Native Pony May 2022 (152)

pony MAY 2022 ISSUE 152

Our Cover Star

Townend Schubert

under the spotlight

Shetlands on their marks in the Czech Republic

• Behind the scenes at TawnyDun Stud

• Sally Rowe and her endurance star, Brownbread Easter Rabbit

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 1

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2 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

A word from our editor Dear Reader, It feels as if we truly are in full swing of the summer season, and I am absolutely loving hearing your qualifying stories.

seems to have his ears pricked and be looking up through the bridle. His show record speaks for itself, but I felt that Bert deserved the spotlight shone on him for other reasons, too, and was delighted when Rebecca agreed.

Needless to say, when I saw the gorgeous photo of him on the beach, I swooned, and it had to grace the cover!

Being a showing fanatic, I am keenly tuned into any radar that might give news of showing qualifiers. However, I am also thoroughly enjoying seeing native superstars qualify for finals in other disciplines and celebrating their successes in our pages. It’s actually rekindled my own enthusiasm for jumping and I even went as far as entering a training stakes class with my sister’s Welsh section C, affectionately known as Mr Fisher. On the other hand, I have had to have a stern word with myself as watching young riders jumping fences as tall as them on tiny ponies has shone a glaring light on my own lack of jumping ambition, especially given Mr Fisher is quite talented and only really wakes up when the fences get a bit meatier.

Then there’s the inimitable Tonlyn Tigger Two: a section C with an enormous personality. Again, being involved in showing and particularly the showing of Welsh ponies, I was only too aware of Katie and Lorraine Brown’s struggle to get him to conform, let alone go on to perform in the ring! I also knew that Katie adored Tigger and decided early in my role that I wanted her to write something about him at some point. The outcome didn’t disappoint, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I did have to choke back a tear reading her final sentiments: “If you truly love and believe in your pony then you have already won”. What a wonderful thought, and one we would all do well to remember from time to time.

One discipline I have never had much exposure to is endurance riding, so I enjoyed finding out more about Sally Rowe’s Highland pony, Brownbread Easter Rabbit, and I think you’ll enjoy their story, too. Coincidentally, the magazine turns 21 years old this month, and featured in the first ever issue was the Parker family’s Charmian, a Highland pony who took part in the Golden Horseshoe Ride. So, we’ve reprinted the story as it appeared for you to have a read – or possibly a re-read!

With that in mind, I hope that you all have a brilliant time with your ponies between now and the next issue, and also hope you won’t forget to share your stories with me as the weeks pass by!

I can scarcely believe that we are already publishing our May issue!

- Beth

I mentioned in the first issue how much I loved watching Shetlands racing at the London International Horse Show. I know I’m not alone in that, and was only a little surprised to hear that Shetland breeder Renata Marková of the Markes stud had initiated a similar racing programme in the Czech Republic. I’m grateful to my go-to Shetland authority, Kate Hampton, for drawing my attention it, not least because the photos are super-cute!

Incidentally, has anyone else been glued to the latest series of the Peaky Blinders? If you have, you’re going to love the photos from photographer Flo Knoyle’s shoot with Diesel the Dales, inspired by the Peaky Blinders. They are gorgeous! As, of course, are Ruth Chamberlain’s photos.

Ruth, as ever in this issue, has delivered the kind of photos I can only dream of taking with my battered iPhone!

As a self-confessed showing fanatic, I have had a longstanding crush on Rebecca Penny’s Townend Schubert [Bert]. Not only is Bert a beautiful pony on the outside, but I also find his way of going charming, as he always

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Contents

Features 4. Running Rabbit 12. Pony in the Spotlight – Townend Schubert 22. On your Markes – Shetlands racing 26. Pony of a Lifetime – Tonlyn Tigger Two 28. By order of Diesel the Dales

Regulars 24. Vintage Treasure 14. Performance Ponies 18. Ruth on the Hoof

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40. Fell Breed News 46. Shetland Breed News 48. Welsh Breed News

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18 Disclaimer: The view and opinions expressed within the magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or Showing World Limited and while every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in the magazine is correct and current at the date of publication, Showing World Limited will not accept any liability. Showing World Limited will not be held responsible for the appearance of photographic material supplied without the necessary consent, copyright and/or photographer’s details. In

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addition, Showing World Limited offers no guarantee of publication and reserve the right to edit any reader’s letters, press releases, reports and articles submitted.

Showing World Limited 2022. All rights reserved. No part of Native Pony may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or shared in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to; electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying,

Talking Point In an exciting announcement for mountain and moorland exhibitors, the British Show Pony Society have confirmed that their BSPS Heritage Supreme Championship will once again be hosted by the London International Horse Show. It will be judged on the morning of the 19th of December 2022 at the Excel Arena, London Docklands and the prizegiving will be part of the prestigious afternoon performance.

Rachel Brightmore’s Lotuspoint Cassius ridden by Lilly Ahern Lee

BSPS Executive Member of Council, Simon Richardson said: “We are indebted to HPower, organisers of The London International Horse Show for enabling us to once again be part of this iconic show. It is our showcase for 40 of the best mountain and moorland ponies in the UK with all twelve breeds being represented”.

It has also been confirmed that the proven format with four judges will continue and the substantial prize money will also be maintained. However, this year’s championship will be kindly sponsored by New Horizon Plastics thanks to Philip and Karyn Thomas.

THE BSPS HERITAGE SUPREME the BSPS extends their “thanks to Robert CHAMPIONSHIP Nevertheless, Lemieux for his sponsorship over the last three shows”, Simon Richards, adding, “we are delighted that he RETURNS TO LONDON said will continue to provide the superb rugs for all those who qualify for the final”.

No doubt this will come as welcome news to the many who thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle provided at the 2021 London International Horse Show. info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 5

TIME TRIALS Competitors, judges and organisers rallied together at the UK Ponies and Horses Spring Classic show to ensure that all ponies in the RIHS mountain and moorland working hunter pony qualifying classes were able to jump before the dying light stopped play.

UK Ponies and Horses chairperson, Julie Templeton, explained that the committee responded to calls from last season’s competitors to include training stakes classes in their schedule in the run-up to the show. “Having based our timing calculations on our previous entries from previous shows, we had the day planned with the aim of finishing jumping at approximately 4pm, which was about the same time as our supreme championships,” said Julie. However, the show was inundated with working hunter pony pre-entries, particularly for those training stakes classes, and to add to their predicament, they also had more competitors wishing to enter on the day. Despite initially announcing that they would take no more entries on the day for the classes, “the committee felt that we couldn’t turn people away after they had travelled to the show”.

This meant that the RIHS mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes started later than their scheduled 1pm, which is the time stipulated by the NPS rules regarding these classes to avoid repeating an incident whereby the last qualifying classes of the day were cancelled due to the light.

What ensued was a mammoth effort by organisers, judges and competitors to ensure that didn’t happen despite starting later than expected. Julie said, “We took the decision to move several of our committee and stewards down to the workers ring to put measures in place to ensure that everyone could jump. It really was a sterling effort by everyone concerned, particularly our judges, Paul Cook and Gillian Cowell, and course builder, Stephen Craddock, and we were delighted with the cooperation and support of the competitors”.

To run the classes as efficiently as possible, judges and stewards kept competitors moving swiftly through the ring to get everyone jumped and the final class’ shows and conformation sections were judged indoors, as was the championship.

“When we came to the last class, we were losing light and we asked competitors directly if they wished to continue with the class and the majority wanted to go ahead. David Ingle, RIHS show director was in attendance and Paul Cook BSPS Chairman was a judge, so we really did have a lot of experience around the ring to ensure that we were jumping as safely as possible. Our course builder amended the course, and we did complete the class. It is interesting to note that our first, second and third placed ponies in that last class all came from the last five ponies to jump,” said Julie.

Course builder Stephen Craddock echoed her sentiments: “The show had fantastic entries; it was a really, really well supported show so to a certain extent, they were victims of their own success. I sympathise with organisers who responded to

competitors requests for more classes. Unfortunately, they were inundated with entries on the day meaning it ran later than anticipated. With forward-thinking judges, willing competitors a strong committee, they pulled it off and manged to get everyone round within the time constraints”.

Competitors responded positively to the efforts made. Vicki Casey, who rode her own Frederiksminde Volcano to the section tricolour said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the show and the way everyone pulled together to crack on was brilliant”.

Anna Chaplin, whose partner Ross Keys won the final class of the day riding Dycott Welsh King before going on to stand reserve champion agreed. Anna said: “The judges [Paul Cook and Gillian Cowell] were amazing. They were sensible in how they got everything done and remained in good spirits, being chirpy with competitors throughout. They worked their socks off to get the job done and we couldn’t have asked more of them. It’s easy to forget that they had homes to get to, too.

“There was great camaraderie amongst the competitors. To be honest, even when the class before was jumping, we didn’t think it would be possible for us to compete, but when you look at what else is going on in the world, it didn’t feel so bad. We chilled out for the afternoon and even had a two-course roast dinner in the cafe!”

Whilst the show was successful in getting the job done, it does highlight broader questions about the timetabling of working hunter pony qualifiers and the necessity of running other classes before qualifying classes begin.

Julie stated, “The quantity of entries were not only unexpected, but unprecedented, and we fully intend to look at our timetabling for future shows so that if this situation ever occurred again we would have measures in place to manage this.” But just how might they do that?

With the cost of travel, for working hunter afficionado and Native Pony columnist Amy Smith, the prospect of cancelled qualifying classes in favour of novice or training classes is unthinkable, especially considering the rising costs of living.

Assuming it’s impossible to run training classes in a different ring, one easy solution is to cap the number of entries allowed into the preceding classes. This could be done on a first come UKP&H mountain and moorland working hunter pony champions Vicki Casey and Frederiksminde Volkano

first serve basis. However, this doesn’t allow for absolute fairness as it inevitably leaves some who may have wanted that extra round disadvantaged and without a warm-up. Incidentally, also enjoying an apparent advantage are native ponies who also compete in plaited sections. These ponies and their riders could find themselves jumping two courses in one day. The first could be seen as a practice round whichever way the sections are timetabled.

Mountain and moorland working hunter pony competitor Jodie Haywood argues that qualifying hopefuls shouldn’t need to jump a practice round in training classes such as the NPS’ training stakes and the BSPS’ Winter Worker series. Jodie said: “I think that qualifiers should run before any novice or training stakes classes; if the ponies need a practice round, then I don’t feel they’re ready to be jumping qualifiers. From a selfish point of view, it would currently suit me better to have training/novice classes before the qualifiers as I have two novice ponies who aren’t up to jumping a qualifier straight off just yet. But I’ve made the decision to run them both as novices for the season and hopefully step up a level next year”. Amy Smith agrees and argues that open competitors should reserve training stakes rounds for rebuilding confidence “if things go wrong”.

Amy’s fellow Native Pony columnist, Janine Peterson, tends to agree with Amy, that with the tougher tracks first it “enables any damage to be repaired” in later classes. Besides, she adds, “the first couple of fences are usually very inviting to get you into the swing of things. As a rider, if you are jumping babies around novices then have a qualifier they can look much more challenging because you’ve been in ‘baby nanny mode’ but if qualifiers run first, you start your day on your more experienced ride with a positive outlook”.

Of course, rider outlook is an important consideration. The

training stakes classes can be as much about confidence building for the rider as they are about practice for the pony or for the combination. As a latecomer to the working hunter pony scene, Maggie Simons says: “In principle I agree with Amy and Jodie’s point of view. However, as a ‘not-so-confident’ jockey, I do find the practice fence scenario quite stressful and intimidating so I like to have a few fences to get myself in the swing before starting a big round. NPS Area 12 last year ran a clear round with 5 or 6 fences before the RIHS qualifier, with novice classes and so on run later in the day. For me, that was helpful without feeling like it was totally fraudulent of me entering the qualifier”.

Lara Joslin agrees: “Often working in arenas are very busy and lots of competitors are stressed. My cob hates horses coming towards him, so I find it better to find a corner elsewhere as I’d rather keep him happy. But that does mean I don’t manage to jump the practice fence as many times as I’d like, so when there is a training stakes or clear round, I often take that opportunity to do it and have a few quiet jumps to myself. It’s far less stressful!”

Is the option of a ‘clear round’, therefore, the answer? It could be set as a tough but short track. Then, with no prospect of a rosette or qualification and a challenging course in sight, novice or less confident competitors who truly need the ‘training’ won’t be tempted to enter. The training classes these competitors need could be run elsewhere.

With venue hire, course builders, insurance and affiliation costs to consider, it makes financial sense for shows to run attractive options for competitors where they will be most lucrative if at all possible. The clear round would allow shows to profit from the extra entry fees that training classes attract without the associated problems witnessed by UK P&H. What do you think? Send us your thoughts to beth.simons@ showingworldonline.co.uk

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 7

running

RABBIT

On the Quantocks ride, photo from True To You Photography

Sally and her Highland pony, Rabbit, live in Dorset and compete in endurance. Long distance riding saved their partnership after a very wobbly start.

“After riding my friend’s safe, dependable, adorable Highland pony who was like a comfy sofa on legs, I decided to get one of my own. My very first pony.

“But Rabbit turned out to be less like a comfy sofa and more like a bar stool spinning out of control! I had never ridden anything like her. She was so quirky and spooky, bucking, spooking, spinning...a big bundle of energy with virtually no brakes. This wasn’t the safe plod I had been hoping for.

“She was a young, feisty, opinionated pony and I was inexperienced. I completely lost my nerve riding her. It got to the point that my hands would shake just trying to tack up and for six months, after a particularly scary incident, I couldn’t face getting on at all.

Rabbit hated anything involving an arena and showing just wasn’t my bag. The only thing we ‘enjoyed’ together was hacking. But we weren’t happy hackers…terrified hackers more like! I wrote an ad to sell her but just could not bring myself to do it. I was worried she

would keep getting passed on.

“I had never heard of endurance riding until I stumbled across a promotional stand at an equine fair. And the rest, as they say, is the most wonderful history…

“Endurance is long distance riding – but when you are just starting out that ‘long’ distance can be as little as a five kilometres pleasure ride – so eminently achievable!

