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19th December 2001

Well the colt foals have all gone to new homes and I hope they give their new owners a lot of joy.  Have taken Cyd (Newbrook Startlight Express) out with the local hunt twice (I am a glutten for punishment) not sure whether I will take him again though!  Still very busy at work so am only able to ride out at the weekend.  All the ponies are looking very well (fat actually!) as although it has been freezing hard for a while, it has not been wet.  The grass has only just stopped growing . All the broodmares (highland and dartmoor) look as though they are going to burst!

6th November 2001

Firsedge Dark Zorro has now been sold.

I have a new pony, Newbrook Starlight Express, a Welsh Sec C gelding to  have fun with.  He is 9 years old and chestnut and is a real sweetie.  He is super to hack out and doesn't mind any traffic at all.  He has settled in well and knows when to arrive at the gate to come in and be fed! 

28th October 2001

Holmedown Cobweb won the large M&M Class (only mare with 4 Welsh D Stallions) at the NPA Devon Show and qualified for PUK.  She also won the owner bred class and went Reserve Supreme Champion.

6th October 2001

All the foals are now weaned, and some of the ponies are now in their winter fields.  The weather has changed dramatically with high winds and rain

17th September 2001

Went to a super cross country ride organised by the local hunt supporters club - 8 miles with no roadwork and lots of jumps.  I took Dunkirk who thoroughly enjoyed himself, clearing all the jumps with ease, and a friend took the highland, Holmedown Chrystal.

1st September 2001

Dartmoor Pony Society Moorland Show at Princetown

26th August 2001

Both Holmedown Cobweb (8) and Holmedown Cascade (2) qualified at their first attempt for the 2002 SWPA Championships.  Cobweb went on to become Reserve Champion

3rd August 2001

Had a wonderful Highland Pony Breed Show at Malvern, with 2yr old Cascade taking 2nd in the 2&3 yr old class and being Reserve Champ Owner Bred

Holmedown Cobweb won a good Yeld Mare Class and went on to become Reserve Champion Mare.  Other Holmedown ponies which were in the ribbons included Holmedown Maymist who was 3rd inthe Yeld Mare class, and 2nd in the WHP and Holmedown Christabella.

Was also advised by Rowena Steady who owns Christabella that she qualified for the Glyn Greenwood at NPS 25 Somerset, well done!

21st July 2001

Have now got all the highlands home.  Holmedown Cobweb is hopefully in foal to Johnsondene, and H.Chrystal has come back to do some ridden work and is thoroughly enjoying hacking out along the lanes. Turned Cobweb out with Chrystal and Cascade, and although she has been away for 5 years, not one cross glance was made between them.

7th July 2001

Stoneyoak Dark Czar  took the Reserve Championship rosette in the Elizabeth Polling Memorial Novice Championship at the Southern Dartmoor Show at Wincanton today; he also qualified for the Glyn Greenwood and the Uppacott M & M In-hand Championship. Jennifer qualified S/Rocks Dunkirk for the Child Handler championship.

1st July 2001

Mares and foals are looking well, hopefully the mares are back in foal again to Dark Czar, have had a move round so several have now gone into new fields.

25th June 2001

Just had our first show of the year - had a job getting organized and finding all the show tack!   
Dunkirk did very well winning the First Ridden Class and taking the qualifier, exceeding well in fact as he has only been sat on twice since September last year - what a super pony he is.  He also came third in a big mixed M&M - all ages/sexes in-hand class, and Stockham Tiffany, the new Welsh SecB was fourth, so we had a really good day.

15th May 2001

Sales list is updated - few more highland and dartmoor ponies are available that are not on the list - phone or e-mail me for details - various ages.

8th May 2001

Whitmore Royal Charm foaled this morning, a colt, possibly bay by Solera Stormcloud.  Foaled out on neighbours farm, but have been able to see it yet, although they did e-mail me a picture of it aged 1 hour as above, and two more photos at 2 days old.

6th May 2001

Due to a change of plan as there are no shows, Holmedown Cobweb is coming back home and going to be put in foal to Johnsondene, and Holmedown Chrystal will stay as a ridden for this year.  Holmedown Cascade (2yr old) has decided to shed her winter coat in one week, and does look much better.

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22nd April 2001

Stoneyoak Dark Czar is back home and out with his mares, Sophie, Junket and Zola, and he is a very happy boy now. He looks super having lost all his winter coat, such a shame there are no shows about.

20th April 2001

Have had another foal today from Firsedge Zola (Whinberry Spartan) by Stoneyoak Dark Czar - black with a white star apparently, have not been able to get to the farm and see it as I am now working for MAFF and unable to go in any restricted areas. 

Stoneyoak Dark Czar is coming home!  Have now got a licence to bring him back and also Zola, just got to find someone willing to transport him back to my fields where he can go out with the mares - he will be pleased (so will I).

10th April 2001

Doesn't look like I am likely to get my stallion (Stoneyoak Dark Czar) back for the foreseeable future, so no foals for next year.  Have managed to turn Sophie and Junket and their foals out on some good grazing.  Also F.Santana and yearling colt F.Royal Joker are now out enjoying some grass, although in a neighbour's very reedy field, but at least it gives them a chance to stretch their legs for a while.

1st April 2001

Jennifer's new pony has arrived - Stockham Tiffany, dapple grey 6 year old Welsh Sec B.  Absolutely amazing jumping pony.  Hoping to show her in-hand and ridden with a few WHP classes as well as local show jumping classes - should there be any shows of course!

Pendock Tonto has now been sold - masses of tears all round as have had him for a long time, but hopefully he has gone to a lovely home not too far away

23rd March 2001

A filly - at last

Firsedge Sophie foaled this morning - lovely black filly with plenty of bone by Solera Stormcloud.

15th March 2001

Much happier now, foals are eating and drinking well and managed to get a licence to get a delivery of hay which arrived this afternoon - all mine has been smoke damaged by neighbours pyre.

14th March 2001

Second foal arrived

Another black colt - from Quillet Selina (Allendale Flauros) by Stoneyoak Dark Czar (S/Rocks Day of Fury). A very big foal - don't know where she managed to hide it but very friendly.

2nd March 2001

Our first 2001 foal has arrived !!!!!

Much to my surprise as all the mares are due 13th - 19th March (not that they foal on time of course).  Opened one of the mare's doors to feed this morning, threw the feed in the feed bin, shut the door the thought - there was something else in there with her!

Lo and behold a lovely black colt foal from Pantmanr's Junket  which is by Solera Stormcloud (Bransby Tornado) who we had last year.

Foot and mouth outbreak has not come at the best time.  We have a couple of in-foal mares out at their winter quarters, and unfortunately cannot bring them back home, so fingers crossed that the weather will  be kind to let them foal outside until all this subsides.

Am getting reports on them from the very kind farmers who are looking after them, but unfortunately I am unable to go and see them for risk of infection.  Must say though that my wellingtons have never been so clean - disinfectant at the gate of the yard and dunking them each time I go through they look just like new !