WELSH PONIES and COBS

One Breed-Four Sections

 

Updated December 3, 2008

WPCSA LATEST NEWS

This page is best viewed using Explorer 6.0.  Other versions or browsers may distort the text layout.


 It's Time to send in your Stallion Directory Listing!!!

 

The Winter Issue of the Welsh Review

will feature a Stallion Directory.

 

All listings are sorted by state and

provide valuable information for mare owners

planning their 2009 breeding season.

 

the Deadline for sending in your sTALLION listing is

December 6th!

Click here for the Stallion Listing Form


THE 2009 WPCSA AGM & CONVENTION REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE

The 2009 WPCSA AGM & Convention will be held February 19-22, 2009

at The Renaissance Worthington in Fort Worth, TX. 

Registration Deadline: February 3, 2009.

Click here for the Registration Form.

Click the FORT WORTH GUIDE for Fort Worth tourist information.


IMAGINE

U.S. Drivers Prove Their Ability at the World Championships

for Drivers with Disabilities

Imagine dreaming of being selected by your country to compete at a World Championship.  Imagine actually being selected and traveling to Europe.  Imagine the amount of training, preparation, coordination and fundraising.  Imagine winning a medal - even the gold medal.  Now imagine that you are disabled.

Dreams became reality for Meghan Benge (left).  She won an individual gold medal driving a borrowed pony, and led her teammates, Diane Kastama and Mary Gray, to win the team Silver Medal at the FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities, held June 26 - 29 in Greven, Germany, in conjunction with a national competition.

Competing with 27 competitors from eight nations, the Team USA got off to a great start, finishing first, second and third in the dressage competition. Meghan Benge scored 41.20 from the international jury, followed by Diane Kastama with 43.00 and Mary Gray with 43.60.  It was an enormous achievement for Mary Gray and Meghan Benge to earn such impressive scores having driven their borrowed ponies only three times prior to hearing the judge's bell.  All drove a specially written test, which is similar in movements and requirements to our Intermediate level tests.

Benge, from Southern Pines, North Carolina, drove Jack, an 18-year-old Welsh Cob gelding leased from Fiona McQuat.  The pony had been trained by Boyd Excell, an internationally known four-in-hand driver and trainer with whom Benge has worked before in the U.S. with her own pony.  "I wasn't sure what to expect, but since he was trained by Boyd, he drove in a manner I was used to.  We were very lucky to find such nice ponies," said Benge.  Miranda Cadwell arranged for the lease of the two ponies, which were shipped from England to Germany for the championships.

Gray, of Newton, New Hampshire, drove Rannoch, a seven-year-old Friesian/Arabian/Welsh cross, owned by Sara Simmons.  A veteran of five World Championships, Gray (left) is used to the challenge of driving borrowed ponies and equipment. Not only is it a challenge for the driver, it can be a challenge for the pony as well if he isn't used to being driven by various whips.  "This time I had a very talented, interestingly bred pony," said Gray, who described him as a "little warmblood" rather than any of the breeds of his parentage.  Rannoch hadn't been driven by anyone other than his owner until Gray took the reins.  Another challenge, for both Gray and Rannoch, was using a borrowed marathon carriage, an older model that didn't have all the 'bells and whistles' like delayed steering that they both were used to.

The wheelchair-bound Kastama was able to raise the funds to fly her Welsh Cob gelding, Jasper, along with her specially designed carriage and equipment, from California to Germany.  Kastama and Jasper have established a real bond in the four years since she purchased him after driving him at the 2004 World Championships.

Miranda (Randy) Cadwell, herself a gold medalist at last year's pony World Championships, served as the team's chef d'equipe, assisted by Boots Wright of Ocala, Florida.  Keady Cadwell, a noted pair horse driver, served as the coach for the team.  The Cadwell sisters, who reside in Southern Pines, North Carolina, have participated in every World Championship for Drivers with Disabilties since 1998 except one.  The two girls started working with disabled drivers because of Sybil Dukehart, the founder (now deceased) of United States Driving for the Disabled which she ran from her Shoulderbone Farm in Jarrettsville, Maryland.  "It's something we can do to give back to the sport," said Randy.  "Besides, I get to work with my best friend [Benge]."