“The lovely ladies assured me it wasn’t just a sport for huge, posh Arabs, and even a bonkers native pony could give it a go. So, on New Year’s Eve in 2016, after a very large glass of red wine, I signed up as a member of Endurance GB. “I’ll never forget the first ride. It was February, snowing and I was utterly petrified. I adopted a foetal position as Rabbit started cantering on the spot and broncing before we even got to the start line. Twenty-two kilometres later we came back in one piece. I was ecstatic. I got off and promptly burst into tears of relief and happiness. I had actually managed to tire Rabbit out enough to enjoy riding her!

“We found our sport - more than that - endurance has been the making of us, building confidence and a wonderful partnership over many kilometres.

The early rides were pretty hairy, but giving her a job to do, a job that actually burned some of that energy up, helped calm her

-and me! - down. It gave us a focus and going to new places made her less spooky.

“Of course, this being a Highland pony, we’ve had plenty of drama, including Rabbit dropping to the floor mid-ride to roll in mud, trying to eat a steward’s Hi-Viz vest, taking off after some wild horses and starting a stampede, going bananas over some llamas and deciding to go solo, triggering a search party, after dumping me off 10k from the finish line.

“I have learnt so much about myself and Rabbit and what makes us tick as a team but also about horse welfare - fitness, diet, management and the care needed to keep a pony slim, fit and in tip-top condition. Endurance is a brilliant teacher.

“Rabbit is less natural athlete and more hairy blancmange, so our endurance season prepping begins with a diet. She lives out 24/7 but grazing needs to be restricted. Without intervention, she starts to look like a Zeppelin with a mane.

“Like all natives, Rabbit is genetically stuck in permanent survival mode and therefore effectively a giant, furry, undiscriminating hoover. I have pulled feed sack entrails, a plastic scourer and even a toy rubber duck - don’t ask - out of that furry snout before now.

week consists of a long conditioning ride, a shorter faster ride if time is tight, and then a combo of either canter track time, poles and/or long-lining.

“Chunkier ponies can feel tired and slow to start with but the energy comes with the fitness and the fitness comes with the work. Real, sweaty work that gets them out of puff. And although it feels like an uphill slog at the start, season upon season a little of that base fitness clings on and builds. It does get easier.

“And it is worth the effort. There is nothing like the glow you get walking away from a vetting with lovely comments about condition ringing in your ears. A super-fit native is a sight to behold. “ #TeamRabbit completed 234 km in that first year, winning the Wessex Pleasure ride shield. We went on to win the Wessex novice and native breeds trophies. In 2019 we upgraded to open, attempting faster speeds and longer distances, winning the Wessex open trophy!

The same year we completed 79km for England at the Home International in Wales.

“I’m so very proud of Rabbit. she’s gone from a muddy, fluffy, tearaway pony to a little star and is proof that endurance is for everyone. We just love it and I hope we can persuade other owners of muddy fluffy ponies to have a go and love it as much as we do.”

“Sparse grazing bulked out by soaked hay or timothy haylage, a cup of low-cal balancer, straw based lo-cal chaff and a mug of sugar beet. It’s a no-frills diet. I use a weight tape and condition scoring to monitor her progress. The only concession to her mileage is a joint supplement, a top-up of biotin and, when the season’s in full swing, some micronized linseed.

On the Three Rivers Ride, photo from True To You Photography

“Rabbit is clipped year-round which also helps burn a few calories and only rugged in a 0g to keep her clean, dry and rideable.

“The magic ingredient for weight loss isn’t to be found in any feed, it’s simply work. Thoughtful, regular work: walking briskly, striding out, decent mileage, hills. Later, some canter and interval work. The golden rule is distance before speed.

“She gets four days of proper work a week. Rest and recovery are important. Steady and incremental wins the native fitness race. Our

Follow The Rabbit: https://www.facebook.com/EnduranceRabbit

About Endurance GB Endurance GB run pleasure rides of between 5km and 34km, and competitive rides from 20km through to 160km in a day. All rides are marked, and you get a full set of ride instructions including a map. The beauty of this sport is that you can set your own challenges - a lovely weekend of relaxed and fun riding in countryside that you would not normally have access to or having a go at longer distances or more challenging rides. Any kind of horse, and any kind of rider, can have a go at Endurance. There are even Shetlands, Shires, donkeys and mules giving it a go!

New for 2022: get £10 in Endurance GB ride tokens when you take part in a ‘Try Before You Buy’ Novice Graded Endurance Ride. So why not give it a go?

Discover more: https://egb.myclubhouse.co.uk/Cms/ Spaces/JOINING/GoEnduranceGB info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 9

10 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

NATIVE PONY NOSTALGIA 21 years ago, the first ever issue of Native Pony was released, filling the gap left when Sue Baker’s ‘Going Native’ sadly closed in 1996. The April/May 2001 issue of The Native Pony featured on its cover an Exmoor mare and foal in their natural habitat taken by Andrea Heumann and Klaus Sparwasser on a visit from Germany. Featured in that issue was the Parker family’s Charmian, a Highland pony who took part in the Golden Horseshoe Ride. As we are featuring Endurance competitor Sally Rowe and her super Highland pony, Brownbread Easter Rabbit, in this issue, we thought our readers might enjoy delving into the archive and rereading Charmian’s story.

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 11

PONY in the

SPOTLIGHT

Townend Schubert

By Rebecca Penny I can still vividly remember my first encounter with Schubert: he stood proud, was full of quality with a beautiful “swan front” and that little extra bit of ‘je ne sais quoi’ that made him stand out a mile in a field full of Fell foals. I was in awe of him, and he was earmarked that very day as a future ridden prospect for myself.

Bred in Cumbria at the Townend Stud, Schubert’s sire Heltondale Bonzo Boy, was selected by stud founder, Eddie Wilson, in 2002, as the stud’s stallion. He’s been an influential stock-getter, siring many successful ponies under the Townend Prefix. Schubert’s dam, Townend Shandy, has bred ten foals and is still with the semi-feral herd today, running on the northern fells of Cumbria. Shandy, as well as her offspring, have seen significant success in the show ring. Schubert’s great-grandsire was the notable Townend Flash II, who was nine times champion at the Fell Pony Society Stallion Show and another who sired many champion ponies. Eddie Wilson sadly passed away in 2003 leaving his passion for breeding and showing Fell ponies to be continued by his wife Margaret, daughter Penny and the family.

Schubert spent his early years in Lancashire at the Sutcliffe’s Darrenvale Stud where I’d regularly keep tabs on him. He had a good grounding and covered a handful of mares, resulting in Darrenvale Pandora who would be the first of his progeny to have a ridden career qualifying for both HOYS and RIHS. Before arriving at my home in Cheshire as a gangly, immature and a fairly timid three-year-old, he still had all the attributes I'd admired years earlier. Whilst he was approaching ridden age, I felt it was too soon for him to be broken and he would benefit from some more one-to-one time. I'd spend hours messing, desensitising him and getting him to be a little more trusting of people. I would 12 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

proudly introduce him to everyone who visited as the best pony I’d ever bought, although I'm not convinced they all shared the same vision at the time.

Unfortunately, when I sustained a major spinal injury which left me immobile for a time, it was inevitable that my ponies had to be sold. Whilst I came to terms with the majority flying the nest, I was adamant that the “little black hairy one” was staying exactly where he was, in the stable I could see from my bedroom. Unable to leave the house, my non-horsey mum used to bring Schubert down the garden so I could see him. For a young stallion that had every opportunity to do whatever he wanted, it always struck me that he was so gentle and mannerly. To this day, I’m sure he was the one thing that kept me sane during that time and he’s undoubtedly the main reason I was so determined to defy all advice from the surgeons and ride again.

Afterall, I had to prove to everyone he was as good as I'd proclaimed.

Still not physically in great shape, I procrastinated for a while but in May 2013, I made the decision to pack up Bert’s things and send him to Berkshire to be broken by Aimee Devane. I’d always admired how Aimee’s ponies looked and went and after a few telephone conversations, felt she would do right by my pride and joy.

He wasn't the easiest of ponies to break being slightly nervous, and it took a while for him to feel comfortable having someone on board.

However, with time and a very sympathetic approach, he slowly began to blossom.

2014 saw him enter the ridden ring. He was deliberately kept as a novice but enjoyed remarkable success, standing champion on seven occasions from almost as many outings. He wasn’t fazed by any atmosphere, although he did heavily rely on us for reassurance. We soon figured out his obscure little quirks: if he got a single bead of

sweat on his numnah, he’d continuously buck, he hated the ground changing colour, and if you got him up too early he’d be fuming. But done “Bert’s way”, he’d give you his all.

2015 came and he was ready to step up a gear. His first open class was the Olympia qualifier at Suffolk County. I’d had a particularly bad few weeks with my back and had to be driven five hours to the show lay on a mattress, unsure if I’d manage to ride. To his credit, Bert practically carried me round the ring whilst I sat on top like Ragdolly Anna. He surpassed all expectations to stand champion and earn his place at the Christmas final. This was closely followed by his first HOYS Ticket.

He was never over shown and had very limited outings that year. We prepared him for HOYS and Olympia with no real expectations. Yet despite being a young and relatively inexperienced pony, he rose to both occasions standing Fell/Dales Pony of the Year at HOYS and then standing overall champion at Olympia that Christmas. To my utter delight, he’d become the superstar I had always envisaged.

In early 2016 I received a telephone call from Bridget Garner, a longstanding friend who’d watched Bert at Olympia alongside Terry Pendry. She asked if I’d consider allowing him to be part of pageant at the Royal Windsor Horse Show to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th Birthday as they both felt he would be the perfect pony for her

It was fairly nerve wracking to let a tiny child go off on a stallion surrounded by hundreds of horses, carriages, the Household Cavalry and cannons, not to mention the thousands of spectators at Windsor Castle and millions on TV. However, I needn't have worried; they were faultless, and Bert loved every moment of the limelight. Bert even presented the BBC Weather and got celebrity duo, Ant and Dec, feeding him polos in his stable.

Shortly after his performance in front of Her Majesty, we were asked if we would allow him to cover one of her own mares, Murthwaite Dawn Chorus. We felt he had the right temperament to combine ridden and stud work and agreed, also then allowing others to use him via AI. He's since gone on to cover a number of mares for Her Majesty and other Fell pony breeders, some of which are about to embark on a ridden career.

Bert went on to further ridden success winning his class at HOYS in both 2016 and 2017 and winning the RIHS in 2016 on his only visit. 2018 would just be spent enjoying him at my favourite shows and covering before retiring him from flat classes. Being only eight years old, it left us with a predicament: what could he do next? Bert loved his job too much and was too young to simply retire to stud, so we felt we should explore some other avenues. He enjoyed some success in the dressage arena with Aimee’s friend, Ginny Duncan.

The pair qualified for the BD Regionals and much to our surprise, he absolutely loved to jump - far more than myself or Aimee! Aimee’s groom at the time, Amber Thorpe, stepped up and took over the reins. Amber, Aimee, and Bert worked hard at home preparing for some novice classes, and in true Bert style he took supreme on his first outing over sticks. He continued to deliver in the worker ring, however a family bereavement sadly meant Amber had to return to her Suffolk base and either myself or Aimee needed to find some brave pants to continue. Aimee rose to the challenge and the bond they had really showed; he was crowned supreme working hunter at the BSPS championships in his novice year, and the year after he won two HOYS 143cm working hunter pony qualifiers - no mean feat for a little black pony who has since remeasured at just 131.6 cm.

In December 2021, Bert left Follywood, for the first time in nine years to start a new partnership with Staffordshire based Ellena Thomas, who has leased him for the season. Ellena is currently enjoying getting to know him, having fun at some clinics and stood champion with him at her first show.

then twelve-year-old daughter, Kinvara, to ride in a scene depicting the young Queen and Princess Margaret learning to ride with instructor Sybil Smith. It sounded exciting and I agreed to take Kinvara down to have a sit on Bert to see how they got on. Plans came together and that May, we headed off to Windsor to take part in the HMQ90 pageant.

I'm sure nobody would challenge me now when I say, he’s definitely the best pony I ever bought, and whilst it's hard to summarise just how much he’s achieved, the joy he's brought to so many of us makes him even more remarkable and hopefully he has plenty of progeny to follow in his footsteps. info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 13

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.

Marina Greenway, Eyarth Braveheart Jessica Regan’s Eyarth Braveheart has now turned his hoof to dressage under his producer of three years, Marina Greenway.

Braveheart is an 11-year-old Welsh section B

by Eyarth Tacoma and out of Eyarth Davita.

After a very successful inhand and ridden showing career, including standing second at HOYS and champion at the Royal Welsh show, he is now turning his hoof to the dressage arena.

His initial foray into dressage has proved successful with some brilliant scores and a few wins at BD. Jessica said: “Braveheart is a massive personality which even his dressage sheets have noted, with one judge commenting that he is ‘a lovely horse with sass’! Hopefully he can continue to give the warmbloods a run for their money as we look to try and qualify for the BD Quest finals.” Photo credit: Tanya Davis Photography.

Ruth Darling, Islesman of Mendick Islesman of Mendick is a 10-year-old working highland stallion who combines a successful showing career with affiliated dressage.

Owned and ridden by Ruth Darling, Islesman was affiliated to British Dressage in 2017 and has 233 points, 55 of those being at medium level and is currently working at advanced medium at home. He has qualified for every regional at novice, elementary and medium level over the years and was second in the Scottish regional novice silver final in 2019 however his most recent and notable result was winning the medium silver Petplan winter area festival at Netherton Equestrian, Perth and qualifying for the Petplan finals at Hartpury in April with 67.25per cent.

Islesman’s noteworthy showing results include Blair Highland Pony Show in hand reserve twice, Royal Highland Show 4,5 and 6yr old ridden class winner twice, Royal Highland Show reserve ridden champion, Highland Pony Breed Show novice ridden champion, Blair Highland Pony Show novice ridden champion and has qualified twice at the Scottish Horse Show for HOYS Highland ridden final.

Islesman’s progeny include Lucinda Dargavel’s, successful show ring winner, Majesty of Mendick and Sarah Gemmell’s, performance and showing victor, Strathleven Achiltibuie.

