone is getting more relaxed leading them. “This is what Fell ponies used to do for centuries, work as pack ponies, carry slate, bales of wool, dairy and anything else that needed to be transported, on their backs. There are a lot of old pony tracks here in the Lake District, the terrain was too rough to carry things any other way before they started building roads,” explains Tom. “The history of the pack ponies gave me the idea of organizing these treks. This way, my ponies can do the work these ponies used to do as pack ponies, and I can tell people about these special, hardy ponies from the fell. And it also supports my herd. This way, they earn their own keep.” The day before, at base camp, Tom shows us a bell attached to a leather collar. “This is a very old pack pony bell that was given
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to my father by the landlord of a pub. The story goes that the bell belonged to Ailsa O’Fusses, who ran one of the last commercial pack pony trains, carrying limestone in Lancashire.” It’s what a lead pony would have worn. Pack pony trains, in which teams of ponies carried goods, were around 10 to 12 ponies long. “When travelling at night, the bell on the lead pony would scare away any deer or other wildlife that might startle the ponies and would keep the track clear ahead. The bell my father received is inscribed ‘RW’, Robert Wells, 1764-1799, a bell-founder from Aldbourne in North Wiltshire. It’s a special thing to have.” “Look! There are the waterfalls, we’ll have lunch there.” After a picnic lunch at Force Falls, everyone goes for a swim in one of the falls’ natural pools and the ponies get a rest. When the sun has lost a little of its strength, we continue our way, climbing up the fell towards Mosedale where the true wilderness begins. The paths are narrow and the grass is tall. “Watch where you’re going,” Tom warns us, “some parts can be boggy. If it’s too boggy, we’ll have to take the ponies’ packs off to get them through. If they get stuck in the bog, we’ll have to quickly take the packs off their backs to let them get out.” It didn’t come to that, but there were some worried faces. We walk steadily through the wild in the late afternoon sun. “Look, up there, there must be at least 50 red deer,” shouts Tom.
“There still are some semi-wild herds on the fells here in the Lake District,” Tom continues his Fell pony story as we walk on, “but they are in danger of extinction. The generation of farmers and breeders who keep them are getting older and there aren’t that many successors. Besides that, the need to keep those herds has gone. Fell ponies were all-round farmhands that were used for all sort of farm work. Young stock came from those semi-wild herds that only came in from the high fells once or twice a year.” Tom has made it his mission to educate people about these traditional Fell ponies and talk about the importance of preserving the semi-wild herds on the fells in the Lake District. “They have always been part of this landscape,” he says. “It is not that there are no Fell ponies,” he continues, “there are, but the hardy type, that can survive all year round in all weather conditions on the Lake District fells, is under threat. Fell ponies lose that hardiness they need to survive on the fell after a few generations kept in a pasture and stable. And if we have lost that in Fell ponies, it will not come back easily, if at all. The true spirit of the Fell pony will be lost forever.” At the end of the day we make camp in the wilderness. The packs are taken off the ponies and they are tethered near the camp. There is enough grass to feed a whole herd of ponies and a beck for them to drink
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from. While we pitch the tents and settle in, Tom cooks a fantastic Lebanese stir-fry, served with flatbread. We wash up with water from the beck as the sun begins to set. Everyone retires early after a long day of walking and a lot of new impressions. And fresh air does make tired. Before I go to my tent, I take one last look at the fell. On the hill behind where the ponies are, I see a group of red deer grazing in the last golden rays of the sun. The next morning, we wake up to very different weather. The summer sun has left and during the night it had started to rain. Grey clouds were hanging low over the fell tops, but moody weather suits the fells. The ponies had turned their backs to the wind to protect themselves from the rain. Hot coffee and blueberry porridge make a great breakfast, and there even are eggs and toasted croissants. We pack up, weigh the pony’s packs again so that the weight is evenly distributed on each side of the pony, and then we set off. Everyone has really bonded with their pony. “That’s always nice to see,” says Tom, “sometimes people are a bit reluctant to go out with the ponies, but along the way you can see how they become more confident in themselves and their pony and at the end of the trek they have become a real team.”
The weather is still grey and wet, but that’s fine. “Three climbs and three descents before we reach easier terrain,” Tom warns us, “If your pony is going too fast, or the path is too narrow, just let them go, they will find a way up or down on their own and wait for us at the end.” We make our way over gravel paths and through becks. The ponies know exactly where they can and cannot go; even with their packs they seem to follow almost effortlessly. “They are very good at that, very sure-footed. And if they trust you, they will do anything for you.” We climb up and after each climb we are rewarded with another breathtaking view. Apart from a single hiker now and then, we don’t see anyone, which adds to the feeling of being in the wilderness. After our third climb, we get a spectacular view of Haweswater and have a final picnic lunch before we return to base camp. The ponies get a rest after climbing and descending, descending being harder for them than climbing. Then we take the Old Corpse Road back to base camp. And it’s true, corpses used to be carried down that path from remote settlements where there was no church or cemetery. Our last piece through the wilderness before we return to
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a landscape of green meadows and sheep farms. “My last hour with ‘my Boo’,” Fiona, one of our fellow travellers says. She’s walking alongside her pony quietly, loose lead rope, her arm resting over Boo’s neck. “One to tick off the bucket list,” adds someone else as we return to base camp. But that sounds so final. Maybe we should all do things like these more often, go to wilder places to get some perspective and reconnect with nature. And doing that with ponies is the best way there is.
Fell Pony Adventures organizes different sorts of walking treks with Fell ponies, from day treks to multiple day wild camp adventures. All with Fell ponies, of course. www.fellpony.co.uk
Northside Pandora
Showring Stars PANDORA’S PRIZE Simon Widgery’s two-year-old Connemara filly, Northside Pandora [Dora] had a very successful day at Dorset County Show winning the open Connemara in-hand class, before going on to stand large breed champion, qualifying her to compete for the overall mountain and moorland supreme NPS Silver Medal Championship later in the day. Again, she took the tricolour against strong competition despite being the youngest pony in the championship. Dora is by Dunloughan Troy and out of an I Love You Melody mare. She was purchased by Simon at weaning from Ireland in 2020. “I was searching for a colt by Dunloughan Troy or Bunowen Paddy when I spotted a lovely filly foal by Dunloughan Troy which was too good to turn down,” said Simon. “She has an outstanding, laid-back temperament and has only been shown lightly as a two-year-old but with great success also winning at Devon County where she stood reserve champion, NPS Wessex where she won her class and was youngstock champion, and also enjoyed wins at Melplash and Mid Somerset Show.
Northside Pandora
Northside Pandora
Northside Pandora
HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS SHOWS STAR QUALITY Julie Chadwick’s home-produced novice Dartmoor, Langfield Hollywood Heights showed his star quality to delighted his connections when he won the mixed small breeds Royal International Horse Show qualifiers at the BSPS Heritage Championships ridden by Liam Priestley. “I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Julie.
Langfield Hollywood Heights
BRENIN RULES Tammy and Richard Burge’s Llanweneth Ynyr Brenin yearling Welsh section D colt added to his already impressive tally from 2022 by winning his section championship and overall section D supreme champion at the recent NPS Great British inhand show, handled by Richard. This season, he has also clocked up wins at South Eastern Welsh Pony and Cob Association, the Eastern Welsh Pony and Cob Association, Southern Counties Welsh Pony and Cob Association, Towerlands, Northleach, and a championship at Devon County this year.
