APRIL/MAY 2023 ISSUE 159
Breeding in Connemara’s Heartlands
Lovelyhill Folklore in the Spotlight
At home with the Dukeshill Stud
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 1
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MADE IN OUR OWN
UK MILL
A word from our editor Dear Reader, At last I feel that my thickest, most weatherproof attire can gain some respite. I can’t be alone in wondering if the rain would ever end. For a few days at least, we’ve been granted reprieve and for that I’m grateful. RIHS and HOYS qualifiers are here, finally, and I’m excited to see the new faces you have to show this year. Recently I placed a post on my own social media account appealing to the masses for examples of natives engaging in disciplines other than showing. The response was overwhelming and I received almost 100 emails! I don’t have enough room in the magazine to do them all justice, but it’s fair to say we have a wonderful selection of performance ponies in this issue and I have some fantastic leads to follow up for the next few. Thank you to everyone who contacted me. I feel in awe of some of you and your ponies. As ever, please do keep me in the loop on what you are up to with your natives, from fundraising trekks to Badminton Grassroots, horseball, to showjumping, endurance and dressage. Not only is it a pleasure to read about them, but an honour to share your successes. My email address is beth.simons@showingworldonline.co.uk I just as indebted to the wonderful few who give up their time to collate news of each breed and to bring you informative columns, features and stunning photographs. To those few, I cannot stress how invaluable you are to me; thank you. Once again we have a packed issue, and once again discovered at printing time that we had overrun and needed to cut some content, saving it for the next issue. At this rate, the December issue is going to be bumper..! In the meantime, happy reading. Beth
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Contents 36
Features
10. UK Ponies and Horses Spring Classic 12. NPS Area 7 14. NPS Area 13 27. In the Spotlight: Lovelyhill Folklore 36. In the Spotlight: The Dukeshill Stud
Regulars 23. Lammerside Fell ponies 30. Performance Ponies 43. Breed News
17
12
27
COVER PHOTO: Photo by Ruth Chamberlain, of Gilly Chippendale and Welsh section B, Bunbury Sandringham Disclaimer: The view and opinions expressed within the magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or Showing World Limited and while every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in the magazine is correct and current at the date of publication, Showing World Limited will not accept any liability. Showing World Limited will not be held responsible for the appearance of photographic material supplied without the necessary consent, copyright and/or photographer’s details.
In addition, Showing World Limited offers no guarantee of publication and reserve the right to edit any reader’s letters, press releases, reports and articles submitted. Showing World Limited 2023. All rights reserved. No part of Native Pony may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or shared in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to; electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of Showing World Limited.
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Colt inspections Clifden
Photos by Rynes Walker Photography | by Clare Silke
A SPARKLING START TO CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society celebrate Spring Weekend The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society recently commenced their Centenary year celebrations. The ‘Spring Weekend’ schedule of events recognised the extraordinary milestone in both the history of the Society and of the Connemara pony breed itself. Founded in 1923, the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society acknowledged the foresight of the first council to preserve and improve Ireland’s unique native pony, and the contribution the breed has made to the economy and development of Connemara, as the pony has found success and homes around the globe. The weekend kicked off with spring colt inspections, which evaluate the performance of young male ponies in accordance with the breed standards for classification in the Studbook. Two days of inspections (Thursday and Friday) were held in Creagh Equestrian Center, Ballinasloe with the final day - Saturday - moving to the Showgrounds in Clifden. Fifty ponies were presented over the three days, sixteen* of which achieved Class 1, eight achieved Class 2 and twenty-five remained Class 3. Centenary celebrations got underway on the Friday evening at Station House Theatre in Clifden. The students of Clifden Community School lead by teacher Olivia Staunton showcased a series of projects including an interview series ‘Your life with the Connemara Pony.’ Edited by Leaving Cert student Ciara Heanue, students discussed their experiences with the Connemara Pony as part of family life, what areas of management and riding they enjoyed most, the qualities they admire in the breed and their ambitions for the future. A young Malachy Gorham talked about ‘show-itis’ ahead of Clifden Show week, something many can relate to, as part of the excitement in preparing ponies for summer shows.
continues to have on this region and speak on the importance of the Connemara pony in their lives and their own future plans for the breed. After a week of rain Saturday saw the sun come out and shine on Clifden for the first of this year’s events at the Show Grounds. With the final day of this week’s colt and stallion inspection taking place between the sand and grass arenas the All Ireland Farrier organized by Bryan and Niamh O’Halloran competition showcased the skills of the trade by farriers from around the country. In the evening centenary celebrations return to the Station House Theater with the launch of An Capillín, Volume 21. The Society’s annual magazine is a bumper edition for the year that it is, consisting of 209 pages packed full of all that Connemara ponies, breeders, riders and owners have been achieving around the world in 2022. The 2023 Stallion directory lists ponies standing in Ireland for this year along with the results from the Connemara Pony Show last summer which are also included. A momentous section of the evening was the Hall of Fame awards with Chris Ryan overseeing the Rosedale Frankie owner Mikayala Costello
Music was performed on the night by young local musicians and written projects on the history of the breed and some of the coveted class cups from the Connemara Pony show were on display. It was a heartwarming start to the celebrations hearing the students who demonstrated the impact this breed info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 5
proceedings. Society President Dave Sheedy described the opportunity of inducting two new breeders into the CPBS Hall of Fame ‘as one of the extreme privileges of the role’ as president. First recipient to be awarded this year was Liz Hodgins, a 6th generation breeder, recognised for her long-time service to the Society over the last 65years. Breeder of Woodfield Sammy (Abbeyleix Owen x Clonlara Nora) the Grade A showjumping stallion, he has gone on to be a sire of sires. She also bred the showjumping pony Bang On (Ballinaboy Ben x Mynish Galaxy) who was ridden competitively by Ellen Whittaker for Great Britian. Second to be awarded was Robbie Fallon of Cashel Bay Connemara Ponies, recognised for his success as a breeder, producer and promoter of the Connemara pony both here and abroad. Breeding the winners of the In-hand Supreme and Ridden Champions at the 2022 Connemara Pony Show in Clifden, Robbie described the events of last summer as the “icing on the cake” of a glittering life to date with ponies. Since the 90’s Cashelbay graduates have gone on to win at all the major shows in Ireland and the UK, including the Dublin Horse Show, Clifden, Horse of the Year Show, Olympia and win medals at the highest levels of International pony show jumping. A fire side chat with the living relatives of the founding fathers followed that created an image of what life was like for those involved originally in founding the Society. Relations that attended on the night included Leslie Lyons, Tómas O’Malley, Mary Coyne and Martin Mellette. Marrying the past with the present and a glimpse of the future, young breeder Colin Doyle gave a compelling presentation on his experience as part of the ‘ISH Young Breeders’ training program. As part of Team Ireland, Colin along with
Currachmore Cashel
two other Connemara enthusiasts Camilla Snow Coyne and Amy Finn travelled to the Young Breeders World Championships in Ermelo, Holland last July where they were awarded World Champions. The evening’s proceedings were rounded off by a special presentation from Michaela Pavlisová, President of the Czech Republic Connemara Pony Society to the CPBS committee members. This is the most recently formed daughter society, bringing the total number of associated societies to 17 worldwide.
CPBS President Dave Sheedy Liz Hodgins Hall of Fame
Sunday saw the fine weather continue as crowds gathered around Ring One for the Society’s annual Stallion parade. Over 20 Connemara Pony Stallions turned out sparkling and full of spring joy to participate in this year’s showcase including some of the recently passed colts from the week’s inspections. The Stallion parade allows stallion owners
Currachmore Cashel Joe Burke CPBS President Dave Sheedy Robbie Fallon
6 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Liz Hodgins speaking to Chris Ryan Hall of Fame
Trá Bháin Céiléog Owner Micheál Reaney
to showcase Stallions standing for the coming season to the public for breeding consideration. Ponies on display included previous HOYs winners, Clifden Champions and FEI International showjumping medal winners. A diverse display of colours and types were presented over three sessions of the parade. A break from the first section of the parade allowed President Dave Sheedy, the CPBS committee members and family members of the Society’s founding fathers to unveil the special commemorative plaque outside the Society office to mark this auspicious year. Awards of recognition were also presented to individuals who have positively impacted the breed in a variety of ways. Paddy Mc Namara of Belmont Pony Stud, was recognised as breeder of the prolific performance pony Blackwood Fernando (Ferdia x Dancing Queen) who has excelled across all disciplines he has turned a hoof to. Alicia Devlin Byrne, recognised for her achievements as rider of Blackwood Fernando as well as her performance on Connemara ponies across multiple disciplines. Claire Crawford of Ardfry Stud was recognised as breeder of Ardfry Skye (Cashelbay Prince x Ross Castle Ardfry Fuschia), a mare has won multiple individual and team International showjumping medals for Team Ireland. The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society would like to thank all stallion owners who presented ponies as part of this weekend’s event. To see so many spectators turn out today in the sunshine was a spectacular end to a wonderful Spring Weekend.
Rathcoona Lightening Roger Joyce
*At time of publishing one pony is presently awaiting to be re-vetted. This pony attained Class 1 from the visual inspection so whilst included in the number presented, he has not been categorized by class until the second veterinary examination is completed. info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 7
(Photo by Lorelle Mercer)
Waxwing Passport: Exceeding Expectations By Helen Dohan
On 16th April 2017 the last Welsh Mountain Pony foal to be born at Waxwing Stud presented himself: a lovely colt – bay turning grey – by Sandy Anderson’s Thistledown Special Agent and out of the successful ridden mare Waxwing Pastille. Waxwing’s Tom Best and David Blair knew he was special, and when I arrived for my annual Waxwing pony fix, they were keen to show him to me even though he was already spoken for. The purpose of my visit was to catch up with two lovely people and enjoy seeing their alwaysexceptional Welsh section B foals; the last thing I was looking for was a grey Welsh Mountain colt foal. But Passport – at that point unnamed – strutted across the paddock, and I was hooked. Tom and David agreed to speak to the people who were interested in him to see if they were prepared to let me have him. My plans for him were to show him in hand in the UK as a colt, import him to Australia and then give him a ridden career with no initial intentions of producing him in hand once exported. A few weeks passed and the colt was mine. Tom and David named him Passport in anticipation of his intended export. The next problem was where to send him to be produced. I wanted him to remain socialised and cared for. His producer needed to be someone I could trust being so far away and only able to visit annually. Tom suggested Samantha – Sam – Morseley and kindly contacted her to see if she was prepared to take him on. He arrived at Sam’s a fluffy weanling and left a sleek grey swan in 2020.
(Photo by Lorelle Mercer)
Ted, as he was affectionately known at home, was, and still is, a hyperactive colt who likes to do a job. In hindsight that was a blessing as he loves his work under saddle but certainly provided Sam with challenges along the way. The plan was to show him lightly as a yearling and two-year-old and then give him a serious showing season as a three-year-old. Covid unfortunately destroyed those plans.
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As a yearling, Ted was only beaten once into second place in his classes and attained a Bronze medal. As a two-yearold, attained another medal and remained unbeaten in his class including at the Royal Welsh where he won a lovely class under Colin Tibbey, Royal Cheshire County, Glanusk Stallion Show and Northleach Show, where he was Overall Supreme Youngstock. He was only shown once as a three-year-old gaining his Silver Medal before being exported. The decision to export Ted was made after most shows were cancelled and it was determined that the cost to freeze and export semen was so great that he was best coming and doing the job here. He landed in Melbourne in Spring 2020, untried at stud so I was certainly relieved when it was proven that he was fertile. His first foals were born in 2021, exceeding my expectations, and is second foal crop in 2022 has confirmed that he will be a stallion that has much to offer in Australia. I do not have many mares so his influence may be reduced but he has already produced All Welsh Champions in NSW and Victoria at the two biggest Australian All Welsh Shows as well as the Welsh National Show. Ted’s 2021 season was split between time at home in NSW, and in Victoria under the care of Taylah Lee, with Robert Cockram teaching him to do AI. He spent the 2022 season in Victoria with Taylah, and will again split his time between her place and home in 2023. Broken in over the winter of 2021 by Taylah, Ted proved to have a lot of talent and a wonderful attitude, enjoying the work. It was not surprising as his sire has had success under saddle and his dam, Waxwing Pastille, as well as being a very beautiful pony was one of the most consistently successful lead rein ponies competing in the UK throughout her saddle career, qualifying for HOYS
Ted and Taylah with judges Catryn Bigley and Stephen Howard (Photo by Lorelle Mercer)
from the outset and in consequent years until her retirement to stud. Her career successes included wining the Lobster Pot Lead Rein Championship at Ponies UK and mini champion at the Royal International Horse Show. As a Newcomer, at his second ridden show, Ted attended the 2022 NSW All Welsh show where he was Champion Newcomer Ridden Welsh and Champion Ridden Welsh Mountain Exhibit as well as Supreme Welsh Mountain Pony and Best In Hand Welsh Exhibit. The plan was never really to show him in-hand, the priority was always the ridden work. In October 2022 he was Supreme Ridden Welsh Exhibit at the South Australian All Welsh Show under judge Stephen Howard and Champion in the Australian Ridden Welsh Championships (ARC) Qualifier under Stephen Howard and Catryn Bigley. December 2022 saw the Victorian All Welsh Show where unfortunately his ridden classes were in the morning of a very hot day with in-hand in the afternoon. Again, he was awarded Supreme Champion Ridden
Welsh exhibit under judge Kym Shingleton (WA) and despite being a bit flat in hand, won the junior stallion class and was reserve champion to the very nice winner of the senior stallion class under Sandy Goodwin. Canberra Royal was the next big show, where he was only shown under saddle and was Champion Ridden Welsh Exhibit in a very strong field. The first week of March 2023 saw Ted compete at NSW All Welsh Show, at that show he was Supreme Welsh Mountain Pony under Jan Pearce and the Best Welsh In Hand Exhibit again under Jan and David Puttock. He then completed the trifecta by winning Supreme Ridden Welsh Exhibit. The following weekend saw Ted back in Victoria at the Australian Ridden Championships, at this event he exceeded all expectations by winning the Welsh Mountain Pony class and then Overall Ridden Welsh Champion under Gillian Simpson and Kathleen Scott. Apart from his showing success, the best part of Ted is his ability to produce lovely foals out of a variety of mares, both Welsh and Part Welsh, and his fantastic attitude; he loves his ridden work and is happy to compete during the stud season without stressing about mares. I will be forever grateful to Tom and David for selling him to me and suggesting Sam, to Sam for caring for him as if he was her own, and to Taylah Lee for her love and care of Ted in Australia. Where to from here? At six, Ted is a bit young to retire and he would hate not being ridden and shown. He might have to overcome his fear of scary objects and learn about working hunter classes! In the meantime, I look forward to his foals each season as that is his main purpose for me.
