Mountain and Moorland ponies may be native to the British Isles but there is a healthy population growing in Australia.
New promotional group Mountain and Moorland (M&M) Australia has taken on the job of raising awareness of the breeds in this country and recently combined with two other breed societies to run the Victorian Winter Fair at Tatura.
M&M Australia organiser Karen Parrish said the show followed the group becoming a legal entity in 2022, so this was its first official event.
“The winter fair was the perfect opportunity to showcase and assist with the promotion of the purebred and part-bred Mountain and Moorland breeds in Australia,” she said.
“It was fabulous to have the three societies running the show together as we complemented each other.
“We had the same goals to showcase and promote our breeds, as well as provide more classes at the one venue for our competitors.”
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society (North East Border Regional Promotional Group) and the Riding Pony Stud Book Society (Victorian branch) were the other groups involved.
“We are all very pleased with the success of winter fair and have had great feedback from our competitors,” Karen said.
“We are looking forward to teaming up again in 2024 for an even bigger and better show for all owners and breeders.”
Sian Davis of Pennal Stud, Wales, judged and chose the Section B Colt Vanoca Park Vortex, shown by Ashley and Scarlett Porter, as her supreme foal. Ashley and Scarlett also won the Breeders Award.
Reserve supreme was the Welsh A filly Dantra Park Fantasia owned and bred by Tracey Andrew.
In the youngstock section, the supreme M&M youngstock was the Welsh A filly Mosman Park Demelza owned and bred by Margaret Sperrin, who also won the Breeders Award.
The reserve supreme M&M youngstock was the Section B Colt Fontain Park Whisper of Wind owned and bred by Michelle Stewart of Vanoca Park Stud.
In the partbred M&M foals group, the best partbred M&M foal and reserve were both owned by Lisa Read and shown by Nicole Touzel, with Cantik Park Fancy That nudging out Cantik Park Legacy for the top award.
M&Ms cross beautifully with other breeds and the winners in the Youngstock section were outstanding.
The best part bred M&M youngstock sash went to the Australian Pony filly Fontain Park Ice Princess owned by Graeme Sawyers and bred by Michele Stewart. Although a registered Australian pony she is 25 per cent Welsh and qualifies in both books.
Runner up best partbred youngstock was Keira Park Warning owned by Sherie Kealey and bred by Liz Carlile.
The show featured a dilute section with Dantra Park Fantasia, bred and owned by Tracey Andrew, the highest-placed dilute foal and best coloured foal exhibit.
Highest-placed dilute youngstock and best coloured youngstock was Nattai River Rainman owned by Annmarie Moncur and bred by Christina Taylor.
The world breeds section was an interesting display of the country’s wide range of youngsters.
The best world breed foal was the Warmblood GB Twiggy Pop owned by Georgina Barrey, with the runner up the Friesian Vfritz Van Azana owned by Mands Scurrah.
Lisa Read’s Cantik Park Fancy was again at the top of the lineup and named the best part-bred world breeds foal. Illarak Magnetic owned and bred by Katherine Letson was runner up.
The highest-placed Clydesdale foal was Moonrise Glenfiddich owned and bred by Moonrise Farm Clydesdales, who also bred the runner up Moonrise Swagger.
The world breed youngstock champion was the Thoroughbred Kifuka, owned by Georgina Barrey and bred by Mr C Miles. Runner up was the Clydesdale Samarah Park Flash Samuel owned and bred by Ms T. Lamb.
Part-bred world breed youngstock champion was the Australian Pony filly Fontain Park Ice Princess owned by Graeme Sawers and bred by Michelle Stewart, with the runner up Keira Park Warning owned by Sherie Kealey and bred by Liz Carlisle.
There were more than 100 ponies entered in the Welsh section, with the judge, Kath Davies from the Pica Stud in the UK, judging first in WA before heading to Victoria.
Major winners were Robert Cockram’s Deanhills Declaration, which was named the supreme part Welsh foal, and Woranora Narrator owned by Dallu Stud, which was the supreme Welsh foal.
Cherrington Stud’s Cherrington Pablo was the supreme Welsh youngstock and Sherie Kealy’s Kiera Park Warning supreme part-bred Welsh youngstock.
See the whole gallery at The Regional
View and purchase images from this event from EQUINE PROMOTIONS AUSTRALIA
View and puchase images from this event from CARMEL PETHICK
This article appeared on The Regional on 7 June 2023.
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