Llanweneth Ynyr Brenin
MILFORD MAKES MEMORIES Leah Edgar’s five-year-old New Forest pony Muddycreek Milford has done nothing short of delight this season. “I’m very proud of my New Forest pony in his first ridden year and show season,” said Leah. “Milford is a forest bred gelding, who has been brought on by me and has been an absolute pleasure to work with,” Leah added. Milford is proving to be a fantastic all-rounder for Leah and has exceeded all her expectations this year, including qualifying for the SEIB Search for a Star Working Pony final held at HOYS. Leah said: “To qualify for HOYS has been a dream of mine since a little girl and I could not have done this without the support of my mum, dad and instructor, Alice Barnes. I am so proud of this boy and we all love him so much, he really has made this year special for us.” Other highlights for the pair include Champion Novice Working Hunter at NPS Area 5, Overall Supreme Working Hunter at the NCPA Pony of the Year Show, Champion Working Hunter and Reserve Supreme at Lowther Working Hunter Show, and Champion Working Hunter at Rochdale and District RC show. “We are looking forward to competing in both the open flat and working hunter classes next year!” 22 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Muddycreek Milford
NPS Area 29
HALLOWEEN SHOW Pencoed College, Bridgend | 30th of October, 2022 | Photos by Equinepix Royal Night Stands Spooktacular Supreme NPS Area 29’s second Halloween show proved as popular as the first, with judges, stewards and competitors all embracing the theme with some superb fancy dress efforts.
Section A champion and overall supreme in-hand, Sarum Royal Knight, shown by Adam Fletcher
Section D champion and reserve Supreme in hand, Fairgrove Ceinwen shown by Gemma Paxford
Open ridden champion and supreme ridden Phylberns Popsox ridden by Eleri Wyn Jenkins
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Bordervalley Queen of Dreams stood section champion shown by Ryan Wilson Part bred champion Becklam Amoura shown by Rebecca Lamb
Reserve supreme ridden champions, Ravenshead Caradog and Evie Bigley
Snoketcott Shezam stands section B champion shown by Gareth Lapping Treworgan Hunting Eve, mountain and moorland champion, shown by Lucinda Dargavel
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Section B foal champion and reserve overall section B, Fairywood Valentina shown by Gareth Jones
North Western Association Foal and Youngstock Bronze Medal Show Keeping these financially challenging times in mind, the North Western Association of the WPCS (NWA) worked with Worsley Gala Show team to stage both their events on the same day, sharing the prestigious Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre in Cheshire. The fine weather and excellent seating gallery ensured a good turnout of spectators. Sarah Tattersall ably managed the roles as secretary of both shows. Two sets of WP&CS judges were engaged for the shows with the NWA taking the afternoon timeslot. Perhaps to avoid awakening the long slumbering ‘War of the Roses,’ the NWA judges were selected from far afield, as a good-humoured local rivalry persists despite the membership covering a wide area of the North West. Nigel Lewis, Erwfair, judged the section A classes. Both his champion and reserve went to ponies owned by Lancashire
based Wendy Lowe-Barnes of Fouroaks Stud and were handled in their classes by Wendy’s daughter, Tash. Champion was the yearling colt winner Fouroaks Crescendo sired by Heniarth Yarra-Glen out of Springbourne Clematis. Crescendo was topping off a good season with wins including at Merioneth and The Royal Highland where he was reserve youngstock champion. Reserve went to the filly foal winner, Lacy Celeste. Celeste, bred by Sarah Tibbey, is by Lacy Victa out of the muchdecorated Fouroaks Coco Chanel, twice HOYS in-hand qualifier and a former Royal Welsh female champion. Celeste had already collected a reserve supreme foal title at Tudor Rose and added the NWA members’championship hamper and reserve supreme foal sash to her collection.
Coldwell Holly
Report by Karen Cheetham Photos by EquinePix Fouroaks Crescendo
Fiona Leadbitter, Thornberry, judged the section B classes. Her champion went to Steph info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 25
and Janet Mansfield of the Janpete Stud with their filly foal Westaire Alessia, already a winner at the Royal Welsh having won her class and section B foal championship in Builth Wells earlier this summer. Bred in Yorkshire by Jane Blackburn, Alessia is the first foal from Jane’s young mare Westaire Valentina and by the promising young sire Waxwing Arco. Alessia went on to take the supreme foal championship. Lancashire claimed the reserve section B sash with Sarah Weston’s yearling colt,Moelgarnedd Aran Benllyn, shown by Joshua Turner. The colt is by Moelgarnedd Romeo out of Paddock Jamila. The reserve champion gelding also came from the B classes, Fairywood Pinocchio, owned by Ellie Taylor who has won several gelding championships with him this season. Anne and Gareth Holt were reserve in the NWA members’championship with their homebred section B yearling filly winner Musbury Misdemeanour sired by Musbury Consortium.
Fiona Leadbitter also took on the Welsh-part-bred classes where her champion and the eventual supreme gelding was three-year-old Sandboro Take A Chance by Rotherwood Peeping Tom. His owner and breeder, Kelly Phillips from Staffordshire, told me that although lightly shown he was hack breeding champion and supreme hack at The Great British In-Hand Show as well as taking reserve supreme at Worsley Gala earlier in the day. Kelly collected still more ribbons with the reserve spot in the part-breds with her colt foal Sandboro Dare To Dream, a full brother to twice HOYS in-hand qualifier Sandboro Sir Henry. Support was strong in the section C and D classes. Heidi Davis of Popsters Stud was tasked with judging the section C classes where the females found favour in the final line-up. Her champion was the Costello family’s three-year-old filly Bluehaven En-Vogue. Loyalties could be more difficult here as Juliet Costello says
Lacy Celeste
Sandboro Take A Chance
they moved to Yorkshire fourteen years ago, but she still retains a Lancashire passport! Sired by Springfieldpark Dot Com and out of Synod Rozella, En-Vogue went on to take the reserve supreme of the show on this, her second outing of the year. The reserve section C sash also went to Yorkshire: Nicole Wayman’s yearling filly Brynseion Dyliss, who also stood champion at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. Nicole’s partner Will Perrins shows the filly.
Bluehaven En-Vogue Westaire Alyssia
Section D judge Matty Attrell of Danaway stud selected Coldwell Holly as his champion. This three-year-old filly is owned and bred by Wendy Ennion from Scotland and produced by the Wrexham based Graham Roberts Show Team, where he is assisted by his Lancashire-bred partner Helen Gorton. Sired by Gwenllan Scott out of Coldwell Tlws, Coldwell Holly was in fine form to go one better than her reserve spot at the NWA Silver Medal Show in August. The filly then beat off the rest of the competition to take the supreme of show title repeating her supreme awards from South Yorkshire Silver Medal Show and Ynys Mon Foal and Youngstock Show. Reserve section D champion was the yearling filly winner Willow Summer Delight by Danaway Rossi. On only her second outing, the filly is produced for owner Mr. P. Joiner by Gareth Lapping and Ceri Powell. Finally, after all the spoils were divided up, it looked much like a draw between Lancashire and Yorkshire, unless the Costellos are prepared to take out full citizenship of Yorkshire. Of course, there is always the next show when battle lines will be drawn again. The NWA plans to hold its Summer Silver Medal Show on 27th August 2023. The committee very much appreciates the support of its volunteers and the sponsors listed on the NWA social media pages.
