Highland Times spring 2011

IsslIe

IlO:

.-3 9 • Spl 'il1g 2011

SCOTLAND :

Maj & Mrs Connel l, Plt menzie, Glassart Glen,

by Auchtermuchty, Fife, KY14 7HT. E Mail:

pitmenz ie1@ bti nternet.com Te!: 013 37828 783

NORTH WEST:

Kathy Dewhurst, Blac kmo ss Farm Cottage,

Elrmidge Lane, Chi pping, Preston, Lanca shire .

PR32NY. EMail: KLSdew hurst@yahoo,co,uk

01772 78589 5/07734846807

Lindsay Walsh , Jen kinso ns Barn, Thorn ley,

Lon gridge, Preston, La ncs, PR 3 2TA. E Mail:

lindsa ywalsh@ hotmail. co ,uk Tel: 07900 2045 85

8RU . EM ail: laura drake1@ hotma il.com Tel: 01623 741 24 1 (hr- isti ne Ba sse tt, Aru nd el House, Ce meta ry Road, Glosso p, SK13 7QG. EMai l: chri stine .bassett@

hotmail.co.uk Tel 01 457 867600

WEST:

Tin a Dando, 25 Orch rd Close, Kewstoke ,

Wes l on super Mare, Somerset, B522 9XY E Mail

tinastalk@ta lk ta lk ,net Tel : 0193411 18765

Juli e Chuter Nicholas, Larksh all Cottage, Mid way,

Stoke St Michael, Rad stock, BA3 5JE,

NORTH EAST;

Ch ristoph er Gra nt, Birks Cottage Farm,

Heddon Birks , East Heddon on the Wall,

Northumbe rlan d, NE1S OHF, E Mail:

fullykittedout@ i1otmall.com Tel: 019 1

267161 0/07787124413

THAMES VALLEY:

We ndy Shea r-man, 3 Rive r View, Flackwell

Heath, High Wyco rn be , Bucks, HP10 9AT E M ai l:

st uartshea rman @btco nnect .com Tel: 01628

523124

Lianne Parkin, 11 Loweswa ter Crescent,

Gra ngefiel d, Stockton on Tee s, Teeside, TS18

4PY. EMai l: liann e.parkin@ ntlworid.com Tel :

016 42895109

ANGLIA:

Catriona Carnegie, 232 Ugg Mere Court Road,

Ramsey Heigh t s, Hun tin gdon, Cambs, PE26 2RS

E mail talisker_highla nd_pon ies@yahoo.co.uk

Te l: 07786321 658

PENNINE:

Alison Payne, 32 We ll hou se Lane, Pe nistone,

Sh effie ld , 536 8ER. E M ail : alison payne909@

btintern et. com Tel : 01226 37 0026

Jo FY5 0n, 24 Reyn rd, Hoad, Welwyn, Herts,

AL6 9TP. j,fyson @bto penworld .com Tel: 01438

714492 (Herts)

Am an da Ha rt, 31 Westfield Avenue, Thurston e,

Sheffie ld , 536 9RL EMail : hartsika@b tinte rnet.

com Tel : 07897 257 166

Abigail Ch amberlain, 1 Ceda r Walk, Cane wdon,

Rochford , Essex, SS4 3QL E Mail : daveandabi @

btin ter ne t. com Tel : 01702 258406

SOUTH WEST: Vaca ncy

CENTRAL: (now incorpOr<lting West Midlands)

Helen Best , Gat es blay, Sytc hampton , Stourport,

Worcs, DY13 9TA. E Ma il: ma xmystic@ao l.com

Te l 01905 6211 22/07809 100772

SOUTH EAST:

Jo Je ffs, 2 Col umbian Crescent, Burn twoo d,

Staffs, WS7 2BD. EM ai l: tangos@ ntlworl d.com

Te l: 0154 3 675396

WALES:

Ma rga ret Harfield, Pen ma es, 5ale m, Lland ei lo,

( ar ms, SA19 7NY EMa il: mc harfiel d@ho tmail.

co rn Tel: 01558822822

EAST MIDLANDS:

Lau ra Drak e, 3 The Clusters, Wood Lane,

Pleas eley Vale, rv1ansrield, Notti ngham, ~JG 19

Don na Haries, For'est Barn, Sa lem, Llan de ilo,

Car ms, SA19 7NS Tel :0798962 2750

2 Highland Time s 路 Spring 2011

Vac anc y

HPEC O~

2011 Life President:

Penny Smith, Nashend Stud, Lower

Nashend Farm, Bisley, Stroud, Glos, GL6

7AJ .

Chair Person :

Jackie Muggleton, Wynchwood, The

Street, Alderton, Nr Chippenham, Wilts,

SN14 6NL. EMail : Jackie_ muggleton@

hotmail.com Tel: 01666 840218

Vice Chair:

Catriona Carnegie, 232 Ugg Mere Court

Road, Ramsey Heights, Huntingdon,

Cambs, PE26 2RS Email: talisker_

highland_ponies@yahoo.co.uk Tel:

07786321658

Cover Photo: Ellen Young's Finlayon their Great Adventure (pg 19)

Right: Anne Mitchell's Dunedin May Rose (pg 14)

CONTENTS 04

A Message from the Chair

06

Highland Pony Society Performance Awards

Treasurer:

Caroline Harwood, 1 White Horse

Cottages, Frampton Mansell,

Stroud, Glos, GL6 8HU E mail:

ca rol i ne. r. ha rwood@btinternet.com

Tel: 07801839613

09

Ha ppy Hackers 2009/10

13

2010 Highland Pony Personality Award

14

An Interview with Anne Mitchell

Treasurer (From April 2011):

Elizabeth Mangham, 17 Whitecliffe

Terrace, Swillington,Leeds, LS26 8QR

Email: lizmangham@yahoo.co.uk tel:

0113 2870072

16

A Journey to Confidence

Secretary:

Rosemary Smith, 16 Dovehouse Close,

Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambs,

PE29 2DY Email: rosemarysnotes@

ntlworld.com Tel: 01480 350127

Activities:

Helen Boden, The Barn, Melior Hall

Farm, Church Road, Melior, Stockport,

Cheshire, SK6 5CG. Email: helen.

boden2@btinterJ'let.com Tel: 0161

4497137

19

Our Great Adventure

23

Dreams Do Come True

26

2009 Treasurer's Report

28

An Interview with Michelle Parkin Vaughan

32

A Brief Hi story of the Seamus Mor Competition

34

The Olympia M&M Championship

36

Nuggets from Veterinary Periodicals

39

Golden Boy

\".lwwh igh fond ponyenth lIsiasts.co.L1 k Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 3

a message

from the Chair ••••••••••••••••• W~

~00""l1\.-e to

the Spring 2011 edition of the Highland Times .

I hope you find the artic les of interest, there certainly are a diverse range of topics covered in this edi tion; oLlr rotation of editors ensures that this pub lica tion remains fresh. Many thank s to Rebe cca and the team for this ed iti on, the Highland Times co mmittee is always eager to gain more members and yo ur suggestions for topi cs to be included are really welcome.

The club continu es to strive to support members in their enjoyment of th eir ponies and we have a promi sing rang e of activities in the pipeline for you. I wa s among members who attended a very enjoyable Christmas soc ial at Nashend Stud, Penny is a wonderful host and we ate and talked we ll and then worked off just a little of it loo kin g at the ponies . Th e NE area also rec ently held a ve ry successful social and I know Anglia ha ve a spring gathering in th e pipeline . Probably by the time thi s edition is publi shed th e Penn ine area w ill ha ve held their ever popular sp ring show, Thames area are plannin g a sho w in June, in conjunction with other local breed groups, and other rides, visits and camps are at the plann ing stage across th e country. Some areas remain quieter than othe rs but if the re is so mething you'd like to do plea se do ring your area rep and discuss it, anyone in the club is free to run an event and we are eager t o support yo u in this.

highlandponyenthusiasts.co.uk Our internet forum is a much use d facil ity and we are indebted to ou r web ma ster Jackie

4 Hi gh land Tim es · Spring 2011

Henderson and our tea m of moderators for keeping it running re latively smooth ly.

There ha ve been cha llenges with our internet provider lately but I know that th e moderator team are working to reso lve them and to put in place a mechani,sm for updatin g oLlr w eb si te, which we all acknowledge has become out of date in recent years. However, we al so know that some members ma y not w ish to commun icate via th e internet and for th ose members w e co ntinue to provid e traditi ona l method s of co mmunicatio n.

Ou r thanks At our AGM Alison Payn e stood down after an extend ed term as chair of the club. During this period we have benefited greatly from her energy and commitment to the club and her enjoym ent of Hi gh la nd ponies. At the AGM Alison told us of her plea sure in sharing the enjoym ent of our wonderful ponies and how this had been her prime moti va tion as chairperson; she then showed us a very moving pre sentation of HP EC members and their ponie s, w hich demo nstrated just how much joy our relationship w ith these wonderfu l creatures brings. Th e presentation was set to the music from the film Local Hero, wh ich was very appropriate, and brought a lump in the throat to many of us.

At this AGM we also sa id good bye to several com mittee member who have made Sig nificant contributio ns to the club and I would like to take t his opportunity to thank them. Julie Robertson and Ginny Redgra ve, both ve ry ac ti ve and lo ng stan ding are a reps w ho have run numerous even t s, ha ve decided to take a we ll dese rve d break . They w ill be hard act s to follo w, in fact as ye t we haven't found anyon e to rep lace Julie, vo lunteers are needed please I

Also, Treena May has stood down from the role of co -ordinating the provision of our smaller and promotional items; this wasn't because she is sick of talking about pencils, key rings and mugs but due to increasing work commitments. We thank Treena for all her hard work and welcome Polly Porter, who is taking over this role.

Club matters Your 2010 AGM papers included the opportunity to vote on whether we have a pony for sale board on the forum (Iongstanding members will remember that we did in the past run such adverts in the Highland Times) .

The vote for in favour of including such adverts was overwhelming and this is something that will be discussed at our next committee meeting. Offering free advertisements for members selling ponies is one way in which the club can support members in this time of financial constraints.

Highland pony ambassador At our last committee meeting and at the AGM we looked at ways that we could use club funds in a way that promoted the enjoyment of Highland ponies. Several new awards were discussed and a bursary for a Highland Pony ambassador was established. This award, which was sponsored by the officers of the club, is for the member who has made a significant contribution to raising the profile of the Highland pony. It was terribly difficult to award, as we had two excellent nominations, so we shared the bursary between Kirsty Wylde and Marjorie Grant, both of whom have conducted themselves with distinction in national competitions.

