Poppy fields in the Land of Oz

Still way behind with my blog posts! My latest excuse is that I have been waiting in vain for requested photos of the Supreme Championship at the Victoria All Welsh show. These were taken during my judging trip to Australia at the beginning of December. I had a busy three days at the show judging a wide variety of ponies and cobs both in hand and ridden, before visiting the famous Nawarrah Park and Weston Park studs where I saw some wonderful cobs and ponies - here I am with Janet Evans at Weston Park.
The next few days were spent with friends Chris and Janet Murphy on their Welsh pony stud in lovely country near Canberra. http://keyiwelshponies.com/. They own the young colt Pontsteffan Simwnt, by our stallion Cwrtycadno Cymro - he flew out to Australia in 2009, and has just produced his first foal to everyone's excitement - here is said foal with proud father looking on. The following weekend I flew over to judge at the Tasmania Welsh show. As my co judge Kathy Sheil of the Dukeshill stud had unfortunately fallen ill at the last moment, I ended up judging all the classes which made for a challenging day. I was very taken by Tasmania and a bit sad that I had had to cut short my trip - fortuitously as it turned out, as I just missed the Heathrow closures caused by snow! I had a most enjoyable and relaxing stay with Welsh pony breeder Tina Taylor of the Nattai River stud http://www.nattairiver.com/ and her husband David, who runs a large sheep station near Campbelltown. Tina's grandfather and mother were responsible for early imports of Welsh ponies to Australia. Here are Tina and David in front of their delightful home which is set in the middle of a beautiful garden. Some farmland is given over to the remunerative crop shown below

If you don't recognise it, it is opium, which they produce under licence for medicinal purposes, e.g. for codeine!

I was also delighted to receive my second Australian sponsorship from Welsh cob enthusiast Sabina, who has provided me with an Acu-light http://www.acu-light.com.au/ . This heals injury and relieves pain by applying laser light to acupoints in both humans and horses. I am sure it will be an invaluable resource in the months to come.
Here are Janet (left) and Sabina (right) at Gundegai in front of the monument to the Dog on the Tucker Box which we passed en route to Janet's home.

I was very chuffed to visit it, as the last time I did was when my family spent some time driving round Australia nearly 50 years ago after my father retired from the Malaysian Education Service. In those days it was stuck by itself at the side of the road, whereas now it is surrounded by gardens and merits a visitors centre. If you want to know the story of the Dog click here.