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Georgia Oley and Tina Georgia Oley and her nine-year-old Welsh section B mare Tina have been together for two years, with Georgia falling in love with dressage during that time. They are affectionately known by Georgia’s family as G&T! It’s not been plain sailing as Georgia, 14, was scared to canter Tina as she is a big-moving pony in need of work on her balance. Tina needed to know that she was a Welsh pony not a Warmblood!

They have had an impressive competition record so far, including winning their quest regionals at Tushingham at intro level in 2020 and winning a Cooke dressage competition at Aintree in 2021. ‘G&T’ also dipped their hooves into the world of showing, qualifying and winning the junior equitation and plaited show pony classes at STARS. They qualified for the winter area festivals with just one outing and attended their favourite venue, Aintree Equestrian and were thrilled to take seventh place and be in the mounted presentation.

Their aim is to compete at elementary towards the end of the year.

Lucy Bailey and Buttslawn Olympus

Lucy Bailey and New Forest pony Buttslawn Olympus qualified for the Discovery 90cm Blue Chip championship at Cherwell with a double clear. Lucy and Olympus compete in BS showjumping meetings. COVID has meant they have had less opportunities to compete over the past few years, but they were part of the junior riding club team that won the 80cm championship last September. The pair also compete in the school’s showjumping series. This is Lucy’s last year in juniors and so they are hoping to finish the year doing 90cm and 1m classes before next year registering Olympus as a horse with BS and competing in senior classes despite him being only 144cm meaning that he will be one of the smallest registered. They have also qualified for the Sunshine Tour at Hickstead several times and Lucy hopes to do so again this year along with competing for the Hampshire Academy teams.

Elin Wilson and Perrilands Dancing With Stars Perrilands Dancing With Stars [Henry] was bred by Lyndon Barrow and is by Hanmer Wizard out of Willoway Honesty. Elin Wilson was just ten years old when she took over the ride towards the end of 2020. Since then, the pair have formed a great partnership, taking part in all disciplines and being active Pony Club members. Elin and Henry have successfully competed in working hunter pony classes, British Dressage competitions, in showjumping and they qualified for the highly competitive NSEA arena eventing championships at Hickstead. They also qualified for the Pony Club Championships in tetrathlon, showjumping, eventing and dressage, plus the British Riding Club Winter Dressage Championships and the BRC Combined Challenge and are set to take the competition calendar by storm again this year.

Lisa Evans and Syfyrdin Solitude Lisa and her own homebred Welsh section D mare Syfydrin Solitude have been enjoying continuing their BD campaign. They finished in third place at the BD Petplan Area Festivals and have been out competing since with the aim of moving up to medium level for the summer Area Festival.

They’ve had a great start to their qualification journey, winning both their medium classes with a score of 68.2% in Medium 69 and 65.8% in Medium 73. Lisa has also been competing in the E-Riders series, finding them a great training tool as they use listed BD judges. Soli and Lisa are currently leading the Medium league. Photo credit: Simon Rees.

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Tracy Turner and Penybrenin Brenin Tracy Turner and eight-year-old Penybrenin Brenin [Murphy] have recently started arena eventing and he has qualified for the 60 and 70cm finals at the NPS Arena Eventing finals. Tracy explained that when she first acquired Murphy three years ago, he had such a fear of jumping that they even had to place poles to walk over just outside his stable door.

“Fast forward two years and he’s now flying,” said Tracy, adding that hunting over the winter has brought him on so enormously. “We aim to compete in working hunter pony classes this summer after having a dabble last year and also do some dressage,” said Tracy.

Imogen Hargreaves and Menai Lord Cameron Imogen, 15, and her Welsh section C pony, Menai Lord Cameron have had a great start to their 2022 campaign.

The pair have already qualified for the RIHS in the open ridden Welsh section C and D class at their first attempt, and have also qualified for the NPS National Dressage championships at both prelim and novice level and have also qualified for the BD summer area festivals at novice.

Hannah Goodman and Rooska Benny Jessica Limb’s eight-year-old Connemara pony Rooska Benny attended his first competition with his new rider Hannah Goodman.

Competing at the UK Armed Forces Equestrian Championships at Bury Farm, the pair jumped clear and finished second out of 57 riders in the 85cm showing jumping class and won the team 95cm jumping for South Yorkshire police.

Stephanie Richards and Maesmynach Independence

Seren-Jaye Ridgley and Littlewern Lake Seren-Jaye Ridgley, 8, and her Welsh section A, Littlewern Lake were recently 11th at the BRC Winter Novice Championships at Arena UK. They have also secured their first round Trailblazers qualification at intro and prelim levels. “This pair have been together since Seren was born and everything they do, they have learnt together. Seren is now on the verge of outgrowing her beloved pony so they’re really pushing themselves this year,” said Seren’s mum, Rachel Jerrard.

Stephanie Richards and her mother, Freya Richards’ Welsh section D, Maesmynach Independence mare have recently moved up the dressage ranks to compete at advanced medium level. Now 15, Freya has owned the mare since she was a freshly backed four-year-old and Stephanie has brought her on ever since.

Stephanie told us that she is apparently named Independence because when she was purchased as a foal, she was brought in with her mother but then turned round and galloped off back to her friends, leaving her mother on the yard.

“She’s certainly still very strong minded,” said Stephanie.

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JANINE The Native Pony Enthusiast

A mixed bag...

Well this month has been full of ups and downs!! Bessie is still in the garage, but I was very kindly lent a lorry by my good friend Jodi Cameron...we made good use of the “Cleemobil” as she’s fondly named!

I’m currently being sent some lovely ponies for starting; Shadow, a lovely athletic Connemara went back to her owner, Amanda Lane, after four weeks with me and Amanda will continue hacking her until she’s stronger. I currently have two lovely New Forests: a four-year-old gelding and a beautiful six-year-old mare, so I’m keeping super busy as I am also hard at it with my own competition team.

Teddy and Dex had a lovely time at NPS area 24 spring show, Dex picking up his Novice WHP ticket and standing novice champion, he did a lovely clear in the intermediate too, but I missed a jump...so we won’t talk about that too much!

Teddy had a spin around the open class, winning and also qualifying for the champs too! A successful day!

Next stop was NPS area 10 at The Grange in Devon. Dex had a bash at his first RI WHP qualifier, it was actually his first time indoors too which was quite a tall ask - maybe I should have done the training stakes?! He got more confident and improved as the round went on, so lots learnt even though we had 3 poles.

Teddy was quite excited but jumped well in the RIHS qualifier. We had an unusual two poles due to the limited space and his over-enthusiasm, but with no clears in that class and he was third.

The committee worked hard to make the show work, due to last minute worries about the surface on the outdoor arena for jump classes, the workers were moved indoors. Stephen Craddock built great courses all day in limited space, however I would welcome a venue change next year, the warmup area was not suitable and personally I would rather jump on grass than on a bad surface. Area shows need all the support they can get and it’s so easy to put people off coming again if changes aren’t made.

A change of discipline for a lovely mid-week event at Portman BE. The first run of the season and what a super event! Slightly busy because I was on my own with two ponies, due to poor Sharon being unwell...the relief she didn’t try to come is huge, because she later ended up in hospital with a ruptured appendix, wishing her a speedy recovery!!!

Roo produced a lovely test scoring 29.5, Teddy was a little hard done by scoring 33, for what felt like one of his nicest tests to date. SJ was always going to be tricky with Roo, having had no lorry we’ve not jumped away from home since Bicton in October...couple that with very slippery going, Roo full of beans and not really caring to listen to me at all!

We were lucky to “only” have three poles quite frankly!! Roo more than made up for his unruliness cruising around the XC though.

Star of the day Teddy jumped superbly, double clear and very easily inside the time, to come 9th in his section!

Teddy and Roo will be going to Bicton BE90 next, if that goes well, we will move Teddy back up to BE100 as his dressage will be more competitive at that level. With Roo I will see how Badminton goes, he has qualified for a few Area Festivals so I’ll see which ones we want to go after.

Sonic and Dex have an unaffiliated event at the start of May, if that goes well, they will get cracking with some BE80’s... exciting stuff!

Roo was on three legs several weeks previously, I went to deliver Willoway Handsome Harry to his lovely new home in Epsom and on my return Roo who had moved a hind shoe a few days previously and stood on the quarter clip, was very distressed. My horror on returning at 8pm on a Saturday night, poor Roo was trembling and his breathing was fast, he had removed his poultice...I tried tubbing his foot and luckily after 1/2 hour of that Roo settled down! My Badminton dreams were flashing before my eyes, it was very traumatic!

Consequently, Roo had ten days of no work and so hence not being the best prepared for Portman, hopefully we are back on track now and can go full steam ahead for our run up to Badminton.

RUTH ON THE HOOF THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING

Old Peculiar (left) the veteran and Odin

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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RUTH CHAMBERLAIN I have not been on many adventures outside of Cumbria in recent months, but I have been spending plenty of time with the ponies local to me. Like the rest of the UK, we have had some quite dramatic fluctuations in weather – from very warm to very cold in the space of a day or so. I would just like to take this moment to remind owners to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of Equine Grass Sickness – one of the risk factors is thought to be cool, dry weather with overnight frosts. There is some great online support now, and please do spread the word about the Equine Grass Sickness Biobank which has just completed its one year anniversary. This Biobank is providing crucial research into this devastating disease that can strike at any time, anywhere.

Please make your equine vet (and fellow owners) aware of this Biobank – it only has two more years to collect data and samples to help combat this disease. You can find out more by visiting www.grasssickness.org.uk/biobank/ Now, back to the ponies! I am always in awe of how adaptable ponies are to changes in weather, bearing in mind that many have started to lose their winter coat. They have still been merrily getting on with life out on the fell or in the nature reserve despite the ‘charming’ gales, rainstorms and snow that the county is known for.

I spent a wonderful morning out on the fell with one herd of Fell ponies. I don’t visit these ones often, but they were very sweet and curious. The single grey mare seemed the

Amadeus (right) and Mozart boxing - Spring is here info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 19

A warm Spring morning on the fell

most laid back and very much in charge of the rest that morning. On my walk up, many of the younger ones were having a snooze and were sporting some spectacular ‘bed hair’ when they stood and came over to investigate!

The following week we had quite a bit of snowfall and I decided to go home via the fell road where I came across one of the herds in a different place to where I normally do. I had expected them to be sheltering around the gorse lower in the valley as they often do in cold weather, but instead they were relatively high up for this group. Whether the mild weather had made them gradually ascend over the past week or not was hard to say, but it was nice to see them up there. One was actually in a rush bog having a drink and

The Fell ponies usual spot for shelter during snow - this was taken earlier in the year

A few weeks earlier it had been glorious warm sunshine

Fell pony jumping into Spring

a splash – it was far too cold for me to follow her in. Some of the others were climbing onto steeper slopes to graze and one or two even had a sprightly jump over a ditch. Despite the cold weather, there was definitely spring in the air.

I went on to a local nature reserve to visit the Moorland Mousie Trust ponies. These boys provide me with such interesting insights into their behaviour and life throughout the year.

Springtime comes and usually there will be a boxing match or two. When I arrived, it was another cold day, and spring felt very far away indeed. The first group were very spread out and grazing, with the main stallion, Amadeus, out in the wetland grazing alongside the veteran gelding, Old Peculiar.

Whilst Amadeus is in charge, I will say the Old Peculiar does not take any nonsense from him, and later on this day it made me laugh to see Amadeus get quite frisky with the geldings and Old Peculiar just turned and gave him such a filthy look that Amadeus immediately stopped and went off to graze. One of the ponies, Clint, was grazing amongst the silver birch trees, and Mozart the ‘lone wolf’ stallion was doing his own thing. All seemed relaxed and I stayed watching them for a while. Then I saw Amadeus put his head up and sniff the air – he could smell Mozart and just began to leisurely walk in his direction. To the average visitor it wouldn’t seem like anything at all, and both boys were very chilled until they got close and then they had a

little box at each other. Yep, spring is definitely here!

The other three boys, who are constantly up to no good, were harder to track down. But they all came running over once they recognised me. Gerald loves a scratch, and he arrives and presents his neck immediately for one. The other two are not tame at all, but they stick close to Gerald, so it allows me to give all of them a good look over for signs of injury. The three of them were eating dock leaves, weeds and rushes over the grass that was coming through. It just shows how wonderful ponies are as grazers; many assume all they eat is grass, but it simply is not true and through their grazing they create wonderfully biodiverse habitats.

The beautiful grey mare watching over the herd

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Decorating a race in Brno. The colours for placings are different than in GB. 1 yellow, 2 white, 3 red 4 blue 5 green Credit; Martina Nevěřilova

On Your Markes…

Shetland enthusiast, Renata Marková of the Markes stud was struck by the prestige of the Shetland racing series, the dexterity of the young jockeys and the fierce competition. She instantly knew it was something she wanted to get involved with. The only barrier was that Renata and her ‘Hřebčín Markes’ – Markes stud – are actually based in the Czech Republic.

Undeterred, Renata set about bringing the races to the Czech Republic. “I thought that it would be possible to bring this discipline to life in our country. In the Czech Republic pony races were already being held, but the ponies were without origin or were of varied breeding,” explained Renata. Meanwhile, Shetland breeders found that they needed to expand the breed’s market. Renata explained: “All our ponies are registered in the SPS-BS, mother stud book as well as the Czech Stud Book. When producing quality foals, we got into a situation where we did not want to sell them, but couldn’t breed from all of them, so I thought about gaps in the market”.

She began by founding a group, the ‘Shetkland pony race team CZ’, to bring together fellow enthusiasts. “We have three founding members: Karolína Marková, Ondřej Bláha and myself,” said Renata, “then there are the children and parents who support this sport”. As of yet, the team have not secured an official sponsor.

In 2020, Renata set about convincing the management of the Pony League, a division of the Czech Jockey Club, of the importance of a section for Shetland ponies. Her efforts worked. Since then, the team have been part of a series of races for ponies, but occupy their own separate section exclusively for registered Shetland ponies.

The racing Shetland ponies come from Renata’s own Markes herd as well as from other Czech studs, and are all registered in the Czech Stud Book. The races are also supported by the Czech Association of Shetland Pony Breeders which tracks and analyses the results.

