Written by: Karen Podolski
For Welsh owners and breeders, the Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show is the largest Welsh show in Western Canada in 2017. It is a three-in-one opportunity: the Friday futurity has one judge and then the main show on Saturday to Sunday is double-judged. The show also includes a large number of halter and performance classes that are open to all breeds.
The Welsh and Half-Welsh Young Stock Futurity and Performance Stake took place on Friday, July 14, judged by Heather Black of Blackwood Farm in Ontario. Champion English Pleasure and Pleasure Driving winner was six-year-old Welsh Mountain Pony Stallion, Coyote Run Frezno (Anderin’s Caerwynne x Young’s Golden Fascination by Liseter Star Design), owned by Kerry Marit of Marit Stables, Cochrane AB. Marit says, “Frezno isn’t a typical stallion, in that he lives with a gelding, Emery, who is his best friend; many don’t realize he’s a stallion.” Marit chooses ponies based on their exceptional temperaments because at her facility she says, they have to be around a myriad of kids, dogs, donkeys, grandparents, and really anything you can think of. “All of the ponies are picked because they have that personality combined with good conformation and frankly they are the “dream pony” we wished we had as kids.”
Following the futurity performance classes for ponies aged three to eight are the young stock classes, for Welsh and Half-Welsh two years of age and under. Futurity Champion Section A, as well as Futurity Supreme Welsh and Grand Champion Sport Pony all went to Alvesta Infinity (Cat Creek Innuendo x Alvesta Caris by *Nerwyn Gwyn), a two year old colt owned by Alvesta Farm. Judge, Heather Black, said that he had “a lovely head, was well balanced, and had free-flowing movement.”
Marit V.I.P (Coyote Run Frezno x Bar C Ban-na-righ by *Skellorn Dauphinoir) owned by Kerry Marit took home the Futurity Grand Champion Section B, and Futurity Reserve Supreme Welsh.
Judge Heather Black said, “The show featured lovely ponies overall, and the owners should be proud of what they are producing.”
The main show on Saturday and Sunday was officiated by Patricia Cochran of Lochinvar Welsh in Oregon and Hilary Tolhurst of Cwmfelen Welsh in Ontario.
The highest champions of the Wild Rose Welsh and Open Pony show were the Supreme Champions, and this year they did not dissapoint. Supreme Champion Welsh under Patricia Cochran went to Brenda Harder\’s three-year-old grey mare, Coyote Run Enya (Tillybo Casanova x Coyote Run Esper by Anderin\’s Caerwynne). Patricia says Enya is “a stunning young mare, feminine, brimming with breed type, and a ‘look-at-me’ presence! I especially liked her great legs: straight, flat boned, short cannons, with good muscling. Enya is a well-balanced mare with free movement, a beautiful well set-on neck, good topline and powerful hip. She is a beautiful example of a Section A Mountain Pony.”
Kasandra Miller’s two-year-old palomino Welsh Mountain Pony, Sunburst Heart of Jubilee (Sunwillow Jubilee x Young\’s Heart Breaker by Young\’s Country Rock), had a successful Saturday show under both judges, though Hilary Tolhurst gave the colt Supreme Champion Welsh. Hilary says, “My choice for Supreme Champion was a very nicely put together pony with a good topline, substance, movement, and with the presence of a true Welsh Mountain Pony. He was also my choice for sport pony—with a pony like this you have the basis of your sport pony breeding and competition, having bone, movement, and quality to either produce quality or to compete himself.”
More championship results are detailed below. A huge thanks to all of the Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show’s exhibitors, sponsors, and volunteers who made the show possible.
The Wild Rose Welsh and Open Pony Show would like to thank the 2017 breeder/owner sponsors, who contributed to the show: Marit Stables/Kerry Marit, Alvesta Farm/Brenda Podolski (plus John & Mary), Rosegarland Welsh/Muriel & Dave Hill, Airth Farms Ltd./Linda Airth, Crignant Welsh/MaryAnn Isaacson & Elizabeth Eddington, SilverViews Welsh/Stacey Schaber, Wendy & Don Williams, Coyote Run Welsh Mountain Ponies/Brenda Harder, Elana Turner, Exeter Farm/Karen & Dean Chorney, Shannon Czajko, Tyalow Acres/Judy Owad and Nancy Haverstock.