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Ruth on the Hoof – Rambling on Rùm Words and Photos by Ruth Chamberlain At the beginning of this year, I was contacted by Mairi from MacTV in the Outer Hebrides about a documentary they were planning about the native horses of the Scottish Islands. Fast forward to August and I found myself on the way Mallaig to catch a ferry across to the Isle of Rùm. I had a bit of time and so I got in touch with Kirsty Mann who has some beautiful highland ponies in the most stunning location. It was a perfect start to this photographic trip. I met Mairi and cameraman Ross in Mallaig and we caught the ferry across to Rùm the next day. The island is famous for its special line of highland ponies that carry the silver gene which is very rare in the breed. The silver gene affects black pigment by lightening it, so the black mane and tail of a yellow dun looks flaxen and so on – it was wonderful to see a whole new range of highland pony colours in real life. Rùm itself is a National Nature Reserve and the ponies are an integral part of that. The visit to the island was to meet these special ponies and also to film them in action as working ponies carrying stags from the hill. We set out in the morning with three gorgeous ponies. Hamish, the silver yellow dun is the old reliable boy who set the pace for the day. Stalking on Rùm is quite unique due to the terrain, and the ghillies (us filmcrew included) had a long six mile walk ahead of us
The retirees on Rum Silver mouse dun in the mist
across the rugged terrain that felt on the edge of the world. Hamish knew the drill and he and his ghille kept us all going until we finally reached the glen where the deer reside. We had barely come to a halt when got the call that a couple of stags were down already and we started up the glen to meet them. Hamish was loaded with the larger stag, and we put the smaller one on the younger pony who is still gaining experience (she was perfect for the whole carry). The ponies fortunately did not have to carry the stags all the way back to the larder the way we came, they carry them down the glen to a little cove to be loaded onto a boat. Hamish of course knew this and he set off with little need for guidance. We reached the little lodge where the ponies were unloaded and then headed home with the ghillies. We were quite relieved to be getting a lift back with the boat after the walk with all of our gear. The following morning was even more special – we went out to find the retired ponies who can all roam freely across a large part of the island. Most of the ponies out here were around 30 years old and The end of the day
in incredible condition. It was a very misty morning, but the fog was lifting as we arrived. There was something so ethereal about the ponies there, one pony called Lewis looked like a real Kelpie that had just popped out of the ground with his long mane that looks like seaweed. I also had my interview done for the documentary with these ponies – unfortunately most of the Scottish midge decided to join me! I wanted to spend so much more time on Rùm, it really was such a magical place. You will be able to watch the documentary, Each nan Eilean – Scotland’s Native Horses, which will air on BBC Alba on Boxing Day at 9pm (and will be available to catch up). It will be a very special documentary exploring some of the lesser know aspects of our native pony world. Crossing the burn Single file
Silver dun highland ponies
NATIVE PONY OF THE YEAR
Skaergardens Delicious Love shown by Scott Dixon
Love Comes Out On Top
Having struggled to narrow the pony nominations to just three plaited ponies and three native, the Showing World panel made the decision to split the nominations, creating a brand new category for 2022: the Native Pony of the Year, open to mountain and moorland open, junior and mini ponies. It was an incredibly strong section and a yet stronger lineup of finalists. All six had won their class at HOYS this year, some for the second time, and some straight off the back of an RIHS win too. In other words, they are all phenomenal ponies! In the end, fighting it out for Native Pony of the Year, we had: •
•
Brogan West’s Dartmoor, the twice HOYS mini mountain and moorland champion, Shilstone Rocks Thunderbird, who was led by John Harvey and ridden by Willow West
Sharn Linney presents Vanessa Clark with Skaergardens Delicious Love’s award
Victoria Oliver’s Fell pony Greenholme Falcon, who stood HOYS junior champion under Chantelle Chapman
•
•
Chery Mackintosh’s brilliant Connemara, Woodbank Smokey Sam
•
Jo Watson and Rob McIvor’s HOYS open champion, Dales stallion, Griseburn Major
To present the award, prominent producer and lead rein queen, Sharn Linney was welcomed to the stage.
•
Diana Leeming’s multigarlanded Welsh section A and HOYS and RIHS winner, Thistledown San Siro, ridden by Lucinda and William Leeming
Vanessa Clark’s classy Connemara, Skaergardens Delicious Love
Our reserve came from the worker ranks in the end, being Woodbank Smokey Sam. This talented Connemara started his career as a flat pony, qualifying for Olympia and thrice for HOYS. Since his subsequent sale to current owner Cheryl Mackintosh, Sam and rider
Kirsty Aird have formed a formidable partnership in the 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony class. This year, they have been on wonderful form, winning the RIHS and standing champion, then winning the final at HOYS. 2022 marked the second time for Sam to have won both at HOYS and Hickstead, having also won HOYS in 2018 and taken reserve at the RIHS in 2019. He booked his return to HOYS at the Royal Highland earlier in June. Like several other finalists, Sam retired from
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Skaergardens Delicious Love ridden by Kelly Jones
top level showing at HOYS. A delighted Kirsty accepted the award on behalf of Cheryl and Sam. The winner, however, was another Connemara, Skaergardens Delicious Love. What a pony Delicious has been for her breeders, owners, riders and handlers alike! 10-year-old Connemara Delicious was bred in Denmark by Brigitte Gotske, by Wirtsmuhle Delaney’s out of Skaergardens Secret Love. Brigitte advertised her online in 2015, and Vanessa [Clark] missed out on her then by a matter of days. “I enquired about her, and although I wanted to have her, it was a year when everything was going wrong: I had brain surgery, Comet died, I had a colt that I needed to sell, and I felt I had to be sensible. But then the colt sold, and I rang again but Kelly [Jones] was already on the boat to pick her up.”
are a further two offspring got by embryo transplant. They are yearlings Chillham Delphinius – a colt who has recently taken a tricolour on his showring debut – and Chillham Golden Delicious. As the yearlings were in utero with recipient mares, Delicious continued her ridden career with Jo Jack, standing reserve supreme mountain and moorland at the RIHS in 2021, and she also stood supreme mountain and moorland inhand at Royal Windsor in 2021 shown by Henry Hird.
Skaergardens Delicious Love ridden by Jo Jack
This season, Delicious was shown by Scott Dixon from home. She was the first native to take a Price Family Supreme ticket, doing so at Notts County Show with her foal at foot, handled by Jo Jack.
It was tenth time lucky, as Vanessa had Catle Emperor qualify five times, and Castle Comet four times. Interestingly, Delicious is just the fifth Connemara mare to qualify for Delicious and Kelly went on to the supreme in hand at HOYS, enjoy a magical HOYS in 2017, following Rosenaharley Laurin winning and standing champion (1983), Chiltern Lara (1984), mountain and moorland on her Ballydonagh Misterina (1987) first appearance there. and Tyan Ma Lady (2018). She But Vanessa kept in touch with is also just the third to qualify with a foal at foot, Chiltern Lara Kelly, and 18 months later, being the first with a colt which they hatched a plan: Vanessa would buy her, but Kelly would Vanessa later bought at foot! Nevertheless, Delicious duly have the first foal back. The she went on to win the Price agreement has duly been kept, Supreme Inhand pony final and the Clover Hill Magic filly that accompanied her to HOYS this year and then stood reserve champion. 2022 has now gone to Kelly. Whilst this year’s filly is the first that Delicious has carried, there
30 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Kirsty Aird receives Woodbank Smokey Sam’s runner-up award from Sharn
Woodbank Smokey Sam ridden by Kirsty Aird
Woodbank Smokey Sam and Kirsty Aird at the RIHS Shilstone Rocks Thunderbird shown by John Harvey and ridden by Willow West
Griseburn Major ridden by Joe Watson
Thistledown San Siro ridden by Lucinda Leeming
Commenting on HOYS, Vanessa explained: “I had no clue what the judges would go for, but I knew she would think it was worth it and she performs at her best when she thinks people are there to see her. She has a huge presence!” And Vanessa’s reaction to Delicious’ most recent accolade? “I was absolutely delighted to receive the award. It was a lovely surprise and topped off the season,” she said. Indeed, it was a double celebration for their table, as Vanessa’s God-daughter Annabel Drake also took away the junior of the Year award.