Drivers are classified by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee as either Grade 1 or Grade 2.  Most Grade 1 drivers are in wheelchairs, while those categorized as Grade 2 are less impaired, yet somewhat disabled as compared to able-bodied drivers.  Kastama represented the U.S. in the Grade 1 category, with Benge and Gray participating as Grade 2 drivers.

In past years, each grade was treated as an individual class, but this time they were combined so Grade 1 and 2 were mixed in the driving order.  At a world championship, the chef d' equipe 'draws' for the order in which her team will drive.  Randy Cadwell drew the numbers 5, 15, and 25.  Then the three U.S. drivers names were put into a hat, and Cadwell drew again:  Kastama would drive fifth, (it is usually considered a disadvantage to go early in the day - judges are reluctant to give up their best scores in anticipation of what's yet to come), then Benge, 15th, and Gray almost the last of the day, in 25th.

The team was thrilled with their scores - all in the 40s.  "It's amazing to throw away a 40s score," said Kastama, meaning that in team competition, only the two best individual scores are counted toward the team score.  If a competitor is eliminated in any of the competitions, none of his scores will count, so the U.S. team really had a safety net in case of bad luck.  Gray agreed, "It was a dynamite day for dressage - we were all on a pretty big high."  She also noted that the German drivers don't like to be beaten - especially by people with borrowed ponies!

The order on the marathon was also mixed:  horses and ponies were mingled in the order, but amazingly didn't seem to cause a problem.  The track of Section E was tricky with a lot of cross traffic, and according to Benge, the course markings are a little different than in the U.S. so that was another thing to learn.

The last World Championship Benge attended was in Greven several years ago, but the obstacles were all different.  "These were so inviting and really fun to drive," said Benge.  Randy Cadwell rode on her carriage as a navigator, "It's always good to have someone like Randy on the back."  Benge was fifth in her grade on the marathon, eighth overall.

Benge was standing first going into cones with a six-point lead.  "It was a tricky course, lots of turns," said Benge, "but once I got going, it was fine."  She accumulated six penalties by hitting two cones, but the second place driver also had penalties so she was able to hold her position and the gold medal.

Kastama (right with navigator Josh Rector) had time penalties on the marathon, which were mostly due to the bumpy track. "I have a hard time on a bumpy course.  It was too rough to 'walk' in the scooter," so Kastama didn't have the opportunity to see some of the course prior to driving it.  The places where she normally would have made up time were the bumpy spots, so she had to slow down instead of speed up.  Going over the uneven course is physically painful, and upsets her balance. She relies on her navigator to help keep her steady in her seat.

Josh Rector, who has been Kastama's navigator for several years (and is also an up and coming four-in-hand driver) knows what he has to do to not only balance the carriage, but help support his driver.  "We both have a lot of bruises," laughed Diane. Rector, the only male on the all female team, was greatly appreciated for his strength by all the women.

"The seven obstacles were tight and technical, except for the first two which were wide open, but for the last gate in obstacle 1, from 'F' gate to the exit," said Kastama.  The turn caused more than one carriage to travel on two wheels, "so we slowed down for that turn."  The last obstacle was a big hill with a risky inside route.  Kastama opted for the long route around the bottom, "Jasper tends to stall if I'm not fast," she said, so the longer way suited them the best.

Gray felt she had a great marathon, finishing in eighth place.  "Our biggest problem was with the older carriage with no delayed steering.  We [Rannoch and Gray] were both used to that.

A protest and appeal followed the marathon and delayed the presentation of the marathon prizes.  The situation wasn't resolved until noon on the day of the final cones phase, just two hours before the start.  As a result, the driving order couldn't be established nor the drivers notified of their driving times until the last minute.  The dispute was whether German Grade 1 driver Heiner Lehrter circled after leaving the final obstacle in order to avoid another driver in his path, or whether the circle was intentional, incurring a ten point penalty.  The ground jury found in Lehrter's favor and removed the penalties, but the Dutch team appealed the decision and after much deliberation by the Appeals Jury, the penalties were reinstated.

