2023 Updates - Alvesta Ponies in New Homes

We’ve received wonderful updates on Alvesta ponies out with their owners!

WELSH MOUNTAIN PONY UPDATES

We’ll start where the season ended: with Alvesta Brenin Arthur going double Supreme Champion at the WPCSA National!

2015 Welsh Mountain Pony stallion: Nerwyn Gwyn x Lianna L S Snow White by Lianna’s Saqqarah. Owned by Monica Nelson, Brule Creek Welsh, South Dakota.

What a pleasure it was to watch Brenin and Monica first winning in-hand and then Res. Champion Driving, too! From the Nationals livestream, we watched as both judges put Brenin first in his stallion class, then Senior Champion, then Section A Grand Champion, until he went double WPCSA Supreme Champion! And he was in extremely fine competition—lots of beautiful animals in that supreme ring! Earlier in the year, he also went double supreme at the other show they attended: Heart of Minnesota Welsh Classic. Monica has done such a wonderful job with him.

Their whole journey together has been fun to watch. Monica was smitten with his foal photos and said he ticked every box for her. By 2016, Monica drove her truck and trailer up from South Dakota to meet everyone and to return home with yearling Brenin and cousin, Pink Lady (who she’s also shown to supreme and bred lovely foals from). Since then, he’s become her best buddy, and she’s shown him to more Supremes than she can count! Now that they’re driving, she says he continues to show his quiet and caring disposition. Wonderful to see a breeding stallion excelling in performance and being so mannerly.

He’s expecting a foal in the spring and has already sired a couple—including a black colt, Brule Creek Nettle Leaf, out of Monica’s beautiful Brule Creek Mairwyn, the result of using shipped semen from Sunwillow Jubilee with one of her best mares, Cat Creek Mair Favor. On a trip to Wales, we briefly saw Jubilee in person, and what quality that stallion is; we were happy to see a few breeders benefit from his lines when there was an opportunity. Young Nettle Leaf is now with Tanya Lawhead's Grand River breeding program, also in South Dakota, where he’ll be put to his first mares in 2024.

Before he left us, Brenin and the next pony up, Infinity, were babies together and pasture mates. Since then, we’ve watched them compete successfully to multiple supremes, to sire lovely foals, and to drive! Infinity’s dam, Caris, and Brenin Arthur are full siblings.

Alvesta Infinity, 2015 Welsh Mountain Pony stallion: Cat Creek Innuendo x Alvesta Caris by Nerwyn Gwyn. Owned by Susan Koos-Acker (Twisted Oak), Wisconsin.

Infinity was an outcross, being the result of a breeding trade with Winona Myers in Kansas—she bred her beautiful Randan Absolutely Gorgeous to our Nerwyn Gwyn (for the lovely palomino stallion, Grey Glyn Brighton) and we used her Cat Creek Innuendo on our eldest Gwyn daughter, Alvesta Caris.

What a lovely baby he was—though not the filly for which we’d hoped! Although we didn’t need another colt (and certainly not a Gwyn grandson for our Gwyn daughters), we retained Infinity long enough to show him through his youngstock years, with the hope to breed a retainer filly, but alas, Infinity gave us two more colts! Each was a wonderful mover and absolute sweetheart, and each is on his way to becoming a driving star—Ianto (Maye Show Ponies, Virginia) and Gwydion (Claire Reid, South Carolina).

Infinity and Susan went to their first show together in July, Northwood's Welsh Pony & Cob Show, to be awarded Supreme Champion under Joann Williams & Res. Supreme under Kathryn Hakes! At 8, this was Infinity’s first show since he left us as a four-year-old. This pair competed at their second show in August, the Wild Over Welsh Breed & Open Breed Show, and went double Supreme Champion! And now, they're beginning their driving journey together!

Infinity sired three foals this year, and double are confirmed for 2024. He gets to live life how he likes best: out with his mares and foals. Susan says he loves his babies (which we got to experience as well) and she often catches him playing with the foals. He was always such a gentle, easy, quality boy—thrilled to see him being appreciated in both the show ring and breeding corral.

Alvesta Cherish, 2009 Welsh Mountain Pony Mare: Nerwyn Gwyn x Alvesta Bubblicious by Gallod Twm Sion Catti. Owned by Jane Southgate & Bob Hanenberg, Poplar Lane Ponies, ON.

For the last eight years, Cherish has been in Alberta as a kid’s riding pony at Four Fools Farm, until Jane & Bob purchased her. They’ve since been driving Cherish (she was started) and took their new 14-year-old mare her to her first shows since she competed to Supreme as a youngstock.

The first was Erin Fair, when Jane talked Bob into taking ponies in the cold rain! She says Cherish blew them away—she came away Supreme Champion and qualified for the Toronto Royal! They had been on the fence about going to the Royal, but Cherish nudged them off. There too, she did great, winning Res. Champion Section A to the lovely imported stallion who won Supreme: Friarly Master of Fashion. As Jane says, Cherish is a special mare.

