Springbourne & Blanche Welsh Mountain Ponies

Springbourne & Blanche Welsh Mountain Ponies - why not keep up-to-date by selecting the "like" button.

History

The Reynolds’ family interest in Welsh Mountain Ponies can be traced back long before publication of the first Stud Book in 1901. There are stud card in the family archive dated 1890 advertising Young Express Lion, who was bred by John Reynolds. Young Express Lion was foaled in 1884, by Telegraph Lion out of Mountain Maid who was shown throughout South Wales. Her prize cards dating back to 1897 are still in the family’s possession. The first pony to be registered by John Reynolds appears in Volume II of the Stud Book. This was Express Lion II, Stud Book number 42.

John Reynolds’s son E J Reynolds of 2 Blanche Street, Dowlais joined the Welsh Pony and Cob Society in 1919 and was actively involved in its affairs. David, his son joined as a life member in 1952, having been a member since 1948 whilst he was part of E J Reynolds and Sons. It was in 1952 that David secured the Blanche prefix.

When David married Lorna in 1965 they jointly used her Springbourne prefix, giving their daughter Cerys, the Blanche prefix when she was born.
David and Lorna initially bred Section A, B and D as well as producing and showing ponies for clients. These ponies included the Section A stallion Treharne Tomboy who won the In-hand Championship at the Horse of the Years Show on two consecutive occasions before being exported to New Zealand; and the Section B stallion Solway Master Bronze to win the Championship at the Royal Welsh Show.

Today

Since David and Lorna retired and David’s death in 2009, the stud has been run as a hobby concentrating on producing top class Welsh Mountain Ponies, Section A.

The Ponies of today all descend from five foundation mares which were acquired in the 1960s and 70s: Cwmgarn Heidi – the 'H' Family, Cwmgarn Gwen - the 'G' Family, Belvoir Columbine - the 'C' Family, Dundon Elf - the 'E' Family and Brynaiu Misty Morn -the 'M' Family.

All the mares on the Stud now carry either the Springbourne or Blanche prefix and have several generations of homebred stock in their pedigrees. New blood lines are introduced through stallion which are occasionally leased or purchased.

Mares and stallions bred at this most famous stud have been the cornerstone of many breeding programs around the globe. Each individual has gone on to create their own legacy and so in turn the wheel of creation keeps turning but the source still remains the same. Springbourne & Blanche is where champions are born and bred!