Greenholme Falcon
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 31 Sharn with representatives of each finalist
SHOW BREEDER OF THE YEAR
Breeders of the Year, Jill Williams and Kitty Bodily of Glebedale Stud
Glory for Glebedale! Breeders play a fundamental role in our industry, and ensure that year after year, we have quality youngstock to enter the ring as future stars. Four native studs made it to the final seven, being Glebedale, Sharptor, Halstock and Blackertor, Nipna and Ringside. Between them, they’ve racked up some incredible results, with wins from the Great Yorkshire, to Bath and West, the Royal Welsh, the RIHS and HOYS. Run by David Hodge and Julian Walters the Sharptor, Halstock and Blakertor studs are breeders of Miniature Shetland Ponies, Standard
Shetland Ponies, Dartmoor Ponies and most recently Exmoor Ponies. Both David and Julian are ambassadors for the Shetland breed and advocate the emphasis on the breeding standard both for in-hand and in ridden classes. The Stud’s dedication has been rewarded, with multiple appearances in the Supreme In-Hand final at HOYS, with Sharptor Trinity making history in 2016 when she became the first of her breed to contest the final in 30 years. A tall order for the Shetland, being our smallest native breed. Nevertheless, they don’t just qualify, but they hold their own at the final, this year finishing
reserve pony in the Price Family Supreme In-Hand final with Sharptor Kinsman - repeating the result of Sharptor Trinity from 2016 and 2017. The stud has also had several HOYS, RIHS and London International Horse Show (LIHS) qualified ponies, and with several out in mini classes as well as the opens, it’s clear that their temperament is just as good as their cracking conformation. The Ringside Stud, based in south Wales, is led by sisters Alex and Kate Williams, supported by parents Gareth and Christine. They have had
32 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk Glebedale Deja Vu Glebedale Mumbo Jumbo
Sharptor, Blackertor and Halstock Stud
a phenomenal season! Flying the flag for Ringside Stud and Welsh Cobs that they have homebred, the sisters both qualified for HOYS 2022. Ringside Top Dollar took Champion Section D Pony of the Year at HOYS, a title that they repeated following the 2015 win with Ringside Game Over. Both Ringside Top Dollar and Ringside Zorba that the sisters competed at HOYS, also won at the Royal Welsh Show 2022 claiming a double spot in the coveted Gold Medal Championship for the stud, with Ringside Top Dollar crowned Champion Ridden Welsh Cob and Gold Medal Winner. The family’s success extends beyond just their homebreds, and they have had a successful showing career including in the coveted Supreme In-Hand with a win in 2013 with Synod Lady Lilian, and most recently in 2022 with the Section B Northlight Coppelia. However, in an extremely competitive section, it was the Nipna and Glebedale studs that enjoyed the greatest glory. Julie Pennell’s Nipna Stud of Dales ponies occupied the runner-up spot. Established by Julie in 2000, the stud is now managed by Julie alongside daughters Anna and Laura Pennell. The team have had many notable victories in the show ring. The Pennell’s breeding success owes specific credit to former stallion Lowhouses Black Magic, he sired many show winners for Nipna Stud, an incredible record at HOYS as every pony that he has sired has finished in the top 10. In 2021, Nipna ponies dominated the Dales Pony of the Year final at HOYS with a stronghold of 6 representing the stud and they went on to make history as all 6 were placed! This year the Stud was represented in equal merit at HOYS with 5 Nipna ponies taking 7 qualifying places at HOYS. Nipna Midnight Rambler (Rambo)
last season was second at HOYS, a feat he repeated in 2022 following in his mother Nipna Damask Rose’s footsteps. He was also Best of Breed at the London International Horse Show in third, and has qualified again this year having taken champion at Suffolk County. This season has been a great one for Nipna ponies in the show ring with the tally at 11 qualified for RIHS, 5 for HOYS, and 4 for LIHS! The Pennells were sadly unable to attend the event, but were represented by Caitlin Hamilton, who is herself an excellent ambassador for the stud having won countless championships on her own Nipna Invictus, not least the UKP&H Intermediate Mountain and Moorland class at the RIHS in 2021, a feat she repeated with Nipna Midnight Rambler earlier in 2022. Topping the votes and taking the Breeder of the Year award was Jill Williams’s Glebedale stud, now managed by Jill’s daughter Kitty Bodily. Over the years, Jill has bred Riding Ponies, Welsh sections A, B and C, but now the stud’s focus tends to be on the A and the C, though don’t be surprised to find a section B lurking! They have enjoyed tremendous success over the years and have been champion at many of the major shows across the UK, including Royal Welsh and Horse of the Year Show winners. Section A Glebedale Mumbo Jumbo stepped up from an extremely successful run as a first ridden to not only win his class, but to stand open champion at HOYS 2018. Similarly, former M&M mini champion Glebedale Jubilee is now successfully representing her breed in In-Hand qualifiers with her foal at foot. Their breeding has formerly won the Cuddy Supreme Pony – now the Price Family Supreme In-Hand – with Glebedale Ding Dong, who went on to stand Supreme In-Hand Reserve Champion. This season, they’ve had numerous cracking wins
Breeder of the Year Award runner up Nipna Stud represented by Caitlin Hamilton
and championships in hand, and the Glebedale Stud flag was flown at HOYS with several ponies qualified from the Junior M&M workers to the section Cs. Most recently, section C yearling colt, Glebedale Déjà Vu won his class at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, where Glebedale Ding Dong also sired the champion section C, Glynwyn Gucci. Jill and Kitty both took to the stage to receive the award. “I’m just so pleased for my mum,” said Kitty, “After all these years of breeding, it’s lovely for her to be recognised.”
info@showingworldonline.co.uk Nipna Stud Ringside Stud| December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 33
PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Emma’s Royal Service Recognised The penultimate award presented on the evening was the Show Personality Award, presented by Sandy Anderson, chairman of the Grandstand Group. The Show Personality of the year award gives recognition to those characters that consistently give of their time and efforts to the showing community or that have been prominent in their contribution during that year. This year’s winner became prominent in their unique bond with their owner.
Carltonlima Emma
Carltonlima Emma
Receiving the award was 26-year-old Fell Pony mare Carltonlima Emma. Bred by the Carltonlima stud, Emma was purchased by Lizzie Briant Finlayson on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II from Thomas Capstick of the Murthwaite Stud in Cumbria where she was a brood mare as a seven-year-old. Though Emma’s progeny is still prominent within the herd – producer Lizzie Briant Finlayson is excited to show Emma’s granddaughter Balmoral Voclaist next year – it is in a ridden capacity that Emma rose to fame. In in 2005, Emma was broken to ride by Lizzie, and in 2006, she scooped the supreme title at Devon County to qualify for HOYS in the Cuddy Supreme In Hand Final – now the Price Family Supreme, the most difficult final to contest. A year later, she competed at both HOYS and Olympia under saddle, ridden by Lizzie. Whilst Emma was undoubtedly a successful show pony, she acquired much greater fame outside the ring. She became the late Her
Majesty’s pony of choice, and the pair were regularly seen hacking around the grounds accompanied by head groom Terry Pendry. Earlier this year, Emma further captured the hearts of the nation when in a poignant scene, Emma donned one of the late Her Majesty’s famous headscarves to watch her funeral procession at Windsor Castle on Sept. 19, standing alongside Terry Pendry as the coffin passed by. Native Pony were delighted to see native and long-term producer of natives for Queen Elizabeth II, Lizzie Briant Finlayson accept the award on Emma’s behalf, as both so thoroughly deserved such recognition for their service. Carltonlima Emma Credit: Bob Langrish
DALES
ROUNDUP Compiled by Kate Waite and Lucy Darvil
Roandale Archie
Pip Mead and Roandale Archie 14-year-old, “amazing, superstar pony” Roandale Archie and his owner have clocked up some miles this year whilst exploring the North Yorkshire countryside. However, the pair have achieved an unbelievable milestone in November, reaching their 1000th mile! Congratulations to you both, what an achievement! (photo by Dave Mead)
Roandale Archie
Waterside Blackjack
