Our First Pony: Farnley Selkie 

                              

 

The Beginning of Glynmagic Welsh Pony Farm

As a child I begged my father for a horse everyday until I was 5 when he finally took me to ride an old Thoroughbred broodmare.  I then began riding anything I could find which eventually meant I was training 2 year olds for the racetrack risking life and limb in the process.  When my children wanted to learn to ride we began by leasing an older horse while I looked   for a pony.  After looking at a multitude of pony breeds and crossbreds, I eventually recognized that the Welsh pony had the temperament, movement and range of ability that would take my children through almost any discipline they might choose. Six months later I found a made, medium Welsh pony, Farnley Selkie, a Farnley Luster descendent, who became devoted to Rachel my youngest.  Fortunately I was able to lease two small Welsh ponies for my other two daughters, Lara and Dru. These two smaller ponies gave the girls such confidence and freedom that I became convinced that the small pony is truly the correct way to start a child riding.  While the girls were riding the leased horse I had to do much of the grooming, putting on the saddle and bridle and always had to be with them while they rode in the arena.  With the smaller ponies the girls could groom, tack up, and get on the ponies all by themselves.  While the horse was too big and powerful for the girls to handle without supervision, the ponies were a perfect match and they could ride anywhere without my fearing they were over mounted. The kids could now race around the farm, go on trail rides, picnics, swim, jump, play games on their ponies and generally have a blast.  The ponies entertained the girls endlessly.  On the little ponies the girls could fall off laughing and hop right back on and continue whatever they had cooked up to do on the ponies for the day. 

The girls were having so much fun riding their ponies that I wanted to be able to join them.  I eventually bought a large pony to train for the girls to move up to.  This led to the discovery that  the large pony was a good size even for myself at 5'8".  Brigantine, at 4 years old, was a great ride and she had gaits like glass.  Everyday women are learning that the medium and large Welsh pony is a beautiful mount that they can handle and enjoy.   Today I sell many of our ponies to mothers like myself who are training them for their children to ride.  One wise Mom bought a pony for her year old child and then had the neighbor children riding and showing the pony.  I can't think of a better way to get a quality, made pony for your child at an affordable price.  Women nearing retirement years are buying the ponies for themselves to ride.  Not only are the "original Welsh bred" ponies smarter than horses they are also less of a threat to our coveted mobility.  

To insure success with our breeding     program we selected mares that our children rode and showed successfully.  This proved we were starting with quality, child worthy stock that we knew were easily trained.  Next we matched those mares with mature, already producing stallions.  Stallions that our youngsters could handle, which descended from the proven performance lines of Sylvia's Comet and later GlanNant Tango. The formula is so simple...go with the "tried and true" so there are no unpleasant surprises in the ranks of the foals.  We didn't have to wait while our stallions grew up to find out what their temperament was going to be at maturity and if they could produce solid, dependable, performance ponies for children. 

  Lithgow Houdini at 28 years of age.

 

Our breeding program began by applying a "Touch of Magic" - the Great, Lithgow Houdini.    

 

National Champion Section B Welsh Stallion

Lithgow Houdini

Sylvia's Comet x Magic

12.2 Grey Section B Welsh Pony Stallion Foaled 1966
 

National Champion Lithgow Houdini, son of the great hunter pony producer Sylvia's Comet, was foaled in 1966  at Lithgow Pony Farm in Maidens, Virginia. He was sold to Grazing Fields Farm, Massachusetts where he spent some twenty years.  In 1986 he joined the breeding program of Cheryl Wilson at Bristol Pony Farm in Texas.  While at Bristol he sired a number of  outstanding mares including, Bristol Lotus (Bristol Little Egypt),  Supreme Champion Tylwyth Enchantress (Tylwyth Talent), Rosmel's Maricella, Rosmel's Morning Glory the 1996 WPCSA National Reserve Champion Section A Mare, Rosmel's Wildheart and Bristol Serafina (Bristol Serendipity).   At age 28  Lithgow Houdini reigned at Glynmagic where he repeatedly passed on his kind temperament, tremendous movement and presence.  In 1994 Houdini worked his magic and produced our champion stallion Glynmagic Copper Comet.  In 1995 Houdini produced our Grand Champion mare Glynmagic Three Wishes.  Lithgow Houdini passed away in 1999.  His last foals were born in 2000.  We miss Houdini and are eternally grateful to him.

Additional Pictures and Pedigree

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