Blog

Niamh usually can be found at the stables looking after one of the many ponies she rides.

Her main ride is Serenity Sam, 12-2hh a registered 25% Welsh Partbred by Greenlee Crusader out of an unregistered part welsh mare called Sam I am. She is 7yo and is grey. She is usually to be found at the back of any family ride where she very calmly ambles along. She is happy for everyone else to lead the way. She has a beautiful way of pointing her toes and we like her soft temperament. Currently Niamh is working on perfecting Serenity's jumping and canter.

Cwmkaren Beaufort Express - our resident 4 yo Welsh cob stallion carried a rider for the first time yesterday. I suddenly realised that he was about to turn 5 yo and we still havent ridden him- we are always so busy with the other horses, so I said to my son we will focus a bit on Beau this school holidays, so he got some handling and lunging when we could fit it in. In fact he was lunged 3 times.

Rocky aka "Portmeirion" is by Mill Creek Valiant out of Sabrina ( a black pony mare) as a 4 yo ridden by 12 yo Katherine.

Janet wrote, "This was Rocket’s first cross country schooling and what a STAR! We went with no expectations except to give him some new experiences and came away having had a fabulously successful time.

The first photo of Katherine riding him bareback was the first afternoon we arrived – he took the new environment in his stride.

In June 2010 48 delegates from the NZ Welsh Pony and Cob Society and NZ Carriage Driving Society visited Ballytruckle to view our Welsh cobs and Welsh cob X Tb partbreds. Along with the many owners, breeders, helpers and numerous children there were over 60 people braving the sleet like showery weather to view our stud.

In the HOY Category C Welcome Pony 80cm class on Wednesday 17th March 2010 Conor West and Ballytruckle Shamrock came 12th out of 48 entries. What an awesome combination Conor and Shammy- they have come a long way in just 7 shows that they have ridden together.


In the HOY Category C Showhunter Pony of the Year Title class on Saturday 20th March 2010, Conor and Shamrock had a lovely clear round.

5 yo Riley is happilly on the payroll, he's packing a saddle and loving it. We are all thrilled cos he will be a great ambassador for the Welsh cob X tb as he is so elegant, beautiful and easy to teach.



Riley jumping a 1.20m brush fence - 10th ride ever!

Well whilst I was away at HOY Lexie very cleverly foaled herself down. We went up to inspect her after arriving home at 2am, and found her with this strapping fellow very much at home and safely arrived, what a clever mum.

Ballytruckle Intrepid is out of Champion Mare (only cob mare in the 32year history of the NI WP&C show to win Champion mare- so arguably the best cob mare in NZ) Ballytruckle Alexander Rose and by Mill Creek Valiant. Recently gelded he will be for sale to a competitive home.

We cant help but admire this calm darling mare. This is a photo of her trying her hardest to please Conor her second time under saddle ever.

Ballytruckle Evelyn is a lovely quality D mare born in 2005. She is out of the Supreme Champion, mare B. Alexander Rose and by Mill Creek Valiant (Llanina Morning Blaze(imp) X Sydenham Godetia(imp). The following photo is of our daughter Niamh and friend Megan cuddling her as a one month old filly.



She was successful as a youngster in the show ring, winning Champion Youngstock Cob at the NI Welsh 2006. Following is a photo of her in the show ring.

Portmeirion - aka Rocket- was bred by Ann Hill in Auckland and born in Southland. He is by Mill Creek Valiant out of black pony mare Sabrina. He is registered as a Welsh Partbred gelding with the WPCS NZ. He has a very interesting gene showing up in his colouring which is silver fox mane and tail. He was shown In-Hand as a yearling to win Champion Youngstock Welsh at Winton A&P and then Ann sold him to local Auckland rider Janet Martin. Janet has two girls at Bombay Pony Club, Catherine and Olivia.