Kastama said that her penalties in cones were her "gift" to the German driver who has become her friend, allowing him to move ahead of her in the final standings.

Since the inception of the international competition for disabled drivers, there has been a noticeable improvement in the quality of drivers and their horses and ponies.  "Everyone has gotten better," said Kastama, since 2002 when everyone was just driving any animal.  "Now they are driving horses and ponies that will do well anywhere."

In her five years representing the U.S. at these championships, Mary Gray says she still comes home "so inspired."  With the quality of the driving so improved, it makes one "rededicate yourself to training harder."

Hardy Zantke from the U.S. was one of five judges that comprised the jury: "Each time I work with the drivers with disabilities it is a truly humbling and very rewarding experience as it gives me the proper perspective of the really important things in life.  These drivers are true heroes and we can and should all leam from them–and how they are able to overcome their disabilities to participate, and usually with a smile on their face.  Perhaps it's just a word's game, but to me it is an important distinction: Many still call their sport "driving for the disabled" and I think nothing could be further from the truth.  They have disabilities, yes, but they truly are not disabled.  Quite the contrary, they show us every day how very ABLE they truly are."

Team gold was won by The Netherlands, team bronze by Germany. Sweden followed in fourth place.  Eliminations kept Great Britain from placing. Austria, Ireland and Norway sent one driver each, not enough to compete for a team medal. Grade 2 individual silver and bronze medals were awarded to Germany's Hubert Markett and Josef Sauerwald respectively.  In Grade 1, Jacques Poppen of The Netherlands took home individual gold; Heiner Lehrter of Germany won the silver.

Story by Ann L. Pringle

Photos by Patricia Kastama

This article was reprinted with permission from Driving Digest, September/October 2008, p. 7.


USEF PONY HUNTER FINALS

Each year at the USEF Pony Hunter Finals the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America President, Dr. Ruth Wilburn, with the help of computer guru, Robin Nowak, hosts a grand competition for registered Welsh and Half-Welsh ponies. Again, we would like to salute the winners from the competition at Kentucky Horse Park on August 13-17. The top pony riders are amply rewarded for their talents receiving $250 cash stipend from Dr. Ruth, a halter from Just For Ponies, and a silver plate from USEF - plus they are photographed with the perpetual tray. All winners through fourth receive a handsome neck sash for their pony. 

If you have a registered Welsh or Half-Welsh at the Finals, even if it has a different show name, your pony is eligible for the generous prizes if you can verify who it is. You can check any time by emailing or calling the WPCSA office.

 

The winners in the High Score Purebred Welsh Pony division are:

1st:  Cardiff Mardi Gras (Gayfields Big Easy x Cardiff Lillith). Breeder: Kerri Mustain, TX. Owner: Monarch International, Rider: Madeline Keck. (pictured at left)

2nd:  GF Primrose (RosMel's Tapestry x Burgundy Roseanna). Breeder and owner: William "Buddy" Ball, TX, Rider: Meehan Shirey.

3rd:  RosMel's Millenium (Brookside Pink Magnum x Bristol Sun Sylph). Breeder: Robert and Barbara Gillett, TX. Owner: Grand Central Inc, Rider: Alexandra Crown.

4th:  Lands End Eros (Carolina's Red Fox x Carolinas Phoenix). Breeder: Nancy Jane Reed, MD. Owner and Rider: Allison Toffolon. 

The winners in the High Score Half-Welsh Pony division are:

1st:  Hillcrest's Country Lady (Gayfields Vida Blue x Aprils Shali Mariah). Breeder: Marilyn Checki, WI.  Owner: Charlie Jacobs, Rider: Hannah Baumann.  (pictured at left)

2nd:  Helicon Garden Party a.k.a Silver Steps (GlanNant Epic x Pine Lane Holiday). Breeder Molly Rinedollar and Thalia Gentzel, IL. Owner and Rider: Madeline Thatcher.

