The Latest From the Ranch
written by Gretchen
October 11, 2001
Cool, cloudy, sunny, a bit of rain

First of all, today is one month from the date of the horrible attack on our Country. We need to take the time to pray for our leaders, that they would have wisdom in the days ahead. And we need to pray for the men and women in our armed services that God will protect them and guide them.

We are experiencing a severe drought here in Oregon this year. It made for a very mild winter last year, but now we are paying the price. We are having an "Indian Summer" and though we have had a couple of small rains, we are still WAY behind where we should be at this time of year. I am hoping that the rains come soon, and that we can catch up. The rivers are DOWN -- lower than I have ever seen in my whole life. And the pasture leaves a lot to be desired at this point. We are already feeding hay, and we don't normally start feeding until around Thanksgiving.

I've been working on the site here for a few days, and I'd especially like to invite you to visit the Section B Welsh Ponies page, as there are many new links on there to ponies and pictures you haven't seen before.

I would also like to introduce some new additions to our breeding program:

We are very much looking forward to what the spring will bring with our new foals. Here is what we are expecting:
Foals expected by Bristol Encore:
Clanfair Alana (Bristol Houdini x Alvesta Adora Belle)
Alvesta Adora Belle (Farnley Bellringer x Quorn Stoney Crossing)
RosMel Rose Red (RosMel Cotillion x Bristol Rachel-Rachel)
Bristol Safire (RosMel Black Magic x Bristol Serafina)
Bristol Rachel-Rachel (Bristol SunGod x Bristol Glorious Rachel) - this is still in the works.
Sired by Bristol Houdini:
Bristol Solara (Bristol Last Tango x Bristol Charlie's Angel)
Hobby's Sassy Lass (Windsong's Lewie Prima x Enternal Bright [AQHA])
Lonetree's Katy O. (Talybont Quicksilver x Tawny Mara [Welsh x Arab])
Sired by Lonetree's Romeo:
Nocturne's Crown Sensation (*Sydenham Nocturn x Gordon's Lady Ann)
Thornlea Amazing Grace (Penrhyn Gwilym x Thornlea Dancing Queen)

July 19, 2001
Unseasonably cool, but sunny

We have had a relatively cool and mild summer so far. We've even had some rain now and then!

Oh, the foals are SO cute right now. I just have to get out there and take some pictures so you can see them. I am just loving them!

We just had 3 mares checked in foal for 2002 and we are very excited!

Section D Welsh Cob mare, Nocturn's Crown Sensation (*Sydenham Nocturne x Gordon's Lady Anne), is in foal to Lonetree's Romeo (*Kentchurch Chime x Abbys' Holiday)! This foal will be a full sibling to Clanfair Lark in the Morning. The pedigree on this cross is just amazing -- double *Okeden Sensation and then many of the greats like Pentre Eiddwen Comet, Mathrafal Comet, and my own personal favorite, *Turkdean Sword Dance. If you are interested in purchasing this foal, I would suggest that you not wait to be placed on our waiting list. I expect that this foal will have many interested people before s/he makes his or her grand arrival next spring!

Section B Welsh mare, Bristol Solara (Bristol Last Tango x Bristol Charlie's Angel, 13.3 hands, is expecting her first foal by Bristol Houdini! This should be FANTASTIC. Some of just a few of the GREAT ponies in this pedigree are: Lithgow Houdini, Lithgow Wishnik (2x), *Coed Coch Ballog, Bristol SunGod, Bristol Elan, and GlanNant Tango. I can hardly wait!!!

Section B Welsh mare, Clanfair Alana (Bristol Houdini x Alvesta Adora Belle) -- who was our very FIRST Houdini baby -- will have our very first foal from Bristol Encore!!! Alana is a LOVELY mare, standing 13.1 hands, and I am expecting GREAT things from this foal! It is hard to wait!

