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After the happy snaps read about Naomi Grey's success in winning her first ever Garland!

Congratulations to Naomi and Vanity on their sensational win. Yet another success story for a SEDA member.

SEDA member and competitor Naomi Grey and her horse My Vanity Fair won the Most Successful Dressage horse and the title of Breeders Crown Champion at the 2010 Breeders Crown Equestrian event in Adelaide on the weekend of 9-11April 2010. The inaugural 2010 Breeders Crown Equestrian event at Wayville Showgrounds in Adelaide was a celebration of all things equine and one of the most exciting things to happen to the Equestrian Sport in South Australia. It incorporated the 2010 Harness Racing SA National Championships.

Naomi, Stephanie Cooper, and Meredith Phillips, all members of SEDA competed on all 3 days of the competition in the show horse events, dressage, and breed rings. All 3 competitors and their mounts were successful in winning multiple classes and prizes throughout the competition under well known interstate EFA judges.

It was on the Saturday however that saw Naomi win the title of Breeders Crown Champion. Naomi, and her 19 year old mount My Vanity Fair, won the 2A dressage test and came 4th in the 1B test (NSW judge Cathy Padgen). Naomi then won the Most Successful Dressage Horse award. This meant Naomi later competed for the Breeders Crown prize at the end of the day where all Best on Show horses for each section that day compete for the title of Breeders Crown Champion. Naomi’s horse My Vanity Fair did a super obedient and supple dressage test that resulted in the combination winning the coveted award. The award consisted of a sash, a garland, a trophy, a rug, and a 1 tonne pallet of horse feed!

Naomi said “Vanity did 2 really good dressage tests in the morning which I was really pleased about as we have been training hard for months at home. It poured in the middle of the 2A test and there were show rides, whip cracking, fancy dress, and show horse classes on all around us but she ignored all the distractions and focused on my aids. It was wonderful to take out the Most Successful Dressage Horse award and then when we had to re ride our dressage test at night for the Breeders Crown award she did another fantastic test. I was very pleased with how she went and very excited when we won the Breeders Crown Award - it was great to have everything come together at such a big competition”.

Meredith Phillips also did well in the dressage competition and won the Most Successful Standardbred Horse in Dressage Award.

Kelzie shows of the photo board One of our generous sponsors

Judges hard at work Kelzie Schipp shares her drawing with the photographer

Rodney & Nadyne Schipp enjoy a break from volunteering Jess & Sarah are happy to gear check

Sarah Widdicombe and Mallee are excited about meeting new friends at the Champs - it was the place to be!

On Friday 5^th of March, Jess, Winnie and myself headed off on the long journey to Tatura for the Welsh National Show. Winnie travelled the 8.5 hour trip like a pro, only to arrive to complete madness! Huge storms had hit and we had to put the car in 4x4 to drive to our stables, cars were getting bogged here there and everywhere! You would think living in our area we would be used to it, but all weekend I just couldn’t believe the puddles and water!

The next day the grounds had dried up a little, and I brought Winnie from her stable to prepare for the day ahead. We warmed up for our first class, my nerves weren’t helping, but Winnie warmed up beautifully and felt really nice and soft and forward.

It was a little unfortunate that the international ridden judge could not make the trip to Australia due to family illness, so the committee had to find a local judge at last minute, which is always hard at breed shows and the reason why they bring in UK judges- so the judge has a fresh perspective and judges the combination presented to them on the day, not to mention judges them in comparison to the highest quality Welsh Ponies/Cobs from the UK.

She worked beautifully in her first class to be sashed third National Ridden Welsh Cob Mare/Gelding. I was very very happy with this result, and ready to give it my all for the next class, National Ridden Welsh Cob Hunter. Winnie tried her heart out and gave me some lovely in hand gallops, simple changes and lengthen trot (Thanks to dressage this was all a breeze!) she was sashed second National Ridden Welsh Cob Hunter. Galloping around the large arena was the best feeling, and I wasn’t afraid to let her fly!

Then off to the indoor to try our hand at the working hunters. Winnie isn’t ready for her height class yet, as a round of 90cms is a bit much for her at this stage, so we entered the novice where the jumps were set up at 60cms. Second fence in, Winnie thought there were gremlins hiding amongst the bamboo fence so we had one refusal, but other than that she jumped the course really well, and we have only jumped twice in the last three months as I have been focusing more on her dressage! Our working hunter workout was in the outdoor arena, which was like being out on the hunt field, it was a boggy mess! Winnie worked well, but didn’t feel like cantering through the giant puddle in the top corner of the arena, so she jumped it instead! The judge mustn’t have minded too much, she placed 3^rd overall.

That night we headed to the indoor to watch the judging of the National Led Welsh Champions, the ponies and cobs were absolutely exquisite! All I could think of was how hard it would be to get a saddle on some of them, with their high knee and hock action, short backs, wide withers and huge crests, I guess that’s why they are top led ponies and not saddle ponies! Whilst watching the National Welsh Sale, the heavens opened and there was wind, rain, thunder and lightning! We couldn’t get out of the indoor without getting our feet wet, the whole place had flooded out! I went to check on Winnie and decided she needed some flippers, her stable was flooded and the straw was floating. Lucky for her coming from Mount Gambier, she didn’t mind sharing her stable with the water, though it was far from ideal.