Waterside Blackjack ‘Whacko Jacko’ as he’s affectionately known at home is a sixyear-old stallion owned by Georgia Hanson. The young stallion is closely related to the Hanson’s other Dales pony, the prolific Waterside Ben and Georgia’s Mum. Helen commented that that it is one of the reasons “why we had to have him”. He has had a great start to his ridden career taking the BSPS Winter Mountain and Moorland Novice championship earlier in the year. However, his success continued throughout the season where he was 4th at the Royal International Horse Show and was the most consistent Dales Pony throughout the HOYS qualifiers, taking The LeMieux La Liga award. (photo by 1st Class Images)
High Croft Ella 2000-2022 It is with great sadness that the High Croft Stud reports the loss their much-loved mare, High Croft Ella, who passed away earlier this year. By Sunnybrow Prince out of Whitworth Bella, Ella was a prolific winner, rarely beaten in the first 10 years of her life. One of her pinnacle wins was standing Supreme Inhand Mountain and Moorland Champion at the 2008 Royal Show out of 500 ponies, an honour never achieved before or after by a Dales pony. Showing aside, owner and DPS president, Jeff Daley commented that “she was a pleasure to use and drive. So sensible and reliable, on occasions!” Ella’s legacy will continue in the multiple male and female champions she has bred. 36 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
High Croft Ella
NEW FOREST ROUNDUP
Northern New Forest Pony Supporters Group Roundup By Diane Hadwen The Northern New Forest Pony Supporters Group (NNFPSG) has had a very successful year. The new venue for its show at Camden Equestrian Centre way back in April, proved to be a popular move, with great entries and some quality ponies taking part. Over the summer members had success at a number of major shows including the Great Yorkshire, RIHS, the New Forest Show, National Pony Society Summer Championships, the New Forest Breed Show, HOYS and the NPS Great British In Hand Show. Other members have been competing successfully at BD and BE events. Some have been clocking up the miles on sponsored rides and endurance competitions and at riding and pony club events. Several northern based and bred Foresters did very well at HOYS; Lovelyhill Folklore (Vikki Smith),
owned by Penny Sutton winning the New Forest flat class, with the novice ponies Blackley Dream Maker in third (Danielle Hughes) and Highfox Hunky Dory (Gail Whetter), owned by Vicki and Ann Partington ninth. Long-time supporter Kirstie Wright with Furzley to Be Faire, owned by Sandra Kilford, was ninth in the HOYS 143cm WHP and Folklore so nearly clinched the double, standing second in the same section. The NNFPSG annual performance competition was hotly contested, with some super versatile ponies taking part. The awards were given out at the Christmas meal, which again moved from its traditional South Yorkshire venue of the past seven years or so, to a more central location just off the M62, near Leeds. Over 20 supporters met on the 4thDecember for a carvery and a good catch up
and it was lovely to welcome some new Breed enthusiasts. It’s become a bit of a tradition to have a couple of (changing) juniors battling out for the junior title for a couple of years and this year saw Rebekkah Fisher again taking the sash and trophy from Mia Sharrocks; the latter taking the prize for the best mini rider under 14. This year’s Newcomer Award went to Michelle Brindle and her pony Wanstead Dark Side of the Moon, who have clocked up miles and miles across the Welsh countryside this year. This duo also won the sash for the utility (non-competitive activities) section. Champion Forest Bred, Novice Pony Champion and winner of the jumping category was Eileen Jacks up to height gelding Brookswood Royal, ridden by daughter Jo Jack. Winner of the In Hand section was the five-year-old mare Highfox Heaven Sent and Philippa
Wanstead Dark Side of the Moon
Brookswood Royal
Hadwen. Heaven Sent stood Reserve Supreme to her stable mate Highfox Skyfall, Supreme Champion this year, piloted by Jo Jack. This partnership also took the sash for the dressage, ridden and most versatile pony sections and stood second in the jumping category behind Royal. Jo first won the Supreme in this competition on Skyfall’s sister, Highfox Forever, way back in 2005.
Well done to everyone who took part. The competition will run again from the 1st of January to the 30thOctober 2023. For more details, please contact Gwen gwensawyer@ hotmail.co.uk. To keep up to date with what the Supporters are up to please join our Face Book Group ‘Northern New Forest Pony Supporters Group’.
Rebekkah Fisher and Denny Flash
NNFPSG Elite Show 2022 Advance warning: the Northern Show will again be held at Camden Equestrian Centre, near York, by kind permission of NPS Area 4. New Forest only NPS qualifiers, silver medals in hand and ridden and Breed Society rosettes. Mixed WHP classes including RI qualifiers and a special overall Championship for the best New Forest WHP. Sunday 23rd April 2023. On site stabling available. Please put the date in your diary.
Northern Colt Inspections
Highfox Skyfall
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More advance warning, due to the requests of members, a northern colt grading will be held at Camden on the show day. This going ahead will be dependent on the number of people wanting to have colts licensed of course. The Breed Society will need a viable number to come forward. More details will be available from the New Forest Breed Society in the New Year. Please contact them in the first instance for more details. info@newforestpony. com
CONNEMARA ROUNDUP
75th Anniversary Celebration Weekend Coordinated by Julia Woods | Report and Photos by Stephen Strand Henry and Alan 2022
The British Connemara Pony Society recently held a very successful 75th Anniversary Celebration Weekend at The Charlecote Pheasant Hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon.
BCPS AGM 2022
Members and friends gathered on the Saturday afternoon to enjoy a specially baked cake to mark the occasion. There then followed an extremely interesting talk given by Henry O’Toole of the world famous Castle Stud of Connemara ponies based in Clifden, County Galway who had flown over from Ireland with his wife, Maeve, to be present for the weekend. Henry related how his interest in the breed was first kindled and enthralled the audience with his great knowledge and fund of stories from as far back as his childhood days. By general consensus, Henry’s talk will be long remembered by all those privileged to be present. On the Saturday evening the 75th Anniversary Dinner took place which was attended by over sixty members and friends. There followed another extremely interesting and amusing talk by the after dinner speaker, Alan Davies, who works with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin and travels the globe with their world famous team of dressage horses which includes the (now retired) Valegro. Alan’s excellent talk concluded a wonderful day of celebrations. The Society’s AGM followed on the Sunday morning and included the presentation of trophies won at the 2022 Breed Show and later in the day, The Performance Award Scheme presentations. The Hon Anne Harries, The Society Chairman, gave the annual report. It is pleasing to note that The Society is in robust financial health with membership numbers well up on the previous year. Anne thanked the Executive Secretary, Geth Tillin, for her efficient work and commitment to the
running of The Society. The result of the election of Council members was announced with Julia Woods, Anne Harries, Cherry Caddy and Gill Evans being elected for a three year term. Anne presented The Society President, Andrew Morrey, with a gift as he stepped down from his two year term of office. Andrew was very much a hands on President and spent an enormous amount of time on Society business, freely giving of his time and knowledge. The newly elected President is Christina Fletcher with the President elect being Jane Holderness-Roddam. An excellent weekend was enjoyed by all those present. There is no doubt that The Society is in very good health as it faces the future. info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 39
British Connemara Pony Society Performance Award Scheme 2021-22 Report by Clare Heald This year’s Prizegiving was held at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, near Stratford-upon-Avon on 20th November, as part of a weekend celebrating the Society’s 75th Anniversary. The winner of the Mills Trophy for the British-bred pony that has been the best ambassador for the breed during the year was the Walters family’s homebred Holnest Macalla. He and Charlotte Walters achieved top-ten placings in seven of the ten BE90 classes they contested during the competition year, including two wins and two second places. The Abbeyleix Lucy Trophy for the non-British-bred best ambassador went to Frances Goodsir’s Danishbred stallion Frederiksminde Fine Edition, who also won the Williams
