Spring sunshine, the arrival of foals and Tony McCoy winning the Grand National – what more can a person ask?

Nothing I suspect but what we have is fuel at 125p a litre, a dust cloud that has grounded every aeroplane in Scotland and an impending General Election with the prospect of another three weeks of electioneering. The highs and lows of life are what makes it interesting and I for one have not been at all bored by recent events.

It goes without saying that the arrival of lambs herald a new year in the breeding cycle in the farming year for most of us and we have become used to the fact that it now arrives in early February instead of April. In much the same way that many farmers are pursuing indoor lambing in order to beat the challenging weather, thanks to plenty of pens and close-circuit cameras we find ourselves in much the same position and foaling seems to come earlier each year, whether by accident or design I’m not prepared to admit. Yet again, despite nearly 40 years of breeding ponies, we were caught out and two of our mares foaled through the night without us having an inclination that this was about to happen. We have been at the foaling of three since however the tell-tale signs of imminent birth seem to have been by-passed. In our defence, I have to report that two of the five mares have foaled 10 days early, one nine days early and the other two eight days early – so what’s happening? Every year we experience the early arrival of a foal or two but never before at this rate nor so consistently early. Given that these mares were covered in hand, we know that our dates are correct. I think that we’ll have to blame it on the very cold winter but then again, could it be global warming?

It is also the time of year when we have to turn our thoughts to the show ring and preparing the yearlings for an experience, hopefully one they will never forget. Of all the ponies we have shown, I think that the yearlings give us the greatest sense of anticipation as well as the biggest thrill. It consolidates the previous year’s work of the stud and there’s something about the ‘fresh’ face of a yearling which can really tug at the heart strings; have you ever noticed how yearlings, despite all odds, often win championships? By aiming at June and July for showing, this is a good time to start handling them in earnest and it is true what they say, you have to do the homework if you want results.

You’ll see from the photograph with this month’s column that I have included something I observed at the 2008 Royal Welsh Show. The ground was waterlogged so people were exercising their ponies wherever they could, in this case the lorry park. Well, no harm in that however it provided a grand stand view of what preparations were being made. The pony photographed was actually a lead rein pony which was not only wearing a fancy pair of flowery pyjamas but it also was wearing half the tack from her owner’s tack room. Have your ever seen the likes? If you look closely you’ll see a pulley system in operation and a special bit which, although a type of snaffle, has more than the just nut-cracker action of a standard snaffle; this one has a gag action as well which means that it is placing pressure on the poll as well as the bars of the mouth. For all we know, it may also have some addition inside the mouth which places pressure on the top of the mouth as well. All of this has been brought together for a pony which to all intents and purposes has to be an absolute angel for the tiniest jockey with the lightest of contact. I hope the pony was an angel on the day and is for the rest of the time but her owners appear to be leaving nothing to chance.

I wonder if this pony really needed all this gadgetry or perhaps it was the owner who needed it – ‘just in case’. Sadly it only takes a pony kitted up like this to win to give other owners the idea that they have to copy it in order for their pony to win. In this regard there is quite an onus on the professionals to set an example however their priorities often lie with results which they need to keep clients. From a judge’s perspective it is very difficult when your instincts tell you that a true lead rein pony doesn’t need anything more than a simple snaffle but you witness a pony going really well in something stronger. In my view there is no real justification to put the pony down the line when it’s the production you’d like to see there.

Alarmingly, a phone call last week from a very well respected breeder and judge from Lancashire, who has forgotten more than most pony people will ever remember, asked me if I had any influence on the judging rules regarding the bitting of young ponies in the show ring. Apparently at a major show in the south recently she had witnessed a yearling being led in a bit similar to the one in the photograph differing only by a chain round the back of its chin for extra control. Again according to my friend, not surprisingly the pony went badly despite its contraptions and it was all over the place most of the time; needless to say it didn’t win. Apart from the fact that the bitting obviously didn’t work, it demonstrates the ignorance that abounds as anyone would know that potentially irreparable damage could be done to such a young animal. Rather than too much knowledge is a dangerous thing, in this case it would have to be too little.

We all have to learn somewhere and I was most impressed when a copy of a ‘Drivers’ Diary 2010’ issued by the Scottish branch of the British Driving Society dropped through my letter box. The branch has six areas throughout Scotland with what appears to be a very active membership as the schedule of events range from February to December. With literally something for everyone and somewhere to go most weeks throughout the year, I was particularly impressed by the number of instructional opportunities the areas have made available for their members. I am sure the founding fathers of the British Driving Society would approve as this was one of their priorities when the society was set up in 1957. According to society historian and well-known whip, Sally Walrond (whose book on driving got me started many years ago), the society grew out of a request by the Crown Equerry for both ‘suitable’ carriage horses and ‘capable’ whips to assist with the Coronation of 1953. Although the royal household had the carriages to meet the high demand to transport the many dignitaries from around the world, they lacked the means to pull them. If the demands were not sufficient in themselves, the horses had to be bay or grey with long manes and tails and of impeccable temperament for such ‘electric’ conditions.

Luckily there was in existence a Coaching Club with some distinguished members who managed to fill the gap, albeit with difficulty, however the request managed to highlight the rapid decline in knowledge of the art of driving. In addition, driving classes at major horse shows, which had been a feature in the pre-war years, were declining in numbers forward to compete and the ancillary skills of harness and carriage making were also dwindling. Consequently, several prominent people took the matter in hand and started the British Driving Society in 1957 at a meeting in London where 46 people attended. Over a 50-year period, the membership has risen to around 6000, many of whom drive for pleasure had been a feature in the pre-war years, were declining in numbers forward to compete and the ancillary skills of harness and carriage making were also dwindling. Consequently, several prominent people took the matter in hand and started the British Driving Society in 1957 at a meeting in London where 46 people attended. Over a 50-year period, the membership has risen to around 6000, many of whom drive for pleasure using vehicles and harness suitable for modern times. Although a far cry from the days of old, I am convinced that the founding fathers would be delighted that their principal aim of preserving the dying art of driving had been saved.

Going back to the leading rein pony and how genuine it must be for its little jockey, I was reminded of a story told to me only last week. Imagine the scene: a bright little button who loves her pony and riding in the ring but who is easily bored and fidgets quite a lot. In order to keep her on task her leader repeatedly asks her: “Do you remember your show? Tell me it again.” She does and this rehearsal continues until it is the time for our little person to perform with her pony. As they often do, the judge asks if the little girl knows her show to which comes the reply: “I know it but she doesn’t (pointing to the leader) for she keeps asking me!” Talk about “out of the mouths of babes”; surely a naïve little jockey like this deserves an angelic pony that would go in a head collar! let alone a fancy bit.