Supreme Champion and Model Dressage Champion under Burtness: Clanfair Mirabeau, 2011 Section B stallion.

Ponies on parade at the largest Welsh show in western Canada

Karen Podolski’s family has been breeding Welsh for over 50 years, and is involved in the running of western Canada’s largest Welsh breed show, the Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show.

“We follow the beautiful Welsh in Australia – some truly outstanding ponies. Being as we all import much of our stock from the UK, despite being continents apart, there are a surprising number of shared bloodlines, so it's always interesting to share these stories!” says Karen.

2019 Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show

Show Report by Karen Podolski

Our annual three-day, three-judge event is the largest Welsh show in western Canada, and in 2019 sadly it was the only Welsh show across British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Manitoba has its annual show, and Ontario has a number of Welsh shows each year, while Quebec has been picking up momentum for some time and now hosts breed events.

YOUNG STOCK FUTURITY & PERFORMANCE STAKE

Judge: Jennifer Caldwell

Futurity Youngstock Supreme Ch. was Brenda Podolski’s 2018 Section B colt Alvesta Owain (Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre by CadlanValley Pirate), who Caldwell would also make the Futurity Gr. Ch. Sport Pony. The Res. Supreme Ch. went to Shell-Crest Starlight Silver, while Midnight Sugar Ray came in Res. Ch. Sport Pony.

Youngstock Futurity Supreme Champion under Caldwell: Alvesta Owain, 2018 Section B colt.

Owain’s sire was imported to Alberta from England in 2015, after the Podolskis saw him as a foal, while visiting Welsh studs across Wales and England. Owain is from his sire’s first foal crop.

His owners say, “A big, gentle pony with the prettiest face, Owain loves attention. While we received many offers for him to go as a performance pony, we know it can be challenging to find an up-to-height Section B that has retained that pony type and character, so we waited to find him the right home that might offer him a chance as a stallion prospect as well. His new home is in West Virginia with Gayle Gordon, where she plans to breed from him as well as have him shown and trained for the performance ring. Look for him in the Maye Show Ponies’ 2020 line-up!”

WILD ROSE MAIN SHOW

Judges: Diana Cappellanti and Megan Burtness

The main show has a full slate of Welsh halter classes, plus open halter divisions for Sport Pony and Model Hunter, and has English, Hunter, driving, gymkhana, costume, and more. The majority of participants are Welsh, but the open classes allow other breeds to compete.

Diana Cappellanti’s Welsh Supreme Championship went to Alvesta Naiya with Midnight Sugar Ray in reserve, while Megan Burtness awarded these titles to Clanfair Mirabeau and Alvesta Naiya, respectively.

Supreme Champion under Cappellanti: Alvesta Naiya, 2011 Section B mare.

© Sarah's Equine Design

2011 Section B mare, Alvesta Naiya (Llanarth Tarquin x Alvesta Sweet N Spicy by CadlanValley Pirate) won supremes as a filly, but this is her first showing as a mature mare. Owned by Brenda Podolski, Jarvie, AB.

Her owners say, “We were pleased to see Naiya recognized in the Welsh, Sport Pony, and Model Hunter championships at this show. A gentle, intelligent pony, she has made a wonderful first riding pony for kids in our family. This year was both Naiya and Ava’s debut under saddle with a couple gymkhana classes, and they had a great time together, winning their pole bending class. You know it was a success when the first words out of a kid’s mouth are ‘We have to do that again next year!’”

Megan’s Supreme was also her Model Dressage Ch: 2011 Section B stallion Clanfair Mirabeau (Mynach Mystical x Clanfair Martina by Wedderlie Mardi Gras), owned by Samantha Eidsness, Aldergrove, BC. Clanfair Mirabeau is a dream come true for them.

Samantha had inquired about Mirabeau as a weanling, but he had sold. Then on a hauling trip, she was asked to pick up another pony; when she opened the trailer doors, there was Mirabeau! While tempted to drive home with him, it wouldn’t be until several years later that Mirabeau would join her, as she happened to inquire as Kathleen Rawls was about to hold her first dispersal sale—so Mirabeau was available.

Samantha says, “Mirabeau is a fun and athletic stallion to work with. He loves to jump and will gallop around our riding arena free jumping anything I have left set up. His favourite game is stealing unattended pitchforks. As a sire, Mirabeau strongly stamps his offspring in movement, markings, and conformation. Our goal is to compete with him in the Get of Sire class, as his foals are the true testament to his ability as a sire of influence.”

