WP&CS Young Ambassador

Wednesday of The Royal Welsh Photos

2009-08-04T03:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday of The Royal Welsh

2009-08-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday of the Royal Welsh we had to wake up early and get seats in the Grandstand. The Grandstand was packed full of people early in the morning and you had to stay put for fear of losing your seats!

It was an great opportunity just to sit and watch and get lots of photos! The highlight of the day was the stallion class, but I had to leave half way through to go to a press conference which was very disappointing!

The press conference was very scary as I had to make a speech in front of a room of people and I had no preparation, but I managed to fumble my way through it!

The winner of the stallion class was the very impressive Gwellen Brynmore. The winner of the Prince of Wales Cup was his son Penal Brynmore. I was very impressed with these two horses and beleive all cob breeders should strive to breed horese like these.

Tuesday Royal Welsh Photos

2009-08-04T01:02:00.001-07:00

The Tuesday of the Royal Welsh

2009-08-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I was lucky enough to be able to lead Clairs mare in the young mare class and Clair took the foal. The day was not as good as the monday as it rained the whole day and really came down during our class! The arena was incredibly slippery as the ground was incredibly hard and the water just stayed on top! We were called in 6th and ended up 8th so I was really happy as I was in the first line! We ended up completely soaked and splattered in mud and we were really happy to change out of our clothes!

I then went out into the town which was really fun!

Monday Royal Welsh Photos

2009-08-03T09:51:00.001-07:00

The Monday of the Royal Welsh

2009-08-03T09:02:00.001-07:00

On Monday I was lucky enough to be able to steward in the section B ring. I was well looked after by the stewards and got the glamorous job of handing the rosettes to the judge Gail Thompson. It was the best day of the show with lovely sunshine and an impressive turn out of ponies and I had alot of fun in the ring being able to see the ponies up close. The Youngstock section B Champion was the lovely Dun 3yrold colt Hilin Cato with reserve going to the lovely filly Llanarth Delilah.

In the other ring which I could not see a section C colt that Clair bred was being awarded Champion section C Youngstock, the very impressive Pentrefelin Little Joe. So it was a great day and one to remember. I would like to thank the judge and the stewards for looking after me during the morning and giving me jobs to do.

The Sunday before the Royal Welsh

2009-08-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Sunday before the Royal Welsh was a busy day of packing the car and loading the section C mare and foal onto the float and travelling to the show grounds. We arrived and unloaded the mare and foal and packed the rest of the gear into the lorry which was already on the grounds.

Claire spent most of the afternoon in the horse foremans giving people their stable allocations and trying to sort out any qualms. I then went up to find John Riley and he showed me around the cattle and sheep shed. There were thousands of cattle and sheep, breeds of which I had never seen before so I found it really interesting!

We then went onto the Calonfan Gneifio Meirion Shearing Centre where they had a church service. Lots of people were there for it and they had the welsh choir The Bargoed Male Voice Choir leading the singing of the hymns. They were really great to listen to although I found it hard to follow the welsh hymns because I couldnt pronounce any of the words!

We then went onto the bar where the choir followed and there was alot of singing!

Abergavenny Photos

2009-08-03T02:01:00.001-07:00

Abergavenny Stud

2009-08-03T01:51:00.000-07:00

On the Saturday before the Royal Welsh John Riley picked me up again from Pentrefelin and took me to the Abergavenny Stud. Tara and Elizabeth D'Hont also came and we had great fun looking at their horses. They had the famous old stallion Derwen Railway Express there who was still looking great for his 31 years! they had other lovely stallions including Trevallion Picasso, Penal Calon Lan and Menai Firestorm. They also showed us their foals of which they had a very lovely section D colt and a beutiful C filly. We then had a beutiful lunch and I would like to thank the Batts for showing us their lovely horses.

Hywi Stid Photos

2009-07-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

Blaidd Stud Photos

2009-07-26T02:22:00.001-07:00

The Big Pit Photos

2009-07-26T02:04:00.001-07:00

Pentrefelin Photos

2009-07-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

Pentrefelin Stud, The Big Pit, Blaidd Stud, and Hywi Stud

2009-07-24T02:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday John Riley came to Pentrefelin to pick me up and meet with other Australians to do some stud visits. First though we toured around Pentrefelin so John could see the horses, it was also a great opportunity for me to get some photos of Claires beautiful ponies. She has some lovely horses including Gwryfach Gideon a lovely C Stallion, Pentrefelin Darcy Bussle a C mare, Pentrefelin Bodecia, Pentrefelin Pearl, Navestock Seren, and Pentrefelin Bonneddiges. John and I then left to meet with the Australians.

We met with Tara and Elizabeth D'Hont and as the others were going to be a little while we decided to do a bit of sightseeing in Blaenavon. We eventually found the big pit after much frustration and Tara, Elizabeth and I decided to take a tour down it. Our travel guide was very funny and it was a great experience, but unfortunately photographs were not alowed down it. It was a amazing place and also very cold and eerie.