As well, thank the wonderful companies and organizations giving back to their community through sponsorship: Welsh Pony & Cob Society of Canada, Trustori Inc, Saddle Up Magazine, Greenhawk Equestrian Sport, From Field to Show, Sweet Water Leather Care, Flashpoint Thermography, Horse-Canada, Hoffman\’s Horse Products, Therapy Connection, BioEquine, The Chocolate Palomino, and Tail Spin Bracelets.
Champions under Patricia Cochran
Welsh Gelding Champion: Alvesta Sedona, Alvesta Farm
Welsh Gelding Reserve Champion: Menai Step-On, Stacey Schaber
Section B Junior Champion: Arnaby Eloquence, Muriel Hill
Section B Reserve Junior Champion: Alvesta Sakari, Alvesta Farm
Section A Junior Champion: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
Section A Reserve Junior Champion: Coyote Run Erdyne, Brenda Harder
WELSH YOUNG STOCK CHAMPION: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
RESERVE WELSH YOUNG STOCK CHAMPION: Arnaby Eloquence, Muriel Hill
Section B Senior Champion: Alvesta Ever After, Alvesta Farm
Section B Reserve Senior Champion: Pajon’s Royal Illusion, Donna O’Neil
Section A Senior Champion: Coyote Run Enya, Brenda Harder
Section A Reserve Senior Champion: Coyote Run Frezno, Kerry Marit
SUPREME CHAMPION: Coyote Run Enya, Brenda Harder
RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
Sport Pony Junior Champion: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
Sport Pony Reserve Junior Champion: Alvesta Maya, Wendy Williams
Sport Pony Senior Champion: Berrylyn Alexi, Nancy Haverstock
Sport Pony Reserve Senior Champion: Coyote Run Enya, Brenda Harder
GRAND CHAMPION SPORT PONY: Berrylyn Alexi, Nancy Haverstock
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION SPORT PONY: Coyote Run Enya, Brenda Harder
PLEASURE DRIVING CHAMPION: Menai Step-On, Stacey Schaber
PLEASURE DRIVING RESERVE CHAMPION: Evans Brockton Mountain, Muriel Hill
GRAND CHAMPION MODEL HUNTER PONY: Marsh Haven Fiona, Donna O’Neil
RES. GRAND CHAMPION MODEL HUNTER PONY: Alvesta Everlasting, Alvesta Farm
Champions under Hilary Tolhurst
Welsh Gelding Champion: Rosegarland Royal Troubadour, Tiffanie Hutnan
Welsh Gelding Reserve Champion: Alvesta Sedona, Alvesta Farm
Section B Junior Champion: Alvesta Sakari, Alvesta Farm
Section B Reserve Junior Champion: Alvesta Everlasting, Alvesta Farm
Section A Junior Champion: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
Section A Reserve Junior Champion: Alvesta Infinity, Alvesta Farm
WELSH YOUNG STOCK CHAMPION: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
RESERVE WELSH YOUNG STOCK CHAMPION: Alvesta Infinity, Alvesta Farm
Section B Senior Champion: Pajon’s Royal Illusion, Donna O’Neil
Section B Reserve Senior Champion: Alvesta Ever After, Alvesta Farm
Section A Senior Champion: Silverpine Jubilee, Stacey Schaber
Section A Reserve Senior Champion: Coyote Run Enya, Brenda Harder
SUPREME CHAMPION: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION: Pajon’s Royal Illusion
Sport Pony Junior Champion: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
Sport Pony Reserve Junior Champion: Alvesta Everlasting, Alvesta Farm
Sport Pony Senior Champion: Pajon’s Royal Illusion, Donna O’Neil
Sport Pony Reserve Senior Champion: Porsha, Quindy Watts
GRAND CHAMPION SPORT PONY: Pajon’s Royal Illusion, Donna O’Neil
RES. GRAND CHAMPION SPORT PONY: Sunburst Heart of Jubilee, Kasandra Miller
PLEASURE DRIVING CHAMPION: Coyote Run Frezno, Kerry Marit
PLEASURE DRIVING RESERVE CHAMPION: Evans Brockton Mountain, Muriel Hill
GRAND CHAMPION MODEL HUNTER PONY: Marsh Haven Fiona, Donna O’Neil
RES. GRAND CHAMPION MODEL HUNTER PONY: Alvesta Maya, Wendy Williams