Waxwing Passport inhand
UK Ponies and Horses Spring Classic
Springwater Alina ridden by Brooke Came-Boyce
Onley Equestrian Complex | Warwickshire | 18-19.03.2023 Alia Springs to Supreme Hayley Came’s daughter Brooke Came-Boyce, 10, rode Springwater Alina to the overall supreme. Having stood second in their novice and open 133cm working hunter pony classes, Brooke and Alina gave a stonking gallop in the championship to clinch the working hunter pony title. Despite their confidence over fences, Brooke had some nerves entering her first evening performance. Hayley credits Julie Templeton with giving Brooke and impromptu “really good pep talk”, convincing her to take part. “What a magical moment it was hearing the girls named be called out,” said Hayley. Hayley purchased six-year-old Alina as a newly broken-in potential worker. However, it didn’t go smoothly at first. Hayley explained: “When we got her home, she would fall over every cross-pole we put up and I thought, ‘what have we done?’ Then one day we put a big fence up to see and she just boomed over it! So, we took her out a hunting which scared the life out of me as Brooke at 9 years old
had only been jumping a couple of months, and on a baby pony it could have been a disaster!” Her concerns were unfounded. “They jumped everything in sight – ditches, post and rail, and a couple of smaller hedges!” Last season was spent concentrating on building both Brooke and Alina’s confidence at home with the pair competing in just a handful of novice workers. Nevertheless, they were consistently in the top three and finished the season with a tricolour at POYS on Brooke’s 10th birthday. Over the winter they have continued to progress with Pony Club show jumping and farm rides. This season, Brooke hopes to tackle the 133cm RIHS and HOYS courses. “Brooke loves a challenge and Alina never says, ‘no’ and jumps her heart out for Brooke,” said Hayley. “The girls have an amazing partnership”. Duos Doing the Double Jessica Everill’s Brackenbank Flicka gave her a show to remember for all the right reasons. The 10-yearold Fell and Jessica took both the BSPS Pretty Polly and UKP&H
10 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Amateur tickets to the RIHS. Jessica then made a swift outfit change to compete in the Amateur Supreme, which they duly won, much to her surprise and delight! Diana Leeming’s Welsh section A Thistledown San Siro (Rocky) seems set to continue his stellar form this season. Rocky and William won the RIHS first ridden and mini championship on the show’s first day before going on to win the RIHS junior small breeds and section tricolour on the second day. By Blackhill Piccolo and out of Thistledown Xenon, Rocky has had a tremendous career to date. After an incredible season in 2021 which saw both William and older sister Lucinda win a class each at the Royal International, his success has continued into 2022. He won an amazing three firsts and a mini championship at the RIHS, with again rides split between both children, and he topped his season by winning the open breed class at HOYS under Lucinda. A truly versatile ambassador for his breed, 12-year-old has also been known to give a whole host of other activities a go including workers, PC and mounted games!
Brackenbank Flicka ridden by Jessica Everill
Thistledown San Siro ridden by William Leeming
Boss Rules Aimee Devane clinched the reserve novice mountain and moorland championship astride Welsh section C, Costa Joe The Boss. He is coowned between Aimee and Rachel Cooper and it is intended that they share him. Rachel took over the ride in flat classes at the BSPS Heritage championships where she was restricted reserve, and she went on to be champion at Thames Valley Welsh Show. Aimee will contest working hunter pony classes with him.
Photos by Jordan Brooking Costa Joe the Boss ridden by Aimee Devane
NPS Area 7 Dycott Welsh King ridden by Ross Keys
Bury Farm | February, 26th 2023 | Photos by SBM Photographic Spoils for Familiar Faces and New Combinations The Richardson sisters showed no signs of slowing down this season. Youngest sister Penny and Briar Snowfox stood Tiny Tots champion, looking super-cute together. A half-brother to Briar Snowman, Snowfox has risen through the ranks with the girls. He predominantly partnered Lilly last season to much success being the reigning HOYS Shetland of the Year and LIHS Shetland Best of Breed. No doubt Penny has big plans for him this season! However, their best result of the day came from the uber-consistent Elberry Suilen (Billy), who made easy work of a tough track to qualify for the 122cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony final at the RIHS under eldest
sister, Lilly. “We are very proud of Lilly,” said mum, Lucy. “She rode well and rode good lines to her fences. Billy is a complete legend; Mark and I owe him everything.” The former RIHS winner certainly has little to prove with Lilly. Last season the pair made history being the first ever combination to qualify for the Mountain and Moorland Junior Working Hunter Final at HOYS. Being the first RIHS mountain and moorland working hunter qualification round of the year, all four classes were well supported. As with the 122cm, the three larger heights also brought familiar faces to the fore, with a testing course asking tough questions. The 133cm was secured by the Bailey family’s homebred Connemara, HOYS 2022 runner up,
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HOYS ticket. This year, he has matured into a serious open contender. Sarah Parker’s young son, Owen Parker took the first of the classes, the junior small breeds riding Ysselhofs Hallmark (Casper). The Welsh section A gelding is on lease from owner Rachael Dilcock Thomas to Sarah for Owen having been successfully shown by Rachel’s own daughter Annie. Casper gave Annie her first taste of HOYS qualifying in the junior small breeds and section A classes. Meanwhile Owen was the youngest competitor at London International Horse Show last Christmas and began his run with Casper with a supreme championship at Selston Equestrian’s show. No doubt they will form a formidable partnership as the season runs. “The pony is a superstar,” summarised Sarah! 14-year-old Livie Smith and Connemara gelding Blakehill Bobby (Blake) took the tricolour after standing top of the junior large breeds lineup on their season debut. Nine-year-old Blake is by Cnocban Cassanova out of Blakehill Princess. The Smiths have owned Blake just over eighteen months, explained Livie’s mum, Kate. Lilly Richardson and Briar Snowfox
Joint Venture under usual rider Rachel Turner. They were the only 133cm combination to go clear round the Lisa Kelly course. Joint Venture was turned out after HOYS 2022 and this was his first outing since, explained Rachel. “The Bailey family were pleased to see him. They had just returned from skiing in Switzerland and drove straight to Bury Farm to watch”. The 143cm class was also topped by an extremely consistent contender: Gwerniago Gethin under Ashley Bird. However, it was 2022 Windsor reserve, 16-year-old Welsh section D Dycott Welsh King that took the tricolour having won his exceeding 143cm class under Ross Keys. Always cool customers, Ross and King looked as unflappable as ever despite having not jumped a track since HOYS! Ross’ partner Anna Chaplin also explained that for various reasons, Ross had also only sat on King once during the interim period. “It’s a testament to their partnership,” she said.
Joint Venture ridden by Rachel Turner Blakehill Bobby and Livie Smith
The UKP&H Young Rider and Amateur classes enjoyed good numbers. Georgia Hanson was delighted to claim amateur class astride her own seven-year-old Dales stallion Waterside Blackjack (Jacko) on their seasonal debut. Bred by the Heap family, Jacko was first spotted by the keen eye of the late Norah Starkie, who brought him back to her son Paul and his wife Helen to start his education. Georgia spotted him with them and fell in love, so “when she was given the chance to buy him from his new owner, she snapped him up,” explained Georgia’s mum, Helen Hanson. Jacko and Georgia had a very successful 2022 season as a novice, standing winter heritage novice champion at the BSPS championships and narrowly missing out a info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 13
NPS Area 13 Inverin Paddy ridden by Lucy Haygate
Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex | March 4th, 2023 Photos by EmmPix Paddy Power Lucy Haygate and Inverin Paddy (Joey) made their visit to Area 13 a complete triumph, winning the pair’s third RIHS ticket in the UkP&H Amateur qualifier. They already had their open and Pretty Polly qualifications. Joey and Lucy’s luck didn’t end there, as they also won the Connemara section of the LIHS semi-final and took the championship before going on to stand supreme champion. This was especially poignant for Lucy, as the supreme is held in honour of her Grandad, Roger Cook. “It was wonderful as he loved the show, always taking his ponies for the in hand sections.” The inimitable Cashelbay JJ once again proved himself a class act, taking the RIHS exceeding 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony ticket and standing section champion under Maisie Kivlochlan. Maisie has the 20-year-old Connemara on lease from the Eddis family. He is by Castleside JJ out of Ballybawn Cashel, and was bred by Robbie and Barbara Fallon. During his
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Cashelbay JJ ridden Ellie Kivlochlan
career, Cash has been a phenomenal force in both the plaited and mountain and moorland ranks. He is a multiple HOYS and RIHS champion, appearing to romp home over the most formidable of tracks. Maisie is now entering her second season with Cash. Last year, they took the first ticket of the season to the RIHS and finished in the ribbons at both the RIHS and HOYS. They also won their BE90 section to qualify for the Area Festivals which Maisie is hoping to contend alongside the workers this year. “I often get asked if he is as amazing as his track record and he absolutely is that and so much more. He definitely still has a sense of humour as we parted company in the collecting ring just before our round! I think he was just testing me to make sure I rode up to his standards in the ring. It definitely worked as we went on to jump an amazing round,” said a thrilled Maisie. Jessica Talbot skipped around the testing track to book a return ticket in the 143cm class and reserve champion riding Welsh section C Peasdown Madison (Pinky). Interestingly, both Cash and Pinky both qualified for the RIHS last season. Pinky was bred by owner Caroline Sutton, whose ponies Jessica has produced for a number of years. Pinky and Jessica are an established combination, being former HOYS and RIHS contenders as well as taking part in a whole host of activities from arena eventing to hunting sidesaddle. The 133cm class was won by Debbie BarkerRuniewicz and Exmoor Moonpenny Aquarius, bred by Mary Bryant and her daughter Elizbeth Etchells, the 16-year-old is a former RIHS and HOYS competitor under Debbie. Aquarius’ son, Moonpenny Delphinus won the 122cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony class at HOYS in 2022, and on form again this spring, Debbie and Delphinus picked up their RIHS ticket at UKP&H Spring show. The final of the mountain and moorland working hunter pony tickets, the 122cm class was won by
Delami Bravado ridden by Ollie Rowlands
Ollie Rowlands and his mum Fiona Aston’s Welsh section A, Delami Bravado (Benny). Fiona purchased eight-yearold Benny three years ago from Hannah Turnock when Hannah was pregnant. Ollie and Benny’s partnership quickly flourished, standing champion working hunter pony at STARS in 2021 before going on to tackle open qualifiers last year and scooping both the pair’s first RIHS and HOYS tickets within a week! They ended the season on high with a fourth in the HOYS final. New Combinations Make Their Mark Jamie Clarke was delighted to stand reserve champion to Penny Richardson and the little legend that is Shetland Briar Snowman Penny and Snowman. Jamie led section A Thistledown Magpie ridden by Jamie’s daughter Charlotte Knight. She was broken in last autumn, and was purchased by Jamie in December from Sharn Linney’s yard. After just three months, they were ring ready to take the novice and open mountain and moorland lead rein classes and section reserve at BSPS Area 6. They repeated their success at Area 13 matching their results exactly. “We’re super excited about this new combination,” said Jamie.
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue Pony | 15 Thistledown Magpie ridden by Charlotte Knight Glebedale Johnny Depp| The riddenNative by Harriet Glenn
Glebedale Jonny Depp and Harriet Glenn, another new combination, took the Ringside open mountain and moorland championship, the Silver Medal championship and the British Isles Area Supreme, also picking up his Olympia semi-final ticket along the way. Bred by Kitty Bodily and Jill Williams, 13-year-old Jonny has enjoyed a very successful ridden career under former producers Sam Roberts and latterly, Clare Fitch including qualifying for HOYS and Olympia. He is now leased to Harriet’s mum, Nicki Glenn from owners Lauren and Jo Baker. He arrived with the Glenns last autumn, and Harriet has enjoyed getting to know him over the winter with plenty of hacking and the odd unaffiliated outing. They will surely be ones to watch this season. The novice mountain and moorland championship was awarded to Katy Marriott Payne riding Mandy Jackson’s Highland pony Jedi of Talisker. He made a successful debut at Area 6 where he was reserve champion, but went one better at Area 13, collecting wins in the pure novice and confined novice large breeds classes en route to the championship.