The Shetland Pony Breeders’ Cup is awarded to the

Unbeaten in 2021 Markes Gioia and Danuška Semerádová lead the race followed

by KImba & Lucie Chmelarova - Credit Tomáš Holcbecher

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The first race - Steeple Chase in Pardubice - Credit Věra Markova

Markes Gioia & jockey Danuška Semerádová, Czech Derby Winners 2021

Czech Derby 2021 - Credit Tomáš Holcbecher Renata Marková organizer of Czech races for Shetland Pony

winning breeder. The ponies are trained by Mrs. Vendula Hořínková in the training centre of the UNICORN z.s.

Velká Bystřice. Training the junior jockeys in tackling steeplechase-style fences also begins there.

Just as the British Shetland Grand National and the Shetland Performance Display Team are invited to race meets or shows to give their racing displays and presentations, the Czech team have also seen invites begin to drop. In 2021, they were invited to provide entertainment at the Czech Derby meet in Velká Chuchle, Prague. Their first exhibition on the grounds of the Racecourse in Pardubice was also a resounding success.

And the future? Renata was resolutely positive: “I believe that our membership base and the number of small jockeys will grow, and this sport will reach the highest possible level”.

Kevin ridden by Eliška Pajerová and Lilia Domino & Andrejka Petříková Credit; Martina Nevěřilova

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 23

V

intage

By Robert Parker Jones

treasure

When the Lloyd family were blessed with a baby girl, much discussion took place before a decision was made on a name. Helen was chosen, and Dad was dispatched to register the birth. However, when he returned he announced that he had changed his mind and decided that Marjorie – after the baby’s mother – was the name he had opted for.

Marjorie was soon shortened to Madge and the original name was only ever used on official documents from then right up to today!

Madge was not born into a horsey family, but she soon realised that ponies needed to be a part of her life. She rode from an early age, begging and borrowing rides from any source in return for hard work and helping out wherever she could. Her enthusiasm once led her to steal the “Rag and Bone” man’s pony and hide it round the corner. Soon discovered, the deed was never repeated.

Bareback riding helped develop her seat and in the early days, the highlight was show jumping at local shows.

Dartmoor ponies had a big impact on Madge and she and her first husband started breeding ponies under the “Hazelhurst” prefix.

Hazelhurst Pepinillo one of the first homebreds was successful for them in the show ring in the early 1970s.

The first two Dartmoor ponies were geldings: Boveycombe Zeus and Springs Spartan, and they were destined for a career under saddle. The mares, Ryland Castanet and Janessa were welcome early additions to the stud and formed a good foundation for the future.

When Madge met and married Paul Taylor, they decided that the ponies they bred in the future would be registered under the “Langfield” prefix. The Hisley and Shilstone Rocks studs were to have a major influence on their future breeding plans. They both believed very strongly that true-to-type was the number one criterion for the stock they bred. Stokeleigh Muffs Pet and Wild Rose along with Blanchford Brandween (from Hisley) were to form the nucleus of future breeding, Brandween being the grand dam of Beverley Hills!

When Brandween was nearing 20 years of age she was covered

by Shilstone Rocks Fastnet Fury, who later was exported to The Falkland Islands. The resultant foal was a filly named Langfield Chanel who was successful as a youngster and later as a brood mare. Chanel would prove an excellent producer of pure and part bred foals that would enjoy considerable success.

In 1992 the Taylor’s visited the Hisley Stud and spotted a fourmonth-old colt foal that they really liked, he was named Saunter

Langfield Beverley Hills Langfield Beverley Hills ridden by Heidi Horsfall

and at weaning, he joined the Langfield Stud in Lancashire as a future sire. He was used on a few mares but unfortunately there was a personality clash between him and another colt, so to avoid any future problems he was sold back to the Jones sisters at Hisley.

After being broken the decision was taken to geld him, he was sold and achieved considerable success under saddle.

Meanwhile Chanel had given birth to a Langfield Hollywood lovely filly by SaunHills competing ter named Langfield as a WHP Beverley Hills [Bev].

It was apparent early on that the filly was very special, but as a youngster she was a little ‘backward’, so the decision was taken to allow her to mature naturally and not show her. When Bev was three, Paul and Madge sold the farm but had been unable to find a property that they liked. One day, Madge was talking to Helen Horsfall who lived nearby, and explained that she had a three-year-old filly that she was hoping would go out under saddle but with circumstances as they were she didn’t know what to do.

Helen offered to take on Bev for her daughter, Heidi, to ride and the pony was duly backed and ridden away by Stuart Stafford.

Bev and Heidi (Stenhouse) were to enjoy considerable success under saddle. Three times winners in succession at The Great Yorkshire Show with placings at both HOYS and RIHS. When Heidi had outgrown Bev she returned to Langfield for Madge’s granddaughter to ride. The Horsfall’s have been lucky enough to purchase a daughter of Bev’s called Langfield Tinsel Town, hopefully for Helen’s granddaughters to ride in the future.

The successes were to continue with granddaughter Lucy (Sheard) when Bev returned home. When she was right, Bev was a star, but like most top ponies she could take advantage if allowed. In 2005 she won the Great Yorkshire and then a class of 38 Langfield Beverley Hills at 15 years of age mountain and moorland first riddens at the BSPS Summer making them easy to ride, has contributed to the success of the Championships and stood champion. This was followed up with a Dartmoor pony as a child’s ridden pony. fourth in the mountain and moorland first ridden class at HOYS. Madge feels that those with an interest in Dartmoors and an The following season her tally of successes was impressive, and she intention to breed them need to avoid following fashion and need finished off the season at HOYS with an eighth in the first ridden to study and look at photographs of ponies from the past. The and a third in the open breed class. In her career under saddle she advice she would offer to anyone would be “LOOK, WATCH and had introduced and looked after two young jockeys and given LEARN!” them the confidence to succeed in top class showing.

The intention had always been to retain Bev, and now it was time for her to join the stud as a brood mare. Altogether she has had five foals at Langfield, Bel Air, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Heights and Tinsel Town. Unfortunately, she lost her second foal but the decision was taken to offer her as a foster mare and this was a job she took to without any fuss and she did a fabulous job raising and caring for the foster foal. Her offspring have followed in her footsteps with all achieving successes in hand and ridden, from lead rein to working hunter pony. Today, at twenty-seven years of age, she is enjoying retirement at home, sprightly and well, the provider of so much fun and enjoyment over the years.

Riding Ponies have been a great success at Langfield, but it is the Dartmoors that have endured and remained favourites with the Taylors. Madge has been a council member of the Dartmoor Pony Society on several occasions, Welfare Officer and Editor of the Diary for many years. She is a Senior Judge for the society and was for a long time instrumental in organising assessment and the probationary judging panel. In her opinion the excellent temperament and athletic movement (without too much extravagance)

Langfield Hollywood Hills ridden by Lucy Sheard

Langfield Hollywood Heights

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PONY OF A LIFETIME TONLYN TIGGER TWO Denton based Katie Brown lives with her boyfriend Adam, and works as a full time Office Manager for a Civils company. She also rides out at Pat and Sharron Morris’ racing yard a couple of mornings a week before work. She has a varied history in ponies and showing, but by now, Katie and her mother, Lorraine, own two Welsh section Ds, a Welsh section C and have one of their “good friend” Gareth Holt’s novice section Ds. Katie made headlines last year when she won the BHS Charity Race at Wetherby. She tells us about Tonlyn Tigger Two. Tonlyn Tigger Two - Equinepix

“My mum and I had been half-heartedly looking for a section C since losing our beloved Taincwm The Quaker, but nothing really fitted the bill. I saw Tigger advertised on Facebook and kept returning to the advert but was too scared to ask how much the seller wanted for him as we didn’t have a lot of money to spend. I went off to Lanzarote on holiday and thought nothing more of it. A few days into my holiday, I had a text from Mum: ‘I have just been and looked at Tigger. I like him; we are buying him’.

“I was simultaneously excited and scared as I hadn’t a clue how we would get the money together. I returned from holiday, and we collected him the following day.

He was a 10-year-old stallion – we gelded him later that year – with lush blonde locks and a wild eye. The first time I rode him we had no saddle to fit him so off I went bareback hacking out with a neck-strap and a handful of mane!

“Tigger was by Abersyfi Moonlight and out of Bodwenarth Brehines Mel. He was the biggest character with an even bigger opinion. Some days, just putting a headcollar or rug on was a challenge. He would corner Mum and I so we often had to call someone to distract him while we

got out. It ended up being quite a comical experience as you landed lucky if you got cornered next to the window and could just jump out. Once you had a headcollar on him, you could do ‘almost’ anything, though I remember I once managed to get a twitch on him to clip his head but he somehow managed to kick me and knocked me out.

“His first time out, he won a huge Picton novice class and was ridden champion at Warrington Show. Then he won a few Welsh breed shows but we didn’t really do any bigger shows as he hated ponies getting too close on the go-round and used to buck in line-up.

“There were so many times when it didn’t go to plan, but one incident stands out. It was at the Great Yorkshire Show. It had taken an hour to load him in the morning and maybe we should have seen the sign to leave him at home. When we got there, we couldn’t get him from the wagon park to the collecting ring; he just would not go, so off I popped and tried to get him back on the lorry. Two hours later I was exhausted from pulling and pushing to try to load him. I sat on the ramp crying, and he just trotted up the ramp past me and stood looking at me like I was in the wrong!

26 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

Katie and Tonyln Tigger Two celebrate their win at HOYS

Katie and Tonlyn Tigger Two at HOYS - ES Photography

“But one day in 2016, everything fell into place; he was supreme ridden at Tudor Rose WPCS show and a couple of weeks later won a massive HOYS qualifier at Midland Counties. It was the only HOYS qualifier I had entered as we just weren’t sure he would cope in the big classes. I will never forget when we were called forward as the winner. I cried; it was just incredible. A few weeks later, he was also reserve champion ridden section C at the National Welsh finals in a real strong class.

“He had a huge talent for jumping, but unfortunately, I was nowhere near as talented. I would to just cling on and hope for the best. To wind up Mum, I entered him for the HOYS workers at Moreton with absolutely no intention of actually doing it. But she made sure I wouldn’t ‘try to be so smart in future’ and off we went. As we were walking the course, we got to fence five and I felt sure he woudn’t jump it. It was huge and being 137cm, he had to jump with the 143cm section. In true Tigger style, we did make

it round at high speed with a squeal and a cheer over every fence, which resulted in a zero for style on the marks sheet.

“He was really sensitive to sounds, especially motorbikes and tractors, but for all Tigger’s quirks, he was the best happyhacker in town and Mum would hop on him to accompany me on youngsters.

After Moreton-In-Marsh, Mum spent the next couple of weeks hacking him up and down the new guided busway with her friend Gail riding her bombproof pony Barney. The busway had Harris fencing for miles and it made noises when stones flicked. The walkway at HOYS also had that fencing so Mum believed we would need to make sure he was used to it to be able to get him to the ring.

“HOYS 2016! What can I say? A £1000 home-produced pony in the ring with the best of the best! I didn’t care if we were last; we had qualified, got there and got into the ring. We did a nice show and he stood like a rock. When they called us forward into the top 11, I thought, “I can’t believe it, I get to do a lap of honour on

my pony!” I was over the moon. When they got to fifth place, I gave him a pat and thought, “never mind, we won’t be anywhere, but what a day we have had”.

“I can clearly recall the announcement that ‘the NPS Baileys Horse Feeds Welsh section C pony of the year, is Tonlyn Tigger Two,’ and the Top Spec arena erupting. I sat for a moment as it just didn’t register that we had won. I am known for talking too much, but I was utterly speechless. I still burst into tears now when I think about it.

“There are so many stories – happy and sad, but the seven and a half years we had with Tigger were the best. He adored my mum and loved bananas! No two days were ever the same and his antics could make me smile, laugh and cry all in the space of a day!

“When I was training for my charity race, I bought a racing saddle, put my stirrups up 15 holes, and galloped him round the fields to get my legs stronger. He was the one pony you could rely on to do random

things like that. Ultimately, he taught me the most important lesson – patience!

“Mum used to say that, as a child, he would have been her dream pony. The truth is that even as adults he was our dream pony; we loved every inch of him.

My only regret is that we didn’t get longer with him and the day we lost him was the hardest and saddest day of my life.”

A little note

“ to anyone in the same boat we were and losing their self-belief: Tigger was very quirky and a lot of hard work went into him. We are home-produced amateurs and there were lots of tears. We frequently almost gave up on showing him as he was so difficult, but we hoped and dreamt that with patience, we would get there.

We didn’t know his breeding, but we loved what we saw. People told us he wasn’t good enough and to give up as we just couldn’t figure him out. But we loved him, we believed in him and I think he loved us too, because when we finally understood each, other he really did make the wildest dreams come true.

The moral of the story is –if you truly love and believe in your pony then you have already won.”

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 27

By Order of

DIESEL THE DALES PONY 28 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

A

rmed with my camera gear, I stepped out of the car and took a huge gulp of ‘that horse yard smell’ that whistled in my general direction, instantly feeling at ease after the long car journey. I was about to meet Karzan Hughes and his Dales loan pony, Diesel.

Karzan started riding only three years prior to this photoshoot at age twenty-six. He managed to find a brilliant teacher and partner in Diesel for this time.

Although Karzan owns two other horses, it is Diesel that has thrust Karzan forward in the Equestrian world in such a short space of time. The pair have tackled the horse-riding journey together, and Karzan has recently begun to focus on rider mindset. “I used to unfairly compare myself and my journey to those who always appeared to be riding and winning, even though I know it takes years to learn and perfect the craft,” said Karzan.

This comment by Karzan resonated so deeply with me.

Imposter syndrome is something that can affect anyone, from any background, in any industry. Being an Equine Photographer by trade, I know all too well that feeling of not being ‘enough’ and constantly comparing myself to others. It’s certainly something that I have learned to overcome, as Karzan has. Horses are the best teachers.

Diesel has taught Karzan to not compare himself to anyone else’s journey, and from this, their partnership has reached great heights.

I wanted to give Karzan a unique way to celebrate his time with this plucky Dales pony. I decided that this ambitious duo was deserving of something that was fun, slightly gritty, and unapologetically renegade - a styled photoshoot inspired by the 20s era, and the history of the “Peaky Blinders” gang.

