Stanford Welsh Country Show

Stanford Market Square - Saturday 9 December 2006

Welsh Ponies - All Breeds - Results

In hand, Riding and driving

Read the report on the show at WesternCape

A Gautenger's View of Stanford

Stanford was good fun, anything from Friesians to saddlers to some very nice Welshies, who of course came through to all the Championships! Maureen was quite convinced that I would do just fine handling the working hunter class with Kirstin, and then the chase-me-charlie. Fortunately, it was very straight forward with only two clear rounds, and one gallop! There was a large contingent of farmers and their harness ponies, something I am always quite puzzled by. I ended up helping Shane Mundell judge the best walk, trot and canter classes - there were 40 entries, and it was like being in the middle of a mad circus merry- go round!! The show is held on the market square, in the centre of the village, and the local church backs onto the grounds. The working hunter class had its course to the boundary fence. A wedding, complete with a huge entourage of attendants in bright orange outfits came out of the church as the spookiest of ponies was doing his round. The guests all flocked to the fence, the pony took off to the other end of the square, and the poor bride was upstaged by the spectacle!

The weather was foul, very windy and very cold, but thank goodness no rain. The nicest thing for me was seeing kids enjoying their ponies - sitting in their 'stables' sharing their lunch, or just chatting. Its sad that with all the competition up here, so many people have lost out on the real joy of riding horses.

You'll have to do the trip next year, its a wonderful part of the country, and I have fallen in love with the village life.  I have a guest cottage there, and hope to 'retire' there at some stage!

Modified: January 22, 2007