Please read the biographies under the accomplishment tab and vote for one entry at the bottom of the page.
Goldhills Million Heir
Goldhills Million Heir has been showing in Welsh shows since 2013 when he was a two year old, but 2023 was a little bit different. He and his kid, Samantha continued to show in the Welsh world and had a very successful year, including National Championships in two divisions. But that is just the beginning. Toward the end of 2022 Samantha set the goal of going to Pony Finals in 2023. Never mind that neither pony nor kid had ever shown at an A-rated show, the goal was set.
Six months before Pony Finals, Million Heir stepped into the ring for his first ever A hunter show – and came out reserve champion Large Green Pony Hunter and qualified for Pony Finals. Just like that, they were in. Million Heir and got better and better over his next two A shows winning good ribbons – both blues and tri-colors in the green and regular large divisions. Then the trip from California to Kentucky for Pony Finals began! It was truly a different world to be in Kentucky and at the big show. Million Heir took it all in stride and put in ribbon winning performances at the Kentucky Summer Classic and made us all proud at Pony Finals. Million Heir really did prove that a purebred Welsh pony with a Welsh show background can play on the biggest stage in the pony world. He wrapped up the 2023 season with two more A rated Hunter shows –and he qualified for 2024 Pony Finals. In addition to ending 2023 with WPCSA titles in English Pleasure and Trail he also earned the NorCal Pony Hunter championship – proudly representing Welsh ponies in the open world and completing a very special year with his kid. Just to add some icing on the cake he also completed the last Welsh points necessary to earn 15,000 progeny points for his dam and completing her Dam Order of the Dragon award.
Helicon Steppin’ Out
Born June 19, 1995, Helicon Steppin’ Out, (aka, Cobby, Coblet, Cobby Cakes, Cobbeletto), by Brynarian Briton, out of Okeden Clover. Cobby is a Section D Welsh Cob, standing 15.2, bay with two white rear socks, and a large blaze coloring his noble head.
Although, Cobby hasn’t competed in WPCSA for many years, he garnered Reserve National Champion Cob Colt as a foal, Grand Champion Gelding multiple times, English Pleasure Champion, and trotted to the Tri-Color in Pleasure Driving, several times with his breeders, Thalia and George Gentzel.
Since Cobby’s arrival in Colorado, after the passing of Thalia and George Gentzel, Cobby has continued to demonstrate his versatility and temperament of the Welsh Cob. Besides patiently teaching beginner English lessons, Cobby has shined and been an incredible partner to assist clients on their personal journey toward healing through Equine Assisted Therapy in the Denver Metro area. Cobby’s latest adventure has made him an integral part of Centennial State Vaulters (CSV) since he arrived in the spring of 2016 on loan from Molly Rinedollar.
His primary responsibility with Centennial State Vaulters is to introduce children and adults to the sport of Equestrian Vaulting, which is the art of gymnastic dance on the back of a moving horse. He knows his job without question and will always take care of his vaulters regardless of their skill level. He has provided many vaulters with the exhilaration of their first walk, trot, and canter while on the lunge. He gives the vaulters confidence to overcome their hesitation of standing on the back of a moving horse at any of the gaits, as well as and to experiment and try freestyle moves anywhere on his body. He is a game little horse who will always try his hardest to do what is asked of him. He has been the go-to horse that calms those children entering their first competition with all of their nervous energy. He has provided training opportunities for two-star and three-star vaulters wanting to perfect their clicks to handstand and other flight exercises. His canter provides an incredible amount of lift that belies his diminutive size relative to other vaulting horses. He has taught many wanting to learn how to lunge for vaulting and is a model citizen for children to learn how to groom, lead, and tack up their charge for class.
He has a humorous/punkish side that he displays daily by trying to escape his stall to go on a walk about. One must be careful because he will be out evading his captors with a stealth only seen because of his previous successes whether at home or at a show.
Entering his 29th year-Cobby is an old soul with the kindest eye. He is loved by everyone, including his Haflinger buddy-Einstein, and brings a smile to their faces and hearts! He truly is a gem of a horse, a magical fairy dream pony who exhibits the very best that the breed has to offer.
KML Maximus
When I found Max in MO as a 10 month old weanling, I fell in love immediately. His beauty and brain paired with a gorgeous coloring and a wonderful pedigree were the attributes that made the decision to bring him home to Georgia very easy.
With this foundation it is my ultimate goal to develop him as a sport pony in the disciplines of Dressage and Eventing and to perform as an ambassador for the Welsh Breed at open shows.
First things first, Max attended his licensing with Westfalen NA as a German Riding Pony and was approved with very respectful scores of 8 for type and free jumping.
My goal for 2023 was to give him positive experiences in the Young Horse Show Series and to eventually qualify him for the Finals in Tryon in November. With a qualifier show held in Chatsworth, GA this past May he exceeded all my expectations and received an 8.41 in the Free-jumping and a 7.91 score in the in-hand/liberty class to go home with two 2nd places.
Young Horse Show Finals were here, held at the prestigious Tryon International Equestrian Center and with close to 150 young horses competing from yearlings to 5 year olds we were definitely surrounded by amazingly well bred Warmbloods and ponies. By now Max was also started under saddle.
