Final Show of 2025 - Youngstock

The Youngstock Show is always the last in the calendar of shows for the year here - and this time it was held at the Haras National at Pompadour again, which is a fabulous venue.

We took 3yo welsh B stallion, Hilin Dallas, and yearling section D colt, Orient Express de Maïka - for Dallas it is his last show as a youngster. It is always a bit more of an extra effort to go to this show because even though we were treated to a lovely day with regard to the weather, it is a difficult to time of year because of the weather - the ponies are beginning to get their winter coats, show preparation/showering them is much more difficult - so we always need to have that bit more motivation for this show.

Dallas was alot more focused than he was at the National Welsh and he presented himself very well. It is always lovely to have our thoughts and opinions confirmed - after winning his class, the judge said that he is "exactly the type of section B pony that he likes and wants to see". It was a shame that he did not place him in the section B championship, the ponies that were placed are not of the same "type" as Dallas - he is very old fashioned, something that we really hope he will pass on to his foals in the future.

Yearling D colt "Thomas", won his class (he was the only one presenting in it) but then went on to take Reserve Champion D, behind a very flashy black 3yo stallion, owned by his breeders. The judge was blown away by his exceptional movement and he was extremely pleased to hear that he will have a future career under saddle as he said "he will do very well"

So that ends the in-hand showing season for 2025 - now to continue with the ridden competitions and to keep all of the ponies (and horses) well fed, warm and comfortable over the winter months.