We still have other mares that we are going to breed, but it has been a difficult year to get mares in foal. Mostly because they are not showing to the stallions the way that they have in other years. I am hoping to get all the breeding wrapped up soon.

We are preparing to leave for another show this weekend in McMinnville, Oregon. This show is put on by the Emerald Empire Welsh Pony Society. It is always a fun, low key show. I always look forward to going. We are taking Encore, and again Gerald Verkyl will do the honors showing him for us. I'll keep you posted.....

I am sending in my order for pictures from the photographer, so will have some nice new pictures of Encore to add here soon!

Hope you are enjoying summer in your part of the world!

June 22, 2001
Beautiful day

What a lovely spring we have had! While Oregon is experiencing a severe drought this year, it does make for some fantastic weather!

The foals are all growing wonderfully and they are in that inbetween stage where they are losing their baby fuzz -- but not enough yet! Most of them look like little racoons right now with rings around their eyes. Adora Belle's colt is the only one who's baby fuzz is the same gorgeous color as his foal coat. He is growing into quite a nice, handsome fellow. He will certainly make a fantastic performance pony.

The show season is off to a great start! We took Bristol Encore to the Golden Gate Welsh Classic in Woodside, California on June 8. Master showman, Gerald Verkyl of Goldhills Welsh, showed him for us there and did a terrific job. It was a double Gold rated show with two judges. The 2 year old Section B colts class was a group of beautiful ponies and Encore did very well placing first and second. He then went on to win the Junior Champion and Reserve Champion. We were VERY pleased with his performance! Not to mention that the Welsh folks in California have to be some of the nicest anywhere and we had a wonderful time visiting with everyone.

We were delighted to have the American National show come to within 2 hours of our hometown just this past weekend (June 15-17), so it made for an easy trip to the showgrounds. Again, Gerald Verkyl did a sensational job showing Encore for us. It was a double Gold rated show, with a judge for the American Nationals and a judge for the Oregon Welsh Pony Society, who put on the show. Encore won his class under the American National judge and placed second under the OWPS judge. He then went on to become the American National Junior Champion, and also won the Reserve under the OWPS judge. We are THRILLED to have our own National Champion!

These digital photos were taken at the Woodside show:

I had some lovely photos taken by a professional photographer of Encore at the National Show, and as soon as they arrive I will post them here for you to enjoy!

April 18, 2001
Cloudy, drizzling, not too cold though

Well, it was bound to happen. If you breed mares, EVENTUALLY the foals HAVE to come. It felt very long and drawn out this time, but we have had the following babies:
 
 

Welsh Partbred filly

(Bristol Houdini x Lonetree's Katy O.)

Beautiful chestnut filly, foaled April 1, 2001. We will be retaining her as a future replacement for her dam, who is now 18 years old. 
Section B Welsh filly

(Bristol Houdini x Bristol Rachel-Rachel)

Foaled April 16, 2001. 
This photo does not even begin to do this exquisite filly justice. She is just superb. The very first Bristol x Bristol cross for us - and she is quite everything you would expect from such a fine pedigree. We will be retaining her, as her dam is 20 years old.
Section B Welsh colt

(Bristol Houdini x Bristol Fandango)

Foaled April 16, 2001
Our second Bristol x Bristol cross, born on the same day as our first! (It was a big day!) He is quite a big handsome fellow, and much bigger than I had anticipated. You can see his foaling color here in the picture, but due to the white hairs near his eyes, I believe he will turn grey.

We are excited about the new foals -- now the hard part -- picking out names! We may call Katy's filly Cameo, but are undecided. Rachel-Rachel's filly will have a name beginning with an "R", but I have no clue what we will call the colt. He is very cute, by the way! Must be time to haul out the name lists!

Next to foal will be Alvesta Adora Belle (in foal to Bristol Houdini), and my partbred Bristol SunGod granddaughter, Hobby's Sassy Lass. She is in foal to a Quarter Horse stallion, and her foal should mature as a large pony. S/he will be for sale.