Diesel couldn’t have been a better model for this shoot. The Dales breed is known for its strength, hardiness, stamina, courage, and intelligence.

He really couldn’t be more fitting for these images.

As an Equine Photographer, I don’t just photograph what we see on the outside of the horse. I capture their hearts, minds, and their characters.

And in this case, I wanted to capture everything that this duo stands for. I help authentic equestrians immortalise their horse’s soul through bespoke pieces of photographic art; Karzan will always have these images to look back on and remember his journey with Diesel.

“Don’t compare yours to anyone else’s journey. Keep doing you, be patient, work hard, and most importantly, give yourself the time you need.” - Karzan Hughes

Flo Knoyle is a Herefordshire based Equine Portrait Photographer covering the entire United Kingdom.

She is recognised for her moody and atmospheric style, and works on a commission basis. Flo told Native Pony about a special commission by order of Diesel the Dales pony. contact@floknoylephotography.co.uk www.floknoylephotography.co.uk @floknoylephotography 07590894420

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Georgie Lewis Roberts and Waverhead Dazzler II Georgie Lewis Roberts was understandably delighted not only to have her 20-year-old Fell stallion, Waverhead Dazzler II [Possum] back out competing, but to also take the Pretty Polly championship and qualify for the RIHS at BSPS Area6. Georgie discovered a sarcoid on Possum’s tummy last autumn that was treated with Liverpool cream. However, a biopsy revealed cancer. Georgie explained: “This started a long road for us.

They found the cancer in November, he then had chemotherapy cream and laser surgery, followed by more chemotherapy cream and injections, before yet another round of chemotherapy cream”. Possum received “the OK” to return to competition just before BSPS Area 6, and it was his first show since all the treatments began.

“He had his second canter in six months in the ring,” said Georgie, who has owned Possum for nine years and purchased him shortly after losing her father. “He was a fab distraction to keep Mum and I leaving the house,” said Georgie, “he helped me get through my degree and is the most amazing pony”.

Louise Shepherd and Colliery Junior Louise and her Dales pony Colliery Junior have made a successful start to their showing campaign. “We are a new combination this year, and this was our second show together,” said Louise, who is new to showing Dales ponies. The pair attended the Native Pony Festival where they were first in the open large breeds class and champion before going on to stand reserve for the NPS Silver Medal championship.

Georgia Love and Tyngwndwn Chanele Lorraine Holland’s Tyngwndwn Chanele [Diva] won and qualified for the 133cm mountain and moorland working hunter final at the RIHS at the UKP&H Spring Classic show.

Lorraine said: “I have owned Diva for five years; she is my ‘play pony’ and we’ve had great fun doing adult camps, beach rides, sponsored rides and dressage. Diva contested a few ‘worker’ shows some years ago with Ellie, my daughter. However, due to COVID hasn’t been out for some time.

“I felt Diva was missing jumping so asked Georgia Love if she would consider jumping her for me. We never expected her to qualify at her first attempt of the season!”

The show coincided with Lorraine’s fiftieth birthday party, so she was unable to watch. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. I can’t wait to watch her at Hickstead; I feel so lucky to own such a versatile and talented pony,” said Lorraine.

Esther Tilbury with Thistledown Anita and Nynwoods Fashionable Donna Tilbury’s lead rein hunter pony, Thistledown Anita, has qualified for the RIHS at the North of England Spring show on her second time out this season having already stood a close second place at BSPS Area 17. She was ridden by Donna’s daughter, Esther Tilbury and was led by her producer, Carl Owen. The team will be contesting the HOYS qualifiers later in the season and are feeling excited and hopeful for that golden HOYS ticket after marginally missing it a handful of times last season.

Esther has also been competing on Donna’s novice mountain and moorland lead rein, Nynwoods Fashionable [Flash], whom Donna bought directly from his breeder, Terry Wall in November 2021. “He was my 40th birthday present to myself! He was unbroken and had been castrated just a month beforehand,” said Donna. “I’ve broken him myself at home; he’s super sweet with a fabulous brain, which makes him extremely trainable and a complete pleasure to have around. Flash is a very apt name for a cutey who moves and has all the bling!” Flash is also produced and led by Carl Owen. They had a super debut at the NCPA Spring Spectacular, being second in the BSPS novice mountain and moorland lead rein before winning the open class and standing section champion.

Has since been thrown in at the deep end and contended two large RIHS qualifying classes where he stood a very respectable fourth place with fabulous comments from judges. “We feel very excited for this little fella’s future and feel extremely lucky that he’s ours,” said Donna.

Gemma Pallet and Elttot Bit O’Sunshine, Dycott Sparkling Lady and Rockingham Jack Gemma has been busy competing with her string of native working hunter ponies. She has qualified Vicky Armitage’s home bred Elttot Bit O’Sunshine for the 122cm mountain and moorland final at the RIHS. “I could not be more grateful to Gemma for partnering our golden girl and am exceptionally proud as her breeder and owner,” said Vicky.

Gemma and her own pair of five-year-olds have also been out competing consistently. Welsh section C, Dycott Sparkling Lady won her 133cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony class qualifying for the RIHS at NPS Area 13, exactly a year to the day since she went for her last diver with her old owners before a change in career with Gemma, making Sparkles a truly versatile performance pony. “Having never left the ground before, she picked it up so quickly – a complete natural,” said Gemma. She has also been competing with her own Connemara, Rockingham Jack, who recently won the mixed height novice mountain and moorland at BSPS Area 15.

Holly Mahal, Lunesdale Dan Matthews and Zabeth Rhian Holly has been competing in 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes with her Fell pony, Lunesdale Dan Mathews, for the past four years. The pair recently won the mixed height mountain and moorland working hunter pony class at BSPS Area 14 and will be hitting the RIHS and HOYS circuit later this season once Holly is done with her university commitments.

She has also started to produce former HOYS ridden contender, Welsh section Zabeth Rhian for working hunter pony classes. The pair were placed third in their first ever working hunter pony class.

Lucinda Darvagel’s Majesty of Mendick and Newoak St Paul Hereford Spring Horse Show was Majesty of Mendick’s first outing of 2022. Bred by John and Kate Dykes, by Islesman of Mendick, this six-year-old Highland mare was on song. Majesty won the mixed open mountain and moorland class and went on to take the ridden pony championship and reserve supreme of show under her owner, Lucinda Dargavel.

Following on from a fabulous in-hand season with Lucinda last year, four-year-old Dartmoor stallion Newoak St Paul [Santos] made his novice ridden debut at Badgeworth a winning one with lovely comments from the judge. By premium stallion Newoak Prosper, Santos was recently broken by Jessica Talbot and is proving to be an old head on young shoulders.

Mia Rainford and Buckland Blue Print Mia Rainford and Sasha Knowles’ New Forest pony Buckland Blue Print recently qualified for the UKP&H junior large breeds mountain and moorland final at the RIHS on their first ever attempt at NCPA Lancashire Spring Show, their second show of the season.

32 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

Phoenix Parry and Plasdrew Nathaniel Phoenix Parry, 10, and eighteen-year-old evergreen Welsh section A, Plasderw Nathaniel [Natty] are off to the RIHS having qualified for the mountain and moorland first ridden final.

Phoenix’s mother, Mycha Dene. Myscha explained: “Natty was thankfully saved from slaughter as a young colt by Jane Bugler, who sold him on to Danielle Brice. We originally purchased Natty in 2019 after admiring him on the circuit for many years. His show record and prior results with jockey Kinvara Garner when owned by Danielle speaks for itself.

After looking at several lead rein and first ridden ponies who simply weren’t what we wanted, we realised the very best we could wish for would soon become available right under our nose. Natty was owned at this time by our good friend Sharon Wilson, where he had continued his winning ways with Sharon’s daughter, Hannah.

The pair enjoyed success in dressage, won WPCS medals, HOYS and RIHS results as well as being shortlisted for the Showing World Awards’ SSADL Senior Pony of the Year. The Wilson family were moving into dressage permanently, and Hannah had outgrown Natty, who was to never to be for sale. However, after some further discussion, a sale was agreed providing that Natty would remain with us for the rest of his days.

just generally had buckets of fun. Unfortunately, in the first week of October Phoenix had a fall from another pony resulting in a nasty break to her humerus and was told she couldn’t ride for four months.

She was devastated but returned to the saddle in January.

Natty and Phoenix recently began contesting qualifiers together winning the NPS first ridden at the Mid Wales show and res champion qualifying for the National Welsh Championship, and weeks later, they won the RIHS Pretty Polly FR ticket at UKPH. Natty is every bit the showman and adores competing; he truly is the epitome of a child’s pony in every sense, and their wonderful bond is what has made their partnership truly irreplaceable. They are looking forward to the summer ahead, competing at Windsor in the veteran classes and HOYS classes later this season. We can’t wait to watch them continue doing what they both love so very much, and flying the flag for the veterans. He simply could not be anymore adored; he owes us nothing, and we owe him the world.”

We had intended to produce him alongside our other ponies at home contesting qualifiers on the lead rein. However, COVID 19 hit and put an abrupt end to that. The ‘first-year first ridden’ transition began and we could not have possibly wished for a greater pony than Natty for this transition. I think any showing parent will agree that step up is never an easy one with many beads of sweat and tears! They have since been drag hunting, contested lots of dressage successfully, won endless sashes, done lots of hacking and

Lilly and Penny Richardson Sisters Lilly and Peny Richardson have enjoyed phenomenal success already this season. The evergreen Thistledown van der Vaart [Charles] has qualified for the RIHS as a mountain and moorland lead rein and was supreme at the UKP&H Spring Classic show.

Charles has also made his debut in the ring as a first ridden under Penny’s older sister, Lilly, and has bagged his first ever first ridden ticket to the RIHS. The sisters have also been out successfully showing Shetland halfbrothers, Briar Snowman and Briar Snowfox, bringing home a cache of rosettes and qualifications and have also qualified Welsh section A Crumpwell Belda as a lead rein show hunter pony. Finally, Lilly has been having great fun on Elberry Suilen in mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes and even stood supreme working hunter pony at NPS Area 4.

Sarah Horton, Evelyn and Langworth Nightingale Sarah and her five-year-old niece, Evelyn and Sarah’s Dartmoor mare Langworth Nightingale – also five – recently attended Evelyn’s first show.

Nightingale was bred by Ken and Daf Edwards and was broken to ride last year before being brought on slowly over the winter. Despite having had only two lessons with Sarah, Evelyn was keen to attend a show. “When Evelyn asked to attend a show with Nightingale, I thought, why not?” said Sarah.

They attended a local show where they won their novice mountain and moorland lead rein class and stood reserve novice champion. “Nightingale just took it all in her stride on the day; we were very pleased so looking forward to the season ahead and going for some bigger shows”. info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 33

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN! Amy Smith

Wow we are approaching the end of April already!! Where has this year gone and how do I have a 10 month old!!

I’m having a fairly slow start this season; well, it feels good! I constantly see everyone’s posts out showing and I feel like I should be doing more. That’s social media for you: peer pressure to keep up, but in fact, you’re on right on track! I’ve done two RIHS mountain and moorland working hunter pony so far. Cool Jack has had a second, third and fourth, and Laburnum Richard [Pedro] has only been to one show to stand second! As most people know, I can’t compete Pedro in any venue that uses a water complex; it’s an absolute ‘no go’ and so he’s good at most things that I don’t upset him and respect that he doesn’t like water! The Gangster had a successful show at Derbyshire Spring with a win and a championship. I really hope he gets his day as he’s a beautiful stallion inside and

out. I’ve two more ponies that have come back for the season: Jackie Parry’s beautiful Connemara Gentle Jango for the flat classes, and Rachael Bills’ Gleann Rua Maximilian, a 143cm Connemara worker. So now my team is full for the 2022 season.

To add to the excitement, John and I have bought our own lorry! Before my Dad passed away, he built Vikki and I the lorry we have, but it wasn’t meant for two families and a yard full of ponies. So, we felt it was time we both had our own lorries as space is so tight when we all go that we turn up at a show and all flock out! To clarify, Vikki and I absolutely haven’t parted ways, as some have suggested, it’s just that we need more space for our little people!

Next week, I’ll be taking my own Clonfert Melody’s Boy [Dave] to his Connemara colt inspection. I’ll be honest, I’m more nervous about this than I was jumping around HOYS! It’s all down to three

34 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

people’s opinion and I hope they love him as much as I do. Dave will then be turned out for the summer. Although he’s four, I feel he still needs a little more time to mature before I compete him.

Aside from the ponies, we managed to escape back to Ireland to John’s parents for a week over Easter. We had such a lovely week; we packed in just as much as we could. John’s parents were thrilled to see the boys and it’s so sad when we leave as Lachlan is Changing every day and they don’t get see as much as they would like.

While I was over in Ireland, I hosted a clinic, and it was so successful; I was flat out teaching from 9-5 and I loved every minute. I’m hoping to go back again in August to do another one.

That’s as exciting as my life is right now! Best of luck to everyone who’s out competing and let’s hope we are now on the right side of the better weather.

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 35

TAWNYDUN STUD

TawnyDun Stud was established in 2004 by Penny Makinson, with the aim of breeding dun Connemara ponies. Now in its 18th year, TawnyDun Stud has produced forty foals, all being a mixture of purebred Connemaras and part-bred Connemara x Thoroughbreds. The first foal was born in 2006, and two more are hopefully on the way for 2022.

Of all the horses at the stud, five are homebred. TawnyDun is home to three broodmares: two Connemaras – October Gold (Nell) and TawnyDun Regan - and TB mare, Royal Alstroemeria (Miri); two homebred riding ponies – TawnyDun Tallula (Lula) and TawnyDun Aine (Annie); and the stud’s latest exciting project, TawnyDun Aengus (Gus), who is an overheight perlino Connemara stallion standing at stud for AI from Spring 2022, after his first full stud season in 2021.