We’re grateful to Hilary Howran, who livestreamed the classes, so we could watch from 3,500 km away! We were able to watch Alvesta Castula, Cariad, Cherish, Foxglove, and Valentino compete at the 2023 Royal!

Alvesta Cariad, 2021 Welsh Mountain Pony filly: Delami Red Legend x Alvesta Caris by Nerwyn Gwyn. Owned by Heather Black, Blackwood Acres, Ontario.

Wow, has Heather ever been doing well with her filly! They had a successful season that ended with Cariad being awarded WPCAO High Point Champion, Overall Youngstock! Heather says Cariad is her heart pony, and Cherie’s, her daughter. Cherie and Cariad even slept together at the Toronto Royal, where Cariad was 2nd in her strong class! Heather plans to train Cariad to ride and drive, so look out for this pair! We’re beyond happy Cariad is so thoroughly loved.

This is one of two full siblings: the eldest, Fflach, is also a tremendous mover who has begun his driving career with Claire Reid, South Carolina. Wonderful minds and movement on these typey siblings.

WELSH SECTION B UPDATES

Alvesta Helios, 2009 Welsh Section B gelding: Mynach Mystical x Alvesta Sweet N Spicy by CadlanValley Pirate. Owned by the Gaitlin family, Tennessee; leased by Ellie Collake.

Newcomer to the hunter ring, Helios, found his way to USEF Pony Finals—for the first time, at 14-year-old! This boy has been on a long and winding road to get here.

We had the opportunity to use the fancy, typey stallion, Mynach Mystical (Eyarth Beau Geste x Mynach Mimosa by Moelview Mohawk) before he left Alberta to live with Diane Jackson in Ontario. The resulting Helios was such a special colt from birth, so even though we knew he couldn’t stay with us for long—being out of a mare closely related to the rest of our broodmares—he didn’t leave us until he was 5 years old, first having become a multi-Supreme Champion Welsh, Grand Ch. Sport Pony & Model Hunter Pony—and siring lovely foals, including our retained Alvesta Caelia (x Alvesta Fairy Lustre); she is such a beautiful, sweet mare; we’re very grateful for her.

Some tough years followed, including being part of a highly publicized case when his owner in New York was convicted of starving nine horses to death. Helios was better off, but throughout the process, his fertility suffered. Fortunately, first, he did have a handful of Welsh and Half-Welsh foals, but he was gelded later in life to become a riding pony—and he’s living well these days! This was the first Pony Finals for both Helios and rider, Ellie Collake—and they had a beautiful showing! Thanks to trainer, Jordan Ayres, for sharing this picture.

His retained daughter, Caelia, had her first foal (2022, Castula), who has followed grandpa to Ontario—alongside her paternal sister, Alvesta Oneida, that makes two Thistledown Arctic Lore daughters in Ontario!

2022 Section B filly, Alvesta Castula (Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Caelia by Alvesta Helios) joined a relative with Jenna Ponzo at Crown Ridge Farm, where she’s known as “Lala”. We got to meet this one as she was being born—we walked out to pasture, and there was Caelia getting ready to foal. She laid down next to us, and next thing, the most beautiful filly was taking her first steps. We’re excited for more from this cross and await edition #2 in 2024. Castula is becoming a wonderful show pony—she even went Res. Supreme as a yearling—and is a prospective broodmare for Jenna.

Meanwhile, Alvesta Oneida (Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre by CadlanValley Pirate), 2022 Section B filly, went to Brian Newman and daughter, Addison. These two were buddies at home, and it appears they recognized each other when they met as yearlings at a show and were placed first and second! Oneida is from one of our best crosses and is full sister to our retained Fairy Lore. A big, elegant, super sweet filly, she is a prospective show, breeding, and riding mare for the Newmans.

Alvesta Foxglove, 2017 Section B stallion: CadlanValley Pirate x Alvesta Lotus Blossom by Mynach Mystical. Owned by Jenna Ponzo, Crown Ridge Farm.

Now six, he’s been shown to many wins over the years, and has also found himself in demand for stallion services! At home, we have his very lovely full sister, Alvesta Buttercup, expecting her first foal in 2024. Jenna has been a wonderful client and friend over the years and gives our ponies an amazing home. She says, “I don’t think Foxy ever puts a foot wrong. He is the most wonderful stallion I’ve ever met and is just so sweet, easy, and low key.” He was once again awarded WPCAO’s High Point Stallion 3 Years & Over!

In reserve to Foxglove’s High Point Stallion 3 & Over came Alvesta Valentino! 2019 Welsh Section B stallion: Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Ever After by CadlanValley Pirate. Owned by Ty Hornbrook & Jeena-Marie Burley, SK, shown by Caitlyn Norman, Cassell Equestrian Center, ON.