Jedi of Talisker ridden by Katy Marriot Payne
The UKP&H RIHS junior large breeds was won by Louise Shafar’s son Todd Shafar and her Connemara mare Carlingford Enchantment. Louise has owned the 15-year-old for ten years. “She taught me showing,” said a delighted Louise. “She’s been to the RI and Hoys many times.” Nevertheless, it was quite a feat for 14-year-old Todd to win his first ever RIHS qualifier with a mare he sat on for the first time just three days before! However it was an established combination that took the tricolour in the UKP&H RIHS section. Mandy Burchell Small’s grandson James Burchell won the RIHS junior small breeds class and section champion riding her homebred Rowfantina Orlando Bloom. It was Carlingford Enchantment ridden by Todd Shafar
a déjà vu moment, as the pair also qualified and stood champion at Onley last year. “It must be a lucky showground,” said Mandy. In 2022, they went on to stand second in the final, and also won a strong mountain and moorland mini championship at the Hickstead Derby Meeting held at what seems to be another of the pair’s lucky showgrounds. Why lucky? He qualified for HOYS at the same show in 2021 and also won the RIHS mini mountain and moorland final and the championship. Orlando is by Broekland Allesandro, a winner at HOYS and RIHS in 2013, and he’s out of Rowfantina Old Times, who in turn is out of the 2000 HOYS mountain and moorland mini champion Rowfantina Old Fashioned. A thoroughly family affair, Old Fashioned was ridden by Mandy’s son and James’ uncle, Owen, while her eldest son, Oliver (James’ dad) produces Orlando Bloom alongside James’ mum Jo.
16 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue |Rowfantina info@showingworldonline.co.uk Orlando Bloom ridden by James Burchell
Breeding in the Heartlands Castle Ponies
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 17
Castle Ponies grazing
Meet the Connemara Pony Breeders who are rearing Ireland’s native pony in the breed’s birthplace by Clare Silke Connemara is the most westerly region of Ireland. Falling away into the Atlantic Ocean, the landscape is distinct to other areas of the island, combining rough mountain terrain with undulating boggy ground that is trimmed with sandy beaches. Exposed to the full force coastal weather in an area that hosts an already moderate climate, this is the birthplace of the Connemara pony. It is undoubtable this environment has shaped the unique, sturdy physical qualities the pony has evolved over the centuries. Over the last 100 years the Connemara pony has been exported all over the world with sister breed societies now in 17 countries. Ireland’s native pony is now born and reared across the global. However, season after season ponies breed in their indigenous home on Ireland’s roughed west coast continue to dominate international championships. Meet the breeders who are keeping traditions of breeding and raising ponies in the heartlands of Connemara alive…
see Henry’s dream come to life.In the course of breeding several generations of Castle ponies also made the dreams of show riders and owners across the world. ‘Village Star’ (Killyreagh Kim x Village Belle) was bought from a man called Paddy King who kept a line of Village ponies. Star’s mother and grandmother were Clifden winners before her but on the fourth year of failing to get her in foal Paddy agreed to sell her to Henry’s father. What originally drew Peadar to Castle Ponies grazing
Henry O’Toole - Castle Connemara Ponies www.facebook.com/castleconnemara.ponies.9 One of the most consistent breeders of show topping Connemara ponies, Henry O’Toole’s childhood dream was to own a pony. While he would have been happy with any pony, his father Peadar would make sure it was ‘a right one’. An astute stock man honed from experience in keeping cattle, Peader stayed true to his word. The purchase of Village Star, a previous winner at the Connemara Pony Show in Clifden, would Castle Ponies
Castle Comet Vanessa Compton
Village Star was her refinement. With a beautiful head, depth of body and good bone, the mare was ‘more a pretty type pony than a rough cart horse’. In her first year with Henry, she was turned out to run with the stallion Boden Park Joey (The Fugitive x Kingstown) owned by Joe Gorham. In the early years Henry admits not quite realising how good the offspring of ‘Village Star’ were. Having sold a few of her foals, it wasn’t until they started winning in Clifden, the home of Connemara Pony showing, did he fully realize the calibre of pony he had. This mare became the foundation mare of the line of Castle Connemara Ponies going on to bred numerous Clifden, Dublin, HOYS and Olympia champions. As time moved on, the modernisation of farming changed the original role of the Connemara pony. ‘I’m not an old man but back in those days, the Connemara pony was a working animal and every family had one for doing jobs’. Henry had first-hand experience working ponies reeking hay, however as machinery took over, the breed’s working role became redundant. As showing in the UK became more popular and the Castle ponies found a market there, the pony’s quality of movement became an increasingly important point of focus for him. This is an attribute Henry admits to putting a lot of thought and research into, highlighting the importance of considered, quality breeding to ensure desirable qualities are established in young stock. This breeding goal would lead Henry to leasing the stallion Janus (Oxenholm Marble Jr x Brantshammar Julie) and bringing him to stand in Ireland for a few short seasons. While on Irish soil Janus sired some very prominent ponies, most notably Glencarrig Knight (Janus x Coosheen Breeze) for Ciaran Curran. Use of this stallion, who currently stands at the famous Glencarrig Pony Stud, on the Castle ponies would
championships and made it seven generations on from the original Village Star dam line to win at Clifden. The queen of the castle, Castle Urchin had an unbeaten record in the Irish show ring, while Castle Comet (Abbeyleix Owen x Castle Dame) would put Castle ponies on the map in the U.K. Twice Native Supreme Champion at the original Royal show, Champion Connemara at the Royal Dublin Horse show, three-time Supreme at the UK Connemara Breed show most notable of all, was his wins in 2002 when he was Supreme Champion at both HOYS and Olympia. “At the time, we didn’t have any idea of what big a deal it was when he won HOYS. We will always be grateful to Vanessa Compton and the exposure we got from her partnership with Comet”. Henry’s achievements as a breeder were recognized by Horse of the Year show in 2018 when he was awarded Connemara Pony Breeder of the year. Across in-hand and ridden classes the Castle Ponies have stood at the top of lineups generation after generation. When breeding Henry endeavors to breed a pony as much in Village Star’s likeness as possible. In his consideration, she was as close to perfect an example of the Connemara as there’s been. “Castle Dame was probably the best mare
Supreme Champion of the Connemara Pony Show 2010 Castle Urchin with his owner Henry O Toole at the 87th Annual Connemara Pony Show 2010, Clifden, Co.Galway. Photo Andrew Downes
bring forth several high-profile champions such as London International 2022 M&M Supreme Champion Castle Kestrel (Glencarrig Knight x Castle Melody) and Reserve Supreme Champion at Clifden Castle Charm (Glencarrig Knight x Castle Urchin) in the same year. While 2022 produced incredible results for the Castle ponies, they are no strangers to Championship success. Ponies such as Castle Dame (Mervyn Kingsmill x Village Star), ‘Castle Countess’ (Abbeyleix Owen x Castle Dame) and ‘Castle Urchin’ (Abbeyleix Owen x Castle Dame) stood winners across numerous
we have ever had. From the tip of her ears to the top of her hooves she was just so correct. She had a beautiful head with a super jaw bone and a lovely eye. Not over done with bone she had lovely flat bone, square knees and depth of body. The first day we ever won with her in Clifden that will never leave my mind”. Currently he has nine mares that live out full time around his farm on the Sky Road outside the town of Clifden. Managed in a way as close to how Connemara ponies naturally live, Henry respects the patterns nature takes in the breed and tries to interfere as little as possible. “Everyone has their own ideas but mine live out full time with the exception of Castle Urchin who is now 22 and comes in at night. They are only rugged if we are preparing for a show. They develop a good coat with loft during the winter and I have never had anything like rain scald or the like. Coming into the Spring I don’t want them to be carrying too much weight particularly if they are getting ready to foal down.” The natural cycle of how ponies slim down during the winter months ahead of spring grass growth is something Henry credits in helping mares cycle correctly and getting them back in foal. Prior to foaling mares will get grain and balancer to help with colostrum quality. Young stock begin their lives in a similar way living on the rough land overlooking the Atlantic, developing balance and surefooted steadiness. This predominately holistic approach to management in the breed’s natural surroundings has to be credited with how the Castle Ponies develop physical and temperament characteristics of championship quality time and time again.
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The retention of the dam line is of prime importance in Henry’s breeding and the best mares are kept while the progeny go to owners internationally. Young stock that are going on to the showing world are normally sold by the age of 3 and finding the right owners for ponies ensure that they go to the best of homes is very important. “We have had some great owners over the years. In the early days Paraic Hynes gave us super exposure with Village Laura and Village Cailín. We are indebted to Vanessa Compton for the publicity we still get to this day. Amanda Sheerman has been a brilliant owner and Lucy Glover an incredible producer. Every pony that ever left here I would know where they are at this minute. Castle Urchin has 18 foals, and I can tell you where they all are.” Time has proven the enduring quality of the Castle Ponies yet despite the countless successes achieved to date, it is the commitment to breeding the best ponies possible that continues to drive Henry on today. “In anything I aspire to have the best and for as long as I’m here I’d like to keep the quality of broodmares we have today with good bone and good features. It’s really all you can ask for. I would dearly love that my children continue to breed very good ponies. My family are great and have been great with the ponies and that would be my heart’s desire to see them continue. We’ve been really very lucky”. Luck or an inherited astuteness for cultivating the best in a breed, Henry’s dedication has created a legacy that established a line of Connemara ponies of exceptional quality that is sure to continue to secure this breed’s championship status for generations to come. Malachy Gorham - Kingstown Connemara Ponies www.facebook.com/kingstown.ponies kingstownponies@gmail.com Malachy and Joe Gorham were reared with ponies. Connemara ponies have been part of the Gorham family for generations but it was their father Joe Senior’s purchase of a registered Connemara mare in 1962 that would begin
Gorham Family Winning with Kingstown Diana in 2013
their breeding program and subsequent showing success. As a boy would help his uncle, Tom Mc Donagh, walk his show mare ‘White Linnett’ the 10.6km journey from Mannin to Clifden to take part in the annual Connemara Pony Show. While he would never get
The O’Toole Family at Clifden in 2022 with Reserve Supreme Champion Castle Charm
into the ring to show with White Linette, a purchase from the Clifden Pony fair would change that. He bought a mare called Kingstown (Doon Paddy x Kingstown Grey) and her name would become the family’s prefix that are used on the ponies to this day. What drew Joe Sr. to the mare was her ferocious bone and power. She would fulfil his desire to show in the ring in Clifden, giving him his first win at the show when her foal Kingsbridge won the foal class. The impact the Gorham family has had on the Connemara cannot be underestimated. While he worked full time Joe Sr. bought and sold ponies, regularly stopping on Sunday drives at fields where he saw a nice-looking pony to buy them. A home bred filly foal from the mare Kingstown Molly (Killyreagh Kim x Park Princess) would be the first Connemara pony to be sold to Florida, U.S.A going to Tír na nÓg stud. In 1983 a mare bought from the Connemara National Park by the name of Silver Fort (Rory Ruadh x Fort Hazel) would influence the Kingstown breeding line to this day. Sold by the Connemara National Park because she couldn’t be caught, Malachy credits ‘Fort’ with bringing the Connemara into the modern era. In 1985 Silver Sparrow and Silver Fort stood 1st and 2nd in the 7-year-old and over mares’ class at Clifden. “At the time, a 14hh (140cms) pony was considered big. Both mares were around 143cm and strong stamps of ponies. From there on the ponies got taller in the show ring”. ‘Silver’ would produce numerous show topping ponies for the Gorham family with one outstanding show day in 1991 at Clifden seeing 4 of her progeny winning Champion foal, Junior Champion, Confined Championship, the Supreme Championship and the 4-year-old mares class on the day. Her son ‘Rocky’ has been the only Junior Champion to go on to win the Supreme Championship to this day. Kingstown Joe, who was Champion foal that memorable day, was sold to Jodie Webster in California where he stood as a registered stallion and sired some great half breeds. The 1990’s saw many Kingstown ponies continue to dominate in the show ring. Kingstown Fort (Moy Hazy Cove x Kingstown Silver) was Ridden Champion at the Breed Show in the UK with Jackie Parry. Kingstown Dana (Monaghanstown Fionn x Kingstown Silver) had consecutive wins at Clifden in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2007 she was Reserve Supreme Champion to Castle Urchin. Both broodmares had foals at foot and was the first time until 2022 that 2 mares with foals would claim these Championship placings. What a beautiful sight it must have
been to see these two Connemaras standing on the show field with their foals at foot. ‘Dana’ would go on to take Supreme Champion the following year in 2008. Today Malachy live on Glenbricken Farm with his wife Jane and their family, a climbing drive north west of Clifden town. His brother Joe lives closer to the city of Galway about an hour and 20 minutes away with Monica his wife and their children. There are currently 15 Kingstown ponies between both locations - five residing with Malachy in Connemara. Malachy is a judge and has been an inspector for the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society in the past. Three new Kingstown arrivals are expected this Spring. “If a mare has a foal she gets the following year off. They aren’t machines. Dad would have always kept a good filly from the mare line and we still do that to this day”. The importance of the dam line is paramount to the Gorhams, both in the retention of young stock and choosing suitable stallions. “It’s not all about the stallion standing in front of you, we look at his back breeding and the dam line. If the dam, the grand dam and the great grand dam are nice ponies the stallion himself might not fill your eye but that back breeding will come out somewhere in his offspring”. Joe Sr. had a considered eye for the traditional type of Connemara with an appreciation for power and substance. The closeness the family have enjoyed together through their pony pursuits has cultivated the qualities Malachy looks for in Kingstown ponies and when judging in the show ring, “Good big ears and the width between them should be similar the whole way through the face down to the nostrils. A Connemara should have a good deep jaw, not too fine with good limbs, depth of body and tail setting is really important. Good square hind-end that’s not too narrow or hippy and have a good strong topline. Myself and Joe would have debates on some ponies but that’s good. You need a variety”.