On a personal note I am currently midway through a mid life 'gap year' and having lots of fun with my Highland ponies: diabolical dressage and hesitant hacking will no doubt be followed by shocking attempts at showing; but it's all good fun . Winter is a low point for many

of us, as soggy fields and ponies make summer seem a distant prospect. So as I marvel at just how much mud and bits of hedge my Highland ponies can incorporate into their manes I attempt to remember the sleek creatures they will become in just a few months.

Wishing everybody a great spring and summer.

Jo.-c-ki..,e, fv1~9~ HPEC Chairman

HIGHLAND TIMES 40 Rebecca O'Rourke, Cleveland A group of us are responsible for producing Highland Times and take it in turns to edit each edition. Working on this issue I was keen to include articles about the HPS and HPEC Performance Awards and the stories behind the winners. Olympia is the highlight of many people's year - and their ambitions I As 2010 was the last NPS Olympia M&M Championship I was thrilled that Gillian McMurray, who really flew the flag for Highlands there, agreed to write a piece for us about her experiences. I also wanted to include articles about the everyday Highland owner and rider too.

I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of your club magazine and that you like the new look our designer, Cia ire Shand, has created for us.

We are always on the look out for new input so if you'd like to get involved please get in touch. Contributions for the next edition are welcome at any time - and if you have an idea for an article, or an interview then let us know and we will do our best to make it happen. HT40 will be jointly edited by Jackie Muggleton and me, so send us your feedback, ideas and articles.

Copy Deadline: September 1st 2011

Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 5

hat an amazing year for ponies, and their riders,

who have had a go at so many activities, which

really demonstrates the versatility of our Highland ponies.

Lead rein classes, Polo cross, Long-reining, Indoor and Outdoor Trec plus a few

more!!

I sold 25 cards this year and had 23 returned, much better than last year, and I had

already sold 10 for the 2010/2011 yea r before the result s were for 2009/2010 were out. There

are place rosett es for the first 10 ponies but everyone w ho returns their card recei ves a rosette,

which is what th e people with the list of ponies below have done :

PHEBE OF DINEFWR TSUNAM I STORM OF GLENAIRLlE CAR RICK HESTON

Margaret Harfie ld Sand y Mairs Sara h Richards

(Heston was our only stallion entered into the competition so he won the Claret Challenge Trophy. So, being dressed up as a snowman and deciding canter was the correct pace all the way through the RiddenPairs, with another stallion, was worth doingl) CATRIONA OF MYSTIC ISLES CEllA OF DYKES FERN OF GLENMARKIE

Mrs . C. Carnegie Mrs. Judy Ha rwoo d Margaret Harfi eld (ridden by Donna Harris)

(Fern was also ridden by 5 year old Carl Dayly, off lead rein , so he receives a 4th place d Junior rosette) AILSA OF GLEN LOMOND MONREITH MADONNA FERN ILEA OF TALlSKER PRECIOUS LASSIE OF COMBEBANK SPOTTISWOOD STRATHMOR E

Sandy M ai rs Lianne Park in Mrs. C. Carn egie Sara Fleetwoo d Sara Chambe rlain

(As the highest placed Veteran 5trathmore has won the Laird of Woodhav en Tro phy. This award is made even more special because he died in Autumn 2010, at the age of 19, leaving a massive hole in Sara's life.)

KATIE OF COMBEBANK MEGANDENE

6 Highl and Times â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2011

Sara Fleetwood Laure en Robert s

10th

GLE BAN CHOR BARRA

SAR A CHAMBERLAIN

818 POINTS

Nearl all of thei r poin ts we re gained from Hu nting w hich means they won t he Quest of Mend ick Hunt Sal er.

9t

ROW AN OF BA LFLEURS

M ELANIE RHODES

900 POINTS

The ir poin ts \' ere most ly gained from Long Distance Rides, 25 m iles an d upwards!!

8th

ACHN ALAR IG ION A

CAR OLINE HARWOOD

1,053 POINTS

Although lOst of their points have come from Dressage they have also taken part in Tree, Show Ju m pi ng and Ho rse Agi lit y.

7th

IALUIN N NA DAILACH

CHR IS BASSETI

1,200 POINTS

All of t heir po ints are Driving related . The highlight of thei r yea r was attending the British Driving Socie t y's ann ual show at Smi t h's Law ns and being involved in t he 'd rive past ' in front o f Her M aje sty he Queen an d H.R .H. Pr ince Ph illip . As the pony w ith t he most poi nts for Driving they also wo n Th e Bl ue Gowt Sa pphire Trophy.

6t h

STO URTON JETHRO

ALEXY JACKSON

1,745 PO INTS

They ha ve att end ed many Po ny Club relat ed com petiti o ns and Ral lies as well as Working Hunter Class es and so me Show Jum ping. As th e Highest pl aced Juni or Ride r Alexy has won The Rimond Cup and w ill be put for w ard for th e Sue Gil es M emoria l Quaic h for the highest placed Junior for Sco tlan d, England and Wales.

5th

STO CKS RUARAIDH

M RS . M . PARKIN VAUG HAN

2,148 POINTS

Th ey have ach ieved th eir point s through man y t ypes of activ iti es including Dressage, Ridden and many Rid in g Cl ub Rall ies . They wo n Th e Benn y Tro phy fo r th e highest placed Gelding.

4t h

LANGLEY GIPSY LEGEND

ALl SO N CH AMPION

2,316 PO INTS

Thi s po ny is also ri dd en by Re becca Ch amp ion and they have had a lo t of fun competi ng at Show Ju mp ing, Polo cro ss an d Dress age as we ll as a 24 hour fund rai si ng ride w it h t he Pony Club. This m eant having to ride from 10 ti ll 11.30 p.m. as we ll as 4 ti ll 5.30 a.m . Rebecca is the 2nd placed Juni or Ri der.

W ith Alison ridi ng they have been Show Ju m pin g, Dressage and dressed in 1940's style riding cloth es for a Quadri ll e.

This pony gained t he mos t points jus t fo r Dre ss age an d so w ins the Whitehope Morag Rosebowl.

Spr ing 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highl and Ti mes 7

3rd

IONA OF DYKES

KIRSTY WYLDE

2,975 POINTS

Th is pony is also ridden by Molly Wylde, who is 5 yea rs old and rides off the lead rei n, passing her E Tes t and taking part in Indoor Tree. She is the 3rd place d Junior.

With Kirsty ridi ng th ey have competed in Show Jumping, Workin g Hunter, Ridd en classes, X Country, End urance and Pl eas ure Ride s, Hu nting and Stressage! Th ey w ere placed 4th in 85cm Arena Eventing, aga inst horses. Their biggest ach ieveme nt has been in Tree. Havi ng qua li fi ed for th e British Champion ships they went to Wale s in August and won th e Level 2 Champio nships and were award ed a silver salver fo r t he highest PTV score across all levels, again st 126 comp eti tors.

2nd

DUNEDIN FINALE

ANNE M ITCHEU

4,129 POINTS

Ridden by Christophe r Grant this pony has co mpeted in Rid den and Dressage cla sses, attended many Pony Club Rallie s, Com bined Train ing, Show Jump ing an d has been Cub Hunting.

1st

DUNEDIN RHUAN N

CHRI STOP HER GRANT

Also ridden by Christopher Grant t his mare has achieved so much there prob abl y isn' t enough room to list it all. They have done many Pony Club activiti es including rallies, Show Jum ping, Dressage and Working Hunter classes, including qualifiers and One Day Events.

They competed at the Royal Highland Show and wo n th e Great Yorkshire show in a class of Highland s, Fells and Dales (43 in the class) and th en becam e Reserve Champion in the M&M Ridd en Championsh ips.

As Duned in Rh uann is th e highest placed Newcome r Christopher is eligi ble for a Bursary from Th e Highland Pony Society to have some lessons of his choice, and also wins the Whitehope Morag Sa lver. As she is the highest placed Mare they also win the Brownb rea d Rebecca Trophy and, as the Overall Winne r, th ey also win the Glenda Spooner Trophy. The Highland Pony Society also awards a Bronze Medal for the ove rall win ner to kee p.

8 Highland Times路 Spring 2011

6,246 POINTS

» Another successful and exciting year for all of the peop le w ho entered their ponie s into th is competition and although counting th e poin t s is sometime s difficult, and definitely time con suming, it is so enjoyabl e, rewarding and enthral ling w hen I see what people are achie ving w ith the ir ponies. I look forward to ne xt year 's cha lle nge !

If people fro m England & Wales wish to be invol ved in th is comp etition all you ne ed to do is send m e a chequ e/P.a . for £5.00 made payabl e to the Highland Pony Society and po st

HAPPY HACKERS

it to me w ith your pony's name, age, sex and stud number along with your own name and addres s. If t he person w ho is riding the pony is under 18 years of age I al so need th eir nam e and age. A self addressed stamped (A4 size wit h a larg e stamp) en ve lope would al so be helpfu l.

Sen d to: Mrs . Karen Grover, Northcote, Mill Green Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lincs. PH I 3PU . (01775725560) The competition runs from November 1st 2010 to October 31st 2011 . •

20 09/2010 1

stiltis ics & a few stories...

Laura Jane Macholc, North Yorkshire

25

ri ders were awarded merit rosettes (0 -50 hours).

9 4 4

riders gained bronze ros ettes (50-100 hours).

6

riders gained platinum ro settes for greater than 200 hours.

riders achieved silver (100-150 hours) . rid ers were awarded gold rosettes (150-200 hours) .

he w inn er of the Humphrey of Combeban k tro phy was Su e Watkinson on Jenny May of Forglen who did 299 hours, 40 minutes 1 The top Junior w as Thoma s Gardn er riding Buster the Shetland, they did 198 ho urs, 25 mins .

T

M ost of the 7 hikers achieved merit s but Abigail Chamberlain gained two bronze rosettes . She hiked for 64 hours, 35 min s w ith Fl eetmead Kia and did another 58 hou rs, 20 min s with Fleetmead Herb Robert. Both ponie s

were 3 year old s, and mo st of th e re st of the Hikers w ere either young sters or vet erans.

Is Yorkshire the be st cou nty? Tho se of us who live here are certain it is but also at least 10 of the parti cipating ponies were born in Yorkshire' Does all our lovely heather make th em feel at home?

Above: 2010 Happy Hacker winners Sue Watkinson and Jen ny May of Forglen Sp ring 2011 • Highland Times 9

I, for one, use cards as diaries for the ponies. It is lovel to re ad other folk 's notes in the margins ar d here are a selection.

