A Selection of Articles from Recent Issues of Welsh Breeds News

• WORMING ADVICE FOR AUTUMN
• Hay Shortage? Spillers' Advice.
• From The Chairman, and Show Secretary SEWPCA
• Laminitis can kill - warns the Blue Cross
• EMWPCA SHOW - Sec A Results. 25th April 2010
• Scurry driver sings praises of SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF®
• Correction Re: Midlands WPCA Foal Show 2009 report in Issue 74.
• Abandoned pony highlights importance of identification
• Be safe and save money with SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF®
• Blue Cross Appeal for homes for lead rein ponies
• Gwynedd Welsh Pony & Cob Breeders Association Results
• DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
• KEEPING YOUR HORSES SAFE IN WINTER. Advice from the Blue Cross.
• Blue Cross FAT HORSE SLIM Campaign.
• SEWPCA 2009 WPCS BRONZE MEDAL SUMMER SHOW RESULTS.
• FAYRE OAKS SALE 2009
• PHOTOGRAPHS
• Gwynedd Welsh Pony & Cob Breeders Association Show Results 25-5-09
• WPCS Spring Sale Prices, 9th May 2009.
• We'd love to hear from you!
• A lovely Poem
• SPILLERS® help reduce the risk of laminitis
• Royal Welsh Cob Sale October 2008 Prices
• FAYRE OAKS SALE PRICES 2008
• Notts/Derby Charity Bonanza Results 29-12-2008
• HAY SALE RESULTS 4th & 5th OCTOBER 2008
• IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
• Hay Horse and Pony Show Results 27th July 2008. Report and photographs in Issue 66, out in October.
• Lampeter Stallion Show Results 2008. Report and Photographs in Issue 64 of Welsh Breeds News.
• Feet V Fashion
• Feeding Foals
• Ups and Downs at Avonvalley and Beyond
• Diabetes in Horses
• Equine Parasite Control
• Grass Sickness by Rachael Conwell BVetMed CertEM MRCVS
• An Avoidable Tragedy by Jane Lane
• Foal Handling: A feature by John Jones, Horse Listener

Ups and Downs at Avonvalley and Beyond: John Llewellyn James

Ups and Downs
At Avonvalley and Beyond
by
John Llewellyn James
Avonvalley Welsh Cobs

  Sometime last year when Ann and I were still feeling sorry for ourselves we were asked to judge in Victoria, Australia. We accepted as you do and gave the matter little thought.
   We were still reeling after losing our loved ones for various reasons followed by the loss of home, land, stables and knowing that the long health battles with Tiger Harry were coming to an end. He was only 18 and in between his problems was the picture of health. Not only did he win at the Royal Welsh twice, loads of other championships himself and his stock, he was also an extremely nice person and one of the family.
   The hardest decision of my life when he felt really well in Feb. 2007 was to take him in his beloved lorry on his last journey. That is our lot, the responsibility of owning an animal.
   March arrived and Cardiff Arms was sent to George and Claire in Essex to be broken to drive and be away for our trip.  He is still there and is doing exceptionally well in harness (a real natural they say-bless them!) He will be at the Royal Welsh this year and at other top level competitions before coming home. He has already proved himself under saddle and in-hand so here we go for the big three! Proof indeed that we do not need three different types of Welsh cob. 
   'Tony¹ (Avonvalley Great Briton) had come home for the in-hand showing season and was dispatched to our great friends at Cavyl stud,  William and Karen Vines who did us proud.....evidenced by his Forest of Dean Youngstock win on our return to "Blighty"
   Never let it be said that it is easy to have a holiday. It cost us about £2,000 for the home babysitter (only three stabled, but others in fields, Ick the Cat, Ricky the Dachshund and Mrs. Gupta, the Indian Eagle Owl) and the others boarded out......Where was Slim (the whippet)?...Yes, with uncle Alan (Ann¹s Ex.) who Slim adores - so he went to Coventry.
  After organising all that it was a great relief to drive to Heathrow and sit on an aeroplane for what seemed to be forever! We had a stopover in Hong Kong (Maximum respect for the lovely place, people and everything and the subject of another article in itself!)
   We arrived in Melbourne late into the evening on Thursday 5th March to be collected by good friends Denise and Mark of Indi Stud. We then drove the short distance to their farm at Upper Lurg past road signs warning of Koala bears and Kangaroos on the road.....imagine my excitement at seeing my first Roo 100 metres or so later, very alive and very big! Eat your heart out Skippy!
   We arrived at the farm at about 12. midnight and we were introduced to VB....Victoria Bitter (The nearest thing to our beer as opposed to lager...wonderful!!)............

The remainder of this humourous and interesting article can be found in Welsh Breeds News, Issue 59 - OUT NOW!  Click Here to SUBSCRIBE NOW!