WHY WELSH COBS?
My first introduction to Welsh cobs was about 30 years ago, when our family friends Lois and the late Warren Newick, bought the handsome grey cob Springmount Kestral (bred by Ann Crump) for their son Gavin. While I was riding my rather spirited NZ riding pony, Gavin had a very young cob, which was very quiet and sensible. The interest and love for the breed had begun!
It took me 20 years before I was once again introduced to the breed again. I remember seeing Cullerlie Brianna Brenhines (f. 2002, Bolgoed Merry Madog x Springmount Ianthe) as a youngster when out doing vet calls while working near Christchurch.
A few years later, when working in South Canterbury, I was out scanning mares for Bev Hewson, of Jubilee Stud, I saw Ardachy Mary (owned by Mary Brosnahan, leased by Bev) and once again dreamed of owning my own cob. That year (2006) Ardachy Mary foaled a beautiful palomino filly by Pen-nant Irish Whiskey, and Bev offered to sell the filly to me, much to my delight.
The filly, Jubilee Mary Magnum (Winnie) was a little cob, being just within the Section D height limit at 13.3hh. She was totally unfazed by anything at all, and just such a kind sweet mare.
I had finally found the breed that suited me. I owned Winnie from weanling age, and then had her started as a 3 year old and rode her for a year or so, before sadly losing her to a twisted bowel. I had acquired a palomino gelding of the same breeding, Sunny brae Masterpiece (Cloud) as a weanling (f.2009), in between times, who was a sensitive but very quiet cob who I equally adored.
Meanwhile, Mary Brosnahan heard I lost Winnie and kindly offered me Ardachy Mary (f. 1998 Llanina Morning Blaze (imp UK) x Sydenham Godetia (imp UK)). I jumped at the chance of owning this beautiful, now older broodmare.
About a year after buying Ardachy Mary, I sadly also lost my beautiful gelding Cloud.
This sequence of tragic events made the arrival of my first purebred Section D welsh cob extra special. Ardachy Mary foaled a beautiful palomino colt, Eryri Mab Euraid (Trigger) in December 2014 who is by the stunning UK sire Gwynfaes Culhwch (owned by Meirion Evans).
Prior to Trigger’s arrival, in March 2014 Carolynn West of Ballytruckle Welsh Cobs agreed to sell me Ballytruckle Juliet, a lovely black mare ( f.2010 Cwmkaren Beaufort Express x Ballytruckle Cleopatra). Juliet has been started and has proven again that there is nothing better than riding a welsh cob. She is exceptionally quiet, but has a nice dose of sensitivity, which makes training her easy. A very smart pony who picks things up very quickly. I am now riding her and have competed her under saddle at welsh shows.
I am very impressed with any welsh breeders who have made huge sacrifices to bring ponies (stallions and mares) into the country via importation. Due to the huge importation costs, I decided to use frozen semen.
I have bought and used frozen semen from Gwynfaes Culhwch (Meirion Evans of Gwynfaes Stud), Carregcoch Bleddyn (Meirion Jones of Machno Stud), and Trevallion Enzo (Tara Coppins of Taraco Stud).
I am also extremely excited that I am the agent for frozen semen from Pennal The Great (Shona Thomson, Starloch Equestrian Services, Scotland), a Section D stallion with an exceptional ridden record.
I am planning to breed purebred Section D cobs occasionally, but only use frozen semen.
My reasoning behind using frozen semen is that I do believe we need to keep improving our welsh cobs here. I am a huge fan of the true to type cob, quality flat bone, sloping shoulder, strong hind quarters with a good tail set, powerful action, beautiful pony type heads and quiet temperaments.
The UK stallions available via frozen semen do have bloodlines which are here to some degree, but are also are going to infuse some new bloodlines into the country too. It is easy to forget what a limited gene pool we have here in NZ in our breeding population.
I am hoping that an infusion of blood from these quality UK stallions will benefit everyone, breeders and riders alike.
I believe Section D cobs are under-utilized in New Zealand as a riding horse.
They are beautiful, sensible, easily trainable mounts, which can carry an adult easily. They can be trained to compete and become the best in the world at most equine endeavours - saddle cobs, jumpers, dressage and harness!
Look up Machno Carwyn, Valhallas Zorro, North Forks Brenin Cardi, Pennal The Great, to get some idea of what super stars Section D welsh cobs can be.
Let us get the word out there and promote this absolutely wonderful breed as much as we can!