characteristic the Connemara has been famed for and this rearing instills this quality. “Kingstown Diana is kept up the hill beside the house, which is quite a rough bit of ground, rocky and boggy. When I call her, she comes down, moving every bit as good as she would be moving in a ring. She doesn’t look down picking her spots, she’d just be free flowing. When you would take her for a jog in the ring in Clifden she just flows. People would say she’d been trained, and she hasn’t, - she’s just been kept above on the hill beyond the house”. From rough hills to pristine show rings, there has been many a good day for the Kingstown ponies. With so many to pick from the story of Malachy’s win at the Royal Dublin Horse Show was one that demonstrates how each generation has broken new ground for the Kingstown Connemaras. “Dad had never won in Dublin. All the years he was going up and the good ponies he had brought he never got a red rosette. The first year I went to Dublin, I won. He surprised me, - himself and Joe arrived up to watch. I won with Kingstown Silver (Cuchulainn x Silver Fort) and that day I was able to give him the red rosette he never.” Describing Clifden Show week like ‘Christmas for our family’ both Malachy’s and Joe’s children are heavily involved with the ponies with ring time and wins under their belts. “All my siblings and their children will try to be in Clifden for the week of the show. The whole family has a connection and a grá (gaelic for love) for the ponies. That’s what the Connemara Pony is really about - making friends. The friends we have made over the years through ponies has made the world very small for us”. The hope for the future is for generations of Kingstown ponies and Gorhams to continue on together. It is a safe bet that the Gorhams who are steeped in the Conor Little Little Shelty in Ballyconneely
Malachy’s ponies live out full time roaming 25 acres of expansive rough grazing that runs down to the sea. Depending on the time of year they will get one feed a day. If there is a particularly bad turn in the weather like snow or storms the ponies will be brought in. Coming up to foaling time mares are brought back nearer to the farm, so Malachy is close to hand to keep an eye. In line with the natural rhythm of the seasons, the preference is for ponies to be a little lighter coming into the spring as “there isn’t anything you buy in a bag to replace grass”. Respect for how the seasons shape them gives room to improve naturally and for broodmares’ fertility and cycles to work better. Young stock start their lives in these natural surroundings. The roughness of the lands let limbs and coordination develop naturally. Surefootness is a breed Maria Gorham Kingstwon Elsa 2022
tradition and nature of the breed will continue to produce prize winning Connemaras for generations to come. Conor Little: L’Tara’s and Blakesfield Ponies www.facebook.com/conor.little.9 littleconor7@gmail.com The only thing ‘Little’ about Conor is his surname. Standing 6’4” the 28-yearold has a wisdom beyond his years. His grandfather Joseph Little was a stallion custodian for the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society and stood Macdara (Dun Lorenzo x Dolan Rose) in Ballyconneely. It was his late grandmother Mary Little who instilled a love of the breed that has inspired Conor to continue the family tradition of breeding Connemara ponies today.
Conor Little’s mares ar Ballyconneelly
In the 1990s Mary bought a grey mare from the Clifden pony sales - Aran Jessica (Champion Bob x Aran Queen). She is the foundation mare of the L’Tara’s and Blakefield ponies that Conor is breeding and producing today. After working aboard Conor returned home to Ballyconneely where he continues his grandmother’s dream producing top quality Connemara ponies. A lot has changed since the days when Conor would accompany his granny bringing Jessica to the stallion. “It’s a lot more advanced in ways. There’s more scanning, more time management and use of AI. I would use AI a lot as it can reduce the stress on the mares and also can help save on time. I’ve found it offers me the use of sires I might not otherwise have had accesses to”. Based in Bunowen, Ballyconneely the land has a sandy base due the proximity to the coast. The progeny of Aran Jessica have gone on to perform across a variety of disciplines under saddle. L’Tara’s ponies have had wins at Clifden, qualified for National Dressage Championships in Ireland and the UK, and enjoyed consistent performances in the showjumping arena. Temperament, honesty and bravery are the top three qualities Conor looks to achieve when breeding young stock. “Jessica is a traditional stamp of a mare. She’s not big, about 14hh and she herself has a great temperament that she tends to stamp her offspring. I try to pick stallions to compliment her qualities and think the type of model of a pony I want as well as its future career path”. Conor credits social media as a great tool for selling ponies, connecting with new studs, new owners and new riders around the world. “I advertise a lot of my young stock through Facebook now. It allows me to showcase the ponies I have in a more rounded way than just at the sales. Videos are really important now and I have sold a lot to Europe based on that. It also allows me to keep track of the ponies when they go to their new homes. Owners are usually very good sending updates and I have made a lot of friends through the ponies I have sold from here”. Conor Little with L’Tara’s Jenny
Ballyconneely is south of Clifden and the entry to the Errismore Peninsula. The land is undulating and rocky decorated with heathers. Conor’s ponies live out the majority of the year. The broodmares that are due to foal will be brought back closer to the home house in the Spring. While Conor describes the mares as needing little assistance when they are foaling he always likes to be present when they are to make sure the mare passes all the afterbirth cleanly, the foal starts to suckle and are on their feet in good time. As yearlings he will keep his young stock in for their first winter where they get a small amount of hard feed with haylage to help them in this first year of development. As the spring grass comes through in March and April they are turned out 24/7. “As they are developing they are learning to adapt, you can see that particularly in the colts. I might have them out together in a group and they will be skipping over the land, jumping the heather and I think the variation of the ground texture helps them to develop their agility. It’s a rough landscape but I think it helps them develop stamina and scope”. This is how Conor describes this early freedom his yearlings get in their natural surroundings. Currently in the process of expanding facilities at home, Conor is in the final phase of building a new stable block which will allow his breeding program to expand. Motivated to keep breeding and rearing Connemara ponies in a traditional way for a modern market Conor dreams of someday breeding a future HOYS performer. “It would be the dream to breed a pony that would be competitive at the highest level like HOYS, Dublin or Olympia. Day to day I love seeing the ponies go on to new homes and seeing them do well. Feedback from owners and people I source other ponies for is also important and helps me to be clear in the breeding decisions I am making to try to breed the best ponies I can”. With new foals due to arrive in May 2023 there is no doubt the future of the L’Tara’s and Blakesfield ponies is in safe, considered hands.
Ruth on the Hoof
at Lammerside Fell ponies
Greenholme Kingsman
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 23
Gilly, Zach and the dog!
Lammerside Fell ponies by Ruth Chamberlain Last autumn, I took a trip to the Lammerside Fell ponies to meet Gilly Chippendale and her heavenly herd. Gilly is well known on the native pony driving circuit and she very kindly said she would have her Welsh Section B, Bunbury Sandringham (known as Zach), tacked up for a photoshoot. Zach was the first Welsh B I have spent time with and he is just stunning. Firstly, we decided to get some photos of Zach just as he was, showing off his gorgeous form and type. This was an unusual photo session for me, as I am much more used to photographing ponies completely loose and out in the open. Zach was the most perfect model and stood posing with Gilly and giving her lots of kisses. He was turned out as a Welsh Section B, but the breed is incredibly versatile and can be shown plaited for show pony classes as well as being eligible for Private Driving classes. This makes them very popular as they can be shown and competed in such a range of events which gives their owners a lot of fun and opportunity. After this Zach was quickly put into his harness and hitched to a gorgeous original Spindle gig from 1910 with leather show harness. This lovely town turnout is unusual to see in natives (many preferring a country turn out), but the Welsh B is one of the few natives who can pull it off – and Zach does it exceptionally well, having won at a number of major shows. Zach performed beautifully for us, driven expertly by Gilly around the courtyard with Nic Brown as their groom. All three were of them patiently posed whilst I snapped away and it was great to see how well they worked together as a team.
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Murthwaite Beth Tweedl
le
Gilly Pony having|a25 laugh info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue |Colin The and Native
Fell pony heaven
After this we headed up to more familiar ground for me – Fell ponies on a Fell! The Lammerside Fell ponies are like something out of a fairytale and I could easily have spent hours on the hill with them. The herd are made up of the less common Fell pony colours – bays and greys which just adds to their eye-catching appeal. Their gentle and curious nature came across very quickly, as the mares came over to say hello with their sweet foals. Gilly’s magnificent stallion, Greenholme Kingsman (Colin) struck an impressive figure on the horizon as he made his way slowly over to say greet Gilly. Colin has such a quietly regal presence – he knows he is the main man. I couldn’t get enough of him. It was such a treat to meet these Gilly and her ponies and I hope to get back to see them again soon.
Carrock Hope
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Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for as long as I wanted to as I was off to go and meet a lovely Cleveland Bay horse, Thickley Prince Reuben. Whilst they aren’t ponies I thought I would add a photo as they are another very rare breed native to the UK. This young gelding was absolutely gorgeous – I can’t wait to meet more!
George and Vikki en route to a second place at HOYS (1st Class Images)
In the Spotlight:
Lovelyhill Folklore
Born: Height: Sire: Dam: Wood
2011, 12 years old 139.2cm Applewitch Magic (Peveril Peter Piper x Marydore Apple) Yewtree On High (Unpredictable of Mallards
x Warren On Song) Stable Name: George Bred by Alex Humble and Kerry Dovey-Whiting Owned by Penny Sutton and Peter Rowe Produced/ ridden by Vikki Smith Currently standing at Ribble View Stud
Best results 2014: 1st New Forest youngstock and overall champion at Royal Windsor Horse Show 2017: 1st Six-year-old Dargavel and reserve champion; 1st and Champion Shearwater, 1st HOYS New Forest qualifier at the NPS Summer Championships 4th New Forest Pony of the Year 2018: 1st Shearwater final at the NPS Summer Championships 2020: 1st 143cms novice mountain and moorland working hunter pony and champion at the NPS Autumn Festival 2021: 1st 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony Royal Windsor Horse Show Best of Breed at London International Horse Show
2nd Ridden New Forest Pony of the Year and 4th Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year at HOYS Best of Breed at London International Horse Show 2022: 1st in four HOYS 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony qualifiers Champion mountain and moorland working hunter pony at Stoneleigh and North of England, Reserve champion mountain and moorland working hunter pony at Royal Cheshire County 2nd in Ridden Connemara and New Forest final and third in the 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony final at the Royal International Horse Show Supreme of show at BSPS Heritage Championships 1st Ridden New Forest of the Year and 2nd 143cm Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year at HOYS info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 27
When you speak to Vikki Smith about Lovelyhill Folklore – or George – you’re left in no doubt that there’s real fondness for him, and it’s not just his results. “He’s like the other half of me,” she said. “When you produce it’s not your decision, so I dread that he won’t come back after HOYS. I’d like Penny to wrap him up for Christmas and give him to me!” she added, laughing. George was first spotted by Penny and Peter as a foal at the Lovelyhill stud. Penny explained: “Since moving to the New Forest area, I had always used Alex Humble of the Lovelyhill Stud to shoe my ponies. During a routine visit, Alex mentioned that they had a nice roan colt that I might like to have a look at.” The pair purchased him at two months old and he joined them in the Autumn of 2011 once weaned, with “no firm plans initially” besides knowing they would “do a bit of showing with him”. When at home, George lived out with two older geldings. Nevertheless, Penny and Peter succeeded in showing him a handful of times each year. “We didn’t do this particularly seriously but more as a great education for the future,” explained Penny.
The dreaded RIHS ditch is no deterrent for George! (Equinational)
The pandemic put plans on hold, and a quiet season ensued. But Vikki is philosophical about its effect: “It was the best thing that could have happened to us. We spent all that time getting to know each other. “We had loads of flatwork lessons, and just played around.
One day I long reined him over some Cavaletti’s and right away I thought, ‘this really jumps’ and that was that. The good ones just make that shape, and I knew if I could get him to jump with me on his back, he’d be special.” Vikki trains with Susie Gibson and she concurs, describing George as “a born jumper”. He’s also “fearless, and looks at nothing” – a helpful trait indeed when tackling spooky courses. They contested a handful of classes where able to before hitting the ’21 season in earnest, qualifying for HOYS, RIHS and LIHS with enviable results including a win at Royal Windsor Horse Show, Best of Breed at LIHS and second at HOYS.