3rd:  Infinite Jest (Glencoe Jester x Campfire Marshmallow). Breeders & Owners: Sue Tressler and Laura Sweeny, PA, Rider: Kelsey Kocher.

4th:  Loafer's Lodge Sweet Success a.k.a Sweet Success (Talomo Cricket x Frisky Gal). Breeder: John and Margaret Almond, MD. Owner: K. Elizabeth Meadows, Rider: Meredith Sitze.

The winners in the High Score Green Pony (all Half-Welsh) division are:

1st:  Bracewood's Camelot (Halcyon Sir Lancelot x Pocket Change). Breeder: Susan Bunnell, PA. Owner: Gavin Jensen, Rider: Lillie Keenan.

2nd:  Shiloh Ridge Ultra Cool a.k.a. Happy Meal (Gayfields Way Too Cool x Buttons). Breeder: John Phillips, OH. Owner: Sleepy P Ranch, Rider: Lillie Keenan.

3rd:  Shiloh Ridge Cuz I'm Cool a.k.a. Happy Feet (Gayfields Way Too Cool x Black Velvet). Breeder: John Phillips, OH. Owner: Sleepy P Ranch, Rider: Emma Roberts.

4th:  Clovermeade Simply Bunny (Cloe Olympian x Holly). Breeder: Cheryl Patton, TN. Owner: Rabbit Hill Farm, Rider: Cailah Carroll.

Story and photos submitted by Thalia Gentzel


2008 Maryland Pony Breeders Yearling FUTURITY

(photo credit: Janice Thompson)

The 18th Annual Maryland Pony Breeders Yearling Futurity was held on Sunday July 20, 2008 at the Equestrian Center of Harford County in Bel Air, Maryland.  The Futurity was a huge success with a great turn out of breeders, owners and ponies.  Ably judged by Oliver Brown of Reva, Virginia - Grand Champion honors went to Charmsley Jete, a beautiful grey Section B Welsh filly bred and owned by Shirley & Thomas Hoffecker of Monkton, Maryland - shown by their granddaughter Victoria Gordon.  Charmsley Jete is by John & Margaret Almond's stallion Fox Cry Whinny The Pooh out of Loafer's Lodge Ardara who is also the dam of LOM Charmsley Little Sister.  Reserve Champion honors went to Kathy Bridgwater's All Doll'd Up, a lovely grey Welsh/Tb filly by Section A Welsh Stallion, LOM Severn Gambol owned by Peggy Marshall of La Plata, Maryland out of Justlovemeforever.  

This year's Futurity featured 57 entries in eight divisions and awarded $10,678.20 in prize monies.  MPB Futurity Chairman, Kathryn Southard presented the Futurity Grand Champion with a monogrammed cooler generously donated by The Grey Pony Saddlery.   All Futurity participants received a Maryland Pony Breeders logo messenger bag.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS


Dear Friends,

I am pleased to tell you that I am the Welsh Breed Correspondent for Driving Digest Magazine and it is my job to report on the news in the Carriage Driving ring on the Welsh Breed CircuitPlease send me your show results and show commentary so that I can put a well rounded country wide article together.  My deadline is very soon and I would love to have points of interest to include in my article.  In addition, photos of the top prize winners would be greatly appreciated along with photo credits.

Respectfully,

Martha L. Stover

269-668-3588 home
269-330-1794 cell
269-668-8096 fax

stoverpaw2@aol.com


WELSH - A DRIVING FORCE AT EAST & WEST EVENTS!

Click this link to identify photos from the events.

Sterling Graburn of Florida had already secured the top FEI Single Horse spot on the U.S. team for the World Singles Driving Championships in Poland on August 28-31 with a victory at Sunshine State CDE in February. Naturally he hoped for another win at the  bprestigious CAI Live Oak on March 27-30, one of only two internationally ranked competitions in the United States. After a ninth in dressage, that outcome was doubtful. A win in the marathon boosted Sterling's standing, but even so he was trailing his girlfriend, Wendy Ying. It wasn't until a fast accurate cones win on the last day that the victory was assured - and then by only 1.72 points. Sterling scored 132.82 with CS Dante of Earl while Wendy had 134.54 with the black hand lookalike brother, CS Duke of Earl. These two are "Born in the USA" by North Forks Black Earl, a Welsh cob stallion in Oregon, from sisters of Arabian and Paint background.

Kate Shields topped the Intermediate Single Horse with her Hastening Winslow, this victory all the more sweet as she herself had raised this Section D Welsh cob (by *Bayford True Patriot X  Hastening Mayflower by *Llanarth Trustful) at her farm in Middleburg, VA. Kate was first in dressage and second in both the marathon and cones for a total of 113.92. This Live Oak victory was preceded by a win at Sunshine State with a score of 105.15.   

Sharing a glass of champagne after their Intermediate Single Pony win of 130.39 were the intrepid pair, Sybil Humphreys of Virginia and her *Cefnoakpark Bouncer, a Welsh cob she had imported back in 2000.  He is by Tireve Tywysog Du X Cefn Maryanne. Bouncer added yet another top honor to his resume when he was selected for the Hanzi Award presented by Live Oak host, Chester Weber, in honor of his old favorite. "All I wanted was a Live Oak chair," Sybil explained. "We'd been second at Sunshine State CDE and Black Prong HDT. I was totally flabbergasted to receive this most prestigious award for the best horse or pony as selected by the judges and committee. We got a huge neck ribbon and rosette and I got to fly around the cones course after the presentation! It showed people I can still drive!"  Sybil is 64 years young.

Taking time out from her studies at Savannah College of Arts and Design, Meghan Benge of NC and *Rupert, a Welsh cob cross, won cones and were second in FEI Single Pony at Black Prong (155.03), then placed sixth at Live Oak (169.92)   

Well-known PA auctioneer, Paul Martin with his Welsh Section C cobs, *Westonian Comet and Samson, was second at Live Oak in Intermediate Pair Pony with 146.09 after a second in dressage and a win in cones.     

In the FEI Pony Teams at Live Oak, Boots Wright of FL won the dressage and was second in the marathon and cones for a 154.22, good for second place. Boots and her four in hand of Welsh (*Blunder and *Oaks Prys) and German Riding ponies, had previously won Advanced Multiples at Nature Coast (147.67), Sunshine State (154.34), and Black Prong (140.58). 

Elizabeth Keathley of TN and her four of domestic and imported Welsh was second at Sunshine State (154.34) and third at Live Oak (171.16) after a first in cones. Glynhafan Hercules is a son of GlanNant Cadence and Silkie, Beawolf is by Cloe Olympian out of Silverleaf's Fayre Bluebonnet, *Alvis is by Sherlock Holmes out of Fee, *Oden is by Mahrdorf Trabant out of Nicole, and *Frits is a Welsh/Arabian crossbred.

Hats off to Katie Whaley of NC with her striking team of black Section B Welsh, Spats, Cufflinks, Tux, and Cruise, plus a white Dartmoor, who were third at Sunshine State with a 188.68 and fourth at Live Oak with a 175.03. Katie's mom, Kate Sr, was the Ladies Division Champion at the Austin Park Carriage Show with another Welsh pony, Cummerbund.

Also competing a four at Austin Park was Claire Reid of NC who was named Reserve Coaching Champion with her Sec. A Welsh, Westwood Debonair, Legionaire, Southern Belle, and *Menai Silver Miss Meg. They also won the Preliminary Pairs division at Black Prong HDT with a 201.83.

Winning Gold Champion Single Pony at Austin Park and also named Champion Single Pony and Florida State Driving Champion for their performance at FL State Fair were Bob Giles with Jean White's fancy Section C cob, Lascaux Ginko aka Wilson, bred in Washington State, sired by *Popsters Mr Moffat out of Glendower Honey. 

Anne Bliss was Reserve Champion is Pairs Ponies at Austin Park with her Section B Ponies, Midi and Kanga of Lightning Ridge Farm. With another B, *Wharley Page Boy of Lightning Ridge Farm, she was first in Single Turnout.

Claudia Novak of MA, the proud breeder and driver of Tangwyllt Dawna Lisa, a Welsh Section D cob by *Nesscliffe Sunrise X *Minyffordd Mona Lisa, won both her competitions in Training Level Single Pony.  At the Nature Coast HDT they scored 51.33 and at Black Prong HDT 53.88.

In a different discipline, that of combined training, a 16.3 hand Canadian Welsh cob/Thoroughbred cross Uni Griffion (aka Bryn Arregwen Owain by Brynarian Brenin ap Maldwyn) was third in Advance Level for Lisa Fergusson.

Keeping spectator and exhibitor spirits up on marathon Saturday at Live Oak were Chris and Leah McFarlin of Winding Oaks Welsh with their award winning tailgate party. This year they received the trophy for Most Original Theme with their Martini Bar. Cheers!


WELSH REVIEW UPDATE

Starting with the Spring issue, the Welsh Review will be produced in the WPCSA office with help from volunteers.  To get us back on track we will consolidate the Spring and Summer issues. We will be working diligently to get the Review out on time in the future and to make sure we stay in contact with our advertisers. We will offer both color and black and white ads in a glossy, full bleed magazine format. Information concerning rates and deadlines can be found on the Welsh Review page.  We will be strict on the deadlines so that the Review will meet its printing schedule.  Advertisers will be emailed a copy of their ad to proof before publication.  They will have 48 hours to review their ad, make changes, and resubmit the ad. 

WE NEED YOUR INPUT AND HELP!

We hope to revamp and revitalize the Welsh Review in future issues.  Several new features are planned including reprinting old articles that are not easy to find as well as historical photos.  We are also soliciting articles from our membership.  Please send us your ideas on how we can make the Welsh Review a magazine that is exciting, educational, and worth keeping!  Email ideas to publications@welshpony.org or mail them to WPCSA, 720 Green St., Stephens City, VA 22655.


Welsh Ponies and Cobs Excel at Ram Tap CDE

The weekend of April 25 –27, 2008, marked the holding of the 11th annual Ram Tap CDE.  One of the oldest, and THE largest CDE in the Western North America.  This year’s version featured 73 net entries, ranging in size from a draft cross, to Miniature Horses, known as VSE’s (Very Small Equines) in the Combined Driving World.

Out of the 73 entries, 14 were Welsh or Welsh cross.  In terms of animals, counting three multiples the breakdown was as follows:       

Section A – 7, Section B - 4, Section C – 2, Section D – 4, and ½ Welsh 3, for a total of 20 animals.  In terms of results, the Welsh dominated the awards, winning all but two of the divisions in which they competed!

Tasha Wilke and her ½ Welsh Princeton won Intermediate Single Pony (photo left).

Jay Hubert and his A/C Tandem of Coffing Oaks Felicity and Oakdale Ebony Elite won Preliminary Multiples (photo right)  followed by Merrie Morgan and her four in hand of Section A Geldings, High Sierra Armed and Dangerous (Ruger), High Sierra Ripcord, High Sierra Riven, and High Sierra Rimfire.

 

 

Donna Yanick, of Oregon, won Preliminary Pair Pony with her Section B pair, Snow Valley Eternally Yours and Snow Valley Millennium Gold (photo left).

 

Jill Warren Pond won Preliminary Single Horse, and the whole Preliminary Division with her Section D North Fork’s Sir Bailey.

 

 

In Preliminary Single Pony the first four places were Welsh:

1st Place was Kathy Freeman and Coffing Oaks Knight Music (photos below courtesy of Christie Bs Photography.com)

2nd Place was John Levy driving Karen’s pony Greenvale Fred Astaire (photos below)

3rd Place was Cathy Ripple driving a Half-Welsh Cob

4th Place was Beverly White driving a Section B, Beaverwoods Balsa

In Training Single Horse Debra Hilberg had a good trip with her Section D gelding Larken Aldryd