Show Report by Karen Podolski

While Alberta continues to dig its way out of the economic downturn, this trickles into show entries. The 2019 Wild Rose Show had about 50 ponies and horses, including welcoming some BC ponies.

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.

For the Friday Youngstock Futurity & Performance Stake, Jennifer Caldwell from Ontario officiated, while the Saturday – Sunday main show was judged by Diana Cappellanti from Virginia and Megan Burtness from California.

YOUNG STOCK FUTURITY & PERFORMANCE STAKE:
Judge: Jennifer Caldwell

This portion of the show is for Welsh and Half-Welsh only. It begins with several riding and driving classes for ponies aged three to eight, and culminates in the youngstock halter championships.

The Futurity Grand Champion Section A and Futurity Res. Supreme Champion went to Shell-Crest Starlight Silver, a 2018 grey Welsh Mountain Pony filly (Gallod Twm Sion Catti x Shell-Crest Starlit by Dandardel Flit) bred and owned by Shelley Snyder from Didsbury.

Her owners say, “This filly showed very well throughout her first year; she took everything with ease and showed off her Section A characteristics: movement, temperament, and conformation.”

In reserve came Alvesta Fflach (Delami Red Legend x Alvesta Caris by Nerwyn Gwyn), 2018 grey gelding. Fflach is the first offspring from Brenda Podolski’s 2014 imported colt, Delami Red Legend (Sunwillow Galong x Delami Simply Red by Delami Diablo).

Being a late foal (born July 17) and only 13 months old at the time of showing, our active yearling could have had more weight and been more mature for the show ring, but took him out for some experience. A typical smart, eager Welsh Mountain Pony, Fflach decided was quite confident with the proceedings by the end.

A real mover, he was entered in the main show’s Liberty class. Although he initially thought he should stick around for treats, he ended up stepping out and being awarded 1st and 2nd (two judges) amongst some beautiful moving ponies.

Onto the Section Bs, yearling chestnut roan colt Alvesta Owain (Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre by CadlanValley Pirate) would be awarded the Futurity Gr. Ch. Section B trophy and then the top two championships of the evening: Futurity Supreme Champion Welsh Youngstock and Futurity Gr. Ch. Sport Pony.

With a herd of females sired by CadlanValley Pirate—with a few Llanarth Tarquin and Alvesta Helios daughters—we were on the lookout for a quality B colt. Then in 2015, we had the opportunity to visit Welsh studs in Wales and England, including Sandy Anderson’s Thistledown stud. After seeing well over 100 Thistledown ponies and cobs (only a portion of Sandy’s extensive program, since we didn’t get into his mountain pastures) we were particularly impressed with Lore and his family’s quality, type, and substance—plus height (sire 13.3hh, dam 13.2hh). Later we learned of their renowned temperament and movement, and Lore was purchased.