20 Jul 2021
UP, UP AND AWAY… TOKYO BOUND
As the British Equestrian Teams head out for the Tokyo Olympics the Welsh Pony & Cob Society wish them safe travels and a successful games, in particular Laura Collett, a previous winner of the W.P.C.S. Performance Awards back in 2003.
Laura, now 31, together with her mother Tracey, purchased the Premium stallion Glenwood Caradog back in 2000 from Ricky Perry (San Stud) who had spotted him at Glanusk Show. Caradog was bred by John and Betty Collorick, by Bengad Dogberry and out of their successful show mare Llanarmon Carys by Coed Coch Coron.
The partnership were named as Overall Supreme Champions in the 2002 Performance Awards with over 8000 points, which included the Scole Salver for versatility. The icing on the cake was a win at the Horse of the Year Show that year.
Another Ricky Perry find saw the partnership of Laura and Penwayn Ryan bred by the Watkins family, Talgarth, Brecon, by Moorcock Halcyon ex Penwayn Gussie by Twyford Sunspot, go from strength to strength in 2003, collecting the £1000 Supreme Working Hunter prize at Ponies UK, the Overall Supreme at the W.P.C.S. Performance Show, before heading off to the Horse of the Year Show to not just collect the Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony championship, but was named as the Supreme Pony of the Year. All in his first season under saddle.
Her first foray to the high spots was on Bockmer Winston who initially took her to HOYS in the M&M WHP in 1998 when she was only 8 years old .
Laura attributes some of her success to those early days, “I loved learning the ropes on my Welsh Mountain Ponies, especially Tubby (Penwayn Ryan) being HOYS supreme after I bought him unbroken off the Welsh mountains!”
On her Olympic selection Laura has said, “It’s just an unbelievable feeling after years and years of working towards something and thinking you’ll never achieve it.”
On behalf of the membership, we wish Laura and her German bred London 52, all the luck in the World and remember kids, your dreams really can come true when you start out with a Welsh Pony or Cob!
Follow Laura and the team on BBC! And the red button from Tokyo
Dressage Friday 30th and 31st of July, Cross Country 1st of August, Showjumping 2nd of August .
Pob lwc Laura! Good luck Laura!
Photo Laura Collett and Penwayn Ryan – Supreme at HOYS.