Turin Hill A eri n, AKA Sandy, and his rider bravely wen t ou t in sleet on one occasion and driving rain o n others. Reading those notes rem in ded me what a bad winter we had to con ten d wit h in 2009. Sandy also hacked to an d fro m Le Trec training, went to a few shovvs and did some dressage competitions. He was one of the ponies with 2 riders and he is a bLC sy lad, with Carol Collet his owner, he did 222 hours and came 3rd. His card notes that he was lame at the end of the season and we hope he is fully fit again now.

One has to admire the fam ily group of Gellender-Mills, her husband Joseph and their Grandson Thoma s. They achieved 231 h 25m, 169h and 198h 25m respectively.

Christine was 2nd in t he Senior Plus group, Joseph was 5th and top male rider and Thomas was top Junior. Thomas and Joseph were 2/3rd of the total male riders, my husband was the other. Joan Smith did note on her Irish Cob Gypsy's ca rd th at the reason C~ ri<;tine

Right: Ed Macholc and Mirjam of Comebank (AKA Madge)

they only achieved 7 hours was that her husband had appropriated Gypsy. I think Mr Smith needs his own membership so he and Gypsy can record their hours and improve our total of male riders I Luckily Joan has her lo ve ly Highl and Lambrigg Honey Meg, TB Moonlight Shadow and her 29 year old Part Bred Arab, Mystery, to ride and hike with respectively so she was not too deprived!

Pam Ru ss el l riding Mossbank Gypsy Anna achieved 160 hours in the ir first full season together. Her note with her card says she has only returned to riding in 2009 after 2 years off due to a nasty fall from her dressage horse.

Pam got Mossie, her first Highland, in May '09 and she says that Happy Hacker gave her a great sense of achievement that year. I hope Pam is pleased to know that she came 7th in the Senior Pl us group.

Endrig Ronaldo AKA M ullet and Jackie Henderson in the Senior Plus section do Pleasure Rides among other things. In July they went to The Scottish Endurance Championships and did Pleasure Rides on 3 successive days, doing 21km on day 1, 25km

,.

left: Happy Hacke r Ed Machol c riding Cameran on day 2, and 21km on the th ird day. They did all 3 rides at very respectable speeds, averagi ng 10k/ h Then , 2 weeks la t er, the y did another 2 rides on consecutive days adding a further 46km to their tota l. Mu llet and Ja ck ie mu st both be very fit to have done all this between 16th July and 31st July. In September they too k their grand total to 1000km, thi s was achi eved in 3 and a half years.

Coincidenta lly, this w as the mo nth t hat Ed an d I w ith our ponies also passed the 1000km of Pleasure Rides "m ilestone".

How Many Hours Do We Achieve?

Less tha n 10 hrs

2006

2007

2010

2

0

10

- -­ - .­

- .-­

I ( 6 ridden , 4 hikin g)

-.-.---­

i

( 7 ridde n, 1 hiking)

10· 25 hrs

5

8

8

25-50 hrs

2

6

10

50-75 hrs

7

10

1Q ! 8 ridde n, 2 hiking)

75· 100 hrs

1

3

1

4

12

3

5

-­

- ­- ­

-100-150 - -hrs ­

-

4

- -- - ­

150-200 hrs -

--­

-

4

2

1

-­

I

I-­

200 hrs plus

6

r · •• _ _ _

,.

,

~

The winner in 2007 did 286 hou rs 25 mins in 256 rides; in 2010 the winn er did 299 hours and 40 mins in only 187 rides.

Who takes part?

2007

2006

-TOTAL - _. CARDS -

37

46

- -

Juniors

- --.

0

1

Seniors

10

---

Senior Plus

16

--

---

0

---

...

--

Intermediates

2010 53 ...

4

6

1 9

14

31

2

7

Hikers

­

-~

.­

--

23

-, - -

-

.­

Ponies with more than one rider in 2009/10 Douglas of Comb eba nk is now 20 and he took S years to achieve this as he missed the end of the 2008 season wh en he bad ly damaged his check li ga ment. At th e ti me we we re not sure Douglas wo uld be fit enough to do 2S-3Skm rides again but aft er 6 month s of rest and physiotherapy he bounced back. Ladarna

One

Two

Turin Hill Averin

202h 55m

19h Sm

Douglas of Com bebank

76h 2Sm

8h 3Sm

Si lve r Fox Malin II

66h 56m

2h 2Sm

End rig Ronaldo

63h 6m

6h 25m

Violet of Dykes

24h 3Sm

4h 36m

--­ - ­ -

----­

Mi riam of Combeba nk

23h 29m

Cameron of Allendale

12h 50m

- --­

9h S7m

- - - - ­1h SOm

Sprin g 2011 • Highland Tim es 11

problems that significantly affected the ir hours. Katherine Rayment's Chapelhill Zak had 6 months off and Staffi n of Orangefield, belonging to Wendy Shearman, had 5 months off, both w ith a tendon injury. Rebecca O'Rourke's Humphrey of Combebank had problems last sea son w ith surgery on his leg. Although he was fit by act 09, Rebecca se nsibly cosseted him during our horrid w inter weather, and then Humphrey was found to have a fractured molar w hich necessitated several operations. They are all back in wo rk now and the hours the y achieved la st season in spite of their problems auger we ll for good times and results this coming year.

Stud prefix/suffix popularity Above: Sue Watkinson and Jenny May of Forglen out and about

I

of Langley, 8yo, and ridden by my husband Ed also passed 1000km on the same ride at Sledmere. It ha s only taken them 4 years.

At that stage there was only 1km between the ponies' totals but Darna ha s now forged ahead. She and Ed did one more ride whilst I sat at home nursing my broken leg. Doug las and Darna came 8th and 12th respe ctive ly in Senior Plus. I was very proud of my 14yo mare Malin (even though it was her fall that broke my ankle) as she achieved over 66 hours . We only began hacking again on March 10th 2010; she had been out of full work for 3 years whi lst she had a couple o f foal s. Before that she had been ridden for less than a year.

Cla re MacLennan-Postans riding Rest and Be Thankful Ishbel recorded over 65 hours.

She is a shin ing example of equine resilience and you can read her full story on page 13.

Clare has another entrant, Jester, a Welsh Cob and 5 of their 24 hours were done totally bareback - in 3 hacks. Wow! There were a number of ponies with health

12 Highland Times â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2011

Corn be bank

4 ponies

Fleetmead 3 ponies - - - - -1 Forglcn 2 ponies Dyke s

2 ponies

Oldest pony Not ever yone put their pony' s age on the card, as it is not a specified question, but quite a few people did and I doubt any pony was older than 30 year old Banner ridden by Sue Coote.

Together they did 133 hours to come 6th in the Senior Plus group of ride rs. In 2007, aged 27, he was aga in the oldest pony and completed 190 hours. Mystery, aged 29, and Jester, aged 27, were next in the veteran stakes .

I wou ld like to thank Jac kie for all her hard work in charge of the Performance Awards, inclu di ng Happy Hacker, and I hope that Helen, who took over at the AGM, enjoys her time in charge. It has been anothe r hard winter, so far, but I hope lots of you have got your sheets downloaded and that everyone ha s plenty of great rides to enjoy and record this sea son .â&#x20AC;˘

~/~: 2010 Winner HIGHLAND PONY PERSONALITY AWARD

The Highlan d Pony Pe rso nali t y Awar'd is a new aw ard fo r the club. Persona lity is som eth ing all of o ur poni es have plen ty of so choosing j ust one win ner is go ing to be to ugh . The fi rst po ny to hold t his awa rd is Ishie, Rest and Be Tha nkful Ish beL This is her nomin ation: shie is an 18 year o ld, grey mare with a BIG personalityl She has always been the Alpha ma re but sh ortly after Moony passed awa y last autumn she had an accident w ith the gorse in the fi eld w hen foraging for a fe w blades of grass deep in the t hicket . Now, Ishie has a serious "vet phobia " so I kn ew tre atin g her sore eye would be a challenge .

The first vet who came out was JanandJock's daughter, Caroline, a lovel y gen t le girl who had ridd en Ishie in the pa st. However, despite going to the lengths of putting on my clothes so she did not look like, nor smell like a vet, Ishie w as not fool ed. It wa s difficult to examine t he eye to sa y the least, getting sedati ve into a ve in was impossible and after a couple of simila r visits it was decid ed that Ishie should be admitt ed to the clinic.

I

Her stay w as initially expected to be a coup le of da ys but what with one thing and another and many attemp t s t o treat t he eye she ended up be ing there for a month. She coped w ell conSidering sh e has such a fear of all t hings veterinary and quickl y established w ho she wo uld tolerate treating her and who she wou ld not. Howe ver the stre ss began to get to her and when she developed colic and was still in pain w ith her eye the vets decided she w ould ha ve to have it removed . It wa s onl y an othe r couple of days on ce the op wa s done and she cam e hom e t o me .

Th ereafte r followed a period of adju stment for us both. I had to remember to speak all the time so she knew I was there and she quickly learn t to use all her other sen se s and to turn her good eye to see. W ith some trepidation I began to ride her again - at fir st she had difficulty judging distances and w as trippy - something sh e hadn' t been before - but now she rarely trips . She quickly reas serted herse lf as mare in charge and over the last year we have built up our ridden wo rk from gentle w alks and trots to eventually bring in long canters. We are now ba ck to doing everything w e were pre-op.

Sh e hacked out recentl y with two " strange " po nies and w as in top form , prancing and t hrowing her plaited for'e !ock about an d grunting in he r "Miss Piggy" mode . She has been back on the roads and co ped wel l despite the fact she is blind on the right - t he si de whi ch is closest to traffic. I put up a sma ll jum p in t he field last w eek wondering if she w ould manage - no worrie s the re l She flew over easily c le~r in g 2' 6" (com pletely over the top in re al Ishie style) throw ing in a fe w happy bucks at the oth er side, then swinging round in t he hope of doing it aga in I am so proud of my brave girl. â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 13

An interview

Wit~~

Border Highlands founder member Anne Mitche ll has breeding Highlands successful ly for ove r 2.5 years. She was interviewed by Ch ri stophe r Gra nt.

Q

When did you first get involved with Highland ponies?

In 1976 my Dad bought a Highland gelding called Seamus of Mamore. He was a lovely versatile pony who I went to Pony Club on, showed and attended Border Highlands events with. My Mum and Dad used to ride him too.

Q

What led you into breeding Highland ponies?

After having several ridden Highlands I bought t he mare Heather of Tower to use as a brood m are. This was in the mid 80's.

