Photos from AGM 2010 Stud Visits
Not the best of weather, but the stud visits exceeded all expectations. Below are all the studs visited over the weekend.
Cotswold Stud
Boots and umbrellas filled the car port of the Humphries' home while members enjoyed hot drinks courtesy of Diana and John Humphries and Karen Findlay gave out the packs which she had prepared and which contained some tasty treats for sustenance over the two days of the weekend. We also collected information packs about the studs to be visited over the weekend. We all donned our wet weather gear and headed out to view ponies in spite of the weather. Cotswold was one of the first importers of Shetlands into New Zealand and Cotswold bloodlines form the basis of many other studs today. Cotswold favours the traditional sound pony type with plenty of substance. Fortunately the rain eased but throughout the day all ponies were mostly wet and muddy and owners apologised for the mud.
The ponies had never seen so many umbrellas and though the mares and geldings (right) didn't seem to notice, the stallions (left) Thorpeville Supah (lmp. Aust) and the young stallion Cotswold Dougall McAllister looked astonished and they showed off their paces in fine style. Diana is the President of the Society. They have a Society web site here
Lael Shetland Pony Stud
Bernadette & Ralph and Chloe Woffenden specialise in breeding the smaller Shetland pony, displaying superb temperament, conformation and movement. They aim to continue the breeding legacy created by Margaret and Don Sutherland of Narrandera Stud. The original mare Narrandera Little Amity is on the left with Lael Moon Light on the right. Below people enjoy discussing the ponies and mingling.
Duncree Shetland Pony Stud
Catherine Crosado's ponies have a track where she exercises them. They set off with head pony Bexley in the lead and race down a lane to a course she has set up with electric tape. In the bottom pic of the ponies racing, the lead pony is ‘Narrandera Mite Not’ who is nearly 16 years old and looking like a two year old! Catherine also does the course on her bicycle so it is a wonderful work out for all. Catherine is well known for her beloved Cotswold Bexley Heath a great little pony who has done well in harness. The stud breeds a solid type of Shetland able to work. Catherine is the Registrar for the Society. Catherine has a Society web site here
Llewellyn Shetland Pony Stud
Lesley Lewis, owner of one of the oldest studs in New Zealand showed us her stallion Llewllyn Moritz and we walked down a grassy lane to see other ponies including this trusting mare Llewellyn Midnight Magic who wasn't going to have her morning rest disturbed by a bunch of nosey parkers. People left to right are: (standing) - Ralph Woffenden, Diana Humphries, Louise Grant, Jason James and (kneeling) - Chloe Woffenden, Bernadette Woffenden, Monique James, Lesley Lewis, Mary Burnett.
Lesley is famous for her work in training both ponies and children for the Shetland Steeplechase run each year at the Canterbury and Amberley Shows and this year they were invited to the Horse of The Year Show at Hastings which was a great success. She breeds ponies suited to riding and driving with all the qualities you would expect for activities. Lesley is the Secretary of the Society and has a Society web site here
Kapatone Shetland & Welsh Pony Stud
Sue McLaughlin & her daughter Steph are supporters of the Shetland Steeplechase and own two of the ponies who compete.
Above: Fiona McLachlan The yearling Cotswold Palace with a foal Kapatone Mr. Wilson.
They have a Society web site here
Left: The famous steeplechasers Beachgrove Basil Brush & Beachgrove Storm Cloud
Burrovoe Shetland Pony Stud
Fiona and Lucynda Burrows are among the newer studs springing up in the Canterbury area. Burravoe Shetland Pony Stud was founded in 2007 with foundation mare Murrayfields Half-A-Penny. They aim to breed larger, top quality ponies, predominantly black and suitable for all fields. They have a Society web site Here
Shelyron Shetland Pony Stud
Lydia & Aaron Reynolds have kept Shetlands since 2002 when Lydia saw an ad in the paper and fell in love with ‘Rockisle Gypsy Gem, a cute, hairy little piebald filly, full of personality’. They began breeding Shetland ponies but recently reduced their ponies to three broodmares and a young colt. They have a Society web site here
Nevaeh Shetland Pony Stud
Simon & Fiona McLachlan have Cotswold Royal Ensign in Partnership with Jim and Paula Hodges. Simon has a great relationship with this well known stallion and they even scratch each others backs. Fiona is the very hard working Vice President and Treasurer of the Society.
Owlca Shetland Pony Stud
Karen Findlay's animals all live in 1st class care. She has the old stallion Koolangatha Mirage (Imp Aust) who was born in 1980 and is current the oldest living registered stallion which as you can see looks half his age.
Stoney Croft Shetland Pony Stud
Jim and Paula Hodges prepared a great lunch for everyone on the Sunday. Everyone mingled once again with the ponies and I saw the imported stallion Koorootang Gumnut (Imp Aust) for the first time. He had been groomed and covered for the occasion but as soon as his cover was removed and before I could take a photo — he rolled! Well this brought him in line with all the ponies seen over the weekend, though his lovely dapples could still be seen. Stoney Croft Stud breed traditional quality ponies with plenty of bone, suitable for showing, riding and harness. Their ponies are well handled with friendly natures. They have a Society web site here
After viewing their ponies we all retired into their kitchen/dining facilities adjoining the loose boxes (below) for lunch and much chatter.
Paula Hodges took this photo of The Web Manager Lea with Catherine Crosado's stallion Duncree Eclipse. I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. Lea — web manager