Penny has loved horses from an early age. She spent most weekends at the local riding school throughout her childhood and has managed to own a pony or horse all her life. Having moved to Suffolk in the late 80s, she focused on combining her equine passion with business, founding the popular equestrian brand, PolyPads. After a brief foray into breeding with her TB mare, starting a stud became her next target. The concept for TawnyDun Stud began when Penny saw an advert in the Horse & Hound for the Connemara sales in Clifden in October 2004. She had always found the golden dun colour very striking, and so came up with the idea of breeding dun Connemara ponies. Little did she know at that point how hard it would be.

At the time, Penny had little knowledge of the Connemara breed, but knew they were versatile ponies with a great jump. Going over to the sales was “a real experience,” said Penny. “Clifden is a rural town with art, harbour, Connemara ponies and much more. It’s historical links with Marconi and Allcock & Brown and its relative remoteness make it a unique and iconic place”. Penny found the people very friendly, and the real sense of community refreshing.

Penny’s pre-sale homework included checking not only the breeding of interesting ponies but also ruling out grey in dam or sire as grey is a dominant gene and overrides other colours. It didn’t leave many ponies to look at! It took time to realise Penny’s plan to establish the stud with four dun brood mares of Irish breeding to produce athletic foals with a good temperament, as dun Connemara ponies were quite rare.

She ended up with Ballinaboy Shackira (Kiera), Willowtree Dancing Jubilee (Nancy), Carraig Cailin (Caillie), and October Gold (Nell); four mares of various bloodlines.

The first, Kiera, had “wonderful old Irish breeding and a great step,” according to Penny. She was bred by Joe McCann.

Penny purchased her as a weanling at the Clifden Sales in 2004. Joe also owned Keira’s sire, Shackleton, whom Penny visited. From there, she and Joe became friends, with Penny staying in a B&B run by Joe’s mother upon her family’s returned to the Clifden sales the next year.

Penny subsequently found some more well-bred Irish dun mare possibilities, and Joe helped her purchase two at the sales. She purchased Caillie, a mare “with excellent showing breeding going back to Castle Comet’s dam” in October 2005. In May 2006 Nell joined the stud. Nell had exceptional jumping breeding with Westside Mirah and Cuchulainn sires in her bloodlines. Joe’s stallion, Shackleton, covered Nell before she arrived in England.

While researching dun ponies for the stud, Penny delved into the complex world of colour genetics. She found a company DNA testing for colour and discovered that she had not bought dun ponies, but buckskin ponies! This led Penny to believe there are no true dun Connemara ponies and that the dun gene has been unfortunately bred out over time. Genetically speaking but in layman’s language, a true dun is a ‘simple dominant’ meaning that if the dun gene is passed on to the foal, that foal will be dun, but if not, then the foal doesn’t carry a dun gene. A buckskin pony is a ‘dilute’ having one cream gene which dilutes the base colour – which can only be black or red factor (chestnut). It is a fascinating subject, and Penny learned about the buckskin with both agouti and cream alleles on a black base - the genes that lighten the body colour, black to bay and bay to golden – but only on the body and top part of the leg. This leaves what is known as ‘black points’, being the lower legs, mane, tail and around the edge of the ear. She picked up other snippets of genetic knowledge such as in an older grey – known colloquially as ‘fleabitten grey’ – the pigmented speckles show exactly what colour genes the pony holds.

That is how you can sometimes breed a bay, a black or a rare chestnut, that will not go grey from a heterozygous grey dam and sire. Another thing to look for on a young foal is the hair around the eyes, which does go grey very early if they hold the grey allele, well known as ‘spectacles’.

If two buckskins are bred together and both throw their cream gene, the resulting foal will be a blue-eyed cream, and can be either perlino (black base colour) or cremello (red base colour).

Because the red (chestnut) base colour is recessive, a buckskin can hold a hidden red gene, and occasionally – if mated to a chestnut or one that holds a chestnut gene – they can produce palomino. This is a very simplistic guide to colour genetics, but hopefully shows the complexities of trying to breed dilutes.

TawnyDun Stud was one of the first studs to breed buckskin to buckskin, knowing that it would result in some blue-eyed cream (BEC) foals. In Ireland, BECs were not well liked, and at that time, both BCPS and CPBS would limit grading to a maximum of Grade 2 for a BEC, so for both reasons they were not sought-after in the marketplace. Breeders would often mate buckskin and grey to avoid a BEC foal. However, if this breeding pattern is done too often, the dam and sire could both hold and throw the hidden cream gene, resulting in a BEC foal anyway. It is also important to realise that without the cream gene there would be no buckskin or palomino ponies at all!

It wasn’t until 2016 that BCPS changed their grading criteria (with CPBS following shortly after) to allow BECs to be graded the same as any other colour, meaning TawnyDun Stud was twelve years ahead of its time. Now with genetic testing for colours readily available, people

can check what hidden colours ponies may hold.

Breeding buckskin to buckskin results in an array of colour variations.

Biologists use the punnett square to determine the probability of an offspring having a particular genotype, so buckskin to buckskin is likely to produce 50% buckskin, 25% bay and 25% blue-eyed cream.

Put simply, in every four foals, you will likely get two buckskins, one blue-eyed cream and one bay. Caillie managed to produce her first four foals to this exact pattern, and all were fillies! Since the start of the stud, Penny has bred twenty-five buckskins, five bays, seven perlinos, two palominos and one grey; 20 colts and 20 fillies.

There are variations of shades within buckskins themselves, and over the years the stud has produced silver, copper, chocolate and golden buckskins – which “has been a real treat to see,” said Penny. There have also been two surprise palomino foals, a rare roan buckskin, and some beautiful mahogany and bright bays along the way too. “The perlino foals we have bred were born with rusty coloured manes and tails, which sometimes bleach out as they mature, and they are always so distinctive in a field of buckskins, they seem to glow especially in the twilight”.

At the start TawnyDun Stud found a relatively local buckskin stallion with the sought-after jumping pedigree in Grianagh Petrus (Peter), and used him on many occasions to cover the mares. With Caillie he

CONNEMARA ROUNDUP

In spring 2005, Ann Rolinson contacted Penny suggesting dun mare Nancy, an English-bred pony of Millfields Stud breeding. Nancy became the second brood mare.

produced typical “apple-bottomed, chunky” Connemara foals and all except one foal of hers was by Peter. Caillie’s third foal Aine (Annie) returned to the stud in late 2013 after going to an unsuitable home, so was originally put in foal as a stop-gap. She has since produced some lovely foals, but is now being brought back into riding. As she is a blue-eyed cream, she goes to a bay stallion to guarantee buckskin, and her last foal was by the young jumping stallion, Cool Jack.

She has had foals by Hayselden Kadmus as well as TB, Tito GoFirst, all are buckskin with the true-to-type Connemara pony head.

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During the downturn in Connemara pony sales around 2010, it became more difficult to find good homes for the youngstock. So Penny decided to take a sideways step towards partbreds. She chose a TB stallion for Nell, inspired by the success of breeding the stud’s first Connemara x TB filly. She is out of Penny’s daughter, Lynsey’s retired 7/8 TB competition mare Miss Gauntlette (Letty) and remains as Lynsey’s ride. This has proved to be a great move, with Annie producing two, and Nell seven foals by TB Tito GoFirst to date. They have all been stunning youngsters, with lovely temperaments and a powerful jump - six buckskins, two palominos and one bright bay; six fillies and three colts.

The cross gave a mix of youngstock to cover a bigger market, producing a smaller competition horse with the intelligence and jump of the Connemara pony and speed and endurance of the TB. It took the stud into eventing. After changing direction, the Stud reduced their brood mares to just Nell and Annie, and in 2014, produced no foals. That year Annie went to TitoGofirst and Nell travelled to Ireland for covering by iconic stallion Templebready Fear Bui. Nell’s foal born in 2015 was TawnyDun Aengus (Gus) and started the next phase of TawnyDun Stud: raising a colt to stand as a stallion to produce buckskins if put to a bay mare.

As Penny handled the foals during their first summer, she could see the fundamental differences between the partbred and purebred, with the native instinct alongside the domesticated thoroughbred, and appreciated just why the Connemara x TB is such a successful cross. As the partbred foals are beginning to come to maturity and getting out to begin their competitive life, Penny enjoys hearing from foal owners.

“Some of the more recent foals have been sold to event riders, so we watch with interest to see how they get on as they grow,” said Penny.

“We consider our partbred is ideal for a small competitive adult as they are not too large and are often short-coupled, giving them the edge over the huge, long striding warmbloods that can be so difficult to hold together. A sure-footed and compact horse will cover the ground just as well and can make jumping and turning look easy!

“We do try to keep in touch with owners to follow their progress.

Some foals have made brilliant careers as competitive Pony Club ponies in all disciplines and in the inter-school NSEA competitions, having great fun and success with their teenage owners”. Other foals have gone on to follow showing or breeding careers. A few have gone to small adult riders and have had wins and successes at WHP, showjumping and eventing especially, where ponies can compete against horses at all levels and there is no rider age limit.

“We love to hear how the ponies we breed get on in their life.

Our goal is to find an owner who wants to bring a foal through to maturity, to find that bond between them and enjoy what they have built together. Not every owner nor every foal can go ‘all the way’ but it is so important that they are loved and cared for – in fact nothing is more important!”

In 2021 TawnyDun Aengus stood as a stallion at stud for his first full season, for chilled semen only. A collection area and laboratory has been set up so everything can be done on site. Penny, Lynsey, and Gus each had a very steep but fascinating learning curve during the previous 18 months and are now looking forward to Gus’ second breeding season.

Gus has also been broken-in, and his temperament has “been secondto-none. He is very happy to try for his rider, and is showing an excellent jumping technique”. He has just been to his first show but will now focus on stud duties before continuing with his ridden career.

2021 also saw further diversification with the addition of a TB brood mare who was put in foal to Gus, producing “a cracking, big and strong foal”. Penny is now “looking to producing a slightly larger buckskin partbred foal, and setting a precedent that we would like TawnyDun Stud to follow”.

At present TawnyDun’s team awaits with anticipation two more foals and is preparing for the start of Gus’ stallion duties. It is hoped that he will follow in the footsteps of his celebrated sire and grandsire – Templebready Fear Bui and Westside Mirah – and have a long successful career producing many talented progeny.

TawnyDun Stud, Suffolk, UK FEATURE BY JULIA SPACEY AND CHERRY CADDY Email: info@tawnydunstud.co.uk Web: www.tawnydunstud.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/tawnydunstud Instagram: www.instagram.com/tawnydunstud/

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info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 39

WALSEKER ROCA ROJA ROCKS HIS WAY TO SUPREME Highlights from the Midland WPCA

Solihull Riding Club, March 20th Report by Heather Abrahall - Photos by Equinepix After a successful 2021 season, Lynn Wilson’s Welsh section B colt, Walseker Roca Roja renewed his showing campaign by taking supreme of show. By Paddock Rio and out of Westaire Chantilly Lace, he was shown by his producer Colin Tibbey and continued his winning ways taking the three-year-old section B colt class before standing section B youngstock champion, overall section B champion, supreme youngstock and finally the top honours of supreme Welsh in hand.

Taking both the Welsh section C WPCS bronze medal championship and reserve supreme Welsh in hand was Hannah Broome and Thomas Davis’ stallion, Llanmorlais Reagan, who is by Kylebeck Crespo out of Synod Sweet Chantel. Meanwhile, his yearling colt son, Pontardawe Johnny B Goode out of Gwenllan Aur, owned and bred by Thomas Davis, stood reserve overall section C to him after taking the section C youngstock championship.

Scott Gibbon’s homebred yearling filly, Tymor Truly Scrumptious by Tymor Topgun out of Tymor Taylor Swift, made her debut for the season a successful one, winning a bronze medal for her owner Scott’s birthday, and later taking the reserve supreme youngstock championship.

The WPCS bronze medal and Welsh section A honours went to Charlotte Kilbey with her own 10-year-old mare, Idyllic Serenity by Lacy Buzbee out of Delami Misdemeanour, bred by her parents, Mark and Liz Kilbey. The unshown mare on her debut pipped Sandy Anderson’s homebred section A youngstock champion, Thistledown Red Wine, to the title. The three-year-old filly by Thistledown Snowstorm out of Thistledown Scarlet Lady, shown by Liesl Mead was also on her showing debut of the season.

Moelview Prince Charming out of Moelview Moonshine owned by Paula Jones. Reserve gelding and overall MWPCA members in hand champion went to ‘little’ Dean Smith with his parents’ section A, Hope Madoc.

The eight-year-old gelding by Heniarth Beaudacious out of Hope Brenhines, was only gelded in December after being purchased from Mark and Liz Kilbey of the Idyllic stud and has proved his temperament is second to none behaving impeccably for his young handler.

In the part-bred Welsh championship, it was the winner of the seven-strong two or threeyear-old class that eventually came out on top.

This was Liz Hampson’s homebred, Trindod Celtic-Lord, shown by Adrian Chapman. The two-year-old colt is by Adrian Chapman and Matthew Everitt’s Brookvale Celtic-Isle and out of Telynau Capri, both bronze and silver medallists themselves, it seems he is on his way to following in their footsteps. Taking the reserve spot went to Richard Burge with his own striking Tobiano stallion, Moorfarm Bandsman, by the part-bred Arab stallion, Tiny Bit Famous, out of section B mare, Hilin Buddug.

Claire Omar’s coloured part-bred Welsh, Alnebury Frederico by Lendalls Prince George out of RJT Pretty Polly, stood Sarum stud youngstock gelding champion and later coloured winner and mixed in hand champion, shown by Tom Blinstone.

Welsh gelding champion went to Dan Adams with Moelview Moonriver, who is by

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Cameron Sage displayed his best handling skills to take the young handler champion title after winning the 12-18 class with his section A mare, Plasderw Waterlily. Cameron just pipped nine-year-old Caitlin Evans-Simpson to the spot, who stood reserve with her mother Claire’s Heniarth Brando after already winning the open first ridden class earlier that day.

Tia Edmead finished the in-hand ring taking both the unaffiliated Welsh gelding

championship and Welsh amateur/home-produced championship with her own Locksbit Casworan, who is by Royal Welsh ridden champion, Eyarth Braveheart and out of Locksbit Whispering Primrose.

