| Heart of Minnesota Welsh Club |
| Heart of Minnesota Welsh is a club of and for Welsh owners and others in the upper Midwest. Our purpose is to unite and network with people who enjoy and own ponies. If you have questions about the Heart of Minnesota Welsh Club or our beautiful and versatile Welsh Ponies and Cobs, please email us at heartofminnesotawelsh@yahoo.com |
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| Heart of Minnesota Welsh Club web site information and photos may not be used without permission. Web Site maintained by mgharrity@msn.com and designed by Clekajo Web Design |
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| January 2009 Pony of the Month CORSAIR SAILS THE SOLSTICE SEA OF FOG Thalia Gentzel captured this photo of her own Black Stallion, the Welsh-Thoroughbred HELICON CORSAIR, on Dec. 21, 2007. Her entry in the Equine Photographers Network Solstice Competition took 10th out of 83 entries based on votes of votes of fellow equine supporters and photographers. Corsair is the sire of hunter, eventing, and ASPR site champions. Cooled semen is shipped from Wis. Equine Clinic. Contact Thalia at 815-624-7400 or thalia@heliconsportponies.com for information. |
| February 2009 Member of the Month B.A. Belanger Art International Falls, Minnesota |
| Barbara Belanger takes a dash of love of horses and ponies, adds a touch of talent, and mixing them in a digital world, produces an economical art form in your life. She also does photo clean-ups, and produces custom clipart for websites. Barbara offers discount to all Heart of Minnesota members on her work. www.babelangerart.deviantart.com babelanger_arts@live.com |
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| Pony of the Month Archives |
| March 2009 Member of the Month - Helicon Sport Ponies |
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April 2009 Member of the Month Clear Meadows Welsh Ponies CLEAR MEADOWS WELSH PONIES by Pat Smith Osseo-Spring is finally here!!! Fat, wooly ponies are starting the annual shedding out process and we are working furiously with the ponies in a seemingly fruitless attempt at getting them ready for the upcoming show season. Granddaughters Jenna (9), and Ella (6), are trying to choose which ponies will be their show ponies for this year. Both girls have picked out palominos--now the fun begins! Does 6 year old Ella have it in her to beat 9 year old Jenna in Showmanship again this year? It seems more like competition between the girls rather than competition in the ring. Ah sibling rivalry…but, it’s all in fun. Daughter Gwen has her eye on a buckskin filly name Charlotte as a new riding prospect, she’s started her under saddle, and provided things continues as well as they have been, Charlotte may very well see the inside of a show ring yet this late summer/early fall. Charlotte is a Sec B Welsh, and a bit more suited to Gwen’s size. Don’t be fooled, the Section A ponies have no problem carrying an adult rider such as Gwen or my husband Steve. These ponies can go all day, comfortably with an adult rider. Gwen starts all of our youngsters under saddle, and occasionally takes a spill, usually only due to her inability to keep the dirty side down. This year we will have our first palomino pair to show under harness. This has been a dream of mine for many years. Both mares are three year olds; Clear Meadows bred ponies, and have been driven extensively around our home, out on the roadways, and around the farm. The grandkids have been riding them and may use them for under-saddle classes this summer. As usual, we will have singles to show under harness in Carriage, Pleasure and Draft driving, as well as Multiples at the Welsh shows. We hope to attend some carriage shows this year, (Villa Louis and the Columbus Carriage Show).We attended Villa Louis in 2008 and were pleased with our placements. The palominos will not be going to any carriage shows though as they will be too young. We have a super-nice palomino colt that is growing up. Walker is a really sharp colt at just two years old. When I look at him I think of all of the potential he has, and all the things I can do with him. Today, granddaughter Jenna, (my pony thief, age 9), told me she would like to show him in Showmanship as he would look good with her showmanship outfit!!!! How in the world do kids think of these things? Jenna flat-out caught me off guard with her comments.......yep, she will most likely have him to show--she