Press Coverage
In a recent issue of 'The Arabian Magazine' Stallion/Paris Issue - December 2010 www.thearabianmagazine.com Bart is one of four stallions being featured, the opening paragraph is
Words by Laura PykeThere is so many different types of part-bred Arabian stallions out there choosing the right one to compliment your mare in body, mind and ability can seem a little daunting.As British sports pony breeding goes from strength to strength, I take time to chat to owners of some of the younger and less-trumpeted sires available at stud in 2011. They share news of their competitive results this season and their hopes for the future
The Arabian Magazine
Article 2010
Moving up a size, Blaenllain Doodleba is a 14.3hh half Arab show hunter type also registered part-bred Welsh; the remainder of his pedigree is made up of Thoroughbred and Riding Pony blood. Home-bred by Mandy Jones of Lampeter, he is as much a family pony as he is a show horse.
‘Bart’ as he is affectionately known was a product of unusual circumstance. As Foot and Mouth disease struck in 2001the showing season was decimated. Mandy and her sister Tina took the opportunity to breed from their beloved competition mare Blaenllain Doodleberry and she was put in foal to desert marathon winner Ali Nebal (Al Hakkim x Nebula). When the colt arrived the sisters thought some showing would be good for his general education and so mare and foal were entered at the Centenary International show where both took red rosettes. Young Bart also took the junior male championship award and secured his first WPCS gold medal. Mandy was certain she had a star on her hands and chose another Arabian suitor, the desert marathon winner Phariz (Nazarene x Pharissa) for Doodleberry the following year. The resulting second part-bred colt foal also proved a winner, taking the part-bred Welsh championship at the Royal Welsh show as a foal.
With Tina on the lead Bart took numerous other titles as a junior and then as a stallion. Mandy is the jockey and backed Bart at home; he has since enjoyed several ridden outings to win and take championships. He won a WPCS performance medal as section champion at his first show as a four year old. He also enjoys dressage and jump schooling at home and riding club. Mandy has somehow fitted all this in with starting a family, running the stud, freelance teaching and showing the youngsters. She reveals,
Bart’s laid back character has been so important as he can cope with gaps in his training really well. We never have to go over old ground and he’s always accepting. He loves nothing more than human attention, which is perfect as my three year old son is very keen to get involved with the horses. I know he is safe with Bart.
My son loves grooming and sitting on Bart and it’s clear to see that he loves my son in return. He is the ultimate family all rounder; we all have fun and success with him, even my non-horsey partner.He has the most genuine nature and it’s just a bonus that he is a stallion happy to live a full life and gift his best qualities to his progeny
“Bart’s progeny are doing very well in the show ring too, already taking championships and supreme titles at regional and county level as show hunter ponies, riding ponies, part-bred Arab and part-bred Welsh. His first crop of foals, born in 2007, and are due out under saddle for the 2011 season. They all seem to have inherited his good looks and trainability so we are excited for next year.”
“We are working towards putting him forward for grading with the National Stallion Association in the hope of becoming a premium stallion with the Arab Horse Society. In the meantime we keep enjoying him and seeing his stock develop. We have made him available by AI too as we think he has a lot to offer to anyone wanting to breed a quality competition horse from their mare.”
Words by Laura Pyke
Deputy Editor
The Arabian Magazine
