Dantona Stud

Welsh A's, C's, D's and their Part Breds.

NEWS

Dec 11

Nov 11

Freddies First Show

Took the little lad to his first show and he not only won his class but ended up as the in hand reserve champion too, but best of all was just how well behaved he was.

Breaking In Time and Schooling on Murray!

These two are currently spending the winter at a local livery yard with a sand school so I can work on their education over the winter. Time is coming on really nicely with her walk and trot work and Murray is just beginning to learn to jump!

Oct 11

Suede Is Retired!

After 3 visits, a lot of x-rays it turns out Suede has actually been sporting a chip fracture of the sesamoid bone in his left hind for the last couple of years, and despite appearing apparently well in his work until the last few weeks he has obviously been compensating for that leg to the extent that he has also developed a bone spavin in his right hock. Unfortunately, despite much sedation and twitching Suede was not going to co-operate with having injections done into his hock to treat it so now we have to wait until spring when it is dryer again to knock him right out and try again!

Freddie Arrives At Dantona!

My new arrival Freddie has now joined us...he likes galloping! lol!

Suede takes the South West Overall Ridden Partbred Championship!

DCHPA Champs

Suede and I had a mixed day here despite doing very well and finishing as Reserve Champion Working Hunter he didnt seem to be going quite right on his left hind leg. So after the show he was given some rest before our final championship in October.

Late Medal Show And The Stud Competition

As usual September saw the South West Welsh Late Medal Show and the Stud Competition....all in the same weekend! It was a busy 2 days for me firstly taking the baby girls down to Cornwall for the show and then getting 5 ponies ready for the Stud Competition. Truly and Midget did well coming 1st and 2nd in their yearling c class and then winning the sec c progeny class. we also got a 2nd and a 3rd in the stud competition with Silk recieving the highest marks of all my horses with 9's out of 10 across the board! 

Aug 11

National Welsh Championships!  

Suede enjoyed further success at the National Champs by winning his in hand class and his working hunter class and then going on to be reserve champion in the workers. He also came 3rd in his novice dressage test qualifying him for the NPS Top Spec Dressage Finals at Addington next spring.

 International Welsh Show!

After a rather late arrival at Builth Wells (11pm!) we enjoyed a most superb weekend at the International Show. Not only was it a lovely atmosphere, but Suede went on to win his ridden class and come 2nd in his in hand class. So I got to fulfil a dream by having my piccie taken with my best boy by the winners board in the main ring! :-)

Murray's Back!

After being on loan for 10 months down in Cornwall as a  "Princess Pony", little blue eyes has come back home for a while. :-)

Scrud gets a day out!

 Thought we'd treat Scrudders to a day out at a show when we went to pick him up from grazing at my parents place for a few weeks. So stopped off via the NPA Breed Show on our way home. Typically, he was his usual hooligan self!

 June 11

The Annual Medal Show!

Took Suede to this show and in usual good form he won all 3 classes he entered (in hand pb, ridden pb and pb working hunter) unfortunately he managed to remove both his front shoes over the course of the day which somewhat hindered his performances in the championships later on. But not to worry as he's qualified for the National Welsh Champs anyway.

A Right Royal Disaster!

Despite entering Silk and Pup for Royal Cornwall Show, neither was able to attend due to some travelling issues with Silk and then Silk kicking Pup in the hock ruling her out for probably the rest of this season! SIGH! So I popped down anyway with the camera and enjoyed the day on foot! Especially the cob stally class!

May 11

Devon County!

Pup and Tru attended Devon County this year. Not our most successful day out, some credible placings in hand but rather frustrating not to be able to ride Pup there due to the ridden class being held under BSPS rules.

Midget Christens the Lorry!

Decided to let a certain little madam Christen the lorry. So we popped down the road to a show at Spreyton where Midget managed to be both good (winning her class) and bad (throwing herself on the ground and pulling me down on top of her and then rolling me right over her belly as she went). What is she like!

New Lorry!

