native roundup Highland
hoof applied and finished as with the black. Be careful to neatly trim any stray hairs around the cornet band, more so on a white hoof as they can easily spoil the finish of the leg to the white hoof. Again never with Natives. I suppose knowing what your class and type dictates and making the decision to dress down or dress up is an important factor, as you would certainly use less shine etc on a Hunter than you would a Hack or Show Pony. Also if you know a particular judge dislikes too much make up and less is more, act on this, as it goes along way to play to a judge’s particular likes and dislikes.
Q. I am frequently told by friends that my Fell ponies do not need any supplements or additional feed. However, I know that our land is deficient in Selenium, Cobalt and Copper and I provide a supplement for our sheep and cows. Do you think I be giving my ponies a supplement too?
A. The nutritional management of native ponies is often overcomplicated, but it is well understood that certain geographical areas do not provide a balanced profile of minerals and trace elements, so armed with the knowledge you have with respect to your livestock, I suggest that you approach one of the major supplement manufacturers and ask for specific advice. Many people don’t think about this aspect of management, but vitamins, minerals and trace elements are all necessary in the right amounts for health, performance and wellbeing, so planning your ponies’ diet to ensure they get what they need without unnecessary excess calories is both essential and commonsense too.
Equine Page 18
Trailtrow Texa Beag Kirstin McMurray and her six year old highland pony mare Trailtrow Texa Beag (pictured) have had a fantastic start to the 2012 showing season. Texa was bred by Kirstin’s mum Gillian McMurray of Lockerbie (a member of equine magazine’s expert T&T panel) and given to Kirstin for her 21st birthday two years ago. She is by Gillian’s homebred stallion Rummlegairie of Trailtrow who himself had a great showing career, including qualifying for Olympia and standing Champion Ridden Highland at the Royal Highland Show - and she is the last foal out of Texa of Carrick. After a quiet season last year, which culminated in the pair winning the Nursery Novice Ridden and Novice Championship at Blair Castle Highland Pony Show, Kirstin had brought Texa on over the winter in preparation for this season.
Their first show at the Ingliston Grand Slam saw them qualify for the Picton Final at the NPS Summer Championships in August. This was followed by a Novice Ridden Championship at Ayr County Show after winning a very well filled Novice Ridden Large Breeds class. Campsie Show was another great day out for Kirstin where Texa again won her Novice class. Kirstin’s second mount Trailtrow Teaninich then won the open ridden M&M, giving Kirstin the dilemma of which pony to ride in the championship. However she chose right, with Texa being given the nod over stable mate ‘Nig ‘. Since then Texa has picked up another ticket for Malvern at the NPS Scotland Summer Show, this time for the Peasedown Intermediate ridden final. Again another tremendous day for the pair after they were Champion in both the Novice and Intermediate ridden sections. Teaninich has also qualified for the Open ridden final at the NPS Summer Champs and Kirstin, Gillian and the ponies will be heading to Malvern later in the season. Alongside ridden showing, Texa
turns her hooves to working hunter, dressage and show jumping, competing successfully in a variety of disciplines, showing she is a truly versatile pony.
Lambrigg Blackjack After an 8 year break from the Show ring, Simon Grant decided at the last minute to ride his brother’s twelve year old Highland gelding Lambrigg Blackjack in the Heritage Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony at his local Northumberland County Show. Simon who very occasionally rides at home (usually for a bribe of a ‘magnum’ ice cream or similar) had gone to the show for a day out with friends. After returning to the lorry for lunch, he was kitted out with spare gear out of the lorry to enable him to compete. The last time he competed in a working hunter, his show solely comprised of a gallop one way around the ring followed by Simon asking the judge “Do you like my pony?”; memories of this made us all wonder what to expect. Word soon spread around the show that Simon was going to jump and a small crowd had gathered at the side of the ring to watch. After walking the course and being given strict instructions for the show in the hope he wouldn’t perform a repeat of last time, Simon and Blackjack went in to jump their round. Blackjack jumped a fantastic clear, while Simon winked at friends in the crowd around the ring and chatted to the pony around the course. They then went in to do their show, during which Blackjack thankfully went into autopilot, performing a good show. The judges Fiona Cameron and Sheila Clark then counted up the marks while everyone waited to find Simon and Blackjack pulled forward as winners of the middle height class. On their lap of honour, Simon played up to the crowd giving them a royal wave as he cantered around the ring. Certainly another memorable and enjoyable show for Simon and friends. Even the two judges appreciated his performance.
www.farmnequine.co.uk
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