We then met up with the rest of the Australians and we went to Blaidd stud where we were met by Len and Sue Palmer. Sue brought out an amazing amount of food which was delicious and much too much for eight of us. They were very friendly and showed us their lovely ponies even though it was raining. They showed us their lovely stallion Bookham Lodge Peter Pan who everyone was very impressed with.

We then went on to Hywi Stud where we were met by Roger and Rhian Davies and the rest of the family. They showed us their ponies who we were all very impressed with including the beautiful stallion Pentrepiod Welsh Flyer, and the mares Hywi Showgirl and Hywi Rhian as well as all the other lovely ponies that we saw. Unfortunalely the photos are not very good as my camera didnt want to focus because of the dust in the indoor school.

I would like to thank all for showing us their beautiful horses.

Tryfel Photos

2009-07-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

Tryfel and Glebedale Studs

2009-07-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we visited Chris Cobley of the Tryfel stud, it was pouring with rain, yet he still showed us his ponies. He had a lovely filly and a beautiful brood mare. We did not get too wet as they were all in stables, it was just when he insisted that we see them move that we got a little wet. He definitely is a great character and makes you laugh (when you can understand him) and I would like to thank him for showing me his ponies. We then had to sprint to the car because it was pouring!

We then went to Glebedale stud where we were met by a very tired Jill Williams, who had just arrived back from Finland where she was judging. It was still raining quite substantially so she showed us around her ponies in the car. I was very impressed with her mares and an absolutely stunning steel grey filly and a roan sec B filly. She also had some lovely young stock who while still growing into their skin would be lovely when they were older. She also had a very cheeky orphan foal who tried to push us around! Jill and her family were really lovely and also had some lovely cows, I would like to thank them for showing us around. I apologise for not get any photos cause it was raining so much.

Flydon Photos

2009-07-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

Llanarth Photos

2009-07-18T00:54:00.001-07:00

Llanarth and Flydon Stud

2009-07-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I visited the Llanarth and Flydon Studs. At Llanarth I was met by Anne and Len Bigley, lovely people who really helped me out with what I should be doing as Young Ambassador. They showed me their ponies and I was very impressed with their cob stallion Llanarth Prince of Wales and their cob colts. Their section B's are a different type to what I had been seeing, By the beautiful stallion Douthwaite Signwriter, they have much more bone and substance which was refreshing to see. I very much enjoyed Llanarth and would like to thank Anne and Len for their hospitality.

We then travelled to Flydon Stud where we were bet by Jill and Lottie Abrahall. They showed me around their ponies who were all very beautiful and all very similar, like peas in a pod! They had some beautiful mares and foals and in particular the mare Flydon Llwy Arian and her very impressive filly foal Flydon Llwy De. We then stayed for Dinner and they put out a very delicious spread and some lovely wine. I would also like to thank Jill and Lottie for their delicious food and great conversation (so much so it took alot of insisting from Claire to make Nigel and I leave).

Another late night but well worth it!

Day with the vet

2009-07-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I was given the opportunity to spend the day with a equine vet from the local practice. I went out with the vet and a vet student who was doing her placement and visited a number of horse properties to see the patients. It was mostly scanning horses to determine if they were in foal or not, and one lamanitus patient and an injection that needed giving. The first three horses we scanned were not in foal and we thought we were off to a bad day, then we had some luck with a little riding pony mare who was in foal. The vet allowed me to put my had up her and feel what it was like, and although it sounds gross it was a really good experience! The next few horses we scanned were also in foal. The last one that we scanned was a massive grey warmblood X who needed to be sedated because she really did not like it, she was also in foal which was great news for the owner who cried after hearing it. The lamanitic patient was a grey new forest pony, who had just had too much love and the owners were very sorry that they had over fed him. It was a great day out and one that I will remember, It was also a great opportunity to see a bit of how many horses were kept in the country.

Hilin Photos

2009-07-17T01:40:00.000-07:00

Eyarth photos

2009-07-17T01:11:00.001-07:00

North Wales photos

2009-07-17T00:48:00.000-07:00

Eyarth and Hilin

2009-07-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

On Monday we travelled up to north Wales, it was a long way and we took the scenic route to avoid Hereford. The scenery was breath taking and I loved the harsh ruggedness of the mountains, I took some amazing photos. Even the houses were more hardy looking, made from the local rock which were dark grey large bricks, they looked like they would last several lifetimes.

At Eyarth we were met by Jessie Parry and her son Joe. They were the loveliest people and were more than happy to show us around the ponies and tell us the facinating history of their property. We first met the beautiful stallion Hilin Etifedd and his mares for the season. They had some beautiful mares including Eyarth Athene and Eyarth Nata. I was also able to meet their old stallion Eyarth Celebration. Jessie and Joe were lovely people and all their ponies were just as friendly and I would like to thank them for showing us their beautiful ponies.