George and Vikki claim their 2023 RIHS ticket at UKP&H (Photo by Jordan Brooking)
Then, in 2014, the three-year-old George headed to Windsor where he won the breed youngstock class and was New Forest champion. “It was quite an achievement as at this time we were showing him straight from the field; he hadn’t been in a stable since he was weaned in 2011! He then went on to have some fabulous results at the local area NPS show, NFPEC and finished the season standing champion at Romsey show,” said Penny. A year later, George was sent to Mathew Lawrence to be broken in. “By this time he had seen a bit of the world with the in hand showing we had long reined across the open forest and so on,” said Penny. “Once home he had a pretty chilled 18 months just hacking and maturing.” He was loaned to Alex Hawkins who returned him to Mathew’s yard in 2017 where he was kept for a successful debut season which culminated in a fourth place in the ridden final at HOYS. A lighter 2018 season followed – after his winter out with his gelding pals – and he won the Shearwater final at NPS Championships for the second time consecutively. George arrived with Team Smith (Vikki and her sister Amy) in early 2020 just as his first crop of foals were due after a year running out with a small herd of mares. “We took him up to Vikki literally two days before the first lockdown,” said Penny.
It was last season, however, that they really became premiere league players, winning an incredible four mountain and moorland working hunter pony of the year qualifiers, standing champion at Stoneleigh Horse Show and reserve champion at Cheshire County. They stood second at RIHS, no small feat for a New Forest stallion – ever in the minority – competing against the legions of Connemaras qualified and finished third in the mountain and moorland 143cm working hunter pony final. Onto the NEC and a magical 24 hours. They began their week’s campaign by winning the New Forest Pony of the Year, then stood second in the 143cm Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year. It’s not many ponies and riders that can boast two trips to the Andrews Bowen International Arena for a championship within a day! “It
was a few days we will never forget. To win the flat class and then take a second in the workers was an absolute testament to George. He combines true pony type with versatility, talent and heart,” said Penny. Vikki also attributes his success partly to an innate ability to jump, and partly to his attitude. “He’s got the most
amazing outlook on life. He’s always happy; in every photo of him he has his ears forward – always! He thrives on work. Sometimes Amy and I say, ‘I wish I had a bit of George in me today!’ He has such a workable attitude and always wants to do something.”
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Interestingly, Vikki says that “the more George
covers, the better he is,” and cites the fact he covered just the day before winning at Windsor and before his trips to Hickstead.
Nevertheless, Vikki keeps home as a “workplace”, meaning his “play” – covering – happens only at Ribble View Stud. “I like them to know work is work and play is play,” she explained. The workplace is, however, a relaxed place. “He lives out at night and comes in in the day. He loves being out but gets too fat if he’s out all the time!” And his work routine? “It’s really varied,” said Vikki, adding, “He schools once a week and he jumps once a week – not big, just working on approach and landing. The rest of the time he hacks. He’s got really good legs, so we do loads of hill work.
George in hand (ES Photography)
He’s amazing to hack; I could hack him up the middle of a motorway.” He loves his work, but
what would be the point? He’s one of the best [New Forests] around and certainly not many can do both the workers and the flat classes. Then again, he was never sent to do flats, that’s just been a bonus and I would really like him to win HOYS or the RIHS in the workers.”
you can let him have time off easily. Now when I get back on it’s like riding a bike! We’re as one now.”
That said, we shouldn’t underestimate George. “He’s very sensitive. He’s not everyone’s ride,” said Vikki. “He’s never naughty, he just won’t settle unless you get your ratio of hand and leg right. You need very little of both so he’s not hard work, just sensitive,” she clarifies, before the reverential tone returns to add, “And he’s so clever. He picks up dressage moves – shoulder in, etcetera – so quickly. She’s quick to credit much of her success with him on the flat to her flatwork trainer, Stuart Mason. “He seeks no praise, but he has been a major help to my success with George.”
This season has also seen George and Vikki take up a new challenge: arena eventing, and they have qualified for the ACE Championships at Aintree in June at BE90. “He loved this and we ‘d like to have a go at a bit more of this,” said Penny. It’s just as well from what we can see, as one thing Vikki’s clear about is that she’s not ready to send him home to Penny! “I’d like him to retire and spend the rest of his days with me being my hacking pony,” she laughs, acknowledging it’s unlikely. “Penny lives five hours away so it’s a long trek to get her own mares covered”.
This is possibly why, even after so much success, Vikki is adamant she feels no pressure when she takes him in the ring. “I love riding him and I know every time I get on him, he’ll try his best. He’s done everything.”
Succession planning is nevertheless in motion, and Penny explained that the “intention is to expand the breeding over the next few years,” adding, “We always planned for him to cover once he gained his licence but from the start we felt that he should learn the ridden job first, in spite of there being an enormous amount of interest in his services. He sired some super foals last year and we are really looking forward to watching them progress now that they are yearlings.”
Which brings us neatly to the future. He’s already qualified for the workers at Hickstead, and whilst Vikki’s “not sure that he’ll go back to RIHS to do the flat classes,” another pop at HOYS isn’t ruled out. “If we won HOYS and didn’t ever go back, Standing Best of Breed at London International Horse Show 2021 (Real Time Imaging)
“ “
Meanwhile Vikki has a three-year-old colt by him “who is George all over, a carbon copy,” and “he can really jump, too,” she said. Who knows? Perhaps George’s progeny will reach far beyond his impressive legacy in the showring. Watch this space.
I didn’t really know Penny before, but through George and as time has gone on, we’ve formed a great relationship and friendship.
”
Vikki Smith on her relationship with George’s owner, Penny Sutton. It was clear from early on that George and Vikki were going to be a great team. Their results have been incredible, making memories that will last a lifetime with the duo gaining the outstanding achievement award at the BSPS AGM in February. But there are many people who have been part of George’s journey and helped make him the pony he is today and we are forever grateful to each and every one of them. George is without doubt our pony of a lifetime and we are privileged that he owns us! Penny Sutton.
”
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P E R F O R M A N C E
PO N I E S At Native Pony, we have been incredibly impressed by reports of native ponies competing successfully in performance disciplines.
Red Sox Plays for a Win Ruth Bishop and Highland pony Holmedown Red Sox (Ruairi) proved that even the heaviest of native breeds are versatile and can turn a hoof to some fancy footwork. The pair won the Prelim Bronze section scoring 71.45% in the BD Petplan Area festival at Kingston Maurward. Ruari was bred by Wendy Bridges in Exeter and owned by Graham Bunney. Ruth has been riding him for approximately six years, predominantly in the show ring before turning to BD, and this was their first Petplan Area Festival. “He went beautifully and made me so proud,” said Ruth, adding, “It was so fab to fly the Highland flag so proudly. He was such a little star, and everyone who met him absolutely adored him. He certainly has the cute factor to him!” (Photo by Kevin Sparrow)
Easter Fun Chloe Rose and her six-year-old class 1 Connemara gelding, Master Sam, have had a cracking easter, enjoying wins at 80cm and 90cm show jumping classes.
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Flying Felix Imogen Goddard, 9, and Beeftub Felix (Bisto) has successfully competed Bisto in show jumping at 50-65cm and last year she tried out a few working hunter pony classes which she really enjoyed and is looking forward to doing some more this year. They are photographed winning the 60cm Arena Eventing at Wickstead Horseplay with a beautiful double clear, qualifying them for the Sunshine Tour Championships held at Hickstead in September. Imogen also races Bisto with the Shetland Performance Display Team, “which she absolutely loves, and her dream is to one day be a flat jockey,” explained mum, Hannah. (Photo by Jasmine Punter)
Phoenix To Rise Again Maisie Peters and Annandale Phoenix had a magical 2022 culminating with a win and reserve championship in the Show Hunter Pony of the Year final at HOYS. This year, the Peters family have taken the Welsh section B back to his natural state, showing him as a native now that Maisie is out of the 122cm show hunter pony classes. They have qualified for the RIHS in the UKP&H junior small breeds and have been training hard to prepare for the mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes by competing in 70 and 80 cm show jumping.
Lisa Evans and homebred Welsh section D mare Syfydrin Solitude continue to impress between the boards. The 11-year-old recently won the British Dressage Baileys Horse Feeds Freestyle Novice Silver Winter Regional Championship with over 70%. (Photo by Simon Rees Photography)
Maesmynach Heliwr (Hunter) and Hollie Dixon have been out competing in show jumping and arena eventing this spring. Hollie purchased eight-year-old Welsh section D Hunter as an unbroken three-year-old from breeders Eric Davies and his daughter, Nicola. “Hunter is a fantastic allrounder,” said Holie, adding, “We’ve qualified for the Sunshine Tour arena eventing final in September.” Most recently the pair attended the RAF championships at Sparsholt College 2-5 April. On Day 1 they finished second in the show jumping; Day 2, scored a hat trick of fourth places in 80, 90cm and accumulator sections, and on Day 3 they contested two arena eventing classes standing fourth and fifth.
Hannah Brock’s Llanarth Majestic - or “ASBO cob” as he is affectionately known according to Hannah! – was broken in to ride by former showing producer Matthew Lawrence and was shown by Samantha Roberts, qualifying for RIHS. Hannah explained that he was always kept at home and ridden by Sophie Lawson who is a full time as a cardiac Physiologist in Bristol. “We decided to have a go at dressage and managed some really good scores and things have progressed from there,” said Hannah. “This winter he qualified for the Petplan winter series which he won and the Winter Regionals which he won. He’s now qualified for the BD Winter finals at Hartpury college in April and the NPS dressage series in May. You never know he may try his hand back at showing this year, too.”
Liz Mansbridge’s Wayland Elderberry, a seven-year-old New Forest stallion, has started competing BD dressage this year and has qualified for the BD Cavago Associated Native Pony Champs at Bury Farm, which they are looking forwards to.
Seven-year-old Welsh section A, Pumphill Moonlight, or Pancake and her 6-year-old jockey Charlotte Turner have had a busy 2023 already, having been hunting and competing in arena eventing, showing and working hunter pony classes.
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If you want to see your performance pony in print, email us at beth.simons@ showingworldonline.co.uk
Lucy Pitman’s Connemara gelding Darby Rusty (Reggie) have their sights set on their first ODE at the end of the month and have been training hard for it. The Bay Shadow six-year-old was purchased by Lucy in Ireland in December 2020, unhandled, and she has since backed and produced him herself.
Sarah Murphy’s daughter Olivia, 11, and her Welsh section A, Lacy Casper have progressed from showring success to aiming for eventing. Now a six-year-old, the Murphy’s purchased Casper as an unbroken three-year-old, and Olivia has done everything with him since, Sarah explained. “They have formed a great partnership together and we’re looking forward to the year ahead,” said Sarah.
Tamara Habberley and Greenholme Shandy are aiming for novice endurance this year. Tamara has owned Shandy for 11 years, having purchased her as a six-year-old when she had been off Shap Fell for just six months. In the beginning, there were “lots of disasters, mainly of my expecting too much of a pony who had only been backed six months as she really was so very green,” said Tamara, “including bolting into traffic on a pleasure ride and running off in a dressage test. I did a Trec event out of desperation as she seemed unable to do anything without melt downs and found something she could do.” They competed successfully in Trec standing third in the Trec GB National championships as a novice solo in 2016 and were ranked 7th nationally. Tamara started endurance by doing pleasure rides in 2021 and found courtesy of Trec that Shandy could cope with the environment and is surprisingly fast at a trot. They won the Fell Pony Society Annual Pleasure Championship, clocked up 250 Km over the year and more importantly had a great time. “Last year was a bit of a let-down health wise for us both but we are aiming for a novice endurance season this year. My only regret is I have not had a foal out of her, as she is a proven broodmare, being the mother of Greenholme Falcon who won HOYS last year.”
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Rose Cassapi and Blackertor Mustang, also known as Ben Elf, have been busy! Broken in just last summer, Ben Elf has been Easter showjumping and won the 40 and 50 cm class at NVEC. They also recently attended the Shetland Grand National trials day. This season they will be attending RIHS qualifiers, dressage, PC and Shetland Grand National racing.
Louise Symons’ sons both rode native ponies in the Tynedale Hunt point to point pony races over Easter. Angus Dixon, 11, rode Welsh Section B Hepplewood Summer Nights, whilst bother William, 12 rode Highland pony Cuillin Fingal of Castle Green. “They are both great allrounders,” said Louise, and have since been “training with Area 2 polocrosse!”
Hepplewood Summer Nights
Cuillin Fingal of Castle Green
Gemma Greene’s 12-year-old Highland pony Tavish has been hunting his seventh season with Coakham Bloodhounds who cover a wide area across Kent and Sussex. He has hunted up to 31 days in a season!
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Poppy Lewis and Welsh section B Reamshill Montana (out of Melau Montana) competes in a whole host of activities, including PC, affiliated dressage with BD and she plans to event him this year.
Shannon Maclean has owned eight-year-old Welsh Section D, Tullibardine Sgian Dubh, or Jock, since a four-year-old and has produced him slowly to event. “He is absolutely loving it,” said Shannon.
