SPES 2019 Report

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July saw the Pony Breeders of Shetland Association begin their week-long celebration of the Shetland pony with the annual Shetland Pony Evaluations. Now in its 13th year, it was a fantastic opportunity for visitors from far and wide to witness the Evaluations and how it operates here in Shetland. Shetland is the only place in the UK with a mechanism to evaluate pedigree Shetland breeding stock following the cessation of the Society Stallion Inspections in 2006. The Pony Breeders of Shetland Association were keen to help maintain and protect the Breed Standard, and high standard of ponies in Shetland, and therefore introduced the Evaluations to Shetland in 2006. Over 100 stallions have been forward over the last 13 years. In 2010 the Shetland Pony Evaluation Scheme expanded to include performance tests, in the range of Long Reining, Ridden and Driven, and in 2011 the Evaluation expanded to include the evaluation of breeding mares. 3 Judges independently mark and give comments on each pony, referring to the Breed Standard. Each pony is checked by the vet on the day for soundness, then viewed by the judges on a hard surface and then on a grass area. This year saw Else Enemark from Denmark, Yvonne Held from France and David Gibson from Yorkshire judge for a full 2 days with 9 stallions and 11 mares forward for evaluation and 1 ridden test. Sheena Anderson also provided a live news feed throughout the 2 days onto the Pony Breeders of Shetland Facebook page; something new and with the times! This was greatly appreciated by many viewers and hopefully widened the audience even further into what we do here to preserve and protect the Breed.

Stallions were presented on the Saturday, in a day of torrential rain, but this did not dampen the spirits of either pony, judges or our international audience. Of the 9 forward, 4 received Gold Awards and 5 received Silver Awards. One pony was forward for the performance tests, and in this case it was a stallion doing a ridden test, achieving a Gold Award. Sunday was a much more pleasant day of weather, with 11 mares forward achieving 5 Gold Awards, 4 Silver Awards and 2 Bronze Awards.

Thanks must go to Mary Ann Anderson for the kitchen duties ably assisted by Rosemary Cross who stepped in to provide the extra soup, and all who baked and contributed to the fantastic spread of food on both days. Thanks to Miriam Krause for Vet duties on the day, Yvonne, Else and David for judging and Abigail Robertson for Stewarding. Photographers Sheena Anderson and June Brown, and Charlotte Slater