Standing ridden supreme was novice champion Otto of Craignetherty, by Apollo of Sunnyneuk out of Foxy Lady of Craignetherty. The fiveyear-old highland, in his first season, was broken by owner rider, Chloe Carter and went to Lauren Brill two months ago when Chloe started working for Lauren. The pair plan to continue the year in novices before hopefully stepping up to opens next year says producer Lauren. Kate Williams’ pure novice winner, Ringside Fields of Gold, took the reserve novice champion spot. The homebred mare

by Swannhill Golden Rocket out of Gwernfythan Melody was on her ridden debut and has not been shown since her supreme of show honours at South Western Association of the WPCS as a foal.

Sarah Pinfield’s Earnwell Elwyn, by Carrock Jack Daniels out of Earnwell Jade, took the open tricolour before later standing reserve supreme ridden, a personal achievement for local rider Sarah who has always tried to best the Welsh pony competitors at the Welsh show and had not done so until today. Standing reserve to Elwyn and Sarah was Trevallion Apollo ridden by Lisa BarsoumAllen. The stallion by Trevallion Connan out of Trevallion Golden Girls is owned by breeder Sonia Smith and is in his first open season.

Leading reins dominated in the mini supreme with open lead rein winner, Thistledown El Paso, owned

by Heather Hiscox and ridden by daughter Emily standing champion, and novice lead rein winner Springbourne Encore, owned by Linda Card and ridden by her granddaughter Isabelle Ellis, took the reserve spot.

Thomas Davis with his own and Hannah Broome’s Llanmorlais Raegan

Charlotte Kilbey’s Idyllic Serenity Sarum and mixed inhand champ

MWPCA members ridden champion went to Leanne Holford with her own Abergavenny Ancelotti, with Elizabeth Willets and Cascob Locomation in reserve.

Chloe Carter riding her own Otto of Craignetherty Sonia Smith’s Trevallion Apollo ridden by Lisa Barsoum-Allen

Heather Hiscox’s Thistledown El Paso ridden by Emily Hiscox

Scott Gibbons and his own Tymor Truly Scrumptious

Claire Evans-Simpson’s Heniarth Brando handled by Caitlin Evans-Simpson

Cameron Sage with his own info@showingworldonline.co.uk 2022riding Issueher | The Native PonyElwyn | 41 Sarah| May Pinfield Plasderw Waterlily own Earnwell

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FELL

ROUNDUP From Claire Simpson

L-R Bethany Cousins, Eileen Walker, Rowena Day, Janette Gilmour, Tamara Habberley, Emily Cheetham, Jackie Cheetham, Imogen Cockbain

FELL PONY SOCIETY AGM The Fell Pony Society held its AGM at Orton village hall on a lovely spring day in April after a gap of two years. A good turnout of members heard reports from the Chairman, Secretary and Sub-Committees; including the Area Support Groups, Next Generation Group; Display Team; and the Judges, Conservation Grazing and Overseas Sub-Committees.

To start the proceedings in what is our Centenary Year, Chairman, Peter Boustead, reminded us of some of the noteworthy events of 1922. At that time, the Country was recovering from the impact of Spanish flu, the pandemic of the day; and the USSR and BBC were formed; both have had their own traumas, but the Fell Pony Society continues to go from strength to strength.

Peter reported that in 1922 there were 100 ponies registered compared with 323 in the last year. Coincidentally, 54 brown/ bay ponies were registered in each of the years, with 5 greys in 1922 and 32 in the last year: 40 black ponies in 1922 and 235 last year. One piebald was also registered in 1922! It was reported that there had been a dispersal sale of ponies at Uldale where foals had been sold to £19 and mares to £50, an exceptionally good price in 1922, bidding was described as ‘spirited which testified to the popularity of the breed’, which it certainly has also been at the dispersal sales we have seen over the past year.

The four open positions on the FPS Council were filled by three existing Council members Peter Boustead, Jane Rawden, Rachael Brunskill; who were

joined by John Greener, a previous Council member. In future only three of the six Council meetings held each year will be face to face, and three will be held over Zoom. Hopefully, this might encourage members from a wider area to apply to apply to join the Council.

Much of the meeting discussion centred around the exciting plans for the Centenary and in recognition of this Council had agreed to award honorary membership to four members: Barbara Bell, Jane Glass, Clive Richardson, Margaret Wilson, who we warmly congratulate and thank for their hard work on behalf of the Fell Pony.

Jane Rawden brought the meeting up to date with the Centenary plans and activities, which officially launch at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the FPS Stallion and Colt Show. We are thrilled to be having a parade of ponies at Windsor and to be presenting Her Majesty with the Queen’s Trophy; which is presented to a person who has promoted the Fell pony breed by work, recreation, or study.

The Society has been blessed to have Her Majesty’s patronage since 1982 and is delighted to be celebrating its Centenary alongside her Jubilee Celebrations.

Sue Millard’s excellent book ‘A Century of Fells’ is now published; and the ‘magical’ video being made by Tom Lloyd is nearly completed. Plans for the stud visits and events at The Old Courthouse, Shap are being finalised; and tickets are now available for the Ball to be held in Kendal on 13 August. What a fabulous busy year we can look forward to!

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It was also lovely to hear from Katie Curwen about the plans of the Next Generation group which is open to all (see their Facebook page); and our Display Team members who have a busy year with events at country fairs, the stallion show and will be taking the FPS stand to various other events.

It was reported that the ‘Learning with Fells’ scheme will be offered again in 2022, it will be open to all ages, but with priority given to those aged 10-18. Details are on the website at fellponysociety.org. uk The meeting concluded with the presentation of awards, including the endurance and the youngstock and performance awards that were reported in the last Native Pony Fell News.

A huge ‘well done’ to all our award winners; to those who run the award schemes; and those who support the society in countless different ways.

Katherine Wilkinson collects the Edinburgh Prize for the Postma Family and Sleddale Eddie bain

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DARTMOOR ROUNDUP From Chris Grant

THE DARTMOOR PONY SOCIETY ARCHIVES

By Caroline Belam

The past informs the present and guides the future; with no appreciation of what has gone before, we risk so much, including repeating past mistakes.

The DPS Archive was started in 2010 with just a small envelope of historical information about the breed and its breeders. It now occupies some ten shelves! Donated items include photos (ideally labelled), magazine cuttings, news cuttings, show catalogues (preferably marked with results which can help identify breeding) plus old letters and notes of historical significance about conversations. These might just be a scrap of envelope recording information from an older breeder in the 1950s referring back to the 19th century, a chat about the problems

caused by HS2 taking one’s grazing, or the 2022 antics of a child’s best friend.

Photographed is a piece presented at the 1935 Breed Show to my late mother with her first Dartmoor, Patience, whose descendants I still have in the stud today. If any of you have any memorabilia about Dartmoors you’d like to find a safe, secure and most appreciative home for, please contact me. Remember, your treasures are other people’s junk – and your junk is someone else’s treasure. STOP, LOOK & LISTEN! Stop and check that market stall; look in your attic or garden shed, and listen to and write down stories from times past or present.

Caroline Belam, DPS Honorary Archivist Image copyright: DPS

EXMOOR

ROUNDUP From Susan Burger It’s that time of year. Foals have started arriving both on the moor and ‘up country’, and the show season is getting underway, so people are getting out and about with their ponies Davinia Joohnson’s very consistent Stowbrook Red Kite made a great start to the season by picking up an RIHS qualifier at the North of England Spring Show at Warren Park. The pair were also placed second in a mixed breed RIHS class and were the only small breed in the class.

Stephanie Richards’ Dunkery Hornbill was intermediate working hunter champion at NPS 14 at Ashfields Equestrian.

On the foal front, several breeders have said their mares have been hanging on to their foals this year, no doubt waiting for some warm weather and spring grass. Up on Winsford Hill, some of the Wallace family’s Anchor mares have produced foals which have had to survive a couple of late blizzards. Exmoor foals are always born with a coat appropriate to the time of year. The trio pictured all arrived in full winter woollies.

Stowbrook Red Kite

Anchor Foals

Antonia Tuckett’s Hardicott stud has two new arrivals, pictured is Hardicott Gypsy Dance (Knightoncombe Capercaillie x Hardicott Zoppetto).

The Bryant family’s Hertfordshire Moonpenny Stud have seen the arrival of their home-bred Moonpenny Fantasia’s first foal. Fantasia had a very successful inhand showing career. The foal’s sire is Moonpenny Ganymede, a rare bloodline stallion.

Moonpenny Fantasia’s first foal

All Exmoor foals have to be inspected by two Exmoor Pony Society foal inspectors before they can be registered. Both parents must be registered in Section 1 of the studbook.

Breeders need to notify the secretary as soon as possible after the foal’s birth. Inspections take place in the autumn and can take a lot of organising so it helps no end if births are notified promptly.

Hardicott Gypsy Dance

NEW FOREST ROUNDUP

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From Diane Hadwen

SHOWRING NEWS Purwell Poppy

Vines Magical Edition

Lots of wonderful Foresters are already out competing across disciplines. The show season has already commenced for many and RIHS classes seem to be particularly popular.

There seem to be lots of new potential superstar foresters waiting in the wings; one of these is Vynnes Magical Edition, owned and bred by Andrew Vine and Laura Vine and ridden by Pip Smith, who won his Picton class on his debut and then the Silver Medal Ridden Championship. Another newcomer is Burley Burberry and Georgia Love, owned by Tracey North and bred by Gill Wright, who qualified for the RIHS New Forest and Connemara class, at BSPS Area 7.

More seasoned campaigners are also back out and about Woodfidley Saint George and Jessica Leigh Carney, ownerd by Steph Carney qualified for the RIHS M&M Amateur Rider at NCPA Lancashire Spring Show. Now 17 years old this was his 15th RIHS ticket, he has also qualified for HOYS 6 times and Olympia once! Purewell Poppy Lou and Jessica Norris qualified for the RIHS M&M Amateurs at NPS Area 14 for the second year running. It’s lovely to see the mares up there with the best!

Lovelyhill Folklore and Vikki Smith qualified for the 143cm RIHS workers again (owned by Penny Sutton and bred by Kerry DoveyWhiting and Alex Humble) at their first attempt and Cuffnells Golden Rod, piloted by Millie Davies, owned by Paula Davies and bred by Lyndsey Stride qualified for the RIHS M&M Working Hunter Pony 133cm at NPS Area 10 Spring Show.

2022 FOREST FED COMPETITION Just as important as New Forest pony success at the many shows up and down the country, is the annual Breed Society competition for Forest run ponies. This helps keep the standard of ponies on the Forest high and pays particular attention to native type and hardiness. The winner of the Dale Memorial Cup for the Overall Champions this year was Oakwood Locket, owned and bred Mr Brian Ingram. The Reserve was Rushmoor Daylight, owned and bred by Messrs R & J Stride. The full list of winners and premiums awarded may be found her: https://www. newforestpony.com/ forestfed-results/

Oakwood Locket Portmore Tempest x Lucy

NEW FOREST BREEDING NEWS: The Colt Inspection It’s a busy time of year for both studs and for the Commoners who run and breed ponies on the open Forest, as the 2022 foals begin to arrive. It’s also the time of year when the New Forest two year old colt inspections take place at the Beaulie Road Sales Yard in the heart of the New Forest.

Farriers Silver Thread 2 year old colt inspection

Breeders and owners present their two year old colts for inspection. They must be approved by a panel of three Breed Society Assessors if they are to be licensed as stallions; a two year old colt may not be shown unless approved and of course no unapproved colt may be used for breeding. The colts are presented in hand in front of the panel as in a show ring and then are turned loose to show, their natural paces. Marks are awarded for head, top line, feet, limbs, front, quarters and movement. There is also a maximum of 15 points awarded for rare blood lines. This is important because as with all breeds it’s important not to narrow the breeding gene pool.

On the day participants are told if they have been approved by the panel, but that is far from the end of the process. Each colt has to be vetted for soundness and freedom from any obvious genetic unsoundness; they are DNA tested to confirm breeding and also (a more recent initiative) they are all tested for PSSM1. No positive colt may be used for breeding purposes.

Ashlett Colonel Smart two year old colt inspection

Rodlease Guardsman Yearling Futurity Assessment

It’s always a busy day for the Assessors and Breed Society officials as the mature, licensed stallions are also presented to the Verderers and a number are then chosen to run the Forest in the current year; the yearling colts who are deemed potential stallion material are also assessed to be included in the Society’s futurity scheme; an initiative aimed at ensuring the best colts are not gelded, but are run on as a herd in enclosed grazing until two years old The full results will not be available until the end of April and will feature in the next issue of Native Pony. All photographs are by kind permission of Audrey Scott - Hopkins.

Kilncopse Black Label two year old colt inspection

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 | TheInspection Native Pony | 45 Carterstone Cufflink trotting up for theIssue Verderers

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DALES

ROUNDUP From Grace Snowdon

Standing at Stud As part of a new Dales Pony Society initiative for 2022, the brown stallion Argill Jack the Lad is standing at Thorpeley Stud in Leicestershire for six weeks from 20th April.

Thorpeley Stud pride themselves on working with rare breeds, particularly Suffolk Punches, and standing rare breed stallions at stud for owners, making stallions available for natural covering or chilled AI – an invaluable resource for all mare owners but particularly those who do not wish to send their mares away.

Argill Jack the Lad is fashionably bred, by the popular Carrock Jack Daniels and out of Sowermire Betsy. Mare owners interested in using this young stallion, who is being exported to Denmark later in the year, should contact Bruce at Thorpeley or the stallion owner, Anne-Mette Miller directly. As this is an initiative being supported by the society, Mrs Miller has kindly offered to donate £50 from each service fee back to the society.

Blackjack Wins

Waterside Blackjack

Georgia and Helen Hanson’s Waterside Blackjack [Jacko] is a six-year-old licenced Dales stallion. He was bred by the Heap family out of Griseburn Falcon. He was spotted initially by the keen eye of the late Norah Starkie, who adored him, and brought him back to son, Paul and wife Helen, to start his education. Georgia rode for the Starkie. “They made her the jockey she is today.” said Helen, “and she always loved Jacko”. When Georgia was given the chance to buy him from his new owner, she snapped him up. Helen said: “Jacko has had a fab start by all concerned and has been done slowly. We hope this year to get him out into the ring and contest the novices and hopefully the UKP&H Intermediate mountain and moorland classes. He has big shoes to fill in those of his uncle Waterside Ben II who is his neighbour and hopefully whispers some tips to him! We can’t wait to see what the 2022 season brings!”