Q

For anyone who doesn't know, where is the Dunedin stud situated?

I firs t kept my ponies on land my father rented nea r home at Edinburgh but when numbers increa sed I moved to Stirlingshire, where I am sti ll bas ed now. The name Dunedin comes fro m th e old name for Edinburgh.

Q

How many ponies do you have and could you tell us about each of them?

I ha e t w o homebred stallions: Marksman anc Duncan. Four Brood Mares; Fairisle, F·l ro ach lan. Fiona and Ballinhills Thum berlina.

T\\o reti red pon ies (now Nannies) Morag a'1 C -i arris . Thre e young mares being ridden; . 'a r gold wit h Emily Flynn, Finale with C"r' st opher Grant and Mountain Rose with - asca .r Ma t heson who are all out doing '. c _ ~e ridd ens . A five year old is shortly going =.. ~ . :0 be broken and I have three young S' ':;: - - '.'. 0 fi lli es and a colt.

lj - -ghla nd Tim es • Spr ing 2011

Q

Did you choose to use specific blood lines and what influences your choice?

I chose the blood lines that I found produced good ridden and performance ponies that I wanted to ride. I use bloodlines that go back to Department ponies. I was given Muldoanich of Dalbrack. whose bloodlines I liked, after breeding Harris (by Heamish of Dalbrack, a son of Muldoanich ). His Department and Croila lines co mp leme nted my mares. Muldoanich alway s left good riding ponies and had a super tempe ra m ent and was great to ride himself.

Q

What qualities are important to you when breeding Highlands?

I like my ponies to have natural, balanced paces and good temperaments. I also think it's im portant that ponies fit the breed type and are hardy. Having a bit of wow factor about th em is another attribute I look for.

What notable achievements (outside showing) have made you proud of Dunedin ponies?

Q

Harris winning a gold medal at the Special Olympics at Cardiff in 2001. I'm very proud of all my ponies - they give huge amounts of pleasure to their owners doing everything from driving to long dis tance, dressa ge and pony club as we ll as j umping .

Q

What have been your most memorable moments when showing your ponies?

Lots. Harris had an amazing showing career· as a four year old he was Reserve Champion at the breed show followed by overall champion

at Blair then ridden champion at the RHS. His most notable achievements were Olympia M&M Ridden Champion in 1999 and HOYS M&M WHP Champion in 2000 (the only Highland ever to have achieved this). May-Rose was Champion ridden at the Breed Show, best of breed and 3rd at Olympia in 2005, best of breed twice at HOYS and 3rd in 2006. At the 2005 RHS full sisters Megan and May-Rose were Champion and Reserve. Megan also qualified for HOYS, she is now with Emily Flynn. Marksman started off riddens successfu ll y winning the Picton Final at Malvern and Supreme at Blair in 2008 . 2009 saw him Champion ridden M&M at HOYS and Best of Breed at Olympia. Last year he was Champion at the Royal International Horse Show, the only Highland ever to have won there.

Do you think the pressure to produce performance ponies could result in us losing the true qualities of our breed?

Q

Much of the future of the breeds is in the hands of M&M judges and their knowledge to put up sound ponies that show correct breed characteristics, otherwise these will end up being lost. Show societies that run many of our biggest shows don 't have a vigorous enough selection and training process for judges and major ridden finals can have such an influence on the type of pony that wins in show rings around the country.

The NPS runs a very good judges panel and it is very sad they have lost Ol ympia .

Q

Is there a past pony you would have liked to have had in your stud?

Knocknagae l Marksman . I used to look at his head which was mounted above the entrance to the anatomy theatre at the Roya l Dick Veterinary School. He is one of the most influential stallions in the breed and is in a number of my ponies' pedigrees .â&#x20AC;˘ Top to bottom: Dunedin Harris, Dunedin May Rose, Dunedin Marksman

I

decide to ride in the arena, as it is safer than going out. My legs have a horrible habit of sneaking upwards as I grip the saddle w ith my knees in a determined fashion , desperate not to fall off. She picks up my anxiety, in the corner she spooks and before I know it I am off. She has done it yet again. I have lost count of the number of times I have come off, often landing on my feet beside her but several times landing on my back . This is supposed to be a hobby I enjoy, a time to relax away from work . I must be mad.

I

A few months later I acquire, on loan, a rather special pony. He is 16 years o ld, a grey Highland and at 14.2 much nearer the ground than the mare l Thus Rurie enters my life .

He has spent the la st four years mooching about a fie ld by himself. He and the security of the western saddle he arrives with are my first steps toward regaining my confidence .

The western saddle, made to measure in America for his previous ow ner, is fantastic.

16 Highland Times' Spring 2011

I can hang on to the pommel at the front without looking ridiculou s. We hack out with my daughter Olivia and I begin to feel a little more confident. Soon I am out on my own and I begin to realise that this pony is pretty bombproof. Six months later I am able to bu y him but I can't afford to bu y hi s saddle as well. I buy a Wintec Wide saddle for him . It doesn't feel nearl y as secure as the western saddle but I can lift it onto his back with ease.

Over the next couple of years I continue to hack out on him but I am aware now of how precarious my rid ing position is. My legs creep upwards and I lean forward, shoulders hunched, losing my balance all too easily, trotting is hard work for both of us. My poor balance is not helping my confidence, as I still feel anxiou s about falling off.

I decide to bite the bullet and have some lesson s. I learnt to ride as a child through a process of learning to stay on, riding friend s' ponies whenever I could, but I didn't have lessons. Over the next few weeks I begin to

â&#x20AC;˘

learn to sit in a better position. Using the lunge my instructor shows me I can canter in the arena in circles without falling off. I begin to believe that I can actually ride. My instructor is positive and really encouraging.

Then come the challenges to my newfound confidence. Olivia persuades me to do a mini XC, the jumps are a massive 18 inches high. On the day they look at least 6 foot.

I am so scared; it is only the presence of Olivia and Rurie (who wonders what all the fuss is about), which keeps me from bolting for home . Half way round I am crying in disbelief because Rurie and I have not parted company, by the last jump (which we do in style l ) I am a quivering but elated wreck. We may have got the slowest time but we got round it together, and I am so proud of my lovely boy.

The next part of the story involves Jean, 'islander' on the HPEC forum. Jackie Henderson and I go to stay with her for a few days one summer for some riding. On

my first ride I am given the gorgeous Amber.

I have no idea of the terrain I am about to ride across (and through!). It is scary, it is exhilarating and it is absolutely fantastic. We go up steep inclines then down precipitous ones, through bogs, over fences, through

"l am a quivering but elated wreck .. 11 forests and stop to admire the view on a cliff edge. I don't come off; well, not quite.

Amber nearly manages to lose me when she jumps a ditch, which I wasn ' t expecting her to do. The next day I ride Camrie and I completely forget to feel worried. We also go to meet Liz at the Trekking Centre and I am riding another pony I have never ridden.

Before I know it we are off and I am happily cantering along the beach. These few days are now treasured memories. Jean, I can't thank you enough .

I still have moments of panic and anxiousness when I go up to ride; I don't think I will ever lose that. I do know that I can ride, and ride relatively safely, in that my balance is so much better. Being better balanced has

help ed me to feel more secure in the sadd le.

Rememberin g to keep my shoulders back, to breathe and my teeth un clenched also helps Singing is a great way to calm the butterflies; Sam, my daughter 's horse w ho I ride now she is away at unive rsity, is fa st learn ing my repert oire . I am more able to keep my legs down, again helping my balan ce.

Having

a pony who is bombproof, who takes most things in his strid e, has gone a long way to help me regain my confidence. I do n't think I would be able to ri de the different ponies and horses I do now if it was n' t for hi m and for t ho se peop le w ho have helped me on the journey, especially my lo ve ly (a nd ve ry patient) daughter Olivia .•

Jeanette wrote:

I guard my confidence jealously. I read just a tiny comment on another forum that real ly helped me yesterday when hacking out a strong and spooky Iri sh Draught on my own for the first time. The comment was an old western saying ..." Leg each side of the horse and head in the middle" .... so I did that ... Leg each side and forgo t abo ut everything from waist down .. and kept my fo cus firmly on where we were going .. ..soft contact on the reins .... and it worked. It was gutting to discover that it was so easy afte r struggling for so long ! Of course it doesn't help one bit when you are going thro ugh a cri sis of confidence to be told that a ne rvous rider brings out th e spoo kiness and nappin ess in a horse .... but when you get out the oth er sid e of a co nfidence cri sis you rea'lly kick yourself t o discover ho w much angst you cou ld have spa red yo urse lf.

Margaret wrote:

Its getting the right horse/pony who will give you that 'safe' feel and who you know won't wobble when you do! That's the hardest bit of all.

Having also been through a period of riding anxiety L-J has some useful suggestions:

Teach your pony th at pressure in the withers, or scratche s in that area mean "we are going to walk in a very rela xed fas hion now". Even bouncy Doug will do this and it can be great to give yourself at bit of a breather when you need it. I start off with fir m pressure either side of the with ers fr om one hand and vo ice commands, wither pressure makes them lower their head s/stre tch their neck, which eq uals relaxed. Once your pony get s the idea much less pressure/gentle scratch es will get th e messa ge across. Important to relax yo ur reins once they stretch their neck out so you maintain th e illusion of rel axa ti on! Not always easy but pays dividends.

I always ride w ith a lea d re in as a neck st rap. I have cable tied a clip to the bottom so there is a clip at each end. It is clipped to itself and clipp ed to a ring on th e front of the sad dle. Thi s has several benefits: one, it canno t sl ide do wn the neck if pony puts its he ad down, the dis­ advantage of using a stirr up leather as a neck strapl Secondly it is easy to get off if you need a lead rein in a hurry. Ne ck straps just give that extra feeling of security, even if you never use them. I colour coordinate min e t o my webbing bridle & sadd le cloth so w e look smart.

18 Highland Times· Spring 2011

Our great adventure

Day 1

A couple of miles later we passed Boltby Scar, and teetered on the edge of the ridge with feet to spare, being buffeted by exceptionally strong winds that caused Finlay to take sideways steps to rebalance himself' I was quite relieved when we dropped down to less heady heights via a zigzagging bridleway.

It took Finlay a minute or two to work out quite how to negotiate such steep terrain, but he was soon in full swing and around two and a half hours after setting off we were back at the B&B. A good warm up!

After a couple of hours drive, I got Finlay unloaded, and settled us both into our holiday homes. Then we got ready and set off on our first holiday hack: towards the towering ridge of Sutton Bank. We meandered across undulating fields and across a ford, before the bridleway climbed suddenly upwards into dark woodland and along the ridge that divides the Hambleton Hills from the lowlands beneath.

