THE Irish Pony Society Breeders’ Committee Foal and Yearling Show was held at Roscrea Equestrian Centre, by kind permission of David Maher on the sunny bank holiday Monday. Although entries were small the quality was high, and plenty of spectators helped to make a good atmosphere. It was of some concern to the committee that only five of the 14 ponies forward were home-bred, but to quote one competitor, ‘why go to the expense of breeding ponies when one can buy them across the water for half nothing?’ It is a severe problem for the remaining breeders, as with the availability of made riding ponies as well as youngstock in the UK, few are prepared to bring on a young home-bred pony.

It was due to the generous support of IPS members that the show could run so successfully and the IPS was delighted to welcome judge Wyn Morris, a renowned producer of show ponies and show hunters as well as show horses. He was pleased with the quality of entries and remarked that he had some very nice ponies before him. He found his Foal Champion in Tim Hurley’s smart Welsh Sec B filly Leucarum Easter Bouquet by Leucarum Peter Pan, while reserve stood Sasdhbh O’Connor’s delightful Dartmoor Springwater Starlight.