A True All-Rounder Michelle Thomas and Zoe Bradley’s threeyear-old Fell colt Carrock Blackthorn attended his first show at Appleton Grange where he won the youngstock class before standing a credible second in the open mountain and moorland class before going on to stand reserve supreme in-hand.

Colliery Duke II has been out competing, promoting the Dales Pony as the wonderful highly active breed they are, winning British Dressage, competing at an Eventer Trial and winning a show jumping class. Impressively all in the space of 2 weeks. And to top it off the gelding, bred by Dennis Urwin, is 18 years old – a testament to the breeds inherent soundness, spirit and trainability.

Carrock Blackstock

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Colliery Duke II

HIGHLAND ROUNDUP

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From Chris Grant

Highland Pony Enthusiasts Spring Show Mill Lane Stables 10/04/2022 Despite a chilly start to the day the weather was kind and the sun shone for the Highland ponies that were entered. A very nice selection of ponies forward for judge Heather Dick who had kindly travelled down from Scotland for us.

Amber of Strathmore owned by Elaine Thompson and Jane Whitaker and exhibited

by Pam Brown took the Highland in-hand and ridden championships and went on to win both the in-hand and ridden NPS Silver Medal championships. Ruwenzori Everly owned by Mike and Catherine Taylor and bred by Wendy Sanders, also had a very good show winning the two-year-old youngstock class and taking youngstock championship qualifying for HPS youngstock finals in September. She also won home produced youngstock and home-produced champion and was reserve silver medal in hand: excellent results for her very first show. Catherine also did well with her homebred mare, Perburn Annabella, taking first in the adult home produced class and reserve champion and performing well under saddle to win the nursery novice and take second place in the Picton novice class.

Pam Brown

Perburn Annabella - Photo credit Amy Griffiths

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony 47 Ruwenzori Everly Pam |Brown

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SHETLAND ROUNDUP

Compiled by Kate Hampton

Lynemore Glen and six-yearold Jessica Whiteford have had a great start to the season. They were ‘talent spotted’ at a TSR clinic for the lead rein final. Glen and Jessica also had a great day competing at their first show of the season at Puddledub winter show run at Howe Equestrian in Scotland. They had two first rosettes and placings throughout the day culminating in taking the overall in-hand championship and reserve champion in the equitation section.

Lynemore Glen

Legend Shines at Royal Northern Spring Show Wells Legend

The Royal Northern Spring Show always creates a buzz as agricultural and equestrian friends alike catch up after the winter months at the Thainstone venue.

Standing reserve overall horse to a Clydesdale filly was the Wells stud’s 12-year-old stallion, Wells Legend.

Lightly shown Legend’s previous ribbons include a win at the Royal Highland Showcase last year and in 2019, he secured championships at both Nairn and the Great Yorkshire shows.

In the Standard Shetland section, three-year-old filly, Eynhallow Dutch Corrie from the Eynhallow stud stood next to Wells Legend as reserve champion and best female as the stud showed at their first show in two years. A few days later this filly took the reserve junior Shetland championship at the National Stallion Show at Kilmarnock.

Over in the Miniature ring, Anne Irvine’s homebred multi champion stallion, Rocky of Haybrake, by Hazelhead Dynamite stood champion with an incredible 28-year-old stallion, Swell’s Barron, owned

by James Burr as reserve.

Photo Credit: Wendy Sleigh Reserve Overall Horse Champion Wells Legend with Stewie and Harry Sleigh and Emma Jamieson.

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Aiming High Three months isn’t long for a new partnership to gel together, but with her sights set on competing at BSJA level, the hard work and dedication at home is all part of the fun for ten-year-old Mya Deacon.

With the ride on Sharon Ball’s eight-year-old gelding, Blackertor Bounty Hunter, Mya, who lives on the Isle of Wight, made good headway towards her BSJA dreams at Lake Farm Equestrian Centre.

Not only did she win the 12 inches and the Winter Series Reserve Champions, Mya went on to also win the 18 inches and Winter Champions and then topped the winning streak off by winning the 2ft and Winter Reserve Champions.

Clothie Stud Driving Into the Future Driving runs through the Clothie stud’s veins, not only in the generations of ponies but also in the next generation of whips.

Sophie Moore, 16, was amazed to be honoured with the 2021 Grassroots Driver of the Year award. She loves driving her Shetland Clothie Flyn and was encouraged to give driving a go by her late grandfather Campbell Bosanquet. Shetlands are clearly in her blood as her auntie Elinor breeds the ponies having driven from a similar age at the Clothie Shetland Pony Stud.

Sophie has found carriage driving particularly therapeutic during lockdown to get away from the world and be a positive impact on her mental health as she can enjoy the freedom of driving around. Her achievements last year have really surprised her yet she has grown under her aunties guidance into an excellent driver. Her challenge for

Sophie Moore

this year is to learn to drive a pair and is hoping to show off her new skills at CIAT Attolage de tradition Glamis with Elinor’s Dog Cart with Clothie Night Idiot and Clothie Humbell already in training with a practice cones and dressage at the BDS Grampian this weekend.

Sophie has been involved with the handling of foals and youngsters and now assists with the training of young future driving ponies as well as being an able groom for Elinor’s Shetland team and Welsh Cob tandem. She is lucky enough to have a variety of carriages and ponies on tap to “borrow” and especially keen to use the dog cart with harness that was made for the ponies and gifted by her great grandparents when her auntie was the same age.

However, Sophie needs to perfect her brass polishing skills and carriage cleaning as she likes the water splashes at the driving trials.

Sophie Moore

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WELSH

ROUNDUP

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Compiled by The Welsh Pony & Cob Society

Awards host Carey Knox sets up the evening WPCS Inaugural Awards Night – The Welsh Pony and Cob Society recently held their inaugural Awards night at the Vale Resort near Cardiff. There was an enthusiastic attendance from all over the country with an appreciative crowd to applaud over 20 award winners’ achievements.

Winning the Young Achiever award was nine-yearold Miss Elsie Wilkins, given annually by the Society to a young person in recognition of their achievements within the Society and/or with the Welsh breeds.

Elsie’s dedication to correctly schooling and working her ponies Flaming Katie and Torcoed Kalon-Lan at a young age is something to be admired. Elsie has had a fantastic year competing in dressage on her WPBR pony ‘Bambi’, Flaming Katie. Not being into dressage for that long with her passions being elsewhere but acknowledging the importance of groundwork, she took up dressage along with her sister, Skyla and friend Violet.

With huge success in British Dressage, Elsie was lucky enough to compete in the British Quest Regionals under 21s South West at Chard Equestrian. At 8 years old, she went on to win the regional intro competition against all competitors, being one of the youngest attending the event. This secured her a place at the British Nationals where she came 11th. Elsie has learned so much along the way and is now super keen to gain her qualification again this year.

Elsie has also won the TSR ridden points award for the under 10 for 2021 and won various awards with the SWAWPCS awards scheme.

She will try her hand at anything from flatwork,

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jumping, working hunter, arena eventing, cross country, pony club activities and hacking, having so much fun with her ponies along the way. She really is a great ambassador at such a young age showing the versatility of the Welsh breed and what fun you can have with them.

Elsie Wilkins and WPCS Young Ambassador Hannah Atkinson

alternating between a person and an equine. This year, it was the turn of an equine.

Awards host Carey Knox & Lesley Hillard

The second prestigious award of the evening was the lifetime achievement award given in recognition for a lifetime’s service and involvement with the breed. Daniel Morgan WPCS Chair was delighted to announce that the award was given to Mrs Lesley Hillard of the Gryngallt Stud.

There were many deserving nominations, but the Brodrick Trophy was awarded to the Welsh Cob Section D mare Danaway Cracklin-Rose. Foaled in 2002, Cracklin-Rose made her show ring debut at the 2004 Royal Welsh Show winning the two-year-old filly class.

Producing her first foal at 4 years old, she continued her winning ways as a brood mare, qualifying for and competing at the Brightwells National Championship in three separate years, taking the championship at the final at the National Welsh Show on each occasion. 2012 saw her return to the Royal Welsh to win the senior brood mare class, Female Champion and the Prince of Wales Cup for the Overall Champion Section D and later that day win the Tom and Sprightly overall Welsh champion. Having reared a foal every year since her 2012 Royal Welsh appearance, she returned to Llanelwedd in 2018 at sixteen years of age to again win the senior brood mare class, Female Championship and secure for a second time the Prince of Wales Cup as Overall Section D Champion. She is one of only two Cob mares ever to do so. Her thrilled breeder Matty Attrell was delighted to accept the award.

Lesley’s love of Section B’s began in 1974 when her sister bought a little pony which Lesley’s eldest son rode. When her younger son showed an interest, Lesley went on to purchase Bengad Rita; this was to be the beginning of an exceptional dynasty. She produced numerous Champions; her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have formed a most successful Section B stud.

For a small stud to have produced just 35 foals in 43 years, Lesley has successfully found many magical combinations, demonstrating great knowledge and understanding of the breed in her quest to produce not just Champions and HOYS winners but ponies that children can enjoy with temperaments that are difficult to find.

She has also manged to breed versatility, with Gryngallt Personality who has successfully won RWAS in hand and has also been placed at HOYS under saddle, as was Gryngallt Pretty Picture who was home produced and piloted by Lesley’s granddaughter Amy. Gryngallt Pageboy was shown in hand for many years racking up Championships; Lesley competed him to a high level going to Olympia under saddle whilst also carrying on with stud duties. Gryngallt Playsome, a HOYS winner as a WHP, again demonstrating the versatility, not forgetting most recently Gryngallt Page Too, whose record speaks for himself. She has in total bred nine ponies who have all competed at HOYS, and all being true children’s ponies.

This record demonstrates knowledge and a true love for the breed and her ponies.

Danaway Cracklin Rose, photo by Ingrid Delataire

The final award of the evening was the highest accolade the Society can bestow; awarded annually by Council

Matty Attrell and WPCS President Stewart Franklin

info@showingworldonline.co.uk | May 2022 Issue | The Native Pony | 51

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SEIB Search for a Star Goes Back to its Roots in 2022

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New classes, new venues and training!

Ridden, In-hand and an introduction to showing for Pony Club members of all ages.

seib.co.uk/competitions

SEIB judges will be on hand to help and mentor competitors. There are also two weekenders planned for 2022, which include a day of training and preparation.

SEARCH FOR A STAR PONY CLUB YOUR HORSE LIVE CHAMPIONSHIP We are proud to announce that we have joined with the Pony Club to offer a Lead Rein and First Ridden Championship for children 10 and under.

In addition, there will be an open class for the older children that will judge horses and ponies as suitable for all round Pony Club activities, conformation, way of going and temperament will also be important (no jumping).

These classes are open to any child or young person who is a member of the Pony Club and any type of horse or pony that is athletic enough to be an all-rounder but correct enough to be a show horse.

There will be extra awards for the best riders.

THE ALL NEW SEIB SEARCH FOR A STAR WEEKENDER Taking place in both Scotland and England, competitors will have the opportunity to come the day before the competitions and learn from the judges. They will be helped with way of going, turnout, trot-up and taught how to stand the horse or pony up for the judges.

SEIB HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW SEARCH FOR A STAR Amateur only ridden classes for Working Horse, Working Pony, Show Hunters, Riding Horse and Hacks, Show and Maxi Cobs, Traditional Gypsy Cobs (all colours).

Qualify for Horse of the Year Show.

SEIB RACEHORSE TO RIDING HORSE Open ridden class that qualifies for Horse of the Year Show.

SEIB YOUR HORSE LIVE RIDDEN SEARCH FOR A STAR Amateur ridden classes for Mountain and Moorlands and Part-bred Traditional Gypsy Cobs. Qualify for Your Horse Live. The winning Part-Bred Traditional will also receive a wild card to the Traditional of the Year Show (TOYS).

Open ridden class for Veterans any horse or pony aged 16 or over irrespective of experience and any rider professional or amateur. We are searching for an older star that will qualify for Your Horse Live.

SEIB YOUR HORSE LIVE IN-HAND SEARCH FOR A STAR

Competition Dates 2022 QUALIFIERS: 24th April 2022 at Vale View Equestrian Centre, Vale View Equestrian, Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 3LX. 22nd May 2022 at Bury Farm Equestrian Village, New Bury, Farm, Mill Road, Slapton, Buckinghamshire LU7 9BT. 11th & 12th June 2022 at Netherton Equestrian Centre, Netherton Farm, Aberargie, Perthshire, PH2 9NE, Perth, Scotland.

Search for a Star Weekender including training, competition on Sunday 12th June.

23rd & 24th July 2022 during SEIB Trailblazers Championships at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry CV8 2LZ. Search for a Star Weekender, competition on 24th July (Stabling will be available via a link that will be published in due course).

15th July 2022 at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury College, Hartpury GL19 3BE (RDA Riders Only).

7th August 2022 at Science Supplements Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre, Willoughby, Rugby CV23 8AJ. 13th August 2022 NAF Five Star International Horse Trials, Hartpury College, Hartpury GL19 3BE. (SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse only).

4th September 2022 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Burghley House, Burghley Park, Stamford PE9 3JY. (SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse only).

Classes for amateur handlers with horses and ponies in these sections: Veteran, Mountain and Moorland, Traditional and Native Types, Plaited Horses and hogged Show Cobs and Plaited Ponies. Qualify for Your Horse Live.

SEIB SEARCH FOR A STAR RDA CHAMPIONSHIP Only open to members of an RDA Group. Prizes for Best Rider, Best Horse or Pony and Best Combination.

SCAN HERE TO VISIT COMPETITION HUB

To enter online or for more information please visit: www.seib.co.uk/competitions or email: competitions@seib.co.uk

South Essex House, North Road, South Ockendon Essex RM15 5BE. SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

HORSE & PONY · HORSEBOX & TRAILER · LIVERY YARDS · BUSINESS · HOME · RIDING SCHOOL & MUCH MORE 52 | The Native Pony | May 2022 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk

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