The finest view in England according to James Herriot l

A serene sta rt, with lovely farm tracks to Gormire Lake at the base of Sutton Bank. We decided to ascend to the ridge, which involved some serious clambering in thick, slippery mud. Finlay's heart was certainly pounding with the extreme effort, and I was so grateful for his surefootedness as I clung to his mane, and put my complete trust in him to get us safely to the top. The rest of the ride was

n readiness we had increased our hacking mileage and enjoyed frequent rides on the Yorkshire Wolds near home, searching out the toughest hills and trickiest bridleways to build up Finlay's (and my) fitness. I had also pored over the ordnance survey map in advance and planned various routes. Even so I wasn't at all prepared for just how steep the ridges were in the vicinity or how incredibly beautiful the Moors scenery was going to be.

I

Day 2

Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 19

tranquil in comparison. Some lovely trots and canters along the ridge admiring the views, and then dropping back down to Boltby after 12 miles or so.

Day 3 The day of the "big ride." Finlay was fresh as a daisy, and he needed to be! We set off

out of Boltby village by the steepest route up "Sneck Yate Bank", ascending to over 300m in minutes. We passed through the aptly named "High Paradise Farm," and took in the spectaculal views, before jCJining the Cleveland Way hearing north. Finlay's first hour of relentless climbing was rewarded with a spell of relatively fiat tracks across Arden

Above : Wish you were here! Some of th e scenery Ellen and Fin lay discovered together on their travels.

Great Moor. The autumnal colours and the odd bleat from a passing sheep adding to the atmosphere. We were both in our element and couldn't quite believe our luck l We had a few long canters along the springy tracks and the miles were swallowed up. As we ascended further, the tracks became stonier, but the slower pace allowed us to marvel at the views which unravelled with each twist and turn off Kepwick Moor. We reached the summit and began the descent towards Osmotherly (the starting point for the famous Lyke Wake Walk across the North York Moors).

After travelling for nearly 3 hours, and a short stop for a picnic, we set off again through more glorious forestry commission tracks down to the picturesque villages of Nether Silton and Kepwick.

In Kepwick we left the quiet country lanes and ascended steeply up .Atlay bank, the views of the moors above and lowlands below quickly opening up, as we twisted and turned our way. At one point we were climbing up a (relatively!) dry stony stream. Not something 'Ne had "practised" previously! We were in a very narrow ravine, with large cobbles and wet slippery boulders, travelling steeply uphill and Finlay never paused. He jus', methodically picked his way, never hesitating. A very proud moment.

At the top of the hill the springy peaty tracks allowed a quickening of pace, and we were in our element as we lolloped through birch copses. The combination of pcorple heather hues, the autumnal leaf colour of the surrounding trees, the ribbons of dry stone

Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 21

walls and vistas across the. lowtand· patchwork of fields below was overwhelming. Views I will never forget.

Soon we reached the peaty, forgiving tracks of Boltby Forest and made good progress along the aptly named Windygill Ridge before following Forestry Commission tracks back towards Boltby. We reached the B&B after a blissful six and a half hours of riding, which involved a total of over 1000m of ascent (and descent!) and almost 30km in distance.

Day4 A well deserved rest day for Finlay. We just ambled through Boltby Forest for an hour to stretch his legs, and then I headed off across the Moors to see L-J and meet her wonderful herd of Highland ponies.

Day"S Our final chance to explore the moors. It was going to be another big ride! Having ascended steeply to the Cleveland Way we headed east and deeper into the moors towards Hawnby.

The moorland tracks descended more sharply than expected. I couldn 't believe my eyes! It appeared that we were going to be dropping off the edge of a cliff! As we approached the edge it became clear that there was an exceptionally steep zigzaggy path downwards.

However, buoyed by our experiences so far, I sat tight. Finlay squealed with delight (or was it fear 7 ) and we gingerly made our way down.

At the bottom of the hill, I glanced round to see where we had been and breathed a big sigh of relief.

The tracks from there to Hawnby were lovely and undulating, and we saw a trekking group ambling along on a much more sensible route than the one w e had just taken I In the centre of the village was a picture ­ postcard village shop. I glanced around for a tying point for Finlay, so I could pop in for 22 Highland Times • Spring 2011

treats. There was nothing forthcoming, but a tall gentleman in full biking leathers and a gleaming motorbike propped against a stone wall offered to hold Finlay. I dashed in to get us some apples and mints to share, and returned to a bemused Finlay who was eyeing up the biker chap's ice cream! We ambled through the village sharing our bounty like naughty school children and admiring the lovely traditional cottages.

As we rejoined bridleway tracks we found ourselves in a field bounded by woodland which was thronging in pheasant. Now, whilst

"I felt my bond with Fi nlay becam e even stron ger during our time away."

I would class Finlay as bomb-proof, he has one weakness - phea sants. Usually I grab a lump of mane at the sight of pheasants and cross my fingers. However, after counting 46 pheasants in view on the path we were heading along, my reaction was somewhat different to normal. "This is bound to desensitise him" I thought positively, and rode on purposefully.

Finlay didn't stray from the track, even when they took off in groups. I think he felt utterly invincible tool The rest of that 6 hour ride was a superb mix of beautiful woodland tracks, undulating fields, steep climbs to open moorland and farm fields.

We returned totally content with ourselves, and with every intention of returning at the earliest opportunity. Heading off to a new part of the country alone was a quite an adventure, but I prepared us both for it as well as I could by building up his work and planning our route s carefully. I had complete trust in my pony before we set off but I felt my bond with Finlay became even stronger during our time away. He surpassed my greatest expectations.

Highlands are wonderful! •

DreamsDo

Come True Betty Paul, Lancashire hose of you that have known me over the years, even t hose who read Aliso n Payne's unduly flattering article about me in Highland Times 36, will know I have an en duri ng passion for mouse dun Highlan d mares. This started when I first set eyes on our Laird's supe rsta r, Shiela. It gives me the greatest of pl easure and pride to relate that I have now owned three of the best of these and t hey have been very different t ypes .

T

Mousiel The first, and undoubtedly most versatile, was Mairea d, or Mog, who was bought as a two year old for the magnificent sum of ÂŁ85 from a completely novice owner. The poor filly had the worst case of sweet itch I'd ever seen an d her life was a complete misery.

Her Scottish breeder had called to see her at 18 months and suggested she be sent straight for meat. Th ere were three reasons behind this suggestion . First, she was an unscheduled arrival due to her aristocratic mot her getting together with a 15 month old colt. Second, she cou ld never be registered - not only was her sire unli censed but she arrived w ith three wh ite socks and white on her face. Finally, she had tru ly appalling sweet itch.

She managed to escape the meat man and was sent to the local green grocers to be broken to harness. At the age of two she was pulling his flat­ bed on the streets of Sutton Coldfield . However, the partnership proved less than successful, so back to her owner she we nt where a friend of mine got to know her. She passed the information to me and in no time at all I became the proud owner of th is two year old mouse dun filly. The

Top to bottom: Mog (8) and Robert (12 ) j umping at Longridge show; Mog private driving at Kirkby Young Riders Trophy show; Mog and Aileen (left) at Lancaster District Pony Club

. rest, as they say, is history, t hough it reads like some sort of sentimental ch ild's pony story.

In the beginning she bit, kicked, bolted and tried to roll under saddle. Children and strangers were forbidden to go anywhere near he r. Th e only things she had to recommend her we re her lovely coat colour and the most bea utifu l eyes: large, soulfu l and expressive.

queuing up to ride her and loved by all . How's that for a bargain basement buy?

Mousie2

Fea came on the scene in 1996. This little superstar was bred in Surrey by Sharon Kingston. She is by An Toiseach of Tomfada, w ho was the first foal of my Freya of Knocknagel but sadly on ly registered part-bred. When it Fast forward two years and M og is became apparent th at t he filly, w ho is 14 hh on unrecognisa bl e. We hogged her, sh aved her tiptoes, was not going to grow tall enough for legs and the top of her tail to make th e sweet Sharon I was given the opti on to buy her. My itch treatment easier and w e suddenly had a little Fea (Toiseach Feasgar) beautiful little 14.1 hh cob. is the most delightful person . ~ A t remendous f riendship, ({50 ~e, I ~.. ~ - a totally lovable scamp. love and respect developed â&#x20AC;˘ n , ; Vlj)K~ lA'\.­ ~~ .,.~II I had been doing endurance bet ween us, I hacked her, ~ ~

riding with a homebred led rides from her, took her Connemara x Arab for some considerable to gymkha nas, drove her time and when she reached her mid-twenties and hunted her with the South Notts. This last I found a Highland x Arab, Rose hip of Fleurs, was not for the fa int hearted! as a possible replacem ent. Sadly we two In 1970 my son Robert t oo k her on as his Pony did not gel riding w ise; though we are great Club mou nt and they form ed a most amazing frien ds, and Ro went on to have a successful partnership. They actually cleared 5' 9" in a career with two of my ex-pupils . My little Fea diabolical jum ping competi ti on - Chase me stepped into the breach and we have been Ch arlie - at our then local riding club, Kirkby going great guns ever since. This year she Young Riders. Th at day the extremely wealthy completes 3,000 km with t he Endurance GB fat her of one of Rob's rivals actu ally offered and approximately 400 km with the HPEC. You me a blan k cheque for Mog. It wa s wonderfu l would think I would be satisfi ed with that, but to be able to say : "Sorry, she's not for sa le". no . I still yearned for my very own Shiela, the Would he have bitten the vendor's hand off pony of thos e tee nage dreams . when I bo ught her? I th ink not.

,_.

Pony Club was defin itely Mog's forte : gymkhana, dressage, cross country, show jumping; she turned a w iling hoof to all of it with each of my t hree chil dren in turn. She represented t he Pony Club in the Finals at Stone leigh when Robert was a member of Pendle Forest and Craven Eventing Team, with Katrina as a member of t he Lancaster and Dist rict Eventing Team and Aileen as a member of the Lancaster District Show Jumping Team .

Mog lived until she was 28 - still working as a trekking pony in the ridin g school, with clients

Mousie3 Well, as t he title of th is article says: dreams do com e true. Mosside Glory, com monly known as Mouse, first crossed my path in 2008.

Kat hryn Dewhurst and I went to Scotla nd looking for a potential husband for her Mhairi of Castle Green . While looking at Nicol of Forglen, w it h Ali son McCleod, I spotted her grazing with Alison's brood mares. Yes, it was defin itely Sh iela's rei ncarnation. I came home and slept on it, but my mind was made up.