He absolutely rocked this u/s qualifier as well and placed 2nd with a score of 8.08.
To make it short, the following is the list of accolades this special pony boy won and received during the finals and for year end awards:
1st place FINALS 3 year old under saddle class with 8.79 with following single scores: Walk: 8.85 | Trot: 8.5 | Canter: 8.75 | Rideability: 9.03
3rd place FINALS 3 year old in hand/liberty class with 9.22 (out of 94 horses)
Highest Score out of all 3 to 5-year old horses under saddle
Highest Scoring Stallion of another breed recognized by Westfalen NA
1st place Ponies USA overall highest score for in-hand/liberty
5th place Ponies USA overall highest score for free-jumping
Ranked Top 10 in the USEA Discipline Rankings “Eventing” with a score of 8.41
Earned his breeder “Monet Lammers” a 1st and 3rd place in the YHS Top Finals breeder rankings.
While this success and all the ribbons are an amazing accomplishment for such a young pony and truly confirm his athleticism, I also have to brag on his charming character, his will to please and to perform and his ability to take in new situations confidently and courageously.
Our first competition year in the open show world has been nothing short of EPIC. He surpassed all my expectations in every single category. I already knew that he’s very talented and special when I bought him off of a short video. But still, so much can happen and a competitive future is never guaranteed.
For now I’m just very grateful and proud to have produced him and for him being such an asset to the Welsh Breed. Not every pony can play in the big league! Here’s to Max – our “Wunderkind”!
Fellow breeders and horse friends agree and his fan club has been growing with every outing.
Therefore, I think he deserves to be “Welsh of the Year 2023”!
*Waxwing Party Special
| Intelligent. Gentle. Kind. These are all words to describe *Waxwing Party Special (Moelview Masquerade x Mynach Miss Prim). But the word that best describes him is, Extraordinary.
His extraordinary presence in the show ring: At only 2yrs old, this colt is winning numerous Supreme and Reserve Supreme Championships against some of the best Welsh in the country. This November, he had the opportunity to compete at the prestigious Royal Horse Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON Canada. Here he was awarded Res. Grand Champion Section B Welsh. And then went on to win Champion Youngstock, and awarded the Lionel Leach Perpetual Challenge Trophy presented by Mr. Adrian Bowen of Wales. At this same show, he placed 1st in his 2yr old colt class for the Sport Pony Star Search, proving that he has what it takes to not only win in the Welsh breed ring, but the Hunter ring as well. All of his accomplishments still don’t compare to what makes *Waxwing Party Special so extraordinary, and that is, his extraordinary character. I could have chosen a professional picture of him, all decked out in garlands and awards. But instead, I chose this picture of him; at home educating one of almost a dozen groups of children about Welsh ponies, all while being handled by my 13yr old daughter. *Waxwing Party Special spent the month of May being an ambassador for the Welsh breed in our local community. He patiently stood and let each and every child pet and adore him. He taught them that Welsh ponies are extremely smart, gentle, and athletic. He taught them what foods ponies eat, and what treats are their favorite. And why it’s not good to feed ponies treats without asking their owners first. He demonstrated how Welsh ponies are shown in the breed ring, and if they do well, they get to wear a beautiful flower garland! I’d love to see *Waxwing Party Special named Welsh of the Year, but knowing that he has made a lasting impression on those who have met him, is what matters most. And I am forever grateful for having him in my life. |
WHW The LatestBuzz
WHW The LatestBuzz is a half-Welsh/half-Arabian sired by the well-known Flying Diamond the Bailef. Buzz is the youngest of this cross I have repeated three times over the years. . In 2020, his big brother, my heart horse, WHW Just Baiyl Me Out foundered, and fought a good fight for a long time. I was devastated and didn’t ride for over a year, though I showed Buzz and a couple others in hand. Buzz had really big shoes to fill. When it was time to start Buzz in 2022, he took to it like a duck to water. This past year, Buzz and I crossed something off our bucket list-we went to the Arabian Sport Horse National show at the WEC in Ohio. I was just hoping for a Top 10 in a class, but we came home National Champion Open Half-Arabian Sport Horse geldings Hunter Type 3 and older!!! I couldn’t believe it! In addition, he came home with 5 Top Tens in different disciplines: Hunter Hack Junior Horse, Sport Horse under saddle dressage type, Training Level Dressage Junior Horse, Sport Horse in Hand Amateur to Handle Hunter Type and Sport Horse in Hand ATH Dressge Type. He was one of a handful of ponies at the show and so many people stopped to visit and admire my sweet, kind boy. A few weeks after Ohio, at the American National, he was selected Grand Champion half-Welsh, and won several performance divisions at the show. Buzz truly exemplifies the things we love about our Welsh ponies-trainability, kindness, hardiness, and a love of his people, all in a correct, pretty pony package. We look forward to reaching more people as we venture into the dressage world in the pony division in 2024. Thank you for your consideration!
Voting
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VOTING CLOSES FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 at 5:00 pm Eastern time