Daisy and Poppy Hughes have been ‘flat out’ with a whole host of activities, from side saddle to racing! This is Welsh section B Cadlanvalley Savannah (palomino) with Daisy in the saddle and Welsh section A Wellesbourne Prince Charming (roan) at Ascot and at Cheltenham. Cadlanvalley Savannah and Wellesbourne Prince Charming
Wellesbourne Prince Charming
Lucy Parr’s seven-year-old Welsh cob gelding Mollegyden Brego was bred in Denmark and imported as a four-year-old. Brego has competed in two BS Shows this year after having a winter break. He has qualified for the 85cm Amateur Dodson & Horrell Finals in Aintree, as well as winning the 85cm last week in a large class. He has also gained DC’s and wins in British Novice and stepped up to the 95cm Amateurs. He has turned his hoof to various disciplines, winning BS classes end of the season last year, qualifying Hickstead home produced show classes, hunted and contested workers. “He is a great example of our fabulous and versatile Native breeds and definitely stands out amongst the blood horses in the SJ world,” said Lucy. (Esp Photographic)
Louise Blundell’s fabulous Welsh section D Ellebryn Tywysog, or Prince, is 20 years of age but shows no signs of slowing down on the hunting field. He hunts twice a week whipping in for Holcombe Harriers with Louise, who said that at just 14.2, “He jumps anything”!
In the Spotlight:
The Dukeshill Stud Kathy Sheil founded the Dukeshill Stud in the late 1970’s. Kathy grew up in Miami and was one of “those girls” who asked for a pony every birthday and Christmas, but never got one. In the early 1970’s, Kathy and her family moved to the UK when she purchased herself a horse and a pony for her daughter, Joanna. Through this they met Caroline Bachman (Carolinas Stud) and Eileen Burrows (Hale Stud) who both convinced Kathy to get a mare. In 1978, Caroline gave her Deverell Prunella, a daughter of Llanarth Sparkle, as she was concentrating on Welsh section Bs. Kathy and Joanna travelled to Wales visiting studs looking for another mare to keep her company. Revel Just Fun was purchased and the Dukeshill stud was born.
stud and in time decided to use Nepeta on Just Fun. The result was Dukeshill Action Man, who won each time out as a foal so it was decided to run him on for a bit. Then he needed mares to cover and “what was meant to be a small hobby grew like a mushroom,” said Joanna.
In the beginning
Several mares were purchased and tried, but it was found that the best matches for Action Man were mares with a mix of Coed Coch and Revel bloodlines, with granddaughters of Coed Coch Madog working particularly well. Bengad Dianthus was one of the first, and was such an influential mare for the stud, being founder of the ‘D’ line. A daughter of Dianthus by Action Man was retained and named Dukeshill Dulcinea. She was a mare who loved to be shown, always standing perfectly after a bath so not to get dirty. Shortly after the stud moved to Wales in the late 1980s, Dulcinea was supreme champion at Aberystwyth Show.
Joanna had a lead rein pony, Blanche Medley who was by Bengad Nepeta, so Kathy went to visit the Bengad
Dulcinea also proved to be a wonderful brood mare. Her first daughter Dukeshill Diminuendo was produced
Hannah Turnock catches up with Joanna to find out more about the stud in past, present and future….
A young Dukeshill Pearly King (Dukeshill Magnum x Dukeshill Philadelphia)
by Mandy Burchell-Small and won the Gay Soverign lead rein championships as a four-year-old. Diminuendo’s full brother, Desert Wind, was a stud stallion at the Rhiedol stud in Derbyshire and her son by Randan Walter, Dukeshill Diego, was shown with success and used, before he was top-priced section A male at Fayre Oaks, going to Northern Ireland. Dukeshill Dotcom went on to be a stud stallion for the Penech stud and Double Diamond was exported to the USA. Two daughters were retained as broodmares and another son, Darcy, was kept and shown for a number of years before being sold to Scotland. Bengad Plum followed Dianthus. She was a daughter of Revel Cello and founder of the Dukeshill Stud’s ‘P’ line. Plum was a good show mare, but it was as a broodmare she made her biggest mark. Four of her daughters were kept on at Dukeshill: DH Pensacola (by Action Man), DH Philadelphia (by Diego), and DH Passadina and Paradise, both by DH Magnum,. “All were great broodmares causing an annual struggle to think of names starting with a P!” said Joanna. Another influential mare for the stud was Sunwillow Mutters. The pairing of Action Man and Mutters not only produced DH Magnum, but also multi-HOYS qualifier DH Madonna, DH Mama
Dukeshill Chimichanga is more than a pretty face! (Nantdywyll Penaig x Dukeshill Chill Bean)
Mia who was sold to Portugal, and DH Macho Man. Inspirations and influences…. One of the biggest influences was Mrs Gadsden of the Bengad stud. It was on her advice Kathy initially bought Dianthus. Joanna recalls: “She bred so many beautiful ponies and it was a real pleasure visiting and seeing fields full of them, and in the later years with Laura Hutchins. They kept that balance between Revel and Coed Coch, something that we have done ourselves.” Another influential person was Mrs Hambleton of the Llanerch stud. “She taught us - amongst other things - that tea must be drunk from thin bone china cups! The Llanerch ponies we had were Llanerch Sapphire and Llanerch Coral. They were out of full sisters who were by Coed Coch Madog, and both crossed well with Action Man, founding our ‘S’ and ‘C’ lines,” said Joanna. When Dukeshill Action Man was a foal, he won every show he went to. It was decided if he was going to be kept a colt, he had to compete among the best, so he was sent to Colin Tibbey to produce as Colin’s first paying livery. “We enjoyed going round the country to see Action Man competing and it was the start of a long friendship with
Colin, from whom we learned so much,” said Joanna.
national champion in Finland seven times.
Looking for a breeding animal…
However, always memorable is Action Man’s first win at the Royal Welsh as a twoyear-old, a feat he repeated as a three-year-old. “But it was that first win at the Royal Welsh that really stands out,” said Joanna.
Kathy and Joanna like a “scopey type” of Welsh Mountain pony with “the ability to do a job. A nice length of rein, good hindquarters and tail set but still retaining good limbs and short cannon bones and plenty of Welsh Character. Correctness of conformation is very important to us, and we do like a good-moving pony, especially one with a good walk, really moving from behind.” Consistency at Dukeshill comes of choosing bloodlines carefully. “We do stick to similar bloodlines and tend to follow a line-breeding policy which has allowed us to be consistent in the sort of ponies that we have bred. Of course, we have brought in new blood and that is one of the joys of breeding, seeing if what we think will work actually does. Naturally, a good temperament is also an important factor. We want to invest our time and effort into ponies we like as individuals and know they have the temperament to go on and be great children’s ponies which is after all, the end product.” Success Stories… Dukeshill ponies have done well for the stud and for their new owners worldwide, such as Dukeshill Double Diamond, national points champion in the USA, and Dukeshill Savannah , who has been
Another early success was at the Royal of England with Dukeshill Whizz Kid, a son of Action Man out of Llandyn Wren. “We were approached by an old woman in the car park, selling a bit of luck. We bought her charm, and Whizz Kid went on the win the first breeders supreme award from all the light horse breeds.”
appearing with three of his sons also in the list.
But no doubt the most memorable day was at the Three Counties Show, where Dukeshill Magnum qualified for Cuddy Supreme In Hand final at the Horse Of The Year Show. “It was so unexpected as he was totally home produced, and it was under a hunter judge. And practically to the minute that he was called forward, a phone call came through that his full sister DH Madonna had qualified for HOYS as a lead rein across the country at East Anglia Native Pony show, one of the major shows at that time.”
“Of course, this year’s success of his son DH Pearly Spencer at London Horse Show is right up there, especially as he is a combination of our three main foundation mares.”
No doubt Magnum was a pony of a lifetime. Never failing to put on a performance in the show ring. He was also an outstanding sire, appearing for many years in the top 10 of the WPCS sire ratings, one year
Dukeshill Darcy (Dukeshill Magnum x Dukeshill Dulcinea)
“One of our biggest disappointments was the year he was second by two points, especially as we had entered an affiliated show with three Magnum offspring and last minute didn’t go! One third place that day would have seen him take the title…hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Pearly Spencer – or Dennis – stood reserve champion and Welsh Best of Breed under his producer and now owner, Victoria Harker, who had flown home from America specifically to ride him. A Royal Welsh in-hand winner as a youngster, Dennis had first arrived with the Harker family at three, on loan from Joanna, but Victoria’s mum, Jenny purchased him as a very special Christmas present for Victoria. “The success of our ponies is not only seen at the top-level shows
Dukeshill Magnum (Dukeshill Action Man x Sunwillow Mutters)
but in their versatility across many different disciplines. Dukeshill Pizzazz, a halfbrother to Pearly Spencer was sold to Holland after being shown successfully in youngstock classes. He won the stallion grading in Holland before joining a team of four for event driving and then going on to be a successful dressage pony. We get a lot of pleasure seeing ponies with their young riders out enjoying themselves no matter what level they are at. We have been fortunate enough to keep in touch with many of our ponies as they compete in lead rein to dressage and working hunter classes from little local shows, in Pony Club and up to HOYS qualifiers.” As well as enjoying the success of the ponies, the pair have made so many friends worldwide and both have had opportunity to judge major shows here and abroad. Joanna also served on the WPCS council for nine years.
Dukeshill Pearly Spencer, runner up at LIHS 2022
Dukeshill Mini Mutters (Dukeshill Magnum x Dukeshill Ma Larkin)
On to Pastures new..? In 2018 fortunes turned and Kathy suffered a stroke and other medical complications. It was decided the time had come to retire and to emigrate to America to join family there. “Showing had become much more political and not quite as much fun, and we thought we would like warmer weather, and the beach lifestyle,” elaborated Joanna. 35 ponies were sold or found new homes and Magnum went to join the Bigley family at Llanarth. “We moved lock stock and barrel to Brunswick, Georgia on the south east coast just above Florida with the two dogs and cat. The journey out was probably the best bit as we sailed on the Queen Mary to New York and drove the 800 miles down to Georgia. Once there we realised what a mistake it was. We hated it, and of course, we missed the ponies and all our showing friends. We stuck it for a year before deciding to return home to Wales, the deciding factor being when Cunard’s had room for the two dogs (and
Dukeshill Pearly Spencer ridden by Victoria Harker
Tynyfach Valley King (Cwmcerrig Will Bach x Brynithon Dutchess)
“We didn’t like America, and once ponies are in your blood, there is no escape!!” us) on the November sailing of the Queen Mary. The cat had to fly.” The green, green grass of home… Shortly after Kathy and Joanna returned, the world was hit by the pandemic and the pair went more or less straight into lockdown. “We are now town-dwellers, but we did manage to buy a small amount of land and rent a little more where we have a yard, so are able to have some ponies again. We managed to get back a little group of ponies of our own breeding to enable us to come out of retirement and go back to doing what we love best.” As well as a few ponies, Joanna also wanted to go back into ridden showing and bought a young Welsh cob, Tynyfach Valley King, by Cwmcerrig Will Bach to bring on. “We have always had a cob or two at Dukeshill for riding, although not
Dukeshill Whiz Kid (Dukeshill
competed seriously with them for nearly 20 years, when Kentchurch Damask was shown throughout Wales with much success. Showing ridden Welsh cobs has changed greatly since those days. There were no HOYS qualifiers, and the ridden class was attached to the breed section where the class winner went up against the inhand winners for the WPCS medal. At the Royal of England, Welsh cobs had a class in the show cob section!” Future Plans….
Dukeshill Presley (Dukeshill Darcy x Dukeshill Philadelphia)
year, there is a small team of section As. “Although they are not Dukeshill prefixed ponies, they are our bloodlines, and we look forward to bringing out something new.” Something tells us small team or not, we’ll be seeing plenty more of Joanna, Kathy and at the very least, Dukeshill influences in the ring this season…
“We will never grow to the numbers we had before the move to America. We plan to breed a small number of top-quality foals, maybe run on one or two to have some fun showing them, but will be taking it year by year. We are looking forward to the 2023 season as we feel we have a strong little show team.” As well as Joanna’s cob, who will have his first open season following a good novice season last Dukeshill Savannah (Dukeshill Magnum x Dukeshill Southern Belle)
Kathy and Joanna with
38 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk Action Man x Llandyn Wren) Magnum at Llanarth Stud
LAP OF HONOUR Columbus Explores and Conquers Strathmore Majestic looked an impressive prospect under owner Lucinda Dargavel when he took the confined novice champion at Penskyber Equestrian’s NPS Show. The six-year-old Highland pony stallion is sired by Noah of Meggernie out of Morag Rose of Strathmore. Affectionately – and aptly – dubbed Charlie Bear at home, Lucinda explained that she found him as a foal at the Scottish based Strathmore stud. “He ticked the boxes for me,” she said. “I love finding youngsters to bring on and my aim for him this year is the NPS Picton Final. He had a fabulous start to his career with Aimee Devane at Follywood Show Team and really does have the most sensible head on him which makes him a pleasure to ride.”
As well ask keeping extremely busy in her role with our partners Smart Grooming, Lauren Moore Williams has been fitting in some showing of her own, standing champion at both Native Pony of Devon and at Badgeworth Arena with her young Welsh section C stallion, Menai Columbus, or Chris! “We accidentally de-noviced ourselves by winning Royal Cornwall last year,” said Lauren, “so we are our having to put our brave pants on and get in some opens this year, which we are excited about!”
