The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Cymdeithas y Merlod a'r Cobiau Cymreig

Swiss Report 2006

Regrettably the following report from Switzerland was omitted from the overseas section in the 2007 Journal. My sincere apologies are given to Susanne Wiederkehr and her fellow members.

David Blair

In Switzerland, like most of continental Europe, it is very important to breed Welsh Ponies and Cobs which are also good performance animals. Most of our Welsh are ridden and driven as we have only 4 or 5 shows per year. One of the most successful Welsh is the 13 year old Welsh Cob stallion Gwendraeth Dafydd. He competes in Cross Country as well as in Show Jumping with his young rider Cornelia Reist. He is the sire of several good Welsh Cobs in Switzerland. Previously he had a great show career, which started in Belgium with Joe Claes.

At the annual Stallion Inspection in February came forward two new Welsh Cob stallions and one Welsh Mountain Pony stallion – all from the UK. They were the Section. Ds, Yswain Romeo (Yswain Oberon x Yswain Jasmin) owned by Mrs. Petra Renker, Thun and Pentrefelin Mr. Motivator (Menai The Marksman x Tardebigge Estelle) owned by Mr. P.A. Duc, Granges as well as the Section A Fairstoke Spring Salsa (Fronbach Showman x Ceulan Spring Song) owned by Mrs. E. Schläpfer, Wiezikon.

At our first show in Henau in August the Welsh cob class was won by the attractive Swiss bred mare Cascliad Chayenne (Dafyddshof Diabolo x Platinarth Elisha) owned by Miss Luana Barberi. Best Welsh Mountain Pony was Windmill Alison (Thorncliff Ranger x Windmill Abi) owned by Mrs. E. Schläpfer.

At the annual National Show, which was held this year in Aarberg, we had nice classes of Welsh Cobs and a growing number of entries of Welsh Mountain Ponies which were led by the mare Bengad Western Willow (Bengad Dogberry x Bengad Whimberry) owned by Mrs. Petra Renker. Best Welsh Mountain Pony foal was bred by Mrs. Sabine Flüeli Caya of Switzerland (Sumrin Thor x Am Höhnebach’s Catleen), a lovely dark bay filly. Best Welsh Cob was the 3 year old filly Fronarth Amazing Grace (Fronarth Dafydd Du x Fronarth Victoria) owned by Mrs. S. & A. Wiederkehr/Homberger. Best of the Welsh Part Breds was the Swiss bred mare Sandra (Trellech Autumn Gold x Samba v. Burgiwil) owned by A. Frieden. Overall Welsh was Fronarth Amazing Grace.

The next local show was held in Bern. Leading the Welsh Cob stallions was the 12 year old Eifed Tywysog (Derwen Duke of York x Tyhen Queen Ann) owned by N. Siegenthaler. Best Welsh Cob female was Fronarth Amazing Grace. The Best in Show was awarded to the beautiful presented Welsh Cob stallion Eifed Tywysog.

The last show in Burgdorf sadly had very few Welsh entries. Best Welsh was the nice Section A mare Naomi v. Esch (Bonito v. Bönler x Sevenheim’s Truusje) bred and owned by R. Nyffeler.

Next year is a special milestone, the 50^th anniversary of Swiss Pony Society and we hope that many Welsh Ponies and Cobs are coming to celebrate with us.

Susanne Wiederkehr
Welsh Stud Book Switzerland
www.welsh.ch

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