Somehow or oth er I had to acq uire that lovely

mare . Poor Alison was shell shocked when I ap proa ched her and two yea rs later I finally broke down her resistance and M ou se beca me my 75th birt hday present to myself. Mouse is al l I dreamed of - totally unfl appable, lo ng striding, a Rolls Royce ride (to me, anyway) and breathtakingly beau ti f ul.

Though not the wor ld's greatest fan of showi ng, I have been persuade d by Kath ry n and my friend Maxine Braithwaite to let her be seen in the North West if they could do the donkey work . To date she has been out th ree ti mes, being either 1st or 2nd in good company on each occasion .

So here I am: the luckiest pe rson in t he w hole human race . Forty eight and half years of happy marriage, th re e kind and su ccessful

children, four splend id grandchi ldren and a suc€ession of approximately fifty good rid ing school ponies over th e yea rs topped by my three amazing M ou sies. These t hree have brought my adolescent dreams to fr uitio n.

So t he moral of t his t ale is to be pa ti ent and t o be persistent; it will ha ppen. Reading this through I rea lise that I have t ri ed most things with my th ree mice except for po lo, le t rec and tent pegging. These activities are perhaps not best suite d for a fi rst attempt at th e age of 77 years - but we can dream . •

Clockwise from top left: Mou se w ith da ughter An nie of Rh os bheinn ; Fea making light work of a 1 in 3 grad ient; Fea and Mouse, Hall ow een girls; Fea age 6, first tim e out long distance

•

2009 Treasurer's Report ~

~~

( ,...,......,0........ ';';

. ~,

'­

f()r the yea r ended 31 \)e('('l11ber 200t) Caroline Harwood, Gloucestershire

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

is is the last set of accounts from Caroline Harwood's term of offi ce

as Treasurer. She now hands over to Elizabeth Mangham. Our

financial affairs were managed with great ski ll and integrity and the club owes Caroline a huge debt for her work in securi ng the long t erm financial stability of the club in very challenging times.

T

/(

/.

~

'­

During her time as Treasurer, Caroline has put a new spin on the term 'creative accounting' with her witty and accessible presentation of the accounts to the AGM. One year accounts were presented in ve rse and in 2010 a powerpoint presentation used photographs of Caro line riding her pony, Achnalarig Iona, to illustrate our progress through the tricky times of the recession .

Income & Expenditure Z009 £

Z008 £

6,646

7,108

1,833

1,808

Activitie s awards

338

881

HPS

AGM & Committee mtgs

100

100

149

137

Highland Times, postage

1,195

968

Total income Less: Insurance & events

Website & legal

-.

- -- - -

-

_.

0

0

Newsletter & direc tory

198

381

Stock cost s, other

74

34

Prior yea r loss

60

2,859

2,700

£60

--

Cumulative profit/loss

Recolnlnendations On the basis of this stability, Caroline recommended that annual su bscriptions stay the same for the coming year. The AGM approved this.

We do have a surplus which will be used to offset expected ri ses in the cost of insurance and producing Highland Times. There is, however, money for the club to spend and Carol in e urged members to think about what t hey wou ld like and to communicate their ideas to the committee.

26 Highland Times • Spring 2011

-

-

A bit of detail

M em bershi p down a little

2009 £

2008 £

6,363

6,467

Pro moti ona l item s down

186

AGM is still profi t mak ing

96

- - -

- --

427

.-- ..- ­ 110

Intere st down

(on sam e balance)

2

No not ele t sale s (sold ou t )

0

193

1195

968

Newsletter dow n aga in (use of email)

198

38 1

Performance aw ard s co st s

(will be up next year)

338

Highland Tim es and

po stag e up (will inc rease

aga in next year)

55

-

..

- -.-

- ••. . - ­ - --

- -- -------------

881

The illu st ra ti ons in thi s ar ticle are by Cl aire Schimm er, taken from ph otos of Achnal ari g Iona used in Caroline's origin al AGM presentation.

Thames Valley Area

Open Connenlara,Fell & Highland Shou, 19th JLll1e 2011 Berksh ire Co ll ege of Agri cult ure, Burch etts Green , Nr M aiden head, Be rk s.

This new event is a col laboration between Thames Val ley Are a HPEC, Ch ilt ern & Th ames Va ll ey Con nem ara Gro up and the M idlands East Support Group of the Fell Po ny Soc iety. Th ere w ill be a se parate ring fo r Hi ghl and Po ny classes, in hand, ridde n, wo rking hunter and TopSpec Dressage .

For fu rt her det ail s please contact Wendy Shearma n tel : 01628 523124 or e-mail stuartshearman@bt connect. com

Sp rin g 2011 • Highland Tim es 27

Winner of the Seam Michelle was interviewed

by Rebecca O'Rourke did you hear about the HPEC, and Q How why did you decide to join?

The Trekking Centre proprietor was a member and she had given me (ages ago - before I wanted a Highland) an old copy of Highland Times, which I kept and read and I ~ ink that is how I heard of it.

You won the 2010 Seamus Mor Trophy. Have you aimed for this award in previous years?

Q

I'm not sure if I should admit this .. . but I didn't know it existed! I now know that it is awarded to the pony who gains the highest number of performance points at HPEC events.

[an you introduce us to your Highlands, Q please?

Q

Michelle, can you tell us how you first got involved with Highland ponies?

I work in a Trekking and Riding Centre in the Yorkshire Dales where we used to have a lot of Highland ponies. After work we would often take a couple off for a ride or a mess about in the field and I thought that they were very pretty, ve~satile and good fun . After a holiday in Scotland where I visited a stud (arranged by someone who came on one of our riding holidays) I bought a 2 year old non - show quality filly to mess around with .

28 Highland Times â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2011

My first pony - Whitefield Queen Guinevere (Corrie) - is the 'sub-standard' bargain buy I mentioned earlier. She decided (after a couple of bad experiences which I wasn't involved in) that she didn't like jumping any more - hard ground at Pony Club Camp and an enthusiastic rider who wanted to do what the rest of her B test ride were doing on their eventers, topped off by an incident with a plastic pole which 'attacked' her. She wasn't really ideal for showing, either. She enjoys hacking and having foals, though, and is currently on loan to Loui se Dixon. Then I got Lolly (Whitefield Lolly of Ballydougan) to run on and bring out as a novice, but then Ruaraidh came along.

He had a difficult start and when I realised he would not be suitable for his owner I kept him and sold Lolly. I also bought, broke and backed a couple of ponies with the intent of using them in the Centre. One was too hot and was sold locally after backing; the other preferred not to have too many different riders and was sold as a 6 year old. saw Bridget of Combebank at a stud visit and just fell in love when I saw her trot (though admittedly it has taken a while to come to terms with her lack of respect for me in hand I). I also have Dunedin Freya, who is now a 4 year old. Hmm, not quite sure how I got her - must have been an impulse buyl

I get the impression Stocks Ruaraidh is the main pony you are riding and competing with at the moment. Can you tell us a bit about him ?

Q

Ruaraidh is the main man and doesn't he know it. He is only small (about 13 .2hh) and is now scarily 10 years old . He is by Sergeant Major of Whitefield and out of Swona of Carrick; he has definitely taken after his sire in looks.

I got him locally totally by chance (but that is another story). He likes being in his stable where all who pass by can say hello, giving him the chance nip them. He is full of character and everyone in our village knows and recognises him even the grumpiest farmers want to pat him or talk to him as he goes past, which he, of course, laps up.

He has tried his hand at hunting - the first time we el'ided up whipping in as the huntsman was injured at the meet, which Ruar loved, but it means that he finds hunting in the field rather boring. So he does his best to liven it up by bucking, plunging, spinning and generally being a wild one, so I don't take him now - th.e threat to life and limb (mine and

'Jr. 'r~

"• •::IIU'

·.11.

Spring 2011 • Highland Times 29

other members) is not worth the 50 points he would get on his performance card. We may try again when .he retires from his showing career.

Q

What has been your biggest struggle with him, and how did you deal with it?

He was very nappy in his early days; due to my not really understanding a native takes longer to mature. The napping turned to full ­ on rearing and eventuall y he would go forwards so I would. struggle on. Then one day I either lost my b<;Jlance a bit, or he slip ped , and he came right over backwa rds.

Luckily he missed me, but he had discovered a way to dislodge me and it became a habit .

names I am bound to forget someone - but David Rimmer, Pat Oliver, Jan Grant and my sister Lianne Parkin really do deserve special thanks.

Q

When were you m ost proud of Ruar?

When I went to a local show for his first outing and he was pulled in first out of about 25 Mountain and Moorland ponies and stayed there - I kn ew that giving him a second chance had pa id off. I also discovered just how much he loves showing off too. The Grea t Yorkshire Show was very special - since bei ng a kid on school trips I wanted to ride there and he gave me th e chance to do th at and not look ridiculously outclassed (he was 5th in 2008).

I did n't know whi3t to do. I was awash with advice, But it is not just the showing. ranging from pu lling him over W hen I was short of ponies for a (no need because he'd do that pony club rally one of the D test kids rode him and he gave her a fe el for a well­ anyway) to shooting him, or sending him to the next sale. My employer told me I wasn't schooled pony. It might sou nd sad to say, to ride him as if I was hurt failing off him then I but I'm proud of him every time I ride past wouldn't be able to do my job. I didn't want to . someone and see them looking at him, and I->e sell him - after al~ what sort of home would he makes them sm ile . get? - his breeder couldn't take him back and I understand you have a few youngsters when a friend who is a rather dodgy horse ­ coming on, too. Can you tell us a bit dealer wouldn't take him as he said he was too dangerous to put any of his staff on it did look about them? like my only option was to have him put down.

Bridget of Combebank who is a 6 year old, and also

by Sgt Major, lost most of la st season w ith But ev ery time I went to the field to give him an abscess in the foot, then a virus I But she hay he was always so pleased to see me, and had a great ridden show at Blair at the end of he had such a lovely eye that I couldn't bring the season after only 2 weeks back in work. myself to make the dreaded appointment. I She is rather a handful in hand but a gem to am quite stubborn and if someone tell s me ride . Dunedin Freya, wh o is a 4 year old by I can ' t do something I have to prove them Dunedin Marksman , will be long reined and wrong and I was determined not to be beaten lightly backed this su mmer - time permitting I by a 13.2hh pony. A lot of pe·ople helped me

Q

turn tl"1e corner with him - and if I start naming

30 Highland Times· 5prirg 2011

What are your plans for Ruaraidh, and your youngsters, in the coming year?