Carrownulaur Johnny, winner of the workin hunter pony section
Trophy for the best stallion competing. Having enjoyed considerable success with him in WHP classes, in the aftermath of lockdown, Frances switched him to dressage. He is currently competing at Elementary, and she hopes to step him up to Medium next year. The best part-bred ambassador, and winner of the Millfields Commodore Trophy, was St Flannans Aguila, bred by Kate Simmons and owned by Gillian Hasberry. He is an unusual mixture, being by an Andalusian stallion out of a Connemara mare, and excels at both endurance and dressage. The Lucinda Trophy for the best mare went to Legend’s Star, owned and ridden by Marjorie Grant, who competed up to 81km in endurance (more than 50 miles!) and represented Scotland in the Home
Glencarrig Dolphin
International endurance teams in both 2021 and 2022. They also did well in Trec classes. The Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers in the results have been developed to reward the high achievers, whilst giving those who do not compete regularly or at a high level something to aim for. For Gold, you have to have at least 4000 points, at least 30% of which are for affiliated competitions. Silver is for those with some affiliated points, but under 4000 in total or less than 30% affiliated. Bronze is for those with no affiliated points. The Silver Snow Trophy for the highest placed pony in the Silver tier was won by Kass, owned by Anne Cooper, who is a good all-rounder, but particularly enjoys eventing; he has never had a cross-country fault, and has over 80 BE foundation points. Liam’s Lady was the winner of the Donadea Shaun Trophy for the highest placed pony in the Bronze tier. Over the past year, she and her young rider, Lucinda O’Gram have competed in the NSEA (dressage and show jumping), Pony Club grassroots (SJ) and BRC eventing championships with considerable success. Lucinda will be 12 next year, and is impatient to start BE eventing. Whilst the records of the big winners may look daunting, we do try to cater for everyone. There is a particularly lovely trophy for the pony gaining most points in handy/family pony classes! Indoor Trec is now counted in this category, and this year’s winner was Legend’s Star. Points are also awarded for non-competitive activities such as hunting and pleasure rides. If you have a registered Connemara, do give it a go. Full details are on the website www. britishconnemaras.co.uk
40 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
DARTMOOR ROUNDUP
Local Families Celebrate at Dartmoor Pony Moorland Show Report by Clare Stanton The iconic Exmoor pony led a tribute to the passing of the Queen at Somerset County Show. Team member Lizzie Raspin played ‘The Last Post’ as the entire showground fell silent as a mark of respect to Her Majesty. The morning’s Exmoor pony show was organised ExieFest and the Exmoor Pony Society. Jenna Payne, who was part of the organising team, said: “As soon as we heard the sad news about the Queen, our team knew we had to do something to mark her passing. “We were honoured to be able to pay tribute to our Queen with a parade of Exmoor ponies headed up by Rachael Fear carrying the Union flag whilst riding her own ‘Horse of the Year Show’ bound pony, ‘Mystical Master Bee’. It was very poignant to see all the ponies standing so still; it had such an impact upon onlookers. The Queen was incredibly passionate about her ponies and was a great supporter of the rare breeds. I think she would have been proud. The showground came alive again after ‘Reveille’ sounded out on Lizzie’s cornet.
Moorland Show SR Country Dance receiving Supreme of Show
The ponies forward represented all types of Exmoor from the youngest, Jade Bailes’ two-year-old gelding ‘Blackertor Sinbad’, and Vicky Long’s recently licenced stallion ‘Farleywater Professor’, to two outstanding representatives on the leading rein with their child jockeys, Jade Bailes’ ‘Anchor Bufo’ and Vanessa Moody’s ‘Anchor Kryptonite’. Jenna Payne added: “It was tremendous for us to be able to access such an opportunity to showcase the ponies to a large audience and we were pleased to have so many ponies support our new venture. Lots of people attended our showing classes and the ‘utility pony’ classes were especially popular where competitors undertook a range of obstacles to test the versatility of their ponies. The highest score of the day went to Maria from the Moorland Mousie Trust with their pony ‘Tom’ who also participated in the main display. “After the parade and minute silence, we were able to showcase each pony individually before judge Michael Dewhurst made his choice and awarded his supreme champion in front of the large crowds that had gathered around the main ring. The day concluded with some utility pony demonstrations.
Moorland Show ridden champs left Langworthy Teal, right Shilstone Rocks Country Dance
FULL RESULTS Gelding any age:
2 – Walreddon Manor Catherine, Miss L
1 – Blackertor Norman, Mr L Gilbert 2 – Trefursdon Southern Style, Mr D
Coates 3 – Wistmans Sweet Cicely, Mr & Mrs
Howarth-Podesta 3 – Haida Valerian, D White 4 – Barramoor Rodger, Mr & Mrs Pearce
Pearce Foals: 1–
Belcher
Barren Mare: 1–
Shilstone Rocks Country Dance,
2 – Kingstownmoor Artemis, Miss L Coates
Mrs A Stratton and Mrs E Newbolt-Young 2 – Langworthy Teal, Miss E Houghton 3 – Okeleat Queen of Hearts – Mr & Mrs K Locke 4 – Pizwell Unique, Mrs S Martin Yearlings: 1–
Moortown Horizon, Miss L Coates
2 – Okeleat Wild Rose, Mr & Mrs K Locke Two and Three year olds: 1–
Haida Grace, D White
2 – Trefursdon Summer Breeze, Mr D Howarth-Podesta 3 – Pizwell Wilderness, Mrs S Martin Stallions: 1–
Trewassick Kellewarren, Mr & Mrs
3 – Barramoor Bluebell, Mr & Mrs Pearce Ponies from the Newtake Scheme and their Progeny: 1–
Pizwell Wilderness
2 – Barramoor Rodger Adult Champion – Shilstone Rocks Country Dance Adult Reserve Champion – Hisley Canoodle Supreme Champion – Shilstone Rocks Country Dance Reserve Supreme Champion – Hisley Canoodle
Merribridge Trendsetter, Mr D
Ridden Ponies:
Howarth-Podesta
1–
Langworthy Teal
Novice one, two and three year olds
Lead Rein pony:
1–
1–
Haida Valerian, D White
2 – Trefursdon Southern Style, Mr D
Annabel Stratton
Howarth-Podesta 3 – Pizwell Wilderness, Mrs S Martin Youngstock Champion – Merribridge Trendsetter Reserve Champion – Haida Grace Brood Mares 1–
Shilstone Rocks Country Dance – rider
Ridden Champion – Langworthy Teal Reserve Champion – Shilstone Rocks Country Dance Young Handlers: 1–
Hisley Canoodle, Mr & Mrs Belcher
42 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Annabel Stratton
FELL
ROUNDUP
Foal Champion Greenholme Quirky with John Potter and Reserve Champion Firbank Whitby Jet with Sarah Elizabeth James & Judge Michael Goddard
The Fell Pony Society NW Area Support Group Foal & Youngstock Show The Fell Pony Society NW Area Support Group Foal & Youngstock Show was held at Newton Rigg near Penrith on 26 November. It was a great opportunity for Fell pony enthusiasts to catch up with friends, and for owners to get their young ponies out to gain experience, as most had not been away from home before. Michael Goddard from Dorset judged the classes, and when reflecting on his choices he explained that the ponies that he had chosen all had the same attributes, they were all free-moving types, with a good walk, active trot and good strong flat bone; all qualities required in a good example of a Fell pony. Michael chose Hannah-Mary Stewart’s yearling filly, Bybeck Agnes (s Bybeck Rodney x Bybeck Stella), shown by Bethan Lewis, as his youngstock and overall supreme champion. It was a fantastic day for Milnthorpe based
Supreme Champion Bybeck Agnes & Bethan Lewis
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 43
Youngstock Ch Bybeck Agnes & Bethan Lewis Res Youngstock Ch Lunesdale Bramble with Alex Robinson & Judge Michael Goddard
Hannah-Mary who bought Agnes with her dam from the Roberts family’s Bybeck dispersal sale in 2021. Reserve supreme went to the Potter family from Tebay with their super colt, Greenholme Quirky ( s Greenholme Lancelot x d Lunesdale Anna), the foal champion, shown by John Potter. The largest class of the day with 10 ponies forward was for filly foals and was won by Lizzie James from Sedbergh with her lovely filly Firbank Whitby Jet (s Heltondale Prince V x Murthwaite Meadowsweet), who took the foal reserve championship. Lunesdale Bramble (s Lunesdale Union Jack x d Greenholme Jo),
Sup Ch Bybeck Agnes & Bethan Lewis Res Sup Ch Greenholme Quirky & John Potter with Judge Michael Goddard
bred by Bert Morland from Kirkby Stephen and now owned by Anna and Bev Metcalfe from Killington, won the class for twoyear-olds and took the reserve championship in the youngstock section with Alex Robinson. Many thanks to the sponsors Unique Homecare and Brackenbank Fell Ponies, judge Michael Goddard, organisers, competitors; all the spectators and everyone who contributed to make this such an enjoyable event.