Red Rosette Park Murphy Grace Litherland and Connemara pony Red Park Murphy made a successful debut winning the open mixed breeds class at BSPS 2A. He is jointly owned by Grace’s mum, Jane and Zoe Holmes. They purchased him just six weeks previously and intend for the six-yearold to contend the junior RIHS and HOYS classes. He is produced by Joe Watson and Rob Mcivor.
Rowfantina On Roll
Fly Flies High
Mandy Burchell Small’s Rowfantina ponies continue to impress in the mini ranks. The family team made a successful start to their 2023 season at BSPS Area 14’s show with Rowfantina Old Gold making a winning debut under Ellie Johnson in the novice lead rein before going on to take the championship. Second to Old Gold was Rowfantina Outlaw who was sold on from the stud shortly before Christmas. He was ridden by new owner Zara Plumer and led by producer Emma Holder. Meanwhile second and reserve champion in the open leadrein was Harry Batchelor on Rowfantina With Grace, leased by Mandy to the Batchelor family.
Jane Edmonson’s daughters Megan and Amy made their excursion to BSPS 1B’s working hunter show at Greenlands worthwhile. Megan took the beginner, cradle stakes and mini championship with Welsh section C Littledean Morning Light (Fly) while older sister Amy won the 60cm winter worker stakes and reserve champion with him. This is the family’s second season with Fly, whom Jane describes as “amazing”. As well as enjoying PC activities, he also finished 7th in the 122cm junior mountain and moorland workers at HOYS with Amy. (Blue Lace Photography)
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Aventus Ventures Out In just her first season showing, Elise Morris incurred a frustrating setback when her Fell pony sustained an injury. Luckily, mum Mel was able to purchase a novice Welsh section B from friend Rachel James. Skellorn Aventus is also in his first year of showing, but nevertheless made a winning debut with Elise at NCPA taking the BSPS Heritage mountain and moorland novice small breeds and standing second in the pure novice class. Elise’s little Sister Pearl, 10, also had a good start to her season by winning the biggest class of the day: the 60cms Winter Worker Stakes with her “pony of a lifetime”, Quinton Golden Crusader. Cruz and Pearl enjoyed a magical first season in 2022 winning the winter worker stakes at the BSPS winter championships, and going on to stand second in the RIHS PP show hunter pony class and 8th at HOYS in the 122cm show hunter ponies. Pearl also accompanied her 138cm riding pony, Fieldaston Diamante, to second in a strong part bred class and second in the novice mixed height show ponies. “We came home feeling very lucky and inspired,” said Mel.
Ditto Double Dittonpriors Ditto and Jessie Barleycorn have got their season off to a flying start. They headed to BSPS Area 15A at Brook Farm and had a blast heading the Cradle Stakes and mini WHP tricolour before also winning the novice mountain and moorland first ridden.
Skye’s Limit For Ramasaig Laura Maher’s five-year-old home-produced Highland pony Talisker Ramasaig won the NCPA in hand mixed mountain and moorland class and in hand championship at the NCPA Spring Spectacular.
Shadow Into the Limelight Maisie Chester and her Dales pony Waterside Shadow made a successful jaunt to Area 15, winning the pair’s novice class. He was produced by Team KMP last season, but this year, Maisie will be producing him from home.
Perlena Promising Prospect Samantha Taylor steered Littlebyrom Limited Edition to a win in the open 133cm show hunter pony class and section tricolour, and Waxwing Perlena to novice Welsh section A and B class and the novice mountain and moorland championship at BSPS Area 2A. Perlena is owned by her breeders, whilst Limited Edition is owned by Samantha’s mum, Chrissy Knipe and aunt Rebecca
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Abba, who also co-produce both ponies. Though just lightly shown in-hand, Perlena made her mark in breed classes and readers will recognise Perlena from her Royal Highland Supreme Mountain and Moorland in 2022. No doubt she will be one to watch in future.
Alice Mighty In Mini Alice Hertenfield continues to be a force beyond her years. At NCPA Spring Spectacular, she rode Welsh section A Thistledown Special VIP to win the NPS open first ridden and overall NPS mini championship, and she also won the NCPA junior ridden class on Shetland gelding, Sharptor Tricolore, whom mum, Katherine purchased early last season, shortly after his placing at LIHS 2021. She had an equally impressive tally at BSPS Area 2B, winning the tiny tots first ridden and championship and the open first ridden championship on VIP. Not content to stop there, Alice won the novice lead rein and novice championship on new ride, Settvalley The Mistress, and the open mixed small breeds and tricolour with Sharptor Tricolore! Alice has since qualified Thistledown VIP for the RIHS in both the juniors and first ridden classes, the former at NCPA Lancashire Spring Show and the latter at North of England Spring Show.
Team Bag More Rosettes Than A Baker’s Dozen Team Cowan has had a great start to the showing season, bringing out both new and established faces. Charlotte Teague and Janet Cox’s Bakers Dozen (Hilda) headed to West Park Equestrian Centre and stood overall ridden supreme before heading to BSPS Area 1A where they continued their lucky streak with a championship. Brittany Hancock’s new Welsh section A Islyn Stewart Little attended his first show – Area 1A – just a few weeks after being backed and stood novice mini mountain and moorland champion under Charlotte Hancock, 5. Older brother Brandon Hancock also took champion in the open mini mountain and moorland with Ringstead Cover Girl (Camilla) who is owned by Clare Dewhurst. Anna Teague also had a go at the first ridden with Camilla were they went reserve novice mini champion. Anna also took reserve on her novice worker Newgap My Messiah after winning the novice nursery stakes as well as reserve mountain and moorland open working hunter pony on Waitwith Sue-Ellen.
A Plaited Percy
Meanwhile team captain Jennifer Cowan rode no less than four newly broken in ponies but succeeded in bagging a Silver Medal championship reserve, champion open restricted, champion and reserve novice.
Aimee Rogers’ Settvalley The Titan (Percy), a former RIHS mountain and moorland working hunter pony winner, has changed guise to book a return ticket to Hickstead in the plaited 133cm working hunter pony class, ridden by Ollie Rowlands. Despite being just 128cm and the class being just the second time that Ollie had competed him, the pair produced a beautiful round at BSPS Area 1A WHP Festival to qualify.
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 41
Charles a Senior Authority in the Ring The inimitable Thistledown Van Der Vaart (Charles), a multi HOYS champion and former Supreme Pony of the Year shows no signs of slowing. At BSPS Area 4A, the 15-year-old Welsh section A competed in and won his first lead rein working hunter pony class as a warm-up for the RIHS Senior Showing class, which he also won took the tricolour to secure the ticket.
Admiral Takes Charge! Miranda Hughes’ super-cute Shetland gelding Carrickfergus Admiral and rider Tabitha Hughes took charge of the ring at BSPS Area 14 to win both the novice and restricted first ridden classes.
Over The Moon with RIHS Ticket Welsh section C Lantau Over The Moon (Luna) and her young rider Callum Randall have been working hard throughout the winter getting to know her and building their partnership. The family purchased Luna in August 2022 with the intention to contest the junior classes in 2023. They attended the BSPS Area 11 TSR Talent Spotting and training day where Callum was spotted and put forward for TSR amateur rider of the year, and they have since booked not just one, but two tickets to Hickstead at BSPS Area 15, qualifying in both the junior large breeds and amateur classes. “We are totally home produced family and are extremely proud and excited for Callum and Luna’s future together,” said Callum’s grandmother, Sharon Weightman.
Our readers really have been taking the showring by storm! Each issue we will be celebrating your individual successes. Make sure that you all keep us up to date on your successes to be included! Email beth.simons@showingworldonline.co.uk and make sure you follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts for more ways to get involved in The Native Pony magazine.
42 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
DALES
ROUNDUP Compiled by Kate Waite
Essiecroft Sidney (Photo by Jill Perkins)
News from DPS Area 13, Scotland Helen and Mark Snowden of Essiecroft Dales Ponies in Rhynie, Aberdeenshire took two Dales ponies to the Royal Northern Agricultural Society Spring Show in Aberdeenshire for their debut in the showring. “It was lovely to be back out showing again for us. We took along two homebred ponies to their first ever show and travelling in the horse lorry so were very proud with how they got on,” said Helen. Yearling colt, Essiecroft Sidney finished second in the mountain and moorland yearling class, and five-year-old mare Essiecroft Black Beauty took third in the mountain and moorland over four-year-old class. “It was also lovely to meet Marlyn McInnes for the first time who had travelled up from Glen Lyon with three-year-old gelding Carrock Fury and made it a worthwhile journey by winning the mountain and moorland 2- and 3-year-old class.”
Dales Pony Goes Back to School By Amy Balmer Grassgill Sally and I are part of a new Cumbrian police initiative that was launch back in November as part of road safety week. The mounted volunteers are made up of people that live in and around the Eden Valley in Cumbria.
Carrick Fury (Photo by Kathleen McInnes)
Sally and I were invited to Kirkby Stephen Grammar school to talk to the older students who are thinking about starting to drive or have just started driving about road safety awareness and then our position as a danger on rural roads. Police officers that are part of the collision prevention team presented a hard hitting talk and film about how different decisions affect the way we drive and the consequences on the roads today. As part of the presentation, the officers had a crash car that was donated by a Cumbrian family that had lost their daughter in that car. Sally and I stood next to that car as students looked on, we explained how easily it would be to be in the same situation if they drive without awareness, past Sally and I. That Sally is approximately 500kg or half a ton, could easily kill me, Sally or even themselves. We also explained that having respect for horses that are on the road is just as simple as slowing down, giving space and acknowledging the rider. We also gave a brief talk to year 9 students that were discussing careers in their Personal Development class. They took a lot of interest in the crash car and Sally. Hopefully getting the message across, meeting us there, will stay in their minds as they come to start on our roads. For me, this was a very emotional hard hitting presentation. One that wasn’t easy to sit through and listen. Probably made more difficult by the fact I’ve a 14 year old daughter that will soon by on the roads. Seeing how the students reacted to seeing Sally being there, I hope it made it more real to those listening. Putting a physical face to a rider, and a name to the horse has made them better drivers, to just get them to think about us and remember all horse and riders are just like me and Sally.
The mounted volunteers also help their colleagues by being an extra pair of eyes and ears in the local community. We are also here to help anyone who wants crime prevention advise or just to have a quiet and confidential chat.
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 43
EXMOOR
ROUNDUP Compiled by Elizabeth Etchells
Debbie’s Double Debbie Barker-Runiewicz has started the season with a bang. After a quiet winter off, father and son duo of Moonpenny Aquarius (Rus) and Moonpenny Delphinus (Finn) have made a great return to the working hunter ring. At NPS Area 13, Debbie nearly left Rus at home after he came in from the field covered in mud, but luckily some vigorous grooming produced a presentable pony and he was allowed on the lorry, which was just as well as he then stormed round the Royal International 133cm qualifier producing a fantastic clear to win the class Not to be outdone, son Finn returned to the same venue two weeks later but this time for the UK Horses & Ponies Spring Classic. He also booked his return visit to the Royal International in the 122cm class with a win and a reserve champion.
Barhill Marigold
Moonpenny Aquarius (Emmpix)
Exmoor Pony Society Performance Awards 2022 Adults 1st Blackthorn Poem 11/58 Portly French (7615 points) 2nd Danelaw Jupiter 325/4 Paula Kay (2020 points) 3rd Warrenmere Woodcock 462/1 Elizabeth Etchells (1690 points) 4th Dunsmore The Famous Grouse H1/9 Clare Phillips (1665 points) 5th Mystical Master Bee 512/2 Rachael Davis (1360 points) 6th Bournefield Celtic Rose 241/9 Annette Perry (995 points) Junior 1st Barhill Marigold 232/4 Ella Defty age 10 (1250 points) 2nd Finan 286/17 Harry Defty age 7 (1005 points) 3rd Dunsmore Glenmorangie H1/13 Christopher Farley Brown age 11 (580 points) 44 | The Native Pony | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Our performance ponies have been out there showcasing the versatility of the breed again and have done us proud. They have been active in the show ring both on the flat and over WHP jumps, the dressage arena, Trec, long distance riding and the hunting field. The performance awards are open to all registered Exmoor ponies owned or ridden by an EPS member. It is open to ponies participating in a variety of events at all levels and is not restricted to high level competition. Adult Winner, Blackthorn Poem, gained most of her astonishing score competing in affiliated dressage but also found time to attend a few shows with great success. Second placed Danelaw Jupiter is proving to be a very versatile mount for Paula Kay. Jupiter has been competing in dressage, showing, Trec and long-distance riding, All of Warrenmere Woodcock’s points came from the show ring, where he acquitted himself very well, including 2nd at HOYS and Best of Breed at the London International Horse Show. Junior winner, Barhill Marigold is not new to the performance awards but she has a new jockey, ten year old Ella Defty. The duo have had a very successful season competing in affiliated lead rein classes. Brother Harry Defty also had a very successful lead rein season with Finan. Mum must be super fit after all that running! Dunsmore Glenmorangie, proving she is a genuine family pony, was entered in both sections competing in ridden showing with Christopher and dressage with his mother. Well done to all entrants and congratulations to the winners. If you have never entered before please do this year, as there are also special awards for Best Newcomer. All the details are on www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk
SHETLAND ROUNDUP
Compiled by Kate Hampton Snowstorm in the Ring! Storming into the new season with three Royal International tickets already under their hat are last year’s HOYS Exmoor/ Shetland class winners, Lilly Richardson, 10 and Briar Snow Fox. Bred by Vivian Hampton, Snow Fox is one of five all male progeny from the Briar stud’s broodmare, Southley Mayflower. Fox is half-brother to the Richardson family’s successful Briar Snowman, Mayflower’s first born foal, who has taken both sisters to HOYS on numerous occasions, and who has also qualified for the RIHS.