I know you work full time with horses ­ some people might think this gives you an advantage when it comes to competing.

Do you think it does?

Q

It hel ps in some w ay s - I have a lot of experien ce to draw on, and can use the fa cilities at w ork (scho ol, ho rsewalker, showj umps, go huntin g) and can often do thin gs through th e day like vet visits and farri er etc. but it is di ffi cul t arran ging time off to go to all the things I'd like to go to, w hich mea ns I don't get t o go to as much as I'd like . Alth ough my em ployer is ve ry keen for me to do we ll, as it 's a good ad vert for the Cen tre, sh e's m ore wi lli ng fo r me to take time to go to a bigger show than do a plea sure r id e for examp le. It ofte n means I do my ow n horse s after w ork - riding a breaker in the t wili ght/ darkness is not too safe, as I found out "vhen one bucked me off on the road and I had to spen d a night in hospital! It ca n often be after 10.30pm w hen I get hom e from the yard in th e su mmer, and it can be a long day when you started w ork at 7am.

hope to take Rua r an d Bridget up to th E: Highland Show and the Breed Show, and wi ll be trying to get to Highland Pony Camp, but the Royal Wedding and Bank Holiday might put paid to that. I just wa nt to have fun an d improve the w ay they both go rea ll y l Freya is not going t o do anythi ng much - after Bridget being off la st summer and immature the year before then I've got to get her going fi rst, and I t hink ex pecting too mu ch too soon was w here I made my biggest mi stake w ith Ruaraidh.

This has been fascinating, Michelle. We see those handsome ponies in the ring and don't appreciate how much hard work and heartache goes into getting them there, Is there anything else you would like ti? say?

Q

I'd like to thank Ru ar for being such a star but also to say a ma ssive thank you to Li anne who helps me with th e ponies as mu ch as she possibly can , and is a fantastic groom (and all th e rest) at shows and thi ngs . I hop e she has a fa b sea son w ith Holly (Monreith M adon na, w ho is on loan from Heathe r Dick) wh o has taken so lon g to find .• Spring 2011 • Highland Tim es 31

~RIEF HI~~O~Y of the

d-~ c/f/{Pr

Competition and Tro phy Alison Payne, South Yorkshire

he Highland Pony stallion Seamus Mor of New Calgary was foaled in 1956 and bred by Mrs Kathleen Warren of the New Calgary Stud in Sussex. He was out of the almost unknown mare Duncrievie and by the stallion Mackoinneach. He was used by Mrs Warren in the sixties to put to her own mares Seamus Mor of and also advertised at stud in 1969 for the princely sum of eight guineas with a groom's fee of a further guinea.

In 1970, after the death of Mrs Warren , the New Calgary stud was dispersed and Seam us Mor was purchased by Mrs Jamieson Young and Mrs Davey. They had intended bringing home a filly foal but instead brought back a Hghland pony stallion "Jim", purchased out of their respective house keeping money. Seamus New Caigo,.!)

Mor was subsequently hunted with the Vale of Aylesbury in the winter and shown as a native pony in the summer, before he At the same time relocat ed to Cornwall he had a career under where he appeared saddle in the showing on Westward TV. He was found peacefully ring, where he was, 'asleep' under a tree in 1966, the winner of the Hill Pony under in 1976. Subsequently saddle class at the Mrs Jamieson Young Royal Highland Show, presented the Seamus which in today's Mor cup to the HPEC terms is probably with the intention that it was awarded to the the equivalent to Highland pony owned being the ridden Highland champion. by a HPEC member who Amongst his progeny gained the most points ··JIM"

at HPEC events each were the stallions: year. lIean Seamas of New Calgary (exported to Canada), Seamas Mac Consequently, each year, area co­ lIean (exported to Germany), Isleman, Caingis ordinators are invited to submit details of all and Seamas Bhuidhe of New Calgary and the events with ponies which have taken place Denhams Torquil. Some authorities attribute in their area that year. Some ponies, of course, Seamus Mor to be the model for the Beswick have been involved in events from more than Highland Pony (whilst others attribute this to his sire as the model bears his sire's name, one area and so they have multiple sets of information submitted. Events include such Mackoinneach).

T

32 Highland Times • Spring 2011

(

things as rides, clinics and shows and each new co-ordinator of the competition has had their own personal 'take' on the finer detail of points awarded. From this hopefully a clear winner emerges, although on several occasions there

ha s been a tie for first place. The trophy is engraved with the name of Seamas Mar whilst the references to hi s name in Highland Pony stud books etc. use the spelling Seamus Mar. I suspec t there is a t ale to be told there .•

:;;;e,,!!tb1£- 1r!or I Hall of Fame 1977 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986

the 5wW\uS MoV' cup

fVV\US /VIa v lAV1.dev sa.dd le

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Rosehaugh Ben Wyvis

Stru ie of Scotsburn

Rimmon

Camperdown

Sea Foam of Nashend

Rimmon

Camperdown

Camperdown

Turin Hill Blaeberry

Flair of Knocknagael

Birthwaite Merry Maid

Ailsadene

Kitty McG ivern

Gill Bickmore

Nina Hoad

Gill Bickmore

Kitty Lucas

Nina Hoad

Gill Bickmore

Gill Bickmore

Gill Bickmore

Nina Hoad

Stuart Roberts

Tim Connell

Brownbread Pinewood Poacher Vanessa Stollery

Ailsadene Tim Connell Thamna of Carrick Ch ris Read Turin Hill Piper O'Dundee

Lyn Terry-Short Turin Hill Piper O'Dundee

Lyn Terry-Short Hairbell of Dykes

Jenny Wa lker Geordie of Altnacailleach Li nda Brown Hairbell of Dykes Jenny Walker Gometra of Carrick Alison Payne Coulmore Charles Gill Robinson Coulmore Charles Gill Robinson Rummelgairie of Trailtrow Gillian McMurray Langsett Tea rlach Betty Pay ne Langsett Tearlac h Betty Payne Brittleton Drambu ie Ellis Kennedy Glenfergus of Fatherwell Heather Cornes Drew of Alvie Helen Broughton Trailtrow Riach Anna Newbold Nashend Sea M ink Liz Topham Trailtrow Riach Anna Newbold Shennachie Cragganmore James Coe Shennachie Cragganmore James Coe Glengiss ings Zebed i Ginny Redgrave Lilidh of Langsett Kath Dewhurst Stocks Ruaraidh Michelle Parkin Vaughan

Spring 2011 • Highland Times 33

by Gillian McMurray, Dumfri esshire

T

he National Pony Society [NPS] has organised a major championship final at Olympia for Mountain and Moorland ponies since 1978.

It has been thought of as the "creme de la creme" of showing and many have aspired to compete there. It was originally started as a show case for our wonderful native breeds and was an important shop w indow for breeders.

Sad ly, 2010 was the final year at Olympia for this prestigious NPS competition. Olympia ha s been, w ithout doubt, a huge favo urite w ith me and I have been fortunate to have been able to experience the show on several occasions.

I first attended Olympia in 1985 with Dunrowan Dolphin after qualifying at the Royal Lancashire show that sum mer. We managed to be allowed two nights stabling before the class so there was plenty time to savour the atmosphere.

Rowa n was so excited that she ate nothing but carrots and was fascinated by nearby camels!

She went we ll and came 12th which was a superb result for a first attempt.

34 Highland Times路 Spring 2011

Ou r next vi sit came just two years later in 1987 w he n Rowan qualified again from NPS Scot land . This time we were far more re laxed and set off with no expectations and with the intention to have a fantastic time. We certa inly achieved th at l This time she excell ed herself to become Champ ion - the first Highland pony to do so .

Dur ing the next ten years I occasionally travelled by train to watch as I enjoyed the w hole Olympia experience from the ponies to the sh opping ! It was in 1997, ten yea rs after Du nrowan Dolph in was champion, that the next thr ill came w hen Rannoch o f Trailtrow beca me the seco nd Highland to take the champ ionsh ip at Olympia ably piloted by Hea t he r Prescott. It was fantastic to be there to watch and also to travel home by train, having done no work, with a trophy for the breeder!

The following year we qua lified Ru m m legairie of Trailtrow at the Royal High la nd Ag ri cu ltura l Society Show and yet aga in had a super tim e at Olympia. He wen t very we ll and we were delighted w ith his performance although he didn't quite ma nage to emu late his full brother!

s

Left: Trailtrow Taran say, best homebred and best

Highland, Olympia M&M Championship, 2004 Right : Dunrowan Dolphin, first Highland to take Olympia M&M Championship, 1987

In 2004, Rummlegairie 's da ughter, Taran say also qualified for Olympia from t he Roya l Highland Agricultural Society Show. She pe rformed beautifully and came home w ith two trop hies fo r best homebred/ produced and best highland . My daughter Kirstin too k the ride this time and was thrilled w ith this achievement.

Taransay returned to Olympia in 2006 as breed show champion, followed by Tarf also breed show champion in 2008. However, in early 2008 a letter from the National Pony Society arrived inviting me to judge this final in 2010! This was so une xpected and an incredible honour.

In Dec ember 2010, despite anxiously we ather watching, I arrived in London to take up this ju dging appoi ntment w ith great excitement and ap preh ensio n. What a won der ful expe rience and I felt incredibly privileged to have been asked to judge thi s co mpetition. As it has turned o ut, th is was also to be th e last time that Olympia wou ld be run by the NPS so I was ve ry hono ure d to ha ve been given this opportunity.

My Olympia experiences have spa nned twenty five years, from competin g to breeding and finally judging, and I am fortunat e in having so many incredible memories from thi s tim e. Hopefully the NPS may come up with a comparable competition in the future . â&#x20AC;˘

Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Tim es 35

frOln Various Veterinary Periodicals LJ Macho lc BVSc (Hons) MRCVS North Yorksh i re

ome of you will be aware that Ed and I are veterinary surgeons and that I have been off work for a few months, hence I have had time on my hands. As vets we get re gular veterinary publications sent t o us, some we pay for, others are " freebies". The se da ys we are both primarily sma ll animal vets so we do not get The Equine Veterinary Journal but there are plenty of equ ine articles in the papers we read. The se nuggets are garn ered from The Veterinary Record, The Veterinary Times and Veterinary Practice from Oct 2010 to Jan 2011.

S

Tendon Injuries The first article to catch my eye was a stud y at Glasgow Vet School of racehorses' clinica l histories and racing record s w hich showe d that long term performance was not significantly affected by superficial digital flexor [SDF] tendonitis injury. 400 horses who recovered from SDF tendonitis were compared with 400 horse s trained in the same se ttin g. The author said the next step would be to evaluate the many different trea tm ents available to see w hich were most effective.

