Local horse breeders win in Queensland

Local Welsh pony breeders, Sally Dalby and Keiley Bell, competed in Queensland late last month.

The ladies drove 14 hours with some of their horses to the Queensland All Welsh State Show to test their skills in Toowoomba on March 26, 27 and 28.

Ms Dalby took her two Welsh ponies, Barn Hill Bridget and Barn Hill Betty Boop, to compete in a series of leading contests.

She also had Barn Hill Trinket, a pony belonging to Jane Gatehouse in Toowoomba, to lead at the event.

Meanwhile, a total of seven ponies bred from Ms Bell’s Narrabri stud, Bellgarra Ponies, participated in the competition.

“We had seven from our stud alone – I’m not sure that’s ever been done before,” Ms Bell said.

But getting there was no easy task.

“It was a big effort to get up to Queensland, especially after the floods and road closures,” Ms Bell said.

But it was all worth it because, between them, Ms Dalby and Ms Bell’s horses took home multiple wins and placings from the three-day event.

Ms Dalby’s pony Barn Hill Bridget won first in the third-year filly Welsh mountain pony category, as well as the reserve champion in the female group.

Ms Dalby’s other horse, Barn Hill Betty Boop, took out first place in the Welsh mountain pony foal category, and was also named supreme Welsh foal.

Barn Hill Trinket, a yearling Ms Dalby led on behalf of her client, also won first in her filly Welsh mountain pony.

Ms Bell explained that, while she hasn’t got the exact results from all her ponies, she’s proud of how they performed at the competition.

“Some of the highlights were Bellgarra Miss Muffet winning supreme pony, Bellgarra Timto taking out second place in led gelding, and seeing two of my horses compete to qualify for the

Australian Ridden Championships,” she said.

Ms Bell explained that the QLD All Welsh State Show was a special event for horse-lovers, because it provides a platform for the breed to shine.

“Welsh ponies can do anything; they can be shown and led, kids can ride them, plus they’re great for pony club and jumping – we even had a five-year-old riding one on the weekend,” she

explained.

“So, it’s great to have an event dedicated solely to this fantastic breed of horse.”

Ms Bell said she’s proud of the efforts made by regional horse-lovers, who are committed to training and travelling great distances to make their mark.

“For us out here in the bush, nowhere near the major cities, our Welsh ponies do very well at competitions like this,” she said.

“And that extends to all people invested in equestrian sports in Narrabri, our closest major shows are often at least six hours away.”

Ms Bell says she’s looking forward to connecting with other local horse breeders, riders and owners at the coming Narrabri Show.