U.S.A Trip

 It was a great delight when I had the invitation from the New England Welsh Pony and Cob Society  to judge their annual show in West Springfield on the 23 June.

I left Manchester on June 20 leaving one of the most disappointing  summers for sometime (we had had 26 days of rain at sometime during the day and below average temps) so imagine what i felt like landing in Philadelphia in 80+ and on flying onto Boston it was even hotter I was met at the airport with an air conditioned car and taken to a lovely motel in  West Springfield which was very close to the showground a good thing as we had a 7.30 start .(which was took some getting used to with a 6 hour time change)

I met up with my co-judge Amanda Williams who was doing all the American Classes and co-judging the in hand classes with me as in America the classes are judged by two judges totally independent of each other as exhibitors have to travel such long distances to shows and there are so few shows that to give exhibitors more chances to show  all classes have two judges.

The show was judged at the Eastern Exposition Centre it was the most interesting centre on the main avenue there was a life size building of each of the capital buildings of each of the New England States which shows the size of the avenue and this was in one small corner, there was a very large indoor arena called the coliseum where during the welsh show there was the annual miniature show ponies show being held in another part of the centre there was an enormous grass area where the State Fire Department was holding an exhibition of about 70 fire trucks through the ages .

The show was held in one of the centre by the stabling( which was rows and rows of stables in a large typical American Barn system) in very hot humid conditions it must have been over 100 at mid-day luckily there was a gazebo in the center of the ring  to give us some shade .

The in hand classes started on the Saturday morning the classes were in some cases not very well filled but like here after foot and mouth entries at all shows are down suffering the after effects of September 11 however all the exhibits were presented in the most outstanding condition they were a credit to all the exhibitors.

We started the the mornings judging with Sec:D's there were not many in this section and the type was more riding as they are very performance originated ( there was only one mare with a foal in the whole show and that was more like a yearling) the champion was Lady Sarah of Penrhyn a big scoopey mare by llanarth trustful out of Penrhyn Sensational Lady owned by Mary Ellan Bosworth.

Next were the Sec:B's even though the height limit in the us is 14.2 the ones forward were mostly 12.2 my champion was Rosehaven Talisman by Sleight of hand out of Farnley Tenby owned by Sally Steibmetz.

Lady Sarah of Penrhyn

Rosehaven Talisman

The Sec:C's were of a very good type and size the Champion and eventual Supreme was Parvadean the Govenor by Synod Reply out of Parvadean Ginette owned by Alan and Suzy Shockett my Res Champion and eventual Res Supreme Champion was Gallod Replica by Nebo Calonog out of Marben Rose owened by Mark and Mary Bosworth.

The Sec: A's were again  more of riding type the Champion was a big roan stallionDragonscroft Welshmanby Meadowlawn Ssuire out of Penrhyn Southern Belle this stallion  was a spectacular mover owned by Charles and Sabre Schiller.

The part breds were very mixed in type and size with more arab influence I did like my champion a big roan filly Loafers Lodge  Fifty Fifty by Talomo Cricket out of Ninety Breaks  owned by John, Margaret and Louis Gill.

The show seemed to cover just about everything you could with Welsh Ponies  and the same ponies seem to do it all!! driving working hunter handy pony flat ridden even western pleasure which I have enclosed a photo of ,though I do feel in the ridden classes they could get their animals moving better, the style seems to be very slow and going  in a very flat outline with noses pointing not a very pretty picture.

  The show was run very efficiently with a most friendly atmosphere and all the exhibitors seemed to be enjoying the show .

A couple of things which interested me a lot of people seemed not to do their own plaiting but were willing to pay 35 dollars nearly £50 per pony and tails 45 dollars £64 and judges all charge a standard fee 350 dollar a day nearly £500 + all expenses ,hotels meals traveling I think it would be a good idea if the Welsh Pony and Cob laid down a realistic standard charge as the U.S welsh Society so everyone knows were they are working. 

I would like to thank Brain Richman of Ontario Canada for rushing through the lovely photos above so I could take them home with me .

I would like to thank Sandy Lynch and Suzy Schockett for having me to stay after the show and showing me a few of the sight of New England it was lovely to see Plymouth  and the rock where  the pilgrim fathers landed and the beautiful Cape Cod, no fields ,all trees and cranberry bogs everywhere.

All rights reserved, © 2010 Ann Bale-Williams