In anoth er of the journals a precis of work done by the same researchers sa id that 192 racehorse s with their first occurrence of SDF were looked at and of the se 91 were treate d successfully. The resea rchers used Th e Racing Post ratin gs to measure performance and compared each horse to one of a similar stan dard at the sam e trainin g yard. They 36 Highlan d Time s â&#x20AC;˘ Sprin g 2011

found the injured horses had reached their maximum ratin g and that on average they raced successfully 3 times post-injury but that 53% were inj ured again with in a 3 yea r pe ri od w hereas the co ntrol horses co ntinued improving an d were significa ntly more li ke ly to race at least 5 times after the date their injured stable mate returned to racing. The SDF horse usua ll y managed 3 race s.

The th ird precis I found was from the sa me article as above and this prec is inclu ded th e fact th at SDF tendonitis o f the forelimb is one of the commonest musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses with a prevalence of 11-30% amongst raceh ors es!

Wound Healing An ar ti cle on ma nage ment of large wounds in horses states that yo un ger horses and ponies ten d to have a grea te r regene rative ability, with improved healin g of more specialised ti ss ue suc h as t endons. It also says that pony breeds have a shorter, more intense, inflammatory re sponse t ha n ho rses . Thi s re sults in improved healing w ith less exuberant granulati on ti ssue being produc ed meaning less scar tissue .

Influence of Surfaces on lameness A snippet entitle d "Risk factors for lamene ss in dressage horses" report s that both elite an d non-elite dressage horses appea r to have a higher inci dence of suspensory ligament injuries than the rest of th e equin e popu lation.

Th e resu lts were from a questionnaire sent

to over 11,000 registered members of the British Dressage community and factors associated with the occurrence of lameness included age, height, indoor arenas, horse­ walkers, lungeing, arenas that became boggy in wet conditions and sand based surfaces. A different precis of the same work states the majority of arenas were pri vately owned, 20m x 40m in size and had a sand or a rubber surface. The results indicated that "wax coated and sand and rubber surfaces were associated with less detrimental surface properties than sand, sand and PVC, woodchips and grass Woodchip s were most strongly associated with the detrimental effect of slipping and sand with tripping ."

Pasture Associated laminitis In a retrospective study of pasture associated laminitis report ed in The Veterinary Record 30/10/2010, the records of 1000 cases were an alysed Among other things they noticed females had a greater risk of developing laminitis than geldings and mention other studies that suggest stallions were at an even higher risk than mares but there were no stallions in their study to corroborate this. It appeared that ponies between 11.2hh and 14. 2hh were over rep resented and weight wise an imals in the 250­ 399kg were at greatest risk followed by those in t he 400-550kg group. Neither temperature nor rainfal l had a statistical association with the development of laminitis but hours of sunshine did; months with more sunshine equ al greater risk. They say it seems reasonable to suppo se t hat this is an effect of the sunshine on the grass rather than a direct effect of sunshine on the animals . Periods of high pasture fructan content correlate with peaks of laminitic incidence.

A different article says that 66% of laminitis in the UK is pasture associated. It said that exercise was protective against insulin resistance.

Yet another article on laminitis says that Aristotle referred to laminitis in 350 BC, calling it "barley disease". This one says that 61% cases are pasture associated, 30% were on combined pasture/stable systems and only 9% were stabled. This paper and the previous one both say that fructans are now thought to be just one of many rapidly fermentable carbohydrates within the pasture that are involved in triggering laminitis. Apparently temperate grass fructans are complex in nature and not the same as the fructans used in experimental studies . This article talk s about water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and non structural carbohydrates (NSC) being involved in pasture associated laminitis. It says that as poni es seem to be able to eat more dry matter per day than was thought previously, and that improved pastures containing lots of ryegrass can have fructans leve ls of 27% in May, it is quite pos si ble for a pony to eat enough f ructans in a shor t sp ace of time to mimic the boluses of fructan s used in experiment s to create laminitis . Equally, it could be the fact that NSC high pasture seems to promote insulin resistance and ponies with the highest increa ses of serum insulin in the period of tran siti on from winter to spring were those that were most likel y to develop laminitis. This article suggests that recurrent cases should have their forage analysed and to try an d fee d a diet with less tha n 10% NSC. Most UK hay is higher than this, soaking in clean water at a temperature of more than 8 Q c and ideally 16 Qc for at least

Spring 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Highland Times 37

3 hours will help but cannot guarantee to get less than 10% NSC.

have now been linked to tapeworm infection in certain cases. Faecal egg counts are not reliable; a blood test is the only way to be certain. It is suggested that a further monitoring blood sample should be taken 5 months after treatment to allow circulating antibodies from the original infection to have declined .

Research has shown that feeding straw as the main forage may significantly increase the risk of gastric ulcers and also increase the risk of impacted colic in some individuals so straw is not a recommended way of reducing NSC levels in the diet . The following methods of reducing risk are discussed in the article. NSC/ Atypical Myopathy WSC levels are lowest in pasture at night and Equine Atypical Myopathy [EAM] is a syndrome rise during the day, so it could help to bring of acute severe muscle degeneration occurring indoors by mid morning at the latest and turn in grazing horses. Sadly it is often fatal. It out again at night. It would be important, usually occurs independently of exercise and is too, to maintain a young leafy sward as predominantly a disease of spring and autumn, mature stemmy grasses contain higher levels of fructans, however once the seed head is . especially in cold, damp weather. Over grazed or poor quality grazing, particularly with poor mature then stemmy pasture is not a risk. drainage appear to increase the risk and Avoid pastures "stressed" by drought and outbreaks can occur repeatedly on the same pastures that are frosty early in the day but property. Fields bordered by trees or shrubs warm and sunny later in the morning. Rotate and the presence of fallen leaves or branches the use of paddocks, preferably grazing first have been identified as a risk factor and with sheep or cattle to keep the sward in good spreading manure on the pasture significantly condition. it says properly fitted muzzles worn increases the risk of EAM. It predominately for part of the day can be helpful but to be affects young animals, no sex or breed aware of possible behavioural issues. predisposition has been described, it tends Another article on laminitis points out that if to be normal or underweight animals that a horse bears all the weight on one of a pair are affected. Preventive healthcare measures of limbs the blood flow to the weight bearing such as regular vaccination and anthelmintic limb is reduced. By encouraging the horse administration appear to be protective. The to take just a few steps each day, to release cause has yet to be determined. Where a weight bearing, this will impmve blood flow to case has occurred it is worth blood sampling the sound limb, preventing it from developing co-grazing animals to assess serum muscle problems. Even if the horse cannot take those en zymes to detect subclinical cases which can few steps, just "rocking" the sound leg a little then be treated as appropriate. so the foot can be lifted will help. This is also Final Health Warning important to release tension in the tendons of the sound limb. I can see this being important These articles reflect current research, in other cases where ill or injured horses are however this is cutting edge thinking and standing still for long periods. ideas change frequently at times, leaving us GP vets as perplexed as any horse owner. I Tapeworm hope the nuggets have provided you with food Tapeworm infection used to be considered for thought and a topic or two for discussion of little clinical significance but peritonitis, but do not take them as "gospel" for next year spasmodic colic and other intestinal problems things may have changed' â&#x20AC;˘ 38 Highland Times â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2011

golde

. ..

;y

in July 2009 (50 mile s) We tried Part 2 at New Deer in September, but he was lamed out.

.".!

·,1

by Brenda Sea rle, AiJerdeenshire n August it will be a decade si nce we bought Forest Hunter, our part bred Highland, from his breeder, Heather Turnbull. I w rote an article - ' In Praise of Part Bred Highlands' ­ for the Winter 2004 edition of Highland Times which listed his Endurance achievements. He had achieved two Bronze Thistle Qualifiers of 20 miles each, then the Bronze Thistle Final of 30 miles, and the long-distance Silver Boot ride with the Bays and Greys team, coming se cond in 2003 (130 miles) then winning it in 2004 (135 miles).

Since then he ha s done the Silver Boot ride across Scotland a further four times with the Bays and Greys, winning it again in 2008 ­ 709 miles in all. He also progressed with his grading , gaining his Si lver Thistle Qualifier part 1 in 2004 (40 miles), Part 2 in 2005 (40 miles) and the Final in 2006 (50 miles).

We then started on his Gold Thistle Campaign.

He failed Part 1 at Ne w Deer, Grampian, in 2008, and again at Hillhead, Lothian in early 2009, but was succes sful at Darnaway, Forres,

After a very hard w inte r most ear ly endu rance rides in the North of Scot land were cancelled and the season did not real ly get started until early May. We had on ly two chances to get Hunter's Gold Thi stle Final in 2010 - at Burgi e or at the Highland Fling, bot h in the Highland s.

At Burgie in August 201 0 Hu nter was vetted out at 40 mi les wi th a heart rate of 67 beats a minute, just 3 bea ts too high . So, we had one more chance in Sep te mber at the Highland Fling .

On 19 Septe m ber at Allness conditio ns were perfect: overcast, coo l an d wet . There were 5 horses in t he 50 mile CTR - 4 Ara bs a-nd our Half-H igh land. Hunte r w as fantastic througho ut. We crew ed him, wi t h Sameh his companion, 14 ti mes . He fi nis hed w it h a heart beat of 58 bea t s per mi n ute and r ide tim e o f 7 hou rs, 2 min utes at an average speed of 7.4 mph.

In the 9 ye ars it has taken to achi eve the Gold Thistle Hu nte r and Roger ha ve covered over 6,000 m iles toget her. Our t hanks go to Heather for breedin g such a superstar an d to all our frien ds in t he Scottish En du ra nc e Riding Club for the ir suppo rt, enco uragemen t and help.

We could n' t have done it w ithout th em . •

Roger Searle and Forest Hunter left' FI.li,lnf; f(). ty IT ·!e~ Right: Oil +J-ie SdVl .f 800

A Highland

Gallery

Recent editi ons of Hig hland Times ha.e be en bedevill ed by proble ms in sOc.'cing im ages whic h w ill rep rod uce we . For this edi tio n we asked aro un d thE: clu b for mem bers who w ere wi lli ng to :Jut pen t o paper. In doing 50 w e discovered some very talented and artistic pe ople, as this selection of wate r colour, linoprint and sketches dem onstra tes.

Clockwi se from top left: a windswept Ion a of Dykes by Ki rsty Wylde; Ruari , a lino pri nt by Olivia St reatfe ild-James; Nas hen d Wh eater by Cla ire Sch im mer