This issue’s Stud profiles are courtesy of the renowned David Kay from the Oxendale Stud, and Bob & Dorothy Griffiths' Ladbury studs

Oxendale Forty Years on
My love of horses started over 60 years ago. Born in the village of Balderstone, Near Blackburn, I used to spend most of my school holidays helping local farmers with their hay-time and harvest, but only those farmers who still worked horses on their farms.

I took the care of these shire horses with me to the famous Blackburn Brewers of Daniel Thwaites and company, one company whom I joined in 1953. Seven years later, 1960, after much lobbying and pressure, Shire horses were re-introduced to the company who still proudly use them to this day.
Obviously I could not have my own Shire Stud for being responsible for the Thwaites Horses would have been a clear conflict of interest, so I went for a challenge to the other end of the scale- SHETLAND PONIES.
My stud- Oxendale- Founded 40 years ago is something from which I have gained much pleasure Breeding, Showing, Judging and visiting shows throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, where I have made lasting friendships.
My stud record speaks for itself but how has this been achieved? Most of the ponies I exhibit I have bred. I know their breeding, generations back and if success has to be achieved then spend time searching through the pedigrees via the S.P.S.B.S Stud Books.
But where should you start? Quite simply look at your own ponies, assess their strengths and weaknesses, See what needs to be improved and maintained and then select a stallion of the matching (if possible) or near matching of your mares bloodlines.
You may not get the desired result immediately but patience will in time pay off.
This has always been my way and if judged by results it has been successful. It is simply no use using the stallion down the road- possibly wrong colour, wrong height, wrong type, wrong bloodlines, and what will be the resulting product? I will leave you to decide!!! I think nothing of taking one of my mares over 100 miles to the right stallion. Against all this I have always tried to put something back into the Shetland pony for the great pleasure it has given me over many years. I served 3 separate three year terms on council. And for those who may disapprove of the National Show then blame me!
I particularly remember at one of my early Council Meetings asking why The Shetland Society did not have a National Show similar to other Breed societies. I proceeded to give the Council a ten minute presentation as to why they should!
“Any Questions” I asked, YES, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM AND WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
I pulled out of my pocket a letter from Bass the largest Brewers in the UK offering to sponsor the show- Need I say more- THE NATIONAL SHOW WAS BORN!
To finalise my message is simple… Plan your breeding, celebrate when you win, be a good loser and try and put something back into this fascinating breed.
Enjoy Your Ponies!
David Kay  www.shetland-pony.com/oxendale


LADBURY SHETLAND PONY STUD

The Ladbury Stud is situated at the foot of Cefn Bryn on the beautiful Gower Peninsular in South Wales. It was founded in the Autumn of 1969 with a 38 inch chestnut mare called Sheila III of Ramnagoe from the Seva Stud.
She gave us several lovely foals and was later broken to ride for our daughter, to whom she gave great pleasure and confidence before moving to bigger ponies.
We then purchased three more ponies, one of which became the foundation mare of the Stud as it is today. That Mare was Emily of Annwood by Wells Supreme. She was a prolific winner in the show ring, including twice champion and twice reserve at the Royal Welsh Show. She was Supreme Champion in the South Wales Shetland Show and won numerous Championships at County Shows.
Her daughters have also had success in the show ring. Ladbury Emily was a Champion at the Royal Welsh and Medal Winner at the International Breed Show in Malvern in 1996. We have her granddaughters and great granddaughters in the Stud.
The stud acquired Wells Vanda in her later years and she produced a filly Ladbury Vanda, who was a Dam of one of our piebald mares Ladbury Valetta. Emily of Annwood and Wells Vanda gave us two of the well known bloodlines of the Wells Stud. From these lines we have bred the type of pony that we like.
Over a number of years we were also able to acquire several mares and foals based on the same bloodlines from the Lakehead Stud. We had great pleasure in showing some of the especially Lakehead Esmerelda, who was purchased as a foal. She has been lightly shown and has won several County Championships and was Reserve Champion and Best Overall Broodmare at the 2002 Breed Show. She is the Dam of the Stallion Ladbury Rembrant owned by the Sharptor Stud.
Stallions owned and used in the Stud include : Barrowby Wisecrack, Hose Prestige, Wells Headline and recently Sapphire Vision, who has suited our mares very well and is producing some very good youngstock.
Some years ago we were persuaded to go and see Seva Simon, who was up for sale, as his owner had to give up breeding due to ill health. Once seen he had to come home with us. We bought Seva Cover Girl and that started our small ponies. They consist of three mares and Simon, as our Stud consists mainly of around twenty five standard ponies. We have always tried to breed ponies of good quality and substance, with good conformation, action and temperament, which can be used, for riding, driving and showing. Ladbury ponies continue to enjoy success in-hand, riding and driving.
see web site www.shetland-pony.com/ladbury
Contact details: Bob and Dorothy Griffiths
Tel: 01792 391048
Email: robert.dorothy@homecall.co.uk

Some winners from our 2008 show