Fell Pony Society Sale of Registered Ponies 29th of October, 2022 | Report by Claire Simpson The FPS Sale of registered Fell ponies took place at the North West Auction Mart near Kendal, as usual, the sale was preceded by a in hand show. The sale always creates a lot of interest, and this year was no exception with the auction ring packed to the rafters with standing room only attracting buyers’ interest from throughout the UK and beyond, with Fell ponies from the sale travelling as far as America, and buyers enjoying a good discount due to the strength of the dollar against the pound. Paul Metcalfe judged the show classes which were sponsored by Charles Stewart Hay and Straw. The champion and reserve came from the foal class, the largest class of the day with 15 ponies forward, where Brackenbank Sidney came out on top. Consigned by David Wilkinson, this much admired foal was sired by Applegait Indigo Archie and went onto sell for 2000gns. The reserve championship was taken by Greenholme Quaver, a grey colt consigned by RJ & BK Potter. This foal was sired by Greenholme Diego and went onto sell for 1200gns.
class earlier in the day. This much-admired filly was sired by Stennerskeugh Monty. This was followed by Carltonlima Bryonny a thirteen year old bay mare by Greenfield Gay Lad, selling to 3400gns for G Richardson. Foals sold to a top of 3300gns for Greenholme Quality, sired by Greenholme Lancelot. This black colt was the champion foal at the Society Breed Show and created a lot of interest both ringside and from the internet, going on to sell on the internet. Thanks very much to NW Auctions, judge Paul Metcalfe, and everyone who helped on the day. Lots of lovely ponies found super new homes; there some good prices for breeders and everyone else enjoyed a grand day out and catch up with likeminded friends.
The sale peaked at 4400gns for Lunesdale Cassandra a yearling grey filly from R Morland, Tebay, that had won the youngstock
44 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
FELL
ROUNDUP
Brackenbank Sidney and Greenholme Quaver
J36 Fell Pony Society Annual Show of Registered Fell Ponies Judge- Paul Metcalfe Class 1- Pony 4 years +
Class 3- Colt or Filly Foal
1st Lot 10 from G Richardson with Cartlonlima Bryonny selling for 3400gns
5th R Morland with Lunesdale Destiny
2nd Lot 8 from The Shelby Stud with Holling Candy selling for 2000gns
Class 2- Pony One to Three Years Old 1st R Morland with Lunesdale Cassandra selling for 4400gns 2nd H Wilson with Nortontowers Milly 3rd E A Walker with Rackwood Eldorado selling for 2200gns 4th G H B Mallinson with Hardendale Hilfiger selling for 1900gns
1st D Wilkinson with Brackenbank Sidney selling for 2000gns 2nd RJ & BK Potter with Greenholme Quaver selling for 1200gns 3rd L Blundell with Smithills Jubliee Carnival selling for 800gns 4th RJ & BK Potter with Greenholme Quentin selling for 700gns 6th The Mallinson Family with Hardendale Midnight selling for 1100gns
ChampionshipD Wilkinson with Brackenbank Sidney selling for 2000gns Reserve ChampionRJ & BK Potter with Greenholme Quaver selling for 1200gns
5th W Dickinson with Wansfell Majesty selling for 450gns 6th W Dickinson with Wansfell Malrina
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 45
EXMOOR
ROUNDUP
Exmoor ponies lead tribute to the Queen at Somerset County Show Report by Steve Lodge The iconic Exmoor pony led a tribute to the passing of the Queen at Somerset County Show. Team member Lizzie Raspin played ‘The Last Post’ as the entire showground fell silent as a mark of respect to Her Majesty. The morning’s Exmoor pony show was organised ExieFest and the Exmoor Pony Society. Jenna Payne, who was part of the organising team, said: “As soon as we heard the sad news about the Queen, our team knew we had to do something to mark her passing. “We were honoured to be able to pay tribute to our Queen with a parade of Exmoor ponies headed up by Rachael Fear carrying the Union flag whilst riding her own ‘Horse of the Year Show’ bound pony, ‘Mystical Master Bee’. It was very poignant to see all the ponies standing so still; it had such an impact upon onlookers. The Queen was incredibly passionate about her ponies and was a great supporter of the rare breeds. I think she would have been proud.
Rachael Fear on Mystical Master Bee, and Lizzie Raspin
The showground came alive again after ‘Reveille’ sounded out on Lizzie’s cornet. The ponies forward represented all types of Exmoor from the youngest, Jade Bailes’ two-year-old gelding ‘Blackertor Sinbad’, and Vicky Long’s
Rachael Fear on Mystical Master Bee leading the tribute
recently licenced stallion ‘Farleywater Professor’, to two outstanding representatives on the leading rein with their child jockeys, Jade Bailes’ ‘Anchor Bufo’ and Vanessa Moody’s ‘Anchor Kryptonite’. Jenna Payne added: “It was tremendous for us to be able to access such an opportunity to showcase the ponies to a large audience and we were pleased to have so many ponies support our new venture. Lots of people attended our showing classes and the ‘utility pony’ classes were especially popular where competitors undertook a range of obstacles to test the versatility of their ponies. The highest score of the day went to Maria from the Moorland Mousie Trust with their pony ‘Tom’ who also participated in the main display. “After the parade and minute silence, we were able to showcase each pony individually before judge Michael Dewhurst made his choice and awarded his supreme champion in front of the large crowds that had gathered around the main ring. The day concluded with some utility pony demonstrations.
46 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
SHETLAND ROUNDUP
Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society 39th Annual Breed Show Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells Report by Nick True | Compiled by Kate Hampton The August Bank Holiday weekend saw ponies from all four UK nations traveling to Llanelwedd for the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Societies Annual Breed Show. The Small Pony ring saw the largest entry of 145 ponies to be judged by Mrs Fiona Hammond. No mean feat, but Mrs Hammond was both efficient and methodical in her class choices. After a long day in the ring, Mrs Hammond selected Mr and Mrs Percy’s Snelsmore Warwick as her Junior Champion, with the Parlington stud’s Parlington Invincible taking the Reserve slot. Both the Senior Champion and Reserve came from the stallion class, with Mr and Mrs Hodder’s consistent winner Eiger Oliver taking the title and reserve going to Mrs Needham’s Breckenlea Krusader, with the same pair also being awarded the Overall Ring Champion and Reserve respectfully. The Standard Black Pony ring also attracted a good entry, for Mr David Gibson to cast his eye over. A number of very favourable comments came from the ringside spectators in both the number forward and the overall quality of the ponies in the stallion class. Mr D Hodges and Mr J Walters’ delightful Sharptor Arabella had and extremely successful day, winning both the Junior Championship and the Overall Ring Championship. Emma
Snelsmore Warwick Eiger Oliver
Sharptor Arabella
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 47
Elliot’s winning three-year-old filly stood Reserve Junior Champion. The Senior Champion from the Black Pony ring was Mrs M Sargeant’s lovely brood mare Champlers Vesta and the Reserve Champion being awarded to John Watson’s stallion Kerloch Rupert. The Standard Coloured ponies were judged by Mr Steve Rendall. The Senior Coloured Champion was the winner of the Yeld Mare class, Karen Hodge’s Sharptor Silver Skyline with Gemma Davies’ two year old filly, Rainevalley Burlesque standing Reserve after lifting the Junior Championship. The Reserve Senior Champion from this ring was Miss Anderson Smith’s brood mare Panymoor Ember, with Claire Connor’s Acresdale Dante the Reserve Junior Champion.