Meanwhile, Diana’s Model Dressage Ch. was Exeter Erebor (Small-Land Martello x Exeter Evenstar by Northwind Catcall), 2018 gelding, registered WPCSA Partbred Welsh (¾ British Riding Pony, ¼ Welsh). Owned by Karen Chorney, Calgary, AB.

Cappellanti's Champion Model Dressage Pony: Exeter Erebor, 2018 Parbred Welsh gelding.

Karen says, “Exeter Erebor is the result of a breeding I had been planning for several years—since his dam was born (a product of Alvesta and Northwind bloodlines). Dale, as we call Erebor, is just a yearling, and the Wild Rose Show was his first show and only outing of 2019, so we were very proud of him bringing home the Ch. & Res. Ch. Model Dressage Pony titles. We are looking forward to Dale growing into a wonderful ridden pony.”

The open Sport Pony division is always well attended and gets some of the best competition. Diana’s Gr. Ch. was Alvesta Mona Lisa with Memory Lane Prince of Vanity in reserve, while Megan pinned Frontier Call Me Ghost champion and Sanalta’s Destiny’s Child reserve.

Cappellanti's Welsh Pleasure Driving Champion and Sport Champion: Alvesta Mona Lisa, 2010 Section B mare.

© Sarah's Equine Design

Diana’s Sport Pony Ch. was also one of the Pleasure Driving Champions of the weekend: 2010 Section B mare, Alvesta Mona Lisa (CadlanValley Pirate x Alvesta Monique by Rosedale El-Senor), owned by Wendy Williams, Stony Plain, AB.

Wendy says that Mona Lisa has a sweet and willing temperament. She is brave in harness and always willing to step up to a new challenge. “This year was our first for competing in Combined Driving Events, which Mona mastered with enthusiasm. I purchased her 6 years ago to become my driving pony, thinking we would compete in breed shows and pleasure shows, but my driving coach insisted we try Combined Driving. I chose Mona after spending months researching pony breeders in Alberta. I was so very fortunate to make the trip to Alvesta Farm, and honestly there wasn’t a single pony there that I wouldn’t have taken home. Mona Lisa chose me, and from that moment on, we have made a great team. I am so proud of her accomplishments within the Welsh breed shows, but this year she also won several Combined Driving Events and ended up Res. High Point Ch. with the Alberta Carriage Driving Association. I have Mona Lisa in Arizona for the winter and am thrilled to be driving with Drew Callahan. Drew will be working on getting Mona Lisa and I ready to step up to the Prelim level of CDE. As always, Mona Lisa is stepping up to the task, and I look forward to a very busy 2020.”

The other two Pleasure Driving Champions of the weekend were both owned by Shannon Comeau: Rhiannon’s Ffiona and Morgan Hill Syrup.

Burtness' Welsh Pleasure Driving Champion: Morgan Hill Syrup, 2016 Section B stallion.

© Sarah's Equine Design

Ffiona (Young's General Lee x Young's Golden Fascination by Liseter Star Design) is a 2009 Welsh Mountain Pony mare. Shannon says, “Ffiona is the greatest pony anyone could ever own. She never tires and has the work ethic of ten horses. Fiona loves people and children and is extremely versatile, going from being a child’s mount to driving in a team. On top of that, she is a first class pleasure driving mare. She loves parades and pulling a sled too. On Christmas Day, we hooked her up with her daughter and went through town, stopping and visiting several seniors’ homes: with the jingle bells and singing all the way. The response was incredible. People just love seeing this!”

Meanwhile, Shannon’s 2016 buckskin Welsh Section B stallion. Morgan Hill Syrup, (Mynach Master Class x Clanfair Love Story by Wedderlie Mardi Gras), was a driving champion and a Res. Ch. Model Dressage Pony.

Megan’s Sport Pony Ch. was also her Youngstock Ch. and Ch. Model Hunter Pony: Frontier Call Me Ghost (Prairie Sun Royal Legacy x Hallmark's Beyonce by Gayfields Call the Cops), 2017 perlino Section B colt shown by Kassie Miller and Shelley Snyder.

Burtness' Grand Champion Sport Pony, and Champion Model Hunter Pony: Frontier Call Me Ghost, 2017 Section B colt.

© Sarah's Equine Design

Kassie and Shelley say, “This amazing young Section B stallion proved himself well, with his amazing temperament and calmness throughout the show—along with his movement, which he showed every time he entered into the ring. We are excited to see what the future holds for this stallion through his showing career and through his offspring!”

To view all champion photos and the full feature article, please visit the Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show website.

Source: Event press release

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