Thistledown Copper Lustre (WPCS/SPSS) Part 1 Harry’s Story

Having touched on our stallion Harry in previous articles, I thought I really should tell you his story - how he started off our breeding programme, how and where he was chosen, and why he has become so loved and also such an important part of our yard.

To be honest, in 2001, I was looking at the time for a quality pony to show in hand, having decided a part-bred Welsh pony youngster was the way forward. I wanted a pony that I could keep indefinitely for the future: it had to be a colt with fantastic potential and also to have a long term prospect of being good enough for breeding. This all decided, I now had a direction, and started to do a little research. However, I discovered that as an adult, I was unable to compete a riding pony type under saddle in the show ring, and so this really put paid to these original plans,.

So a rethink proved in order, and I decided to purchase a Section B colt, but there were many flaws in my plan. I knew nothing of bloodlines, and had never gone out to buy a County Level Show colt foal. I hadn't a clue about buying young stock of that age, but I knew what I liked and previous older youngsters had been successful after I had backed and sold them on, going on to qualify for shows such as the Royal International. But, saying that, I did not have my eye in for looking at Welsh foals!

I saw a colt advertised in the local paper and went off to view it, but I decided he wasn't for me; he was well bred - I realised that later - but he really didn't suit what I wanted. At this point in time, my idea was to buy a colt that would not be up to the Section B height limit (138 cms) to cross back in due course to some smaller mares that I owned, to produce lead rein ponies.

I then happened to notice a three line advert in the Horse & Hound, advertising Thistledown Stud. This was a name I recognised and thought it would be worth a trip out, especially as they was so local to me, being only about 40 minutes away. I made an appointment to view the foals with Mr Sandy Anderson, who owns the stud, and I arrived in good time. Sandy greeted me well, but I do think that at this point, he thought I was just visiting for a day out!

I was overawed at the huge numbers of ponies around the place and really didn't know where to start. I explained that I had never bought a foal before, but that I wanted a show-quality colt that would, for the foreseeable future, be left entire, with the intention of breeding lead rein ponies. Sandy showed me round all the ponies, and told me about the blood lines of each pony we came to – so much information that my head was spinning. Next, we looked at his stallions, and they were stunning. And then we moved on to what I had gone to look at: the foals he had available for sale. Those that were in the stables were foals he had decided to show that season, but during this time many shows had been cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, so, fortunately for me, his best stock had not made it to the show rings. We looked at these stabled foals, and then moved out to the mares and foals that were out in the fields.

I really didn't know where to start, there were so many. All were very cute, pretty and wanted to come home with me. I suddenly realised that, whilst looking at so many together, I could see faults that wouldn't suit what I wanted. If they had at that point been shown to me individually and separately, though, I may have been unable to decide what I liked and disliked, but, with having so many in front of me, it actually proved quite easy. I threw my opinions on some of the foals at Sandy, not knowing whether I insulted him or not (I apologise now if I did!), ending up with a shortlist of only one foal in the field and two in the stable block. Sandy, at that point, was very honest with his personal thoughts on each foal.

And so, I decided on Harry. His dam, as I recall, was a tiny grey pony, Paddock Northern Lustre, who has since produced many good foals; Harry now has a full sister who qualified for HOYS, and other Medal-winning stock have also been produce. She herself has since been awarded Medals and received a Reserve Placing at the Royal Welsh show. Harry’s sire Delvers Tarragon was a full-up 138 cms stunning palomino that had also been successful in the show ring as a youngster. Harry was the daintiest little chestnut foal that actually reminded me of Bambi! He had the most gorgeous face and eyes, and thus my decision was made. To be fair, I had not seen him move as he wasn't halter broken and just weaned, but I decided his conformation was super and there was no doubt in my mind that his movement would be stunning.

The deal was made. I arranged to collect him the following week, and Sandy promised he would be halter broken by then. True to his word, when I arrived to collect him, Sandy was highly excited for me to see him trot up, as he was thrilled with his movement. I was stunned to see him; he was everything I'd dreamed of and hoped he would be. As we did the paper work, Sandy gave me lots of information on turnout, how to present Harry as a youngster in the show ring, and how he should go back in the ring as a mature stallion. I took this all on board and have used it wisely.

Harry arrived at our yard early October, and I spent a lot of time taking him out for walks and just generally getting to know him, and him, me. I spotted a foal show in the November which I decided to enter. I realise now he wasn't ready to go, but at the time he was just the best pony ever (and still is). He was trimmed, bathed, loaded and off we went. I can't remember the exact placing but it was nearer the bottom than the top, the judge’s comments being that he was slightly immature. I really didn't care - he'd been out in the trailer, loaded, behaved and showed well, and that was good enough for me.

I spent the rest of the winter learning everything I was able to about the Welsh breed. It turned out that Harry had the most fabulous bloodlines, which at the time of buying him, I hadn't appreciaed. We prepared for our first County Level show - a first for me as well as for him, but entries in and a show date arriving, he was bathed and polished to within an inch of his life. We declared our entries and waited for the class. Harry was an angel watching everything going on in the collecting ring, thinking he'd rather be in bed, thank you! The stallion class was the first, and this caused bedlam: one of the stallions reared up and removed his bridle and careered around the ring for 15 minutes whilst numerous people tried to round him up. I made a mental note at that point always to keep the throatlash tight on the in-hand bridles - something that I now always do. The escapee was caught and the class continued with no more incidents, and then it was our turn. I was very nervous! I entered the ring and looked and kept a space where Harry could be seen well. It was a strong class with about 14 entered. Harry performed to his best abilities, trotted beautifully, and stood perfectly even when the heavy horse turnouts trundled by and the other yearlings were leaping about. To our amazement we were pulled in top, and he stayed there. I was thrilled, a First place at a County Show - what an achievement!

Over the next two years, Harry competed in numerous County Level shows, winning, being highly placed, taking Championships, Supremes, and Supremes of Shows. What a pony! I felt proud on every occasion, and feel proud now, to own him. He is my best friend; we know each other inside out; he trusts me and I trust him. He is a pony that loves to go out and compete; if he sees the lorry or trailer come out and get parked to load, he assumes it is for him. If there is one pony on the yard that gets miserable if he isn't competing, that would be Harry. There are many other stories about going to the shows, the ups, the downs - I could write a book just about them – but all I can say is that he was very successful in these early years and we had a fantastic time!

We were now rising to his fourth year and he was ready for backing and going out under saddle - but of course that's a story for another day............

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