Showhunter

Ballytruckle Shamrock (Mill Creek Valiant X Star) is a 9yo Welsh cob X tb mare and is really shining on the Showhunter stage in the Category C ponies.



In January 2012 at the New Year Showhunter and Showjumping Show at Woodhill Sands Katherine Martin rode Ballytruckle Shamrock with lovely flowing lines and made full use of the tight space on the grass in the rain to score an incredible 95% and win the Championship class for the Category C.

Steve rode B. Sally Gap to four wins at the Bay of Islands A&P Showhunter Lowhunter classes on the 13th November 2011. It was Steves first time competing in registered Showhunter and Sallys second time in the registered hack ring.

He came away with a great big grin and many ideas about what he will do next with his awesome Welsh cob X tb mare.

Sally Gap is a Welsh cob X tb - she is only just 7 yo, and is by Mill Creek Valiant out of Tb mare Star who was by Indian Ore out of a Blazing Keel mare.

In January 2011 at the World Cup Festival at Woodhill Sands I was able to sit at a fabulous vantage point and observe her doing a training round ridden by our son, 14yo Conor West.

One weekend in November 2009 we travelled to Kerirkeri with full sisters Tb welsh cob crosses Ballytruckle Shamrock and Ballytruckle Sally Gap on board to compete in the Showhunter registered and training rings.

Present on the day was another of Mill Creek Valiants progeny Red Rupert, owned by Emma Wiggins of Waimate North. He is out of a standard bred mare and is trained for harness and ridden. He has just started in the Showhunter training ring and from his clean action and laconic attitude he should do very well.

Thames Valley Adult Riding Club 3 day Series was a huge success for the Ballytruckle Stud. In such a varied competition the versatility of the Welsh cob was evident in all three phases.

As a result of Nelson damaging his eye severly in late January I have not been able to venture far from home. Currently in early April he is still stabled daily and has numerous ointments and powders administered throughout the day. Subsequently the summer competitions came tyo an end for me and Shamrock as Steve and I cared for Nelson- I feel like my right hand has been cut off as I have always found him to be invaluable with starting the young horses. I have to rethink some of my strategies.

Ballytruckle Shamrock and Hannah competed at the Woodhill Sands 2 * SJ and SH Show late Nov 2008. They were placed fourth in the Welcome Hunter Showhunter 80cm class and won the Category C Flat Class. According to bystanders the entries were smaller than previous years but competition was nonetheless very strong.

Photo below is of Hannah Mills on Ballytruckle Shamrock after 4th placing in Matinganui Farms Classic 90cm at Woodhill Sands in Jan 09.