Briar Snow Man
Affectionately known as ‘The Tank’ at home, Snow Fox joined the family in 2019 and was bought by mum, Lucy in 2021. ‘He is a true child’s dream unicorn. When we are at the shows, lots of children - some friends and some we don’t know – all crowd round him and Snowman to stroke them! They are like unicorns,’ said Lucy. Not to be outshone, younger sister Penny and Snowman have also collected their First Ridden ticket at BSPS Area 9 Spring Show meaning that both sisters will be competing against each other in the ring at Hickstead on their Shetland halfbrothers.
Shetland Performance Awards 2022 Leaving behind Covid restrictions and more events returning to the calendar the 2022 Shetland Performance Awards saw a large increase in ponies both old and new joining our scheme which was set up more than 40 years ago. We were delighted to have ponies from Scotland and Shetland competing again in the scheme and when you think about the amount of shows available to the Island children (maybe six shows per year) and the vast distance the Scottish children have to travel to events it is wonderful to see them all placed somewhere in the scheme. Our Supreme Champion Pony Briar Snowfox ridden by Lily Richardson had a very successful season finishing with an amazing win at the Horse of the Year Show in the Exmoor/ Shetland class. Our Reserve Supreme Pony and Champion One Rider/ One Pony Combination was Sharptor Autumn Sunset and Cornelia Lewis who was placed in several sections and is truly an all round pony. These included WHP, Ridden Showing, Pony Club, Show Jumping and Dressage. The Lead Rein Championship was shared between Lynemore Glen ridden by Jessica Whiteford and Coppice Mollie ridden by Queenie Follows these young riders have both made a great start in their riding lives with Jessica also being successful in Young Handler Classes
Briar Snow Fox Coppice Mollie & Queenie Follows)
Halstock Director
Skyelands Prince Rupert
Success Needs No Explanation being shown in mixed classes and top line ups including mares and stallions. We look forward to seeing you all join the awards scheme again and come to the Performance Show at Malvern ,Worcestershire 15/16 th July 2023 and gathering more points whilst having fun with your ponies. Alongside In Hand, Driving ,Ridden and Jumping classes you will be able to have a go over the racing hurdles, try barrel racing and gymkhana. Join the scheme www.shetlandperformance.co.uk
Hools Explanation
Heading out for their first show of the season on Orkney, the Hools stud brought home the reds with Hools Explanation. The three-year-old filly won the Orkney Bred Champion for Tuskerbister Dada Trophy at the Orkney Riding Club Winter Woolie Show and won the youngstock, small mountain and moorland and Orkney Bred In-hand classes. She is by Wells Ferguson out of Shetland Island bred, Merkisayre Poppy, Breeder Kelly Peace acknowledged the importance of these shows saying, ‘to everyone that these local shows usually also run for a good cause, this time being the RDA. Please keep supporting your local shows, for whatever reason, as if it weren’t for them, I’d not be prepared for showing further afield’.
Shetland Performance Display Team Turns Ten By Lucy Bearcroft 2022 saw the 10th anniversary of Shetland Performance display teams. We spent the summer travelling the country attending county shows, Country fairs raising money for charity and we even got to race the hallowed Beaufort polo club No1 ground. We started the year with our trials days held at East Soley and Hilton Park Arena, Wolverhampton where we welcomed some new team members. Our first outing was a trip to the Malverns and the Three Counties show ground for Countrytastic where we put on our “History of the Breed” display, which included not only ridden, but driven ponies, too. We also had a meet and greet pen so the public could get up close and learn more about our breed. The rest of the season was spent racing over our hurdles like a mini a Gold Cup starting with Devon County Show and ending at Frampton Fundraiser in Gloucestershire. Our small team of dedicated and passionate children, ponies, owners and parents raised our largest amount to date in a year of £6000 which was donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal at Bristol Children’s Hospital. We are always welcoming new members and have regular training days. If you think you would like to be involved or would like us to attend your event, please contact shetperfdt@gmail.com
Members of the team at the Beaufort Polo ground, credit Kate Hampton
Little Team in Big Smoke We absolutely love these photos of Little Grie Bailey and Bonnie, 5, and Truly Edwards, 3 participating in the London Harness Horse Parade
Alexia’s ‘Paschan’ for Ponies! At the start of last year Alexia Lilly was just four years old and had never cantered. Neither had her six-year-old Shetland Pinglewood Pascha. “Pascha was not a pony already set up,” said Alexia’s mum, Amy. “She was bought as a two-year-old for Alexia’s first birthday, intended more as a best friend to grow up with. The bond that they have is heart-warming to watch; they really do love and trust each other to bits.” Following numerous wins and championships last year, including standing supreme at the British Palomino Society national championship show and reserve ridden supreme at the Shetland Pony Society performance show, the tiny duo ended the season on a high with a nearly-there second in the open HOYS Exmoor/Shetland and third in the HOYS first ridden classes
at the September Stoneleigh Horse Show. Standard Shetland, Briar Puzzle joined the family last autumn and Alexia’s winter hard work and determination to succeed has already reaped its rewards with both ponies collecting RIHS tickets on at Hereford Marches. Puzzle won the Pretty Polly Heritage lead rein whilst Pascha took the Pretty Polly Heritage first ridden class. The luck didn’t end there, as Puzzle proceeded to claim the PP Supreme in very strong company. “I’m so proud of my little girl. She has a stick with it and set her little pony up all by herself! There’ve been times I wished I was tiny enough to get on and help out, but they’ve muddled on and perfected it together,” concluded Amy.
Briar Puzzle
Pinglewood Pascha
FELL
ROUNDUP Fell Pony Society 2022 Annual Points Awards We are indebted to Christine Robinson, who has run the Fell Pony Society annual points awards scheme for many years. Christine has totted up the points and the winners will receive their prizes, including wonderful rosettes embossed with their ponies’ names, at the FPS AGM. Unusually foals were comparatively well represented with four featuring in the awards this year, but entries in the other youngstock sections were low. There were just two in the yearling section, and one in each of the two- and three-yearold classes, with the Dalewin and Rackwood studs entering three ponies each. Juniors were also under-represented. Please do consider entering your ponies this season. There’s no entry fee, all exhibitors need to do is complete a form with details of their placings and get the judge or show Secretary to sign to confirm. Details are on the website fellponysociety. org.uk and Christine is very happy to answer any queries, her contact details are also on the website. The winning foal was Rackwood Hermione, owned by Eileen Walker. Hermione is out of Rackwood Black Magic by Eileen’s stallion Dalewin Victor. Eileen reports that Hermione was born very black and hairy, like her granddam Rackwood Magic, so she was sure she could be a show winner from the start. Her first outing was to the FPS Breed Show where she was placed 1st in the filly foal class. She was 1st prize Fell foal at Wolsingham Show and won the Rackwood Challenge Cup, which had been donated by Eileen’s father in 1996, and was presented during the grand parade by Show President, Mr John Bell. The following week she was 1st prize Fell foal at Bowes Show; and then the last show of the season was Eggleston where she was 1st prize Fell foal and Reserve Champion Fell pony. A fabulous season for a pony that Eileen describes as her ‘intelligent witch’ which she hopes will be followed by many years of show ring successes.
Rackwood Hermione winning the Rackwood Challenge Cup at Wolsingham Show 2022
Winner of the yearling section was Rackwood Eldorado, also owned by Eileen. Eldorado is out of Rackwood Maggie May, and, like the winning foal, is by Dalewin Victor, who as a result has won the stallion award for the sire whose progeny amassed the most points. From the outset he was a good strong foal who Eileen was very proud of, and thought had a future as a breeding stallion. He was shown successfully with his dam at local agricultural shows, and then at the autumn foal shows after weaning. In the spring of 2022, Eileen took him to the FPS Stallion Show where he was placed 3rd in a strong class of yearling colts. This was to be his only outing as a yearling before being sold at the FPS Sale at J36 on 29 October 2022. His buyer has plans to licence him this year and to use him to cover a small number of mares. Dalewin Xena sired by Murthwaite Wanted man won the class for two-yearolds and Dalewin Willow by Lunesdale Black Ice II the class for three year olds; both fillies are out of Dalewin Fern and were exhibited by Bethany Cousins for the Dalewin Stud. Bethany reports that Xena had a quiet 2022, only attending two shows, but that she was still consistent, being in top three each time. Xena has wintered well at the fell and might make a reappearance in the ring in 2023. She was delighted with Willow, who had her first full showing season, and took
Rackwood Eldorado
Dalewin Xena
to it like a duck to water. The highlight was taking the Fell pony championship at Reeth Show, where Willow loved the atmosphere in the main ring and really lit up when the crowd cheered and applauded! Daisy O’Leary’s Roddlesworth Timothy (Greenholme Gizmo x Annie Mather) won the class for ponies four years and over in hand, exhibited by Evie Stockton. In his very successful first season ‘Raven’ has always come home from events with a red ribbon with his loaner/exhibitor Evie Stockton and is testament to the amazing temperament of the Fell pony. His connections are looking forward to this season and seeing Evie and Raven progress in ridden classes. Charlotte Knight’s Scotshaven Bella Augusta (Lunesdale Rex x Lunesdale Lizzie) won the performance section. A delighted Charlotte reported that she and Bella had a very varied year, doing a good number of fun things that they both enjoy; from holidaying in the Cotswolds including a fun ride at the Cotswold Farm Park, and a other fun rides of 10 to 15 miles each. They also attended various training sessions at Riding Club and went to stay at RC camp; as well as doing various
Dalewin Willow
local events from dressage, show jumping, Equicross and formation ride sessions. They cracked the FPS Centenary 100 mile challenge early, so carried on recording mileage until they topped 1000 miles at the end of September. Charlotte’s ‘icing on the cake’ highlights were taking part in the
Roddlesworth Timothy
parade at Royal Windsor in May and going clear in both their WHP classes at the Southern FPS show, taking the WHP championship there. Not bad for a combined age of 72, though Bella is just 12! Charlotte considers herself to be very fortunate to have a very eager and willing partner in Bella who happily turns her hoof to most things. They both like to be busy, and fun rides with jumps are their idea of a great day out. Wellbrow Becka (Heltondale Mountain Mist II x Drybarrows Lucky) won the dressage section with Morven Lawson. Morven’s daughter Shonagh bought Becky as a newly backed six year old in 2014. Morven began riding Becky, and got on so well that Shonagh decided to let her have her. Morven enjoys taking part in lessons and riding club training sessions with Becky, always working at improving their dressage marks. After a few years doing mostly unaffiliated dressage in 2022 Morven decided to have a go at British Dressage Team Quest and, together with some friends, formed a team which they named “Saved by the Fell”. Becky is the only Fell Pony in the team and she always does the team proud often achieving the winning score, gaining over 70% twice in the qualifiers. The team qualified for the Scottish Regional Team Quest Finals in September where Becky and Morven took 5th place in their class with 66.20%, with the team taking 8th place overall. Raisbeck Cappuccino (Cappa) has won the driving section again with Linda Wiggin. Linda’s daughter, Fiona, has owned Cappa since 2013,
Charlotte andPony Scotshaven Bella Augusta 50 | TheKnight Native | April/May 2023 Issue | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Raisbeck Cappuccino
and like so many Fell ponies, Cappa (Guards Jester x Orton Hall Dusky), is a true all-rounder. Linda and Cappa mainly compete in driving trials having started at club level with West Midlands Driving Group, progressing up to bigger two-day events with Midland Carriage Driving.
Liquorice
wonderful year with their super ponies, some of which were newly broken (by themselves). They really flew the flag for the Fell pony breed and Emma and all their connections couldn’t be more proud.
Huge Congratulations to the team and all our prize winners!
Both the first and second places in the Junior points were taken by members of ‘Team Woodward’. First place went to Rachel & Emma Woodruff’s Liquorice shown by Layla Brown, who narrowly pipped Charlotte Ward and Annabelle (Darrenvale Warrior x Annie Mather) into second place. Team Woodward started with two friends (Emma Woodruff and Emma Ward) who have a shared passion for Fell Ponies and their versatility as children’s ponies. They currently have six Fell ponies on the yard, all bred by the Roddlesworth Stud founded by Rachel and Emma. Emma reports that the team of teens (Layla Brown, Charlotte and Izzy Ward, Freya Payne, Evie Stockton, and Holly Watson) supported several Fell Pony Society events during 2022 - most notably the parade of Fell Ponies for Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor, as well as collecting their points at the Grafton Hunt Pony Club, The Showing Register Finals and local shows. The girls had a
Wellbrow Becka
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | April/May 2023 Issue | The Native Pony | 51
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