is a great hand with the ponies and there is an unexplainable trust between them and her. We do have a few choice foals due this spring. Due to the overpopulation of horses in the country, we have scaled back our breeding to just a few choice pony mares. SHS Blue Lite Special is our 17 year old grey Section A Welsh Mountain pony gelding. Blue was mine until Jenna laid her eyes on him. He looks like a miniature Andalusian and makes a wonderful riding pony for both girls under both English and Western tack. Blue looks absolutely gorgeous under harness and has proven hard to beat by being named the National Champion Draft Single pony for 2008. In the North Central Division, Blue carried Jenna to her 1st Place WPCSA (Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America) Walk/Trot win, 2nd Place WPCSA Walk and 5th Place Showmanship 12 and Under with 10-12 entries in the class. Blue was also 4th in the North Central Region for Section A Geldings 3 and over. The old reliable stand-by, Clear Meadows Tuff Love, (Lovey), was named Reserve National Champion Draft Single on 2008. Lovey carried young Ella to 2nd Place WPCSA Walk/Trot, 3rd Place Walk, and 2nd place showmanship 12 and under. Lovey continues to be the favorite of all the kids, (Ella in particular). Last summer Lovey was a dream-come-true for a young lady from Eau Claire County 4-H Horse and Pony Project. Shayla is a member of the 4-H’s Horseless Horse and Pony project. Gwen and Shayla were paired up 5 weeks before the fair and Shayla went from being a timid, unsure rider to winning English Equitation, placing 2nd in Showmanship and 2nd in English Pleasure on Lovey. They were a great team and Shayla made great strides in those short 5 weeks. Shayla had to learn to ride English, learn to post and keep her pony moving consistently. Welsh of Wisconsin has several incredible shows planned this year. One will be in Ladysmith June 6/7, another in Deerfield later on this summer. Our shows are open to the public, come on out and enjoy visiting with the Welshies and their people/owners. Due to work commitments, we were/are not able to attend WI State Horse Fair this year so we will miss out on seeing everyone. If you are in the area, be sure to give us and call and stop and visit us. We will be in the barn brushing the old hair off these wooly bears. Wishing all a great year with lots of horsey fun!!! |
| May 2009 Member of the Month
SDL Welsh Ponies Steven and Donna Ley Amanda, Crystal & Angel Sauk Rapids, MN sdlwelsh1@aol.com www.sdlwelshponies.com |
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| SDL Diamond Tiara
2008 WPCSA National Reserve High Score Champion Jr. Driver 2008 WPCSA National Reserve High Score Champion Half Welsh Western Pleasure, Jr. Rider WPCSA North Central Regional Champion in Many disciplines |
| SDL Copper N Chrome
2008 WPCSA National Reserve High Score Champion, Half Welsh Pleasure Driving High Score Gelding at Ladysmith and all Sauk Centre Welsh shows! Now a show pony and best friend for Ranaye Marsh in Ozark, MO |
| SDL Shades of Copper
2008 chestnut roan colt SDL Royal Duke x Misty Mountain Contessa Blue ribbons under both judges the only time shown! This pony will make a fabulous small driving pony! Available for purchase. |
| SDL Simply Blessed
2008 buckskin filly Gayfields Call the Cops OD OD x Silver Star Buffalo Gal Blue ribbons every time shown! Watch for “Bunny” in the future. Definitely NOT available for purchase! |
| Summit Redwood
2007 chestnut roan colt Smoke Tree Gold Fever x Starlights Foxglove (by GlanNant Epic) Unshown to date. Sire is USDF champion. Redwood will make a fabulous performance pony. Siblings are hunter ponies. Available for purchase. |
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| Lovey and Babe driven by Steve |
| Lovey and Ella |
| Blue and Jenny |
| Chuck Erickson driving *Nebo Calonog LOM, section D stallion owned by Susan Stepney |
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| Cat Creek Cowboy
(CC Fury x Welshaven Dusky Daze) Section A, Palomino Stallion Standing at stud with Freedom Rose Farm (AI pending approval of WPCSA permit application) |
| June 2009 Member of the Month Freedom Rose Farm Contact Barbara Belanger at Freedomrosefarms@hotmail.com Littlefork Mn / 218-324-2321 |
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| Cat Creek Cowboy, 1996 |
| Cat Creek Cowboy, May of 2009 "In the Golden Afternoon" |
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