Lots of highlights over this guy’s show season, but his top wins were at Rushmount Sport Pony Show, where he went Champion of Champion and Grand Champion Crossrails at their Hunter / Jumper Show, before winning his Res. High Point title!

Congratulations to his team, who has also gotten him started and shown under saddle, and now started in driving as well! He was the most beautiful foal; it’s wonderful to see him maturing into a beautiful stallion who already has foals on the ground and more coming in 2024! His owners in Saskatchewan are keen to get him home and already have dreams of more showing, driving, foals, and maybe even buying a sleigh for winter!

Alvesta Mona Lisa, 2010 Welsh Section B mare: CadlanValley Pirate x Alvesta Monique by Rosedale El-Senor. Owned by Wendy Williams, Alberta.

It’s always a joy to receive an update on this team! As a 3-year-old, Mona joined the Williams' family, who has long competed successfully with reining horses. Over the last decade, Mona and Wendy have kept upping their game—together learning about driving more competitively and quickly excelling, first in Pleasure then Combined Driving.

This team has cleared yet another hurdle—they had their first Intermediate Driving Trial, and Wendy says Mona was outstanding—and placed 1st overall! A special congrats to Mona, "the little engine that could", for making Wendy a Welsh Pony convert. The Williams family now has four Alvesta ponies—the most recent being Alvesta Arctic Nymph, who will be Wendy’s daughter (and our farrier), Audrey’s, driving pony. There’s hardly a better home out there.

For Albertans looking for a great farrier, check out Blue Eyes Horseshoeing: blueeyeshorseshoeing@gmail.com.

Alvesta Noelle, 2013 Welsh Section B mare: CadlanValley Pirate x Alvesta Fantasia by Llandefalle Bonheddwr. Owned by Marcia Carter, Manitoba.

Noelle was our Christmas baby! Her sire and dam lived together year-around, and though we expected a baby much earlier, it wasn’t until December 25 that she arrived! Despite the delay, we were thrilled to have her. This is a family of tremendous movers, and Noelle would go on to make a wonderful performance pony.

As a yearling, she left us to join Kirsten Brunner at Beaverwood Farm, Ontario, who’d hoped to produce a retainer filly from a Pirate daughter and her long-passed, lovely stallion, Rotherwood Crown Prince [via AI]. The result was Beaverwood's Easter Morning, a wonderfully put together, big-moving bay mare—who this year produced Beaverwood's Harmony by Lemonshill Top Note.

Noelle eventually came back west to Manitoba with the Carter family, where she’s been shown to in-hand championships as well as competing under saddle. She’s a first mount for Marcia's granddaughter, now 8-year-old Savannah, who takes lessons and does walk / trot with her, as well as friends who jump Noelle at the shows—while at home, Marcia enjoys going for a ride as well! She’s become a wonderful all-around family pony, who Marcia reports is adored.

Full sister, Alvesta Electra, remains in our breeding program—alongside Electra's daughters, Angelina & Eira.

Alvesta Sedona, 2016 Section B gelding: Llanarth Tarquin x Alvesta Fairy Lustre by CadlanValley Pirate. Owned by Ayla Gartly, Alberta.

Wonderful to see this handsome lad looking well! Thanks to Jody Korfmann for the awesome pictures and updates, and to Katrina & Ayla for providing such a loving home. Sedona went to his first under-saddle show, North Peace Fall Fair, and won Res. Ch. Green Horse! We hear rider, Amelia Korfmann, is loving every moment with Sedona—"taking a break from her complicated OTTB and opinionated and strong warmblood!” Love seeing those Welsh Ponies appreciated.

This year, his full sister, Alvesta Silver Lustre (2013), returned to us! She is the third Llanarth Tarquin daughter (s. Cwrtycadno Cymro) to join our broodmare band.

Silver spent most of her life as a driving pony for Shelley Todd in Armstrong, BC and returns home to join paternal sisters, Naiya & Angelina, to create the next generation; her sisters have crossed very well with our Thistledown Arctic Lore, so we’re excited for this pairing. Each sister is an absolute sweetheart and a lovely, typey pony, and while two sisters turned grey, all were born black.

Before she left us, yearling Silver went to a double-judged show, where the judges were in agreement: double Youngstock Ch; Res. Supreme Ch; Gr. Ch. Model Hunter Pony; Res. Gr. Ch. Sport Pony—a feat for a yearling filly! She continued winning with Shelley, including Res. Supreme at the 2017 IPE show. We’re grateful to Shelley for taking care of Silver all these years and bringing her along in her first career—and for allowing her to come home for her second.

Special thanks to those who shared updates of their Alvesta ponies out in the world! This list doesn’t include many others who were out, including Alvesta Sakari, Fairy Gold, Audelia, Prairie Smoke, Zephyr, Thaddeus, Freya, Baldur, Ianto, and others.

To everyone who loves an Alvesta pony—thank you! We’re grateful to you for their care.