The next day the grounds were a total mess! They decided to hold the feature show in the indoor, which meant only two rings could run at a time, instead of four. Winnie went in for her led class, where she placed third against some lovely mares, and we then went to saddle up. The classes ended up taking forever, and we were waiting around for hours on end, when they finally decided to take the riddens back outside. I was very happy for this, I knew Winnie would have no trouble on wet ground, she has to ride in those conditions for six months of the year!! When I saw all the cobs warming up, I knew it would be a tough class. Some of the youngsters that didn’t qualify for the nationals were entered for the feature show class, and it was so nice to be surrounded by so many quality cobs! I was in my element! I didn’t get one ‘Gosh, your pony is in a good paddock” comment all weekend, we all had the same breed of pony and understood their confirmation and condition and it was lovely to get such wonderful feedback from other breeders and enthusiasts who wanted to know all about Winnie’s breeding and why they hadn’t seen her out competing before!

We entered the ring and I knew I had to ride the best I ever had to be competitive in this class. Winnie had a big weekend, but she was still working really well. Winnie gave it her all. When the judge called us for first I didn’t get too excited, because I thought surely she would change the line up, I didn’t want to jinx myself! When the blue ribbon was on I started breathing again! We had won! This was the only ridden class for the weekend under an international judge and Winnie had won! My weekend was complete!! To hear the crowd cheer was a sound I will never forget! We did our lap of honour, headed straight for the wash bay and then loaded Winnie up and headed home. The clouds were rolling in and getting darker by the minute. We ended up driving into the storm, it was very scary, lucky Winnie was so tired from a big weekend, she traveled home like a dream. We got home at midnight and put Winnie in her paddock for the night ready to do it all again next year!

Larry’s first class was his Newcomer Hunter Hack, he didn’t warm up well, which made me nervous, but once we hit the ring Lazz suddenly changed and gave me a great ride. Our workout was nice, but he picked up the wrong canter lead for to many strides, (he feels when im nervous) but besides that he worked beautiful. He placed 3^rd, but it was great to know he was the judge’s choice and that gave me a good confidence boost.

The next class was his Novice Hunter Hack. He worked a treat and went champion! I was so happy and excited to win my first garland on Larry! We then had his Childs hack, he also went champion against some very nice horses, and I couldn’t believe how well he was working for me. He was now eligible to go in Supreme Child’s mount. I was against two very pretty ponies and a galloway. We were judged on the circle and Larry went around beautifully. He was then announced Supreme Childs mount, and received a garland and a trophy.

Later that night! Approximately 7:30pm was his Grand National qualifier Hunter Hack. It had been a long day, I was so tired and so was Larry. We were 2^nd to work with a set workout, he worked nicely, we then lined up after everyone had worked out and waited for the placings to be announced, it was nerve racking. I couldn’t believe it when they announced Lazzle as the winner, everyone was cheering and were so excited for us, wow, what a day we’d had.

We only had 2 days home after the SHC show, and all the traveling had been hard on Larry. He’d not been eating or drinking properly for both trips away, his conditioned had dropped dramatically. It was a very very warm weekend this time (shock) and Lazz had 2 classes on the first day, he worked a treat. He was Runner Up Newcomer Showhunter Hack against some nice horses, I was so pleased. We had to scratch my rider class as Lazz wasn’t looking all that well, and by the end of the day we were really worried about him. Mum spoke to a lady that was willing to give Larry an Equisage treatment (massage) hoping it would help him. Within a couple of hours Lazz looked brighter and had started to eat and drink a little.

Saturday morning we pulled him straight from the stable, prepped him and then practiced my 2 min workout twice!!, and then straight into the class at 8am!!!!! He worked well and his gallop was amazing, he placed 5^th in this class which I was very happy with, he was the smallest fella out there. Larry can now look forward to a little time off to help condition up again.

Jess Herring and Courtney Schleter from Wadelee Pony Stud recently attended the SA All Welsh Show at Strathalbyn. 37 degree heat made for trying conditions but they had a great weekend!

Cooper ‘Wynara Talk of the Town’ winning Led Part Welsh Stallion, Best Senior Part Welsh, and SUPREME LED PART WELSH EXHIBIT OF SHOW, beating around 30 ponies to win under O/S judge. His prize included $100 cash, Garland, Sash and the WP&CS Australia Welsh Medal! He also won Led Part Welsh Show Hunter Stallion, and Won his Ridden Part Welsh Stallion Class and Best Ridden Part Welsh Stallion award. We are thrilled with his results, and he will now be turned out to be a ‘Stud’ for a while as he has a few mares to serve.

Winnie ‘Acheron Guinevere’ was ridden by Courtney to 1^st Place Ridden Section D in a strong class, then Champion Ridden Section D. She went on to compete in the Supreme Ridden Pure Welsh Exhibit (across all Pure Welsh Sections A, B, C & D and many many ponies) and was RESERVE SUPREME RIDDEN PURE WELSH EXHIBIT OF SHOW, also under O/S Judge! Winnie also got Reserve Champion Led Welsh Sec D.

Courtney and Jess also placed in their Handler classes, in the Adult Handler over 18yo, out of 18 Competitors, Jess placed 2^nd and Courtney Placed 4^th.

Courtney riding Acheron Guinevere who was Reserve Supreme Ridden Pure Welsh Exhibit of Show

Gillian Mitchell has been awarded Life Membership to SEDA. Congratulations Gil.