We then travelled a short distance to Hilin stud and were met by Dewi and Eirian Evans and their children, they were very lovely and we had some beautiful cakes as we talked. They first showed us some of the ponies that they had been showing which were all lovely ponies particuly their new colt and Hilin Cato. Dewi then showed us around the ponies and we were very impressed by some of the mares and foals and their stallions Hilin Carnedd and Eyarth Tayma. I would also like to thank the Evans family for their hospitality especialy after they were sheering sheep all day and we were then met by rain as we were looking at the ponies!

We then drove home and even though we took the shorter route we still didnt get home until really late!

Bridgend Show

2009-07-16T02:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we took two ponies a section A barren mare and a section B barren mare to Bridgend show. It was nice to see how they show their ponies differently in wales to Australia. Jo showed the A mare to win a forth and I was lucky enough to be able to show the B mare who was very good to win a forth. There were some lovely ponies there especially some nice cobs which I thoroughly enjoyed watching. It was very wet there and we needed a tractor to tow the truck through the gateway! i was quite sick with a cold so although we arrived home early I went to have a nap and did not awake until the next morning!

Tigerside show

2009-07-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Claire was judging the section A's and B's at Tigerside show. I was lucky enough to go in the ring with her as a probationary judge. It was a great opportunity to learn from her and I found that although we did not agree with a couple of the placings, we still had very similar opinions on the ponies. It was a rather wet day and many ponies did not show, most likely put off by the forecast of heavy showers. We arrived home quite late after and had to wash a couple ponies that were to be shown the next day.

More photos from the Royal of England Show

2009-07-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

Rhoson Mandolin 1st yearling B colt
Paddock Alesha 1st B 2or 3 yrold filly

Locksley Don Galliano

Royal of England Photos

2009-07-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

Maesmynach Mared
Brynrodyn Blodwen
Nerwyn Letitia
Paddock Alesha
Eyarth Windflower

The Royal of England Show

2009-07-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday we went to the Royal of England Show, which was the last one ever. I first watched the Section B's where the beautiful mare Eyarth Windflower was awarded Best pony with the exceptional moving 2yrold filly Paddock Alesha runner-up. The Best pony of the opposite sex was awarded to the lovely stallion Carrwood Bronzewing, with the runner up going to Carrwood Phoenix.

I then watched the section A's, where Gartconnel Star Turn was awarded best male, with Dukeshill Darcy was runner-up. The beautiful mare Nerwyn Letitia was best female and best welsh mountain pony, with the stunning little filly who has a big future ahead of her Brynrodyn Blodwen was runner-up.

I then watched the section D's of whitch there were very few, the yearling colt Alwen Cadno was best male with the runner up being Denniment Welsh Prince. The best female and best section D was awarded to Maesmynach Mared, with the runner up being Rainhill Rowena

I did not get to see the section C's as they were at the same time as the B's in a different arena. I watched the championship of the HOTY qualifyer which was really impressive, I then looked around the show and was really impressed by the stands, which were much better than anything in Australia although Claire assured me that I would be much more impressed with the Royal Welsh Show. I had a lunch of free samples and some beautiful icecream and the we made our way home. we arrived back very late and after some chinese takeaway went straight to bed!

Wales

2009-07-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

Claire and Nigel Willis-Burton collected me from Oxford in the late afternoon and took me back to the Pentrefelin Stud in Abergavenny Wales. It was a beautiful drive and I really enjoyed the scenery. The next day, Thursday, we went to the Abergavenny Stud to scan mares. Jonathan Batt was nice enough to show me their resident stallions Derwen Railway Express, Trevallion Picasso, Penal Calon Lan and Menai Firestorm. They were really lovely people with some beautiful cobs.

Oxford photos

2009-07-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Oxdford

2009-07-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday Flo was nice enough to show me around her univeraity in Oxford before Claire and Nigel Willis-Burton picked me up. We had a lovely walk around the streets except when it rained when we would quickly run into the nearest shop! Oxford is amazing with its narrow streets lined with old limestone buildings and walls. some of the buildings with their amazing detail was like nothing I had ever seen!

London pictures

2009-07-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

St Peters Cathedral
Another view
Westminster Abbey
Flo and I in front of Buckingham Palace
Trafalgar Square

London

2009-07-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

I arrived in London Monday morning and was met by Julie and Flo Oakley. They have been nice enough to offer me accomadation in St Albans and show me around London. I was shown around Mansfeild House and St Albans on Monday, its very pretty. On Tuesday we met with Flos friends and went around the sights in London. That was amazing! We went to Leister Square Where they were setting up the premiere of Harry Potter, then on to Trafalger Square which was very impresive! We also saw Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St Pauls Cathedral and The Natural History Museum. I loved seeing the history of the place as its so much older than Australias Buildings. London is a very pretty place.

Before the trip

2009-07-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

During my trip I will use this space to let everyone know what I have been getting up to in the UK. I will also post photos and videos here as well.

keep watching
fenella