Pony Profiiles
Let’s Hear It For The Girls! by Thalia Gentzel
Photo courtesy: The Welsh Pony World
Photo courtesy: WPCSA Stud Book Vol. VI Photo courtesy: G. H. Parsons
the "stone pony" series. In the eighties and nineties we So what do Blue Hens have to find good hunter ponies from a do with a pony column? I have no FARNLEY SIRIUS son named idea how the term came into Farnley Sparkler. Leading the list being, but a Blue Hen is a prolific was was Farnley Sunglint. broodmare of extraordinary proAnother daughter, GlanNant portion who has made a major Frosty, was the dam of GlanNant contribution to her particular breed Sleigh Bell, her full sister or type. I first saw this term some Helicon Touch of Frost (Finals decades ago in a little article about Small Champion 1998), Helicon Humphrey Finney who was a great Epic Event, and Alexander's in Throughbred sales and other Frosted Blue. One year at the phases of the industry. For some Finals, the latter three all ribtime I have been wanting to salute boned in the small pony divisome Blue Hens of the Welsh and sion! Bill Winkelman in Iowa pony hunter world and me thinks used Sparkler daughters, Winks' what better time than now - in Fanfare and Funfare, in his conjunction with a celebration of handicapped driving program as Joan Dunning's 100th birthday and well as in his breeding herd. to honor her contributions to pony Bringing us into this decade, breeding in the United States. we have another Farnley *COED COCH SEREN was one of Sparkler daughter, Helikon Halo, the very first imports that Joan who is the dam of Blackberry Dunning, then Mrs. Alexander (Hillcrest's Sugar Plum) who won Mackay-Smith, brought to Farnley smalls at the Pony Finals in Farm in Virginia back in 1937, 2007. Halo's offspring scored accompanying them by ship from over 10,000 USEF pony hunter Top, Coed Coch Seren in Wales, prior to her Britain. Seren, foaled in 1925, was importation in 1937, and bottom, as a points last season; they are by Grove Sharpshooter (by Dyoll Hillcrest's Silver Lining and broodmare at Farnley. Starlight) out of Lady Grey (by Dancing Bear as well as Helicon Greylight) which doubled up on a Headliner. Headliner's full most type-y and classic progenitor of the Welsh brother, Hillcrest's McGyver, was on the event circuit in Mountain Pony, Bleddfa Shooting Star. At that time 2007 and was Reserve Champion in Jr/Young Rider Seren was carrying a foal by another typy foundation Novice Division at the 2005 American Eventing stallion, Coed Coch Glyndwr. This was none other than Championships with a 12 year old girl! Hillcrest's Top *FARNLEY SIRIUS of whom you have read in previous Hat is a stallion at Stonewall in WI. These are just some Pony Profiles columns. To give your memory a jog, he of the offspring. Picture a Blue Hen wearing a halo was the sire of Farnley Gremlin whose daughter, here! Gremlin's Delight, represented our country here and in Further exploring the descendants of *COED COCH England on the international teams of the early sixties. SEREN, I began jotting down names from www.allShe then went on to another stellar career as the dam breedpedigree.com - and before I knew it had lists fillof eighties' stars, Dresden, Bonnie Reb, Share the ing four notebook pages! You will find many other Wealth, Frito Bandito, and Swan Song. In reading grand mares of Blue Hen caliber among her female descenprix results today, one is reminded of these ponies as dants. Ever so many Welsh and pony hunter breeders Molly Ashe rode Frito Bandito and Lauren Hough Swan today have the blood of *COED COCH SEREN in their Song! herds! I know I do! Then there is Before importation in 1937, Seren had produced another Blue some outstanding individuals at Coed Coch in North Hen daughter of Wales, including in 1937 COED COCH SIRIUS, dam of SIRIUS, Farnley over 20 foals, the best known being Daisy Brodrick's Cufflink, the penultimate show mare, Coed Coch Siaradus. Here are dam of more some more of the Seren offspring foaled in Wales: eighties' jewels, 1930 - COED COCH SHONET, the dam of Eryri Shenandoah Gwyndaf who in turn sired Severn Sure Shot, influential Opal (7 times in this country. His dam was Ceulan Serene so he was AHSA Horse of double *Coed Coch Seren! the Year and 1933 - COED COCH SERLIW by Revolt. 21 of the twice Res Ch) 50 Royal Welsh Show winners between 1947 and 1972 and Flintstone, traced back to this mare! Among her foals were Coed plus others of Gremlin and Matthew Mackay-Smith