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2002 Order of the Dragon for Owners/Breeders

    Gail Thomson, Gayfields Welsh Ponies, was awarded the first membership in the Order of the Dragon for Owners/Breeders at the 2002 Annual General Meeting held in February, 2003. This coveted WPCSA award is designed to recognize the breeders and owners of animals who have made a significant and lasting impact upon the breed as evidenced through their performance in the show ring.

    To achieve this highest honor, an individual must be named as the breeder on the original papers of 15 Legion of Merit winners or have been the owner or lessor of record at the time the last points were credited to 15 Legion of Merit winners, or any combination thereof.

    In Gail’s case, she won as owner of Sire LOM winner, *Sleight of Hand (bred by Kathy Reese), seven Dam LOM’s won largely with his offspring and seven Individual Legion of Merit winners sired by *Sleight of Hand.

    The mares belonging or leased to Gail at the time of winning were Prydydd Bonnie Jean, Gayfields Old Glory, Dixie Blue Duchess, Peppermint Miss Muffitt, Gayfields Fflwrdlis and Louisiana Lagniappe (on lease from owner Cliff Merchant). She was breeder of the seventh mare, Gayfields Mona L, owned by Rollingwoods Welsh Ponies.

    Individual Legion of Merit winners counting toward Gail’s award were Gayfields Call The Lawyer, Gayfields Vindaloo, Gayfields Pistol Packin’ Mama, (all owned by Gail and her husband, Arthur) and Gayfields Magic Wanda, (owned by Ron and Sue Schwartz), Gayfields Glory Hallelujah (owned by Rich and Wendy Petersen), Gayfields Call The Cops (owned by Jackie Verkuyl), and Gayfields Court Scandal (owned by Tracy Henderson).

    Although points did not begin to accrue for WPCSA awards until 1987, Gail began her show career much earlier. She and her children, Janet and Dyke, often exhibited their show string to top honors not only in hand but in driving and riding as well. Ponies long gone but not forgotten include Prydydd Bonnie Jean, Gayfields Silver Poem, Gayfields Silver Poet, Gayfields Little Switchy and High Hopes Happy Heart, a favorite pony known for the ease and speed at which he could be trained to do anything the girls asked.

    Gail has been an active member of the WPCSA since the early sixties. In 1972, she became a Director of the WPCSA and has served the Society as a past President, Vice-President, and worked on several committees. She has used her great statistical talents to produce numerous articles for WPCSA publications and has now turned her attention to producing an index that includes over 30 years of registrations in the stud book.

    Since 1964, in her spare time, she has bred a few ponies under the Gayfields prefix at her farm near Heth, Arkansas….251 and counting.