At last, we finally own a lorry of our own!

Last Trailer Trip!

The SWA WPCS Spring Show was the venue for our last drive in my beloved trailer! It seemed only right that Silk and Suede got the pleasure as they were the first ones to take a trip in it when my parents bought it for me all those years ago. The ponies also enjoyed a good day out with Suede standing Reserve Champion Part Bred in hand. (And I later discover the cover model for a DVD that was being filmed at the show that day! Trust Suede to get his mugshot on there!)

Apr 11

Happy Birthday Midget!

On the 28th April we proudly celebrated Midgets 1st Birthday. To think a year ago we werent even sure she'd make it to the end of the day and here we are a year later with a bundle of cheekiness!

Show Season In Full Swing! 

The bank holiday weekend saw us going to 2 shows back to back with Puppy. Considering how little ridden show ring experience she actually has and only just being back into work after maternity leave she actually came a credible 2nd in both the NPS Novice and Intermediate classes on the 2nd day. So watch this space, those tickets cant be far away!

The Sisters Finally Go Out Together!

After a long wait of almost a year, Midget and Truly finally get turned out together. It was so lovely to see the pair of them playing together.

Mar 11

 First Show Of The Year! 

Despite still looking like a hairy llama, I decided to take Suede to the DCHPA Spring Show where he gained some good results.

Happy Birthday Truly!

In the words of Hanibal Lector "My mother always told me to try new things!" So I have, and Suede and I took part in our first Horse Agility and Trec competitions. For total newbies (having done absolutely no practice at all) we even managed to finish 9th in the Agility and 5th in the Trec!

Jan 11

Silks Back!

At the end of January, after several years away, Silk has rejoined the Dantona Stud. Currently on lease to me from the Trekerwys Stud (to whom I sold Silk) this very special lady was reunited with her son Suede and is settling in well.

Jumping Into 2011!

Well, at Dantona Stud we dont hang around for the show season to start. So on the 2nd of January Suede and I set off for the day for some show jumping. (The first time we have both jumped for a long time.) We also did the same the following weekend, where we went on to win one of the classes.

Dec 10

And Here's the Snow!

Initially only 4 inches of snow fell in Bow, but we were then given a further 8 inches on top a few nights later giving us a decent foot of snow! It was hard work, but at least the ponies enjoyed a frolic in it!

Merry Chistmas from "Santas Little Helper" Midget!

I think she rather enjoyed sporting her little hat for the piccies. Totally unbothered by it, she soon ambled off to graze while still wearing it!

Nov 10

Winter Sets In! :-( 

Well its that time of year again when the rain sets in, the ponies get hairy and we all dream of spring! So to cheer me up I took the camera to the yard for some recent photos of Truly and Midget.

Oct 10

Murray Goes on Loan!

October saw Murray go on loan to a lovely home in Cornwall with and old friend and her two daughters. Murray has settled in well to life as a "princess pony"! 

Sept 10

Fantastic End To The Season!

After her traumatic start to life and horrendous injury Midget made me the proudest mum ever by finishing the season by taking the Mountain and Moorland In Hand Championship at the DCHPA Champion of Champions Show. Amongst amazing company, and the biggest in hand class of the night, she simply floated on air round the arena! Not even 5 months old and she's already the proud owner of a sash and trophy! Wow! Then to add to this, we got some respectable results in the SWA WPCS stud competition and were awarded the trophy for the best small stud! Now thats the way to finish a seasons showing!

Aug 10

Midget and Pup Finally Go Showing!

At long last and after all the problems this year Pup and Midget finally got to go showing. Between them they won 3 out of the 4 classes entered and took home 2 Reserve Championships and one Championship! Go girlies!

July 10

Scruds Mini Me's!

Well, it turns out that both girlies are liver chestnut like daddy, Truly has gone from black to liver and Midget has gone from bright chestnut to liver! So now Scrud has 2 "mini-me's"!

Jun 10

Royal Welsh Adventure!