Champlers Vesta
The Progeny Championship was awarded to Frankie Currell and Karen Hodge for the group of ponies sired by Sapphire Classic, all bred by Frankie and Alyson of the Carmillo stud, who also own Classic. The ridden ponies were judged by Gill Wright and Emma Gibson, with the eventual ring Champion being awarded to Debbie Barr’s Firle Garfield, who earlier in the day had won the Open Ridden class and gained his qualification for The Horse of The Year Show. Reserve Champion was the delightful First Ridden winner, Bergli Dreamwatcher. Sadly the Working Hunter Pony classes didn’t attract a huge entry, but Kate Hampton’s Beeftub Bell Emilio and Lara Joslin and Anna Steven’s Toby of Catchpool were a very worthy Champion and Reserve. Sharptor Silver Skyline Firle Garfield
The Driven section attracted some excellent turnouts, with Mr Kesans deciding on Sue Woodcock’s Foldhouse Little Lord Valentine on Champion Driven, and also finished the day Reserve Supreme Champion, with Tim and Dawn Hawker’s homebred novice pony Hawkersbay Just Different taking the Reserve Championship. Gill Wright was officiating the Price Family Semi Final HOYS qualifier and the NPS Silver Medal, and selected Karen Hodge’s beautiful Sharptor Silver Skyline as her winner. All the judges came together to judge the Supreme Championships. Supreme Junior Champion was Rainevalley Burlesque and Overall Supreme being Sharptor Silver Skyline. We hope that all our exhibitors had an enjoyable day with us in Wales, As ever, our most sincere thanks go to all our exhibitors and sponsors, without you the show would most definitely have not been the success it was.
Foldhouse Little Lord Valentine
48 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
SHETLAND ROUNDUP
Co-ordinated by Kate Hampton New Career for Somahouse GT Despite starting his career under saddle later in life, 14yr old Stallion, Somahouse GT has already made an impression and is looking ahead to a bright future. Only previously lightly shown inhand, ‘Teddy’, now owned by Nicola Richards of the Abbotsbury Stud, has been ridden by Aaliyah Watson as a very novice pony since early summer and right from the start the pair showed huge promise together. At just their second ridden show at the end of November at Neighfield the pair took both the overall ridden championship. Nicola said, “Our aim was for a nice steady go-round, but Teddy had other ideas and
Somahouse GT
got his twinkle toes on, Aaliyah skilfully navigated Teddy around all the much bigger hooves and allowed Teddy to show himself off. Teddy has sired many successful Shetland ponies in all spheres and now it’s his time to shine with Aaliyah” (Photo by George Michie)
Little Lord Makes Big Impact British Driving Society, Leaf Spring Award winners 2002 for the Traditional Turnout, Su Woodcock and her miniature Shetland stallion Foldhouse Little Lord Valentine (or Beastie as he’s known to all his friends) have been out and about, showing in private drive classes and also trying something new this year. “After two years off, we finally managed to get some time off work and get out doing what we love,” said Su, “we have had to go back a few steps, as I’m sure most have, to get Beastie used to all the hustle and bustle of show days, and try to prevent him getting over excited to be out again” They have certainly been out and about from British Driving Society clinics and shows, one being the society’s summer show held at the very prestigious Smiths Lawn polo grounds in Windsor park, another being Chatsworth for both private driving and also the honour of representing the Shetlands in the BDS driving display. “It was held in the main ring- just Beasties favourite place, the terrible showoff thought it was fabulous standing next a pair of large Frisians and an 18hh Shire horse- he’s only 8hh, but was quite happy to stand his ground. I’m not sure who giggled more trotting round- me or him!”
Foldhouse Little Lord Valentine
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | December 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 49
They have also enjoyed both the Shetland Performance Show and the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society’s breed show where they were Reserve Supreme Champions, “It was so lovely to be driving with our own height! We are so used to such large horses, and it is such a delight to see numbers of entries increasing all the time- all having so much fun with their ponies and they love driving too.” So what next? Now that the show harness
has been hung up for the season, the exercise harness comes out and they are off to enjoy the indoor driving trails. These consist of a dressage test and cones course in the morning and larger obstacles to drive round - or over as there is sometimes a bridge to bounce over. “We don’t take ourselves seriously, and just enjoy the day. I think I’m the only one who loves the dressage test, but it’s a great day out, seeing lovely people and keeping Beastie ticking over during winter months. We have been dipping our toes into a new adventure and
have dragged Beasties best friend out of the field to start pairs driving. They both love being together and I’m very much looking forward to learning with them over the next few months to get them ready for a gentle trot round a show ring or cones course, there’s never a dull moment when you have busy Shetlands to enjoy!” Photo by Diane Tym
Hunting No Drag For Arthur Three-year-old Arthur Ralph enjoyed his first day out drag hunting with the Wheatland on Gwyddelfynydd Edelweiss. “We were lucky enough to be passed Dilly on loan through friends in the Pony Club. My daughter does Pony Club activities on her, but Arthur stole her for the day for hunting,” said mum, Jessica, who is joint secretary of the Wheatland Hunt. Photo credit Kate Hampton
Gwyddelfynydd Edelweiss
Ring Ready Youngstock As the summer season faded and the showing community turns to foal and youngstock shows, Shetland owners all over the country have been digging out their blowers in an attempt to make the breed’s thick double coat ring ready. The Pony Breeders of Shetland Association held their annual Youngstock show at Shetland Marts in Lerwick on Sunday 13th November with record entries this year with 91 ponies competing. Judge, Mr John Harrison from Lancashire commented he was delighted with the standard of the ponies, that there were some excellent ponies forward and that it was the best class of standard filly foals that he had judged in a considerable number of years. The overall honours were taken by the two-year-old black filly Muness Shadow from Muness Stud in Unst, with Musselbrough Lottie, piebald standard filly foal from Musselbrough Stud in Unst, taking Reserve Champion. Shadow also won the trophies for best standard pony and also best exhibitor bred pony.
50 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Muness Shadow
On the mainland the inaugural Midlands Foal and Youngstock Show held at Rodbaston in Staffordshire, was a huge success with over 80 classes across the board for all breeds. The affiliated Shetland section, judged by Mrs Gill Cowell, saw Scottish bred three-year-old black colt, Wells Ben Nevis from the Pirouette Stud, step into the ring for the first time. Making it a successful first outing ‘Bob’ took both the Standard and Overall Shetland Championships and later went on to be awarded the Mountain and Moorland Small Breeds Championship. Shown by Louise Colwell, Cotmullion Tabatha stood Reserve Champion with owner Nicky Hickman commenting, ‘It Was lovely to watch and then to see them do so well was great . Her last show in youngstock classes and out on a high’. The Ayshire Shetland Group youngstock show was judged by Mr Robert Shearer Pitcairn who selected his Miniature Champion, three-year-old bay roan colt, Wells Ben Nevis (EquinePix
Oldeworlde Vivaldi (Annette Sproul)
Gue Unst by Busted Explorer, bred by Carole Laignel and owned by Lynda Cochrane as his Overall Champion. Reserve was Standard Champion, threeyear-old old bay colt, Oldeworlde Vivaldi who has had a very successful season with owner Amy McConville of the Baldinnie Stud, with wins including Standard Junior Champion at the National Stallion Show and Junior Champion at Fife Show earlier in the year.
Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 -
PBSA Overall Champion - Muness Shadow Credit June Brown Shetland & M&M Small Breeds Champion Wells Ben Nevis - Credit Equinepix Gue Unst with Judge Mr Robert Pitcairn and Oldeworlde Vivaldi - Credit Annette Sproul
52 | The Native Pony | December 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk