Breeders from different states, let alone countries, don’t often get to line up to compete under the same judge and see how they compare. On the local front, Covid lockdowns haven’t helped, and fuel prices and floods have meant young stock has been standing in their paddocks instead of being out and about.
The Mountain and Moorland Facebook Page conducted by pony breeder Karen Parrish has grown to 1500 members worldwide.
When Karen decided to run an online youngstock show, judged on photos by the noted British judge Gill Wright, the show got entries not only from each Australian state, but from Germany, the US, France, UK and New Zealand. Almost every Mountain and Moorland breed was represented in pure and part-breds, up to three years of age.
Ms Wright was complimentary about the standard on show.
“I was very pleased to be invited to judge the online show organised from Australia,” she said.
“These online events have become popular due to the Covid restrictions and give pony owners the chance to showcase their stock in these difficult conditions.
“I had some very nice ponies to judge that were in the most part beautifully presented both in show presentation and condition.
“The standard was extremely high which made it a very a tough job deciding from so many lovely ponies but was very pleased with the eventual champions.” Ms Wright said the eventual Supreme and Reserve Mountain and Moorland would be able to “hold their own in the very best of company anywhere in the world”. “I think that the young Connemara is fabulous and has I am sure a terrific future ahead of him and I feel that they will both be terrific ambassadors for their breeds.”
The part-bred entries were interesting, with Welsh/Thoroughbred crosses doing well and producing the overall Supreme Part Bred for the show, Cranelli Tulip owned by Edward Brown.
There were some upstanding types like the winner of the Part Bred Filly three years old over 13.2hh, Stannum Seline, a Highland/Australian Stock Horse cross shown by Lois McCulloch. The Supreme Mountain and Moorland purebred was the Welsh B, Canyon Da Vinci, shown by Liz Stephenson with the Connemara colt, White Onyx of Derrinal shown by Frank Hill and Bridget Rosenbrock, as reserve.
Other winners included the Champion Partbred Foal Canyon Dash for Cash and upstanding Part Welsh (Welsh x TB) shown by Liz Stephenson.
It was impossible to fault the judge’s choice for Best Presented won by Fontain Park Whisper of Wind, a beautiful black shown by Michelle Stewart and Ash Porter.
The US group offered an award for the highest placed Dales, which went to the British entry Marlfields Majestic owned by Jill Green.
An International online foal show is planned for late autumn next year.
Organisers are open to hearing from other breed groups interested in combining for an expanded show.
Full results can be found on the Mountain and Moorland Australia Facebook page.
This article appeared on The Regional on 2 November 2022.
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