Time and Truly had an exciting trip up at the Royal Welsh Show, with Time finishing 11th in the novice broodmare class and Truly 8th in the filly foal class. We all had a super time despite the rainy weather! 

Home and Away!  

Rather a busy month so far! Truly has continued her run of success by being placed 2nd at Royal Cornwall Show in a strong foal class and winning the foal class at the SWA WPCS medal show. Midget on the other hand has been busy healing at home and is at last "dressing free"!

May 10

She's Truly The Best!

We took Time and Truly to the DCHPA show today for Trulys first chance of actually being judged and not only did mum and baby win the broodmare and foal classes but Truly went Champion with Time as Reserve! Woop Woop!

Final Destination Foal!

If you havent seen the films you wont get the reference - but having cheated death once, its come back to try again! Over the bank holiday we found Midget with a most horrendous injury to one of her back legs, so she is currently battling again. Although, I think she slightly misinterpreted my advice to be a fighter and gave the vet and I hell over all the injections she needed!

Murray's Ridden Career Begins

After only a few sessions under saddle Murray has proved to be a really quick learner. He even went to his first dressage event and won his class!!!! What a clever boy!

Apr 10

Getting Stronger!

Midget is now 5 days old, and getting stronger every day. She is not entirely out of the woods yet, but for every day she makes it through her prospects look brighter. Oh, and she's really really fast!

New Look Murray!

After having "the chop" last month, Murray had his first outing as a gelding. It was all a bit strange seeing him in a white halter instead of his stallion bridle, but he still looks scrummy to me!

Another Filly!

After a rollercoster ride of "is she? isn't she?" Puppy finally gave birth (5 weeks late) to a tiny little chestnut filly. When she was found she was stone cold and virtually lifeless but is battling on and making progress. We have decided such a tiny foal needed a big name so she will be called Dantona Champagne Supernova - although her stable name is Midget!

Mar 10

She's Truly Scrumptious!

Times new foal is going to be called Dantona Truly Scrumptious....well because she is!

Its A Filly!

After numerous visits to the yard and a cold night sleeping in one of the stables, I successfully managed to miss the birth of Times first foal by about 1/2 an hour. But who cares when you are greeted with a happy, healthy, beautiful black filly! 

Feb 10

Not Long Now!

In the last few days, both Time and Puppys foals have been kicking, and Time has started to develop an udder. We are still a few weeks off their foaling dates but its certainly getting very exciting now!

Jan 10

 Dantona Ponies Enjoy the Snow!

Despite it being a pain in backside to look after them, the Dantona ponies thought the recent snow was simply fabulous and all enjoyed a run, buck and roll in it!

Dec 09

Christmas Equine Fair Stallion Display!

Representing Welsh Section C's in the South West, Scrud took part in the Native Stallion Display at Exeter Westpoint as part of the Christmas Equine Fair. He was on top form and showed himself of in superb style much to the delight of crowds - and of course myself - sorry picture is blurry but indoor events are no good for photos!

Oct 09

Time takes a tumble! :.-(

Poor Time had a bit of a freak accident this month. She managed to fall 5 foot head first out of her field into a concrete storm drain and has injured her right eye. It is nearly better now so fingers crossed for a full recovery.

Aug o9

Murray comes 2nd at the late medal show!

At only his 4th show ever, Murray gains a credible 2nd place in the stallion class at the late medal show, and also 4th place in the young handler class with Ellie-Mae Chessell of the Ynyswyth Stud. He was impeccably behaved throughout...what a star!

July 09

Dantona Stud goes online!

 Many thanks to Helen at Cherrytop and Spicery Studs for helping me set up my website. 

Puppy gets placed at Royal Welsh!

Maenan Cybil Shepherd (aka Puppy) comes an astonishing 8th place in the open riddens and 7th place in the HOYS class at Royal Welsh.

June 09

Suede wins the Costume Concors D'Elegance!

Suede attended his first sidesaddle show this month and much to my surprise surrounded by many beautiful horses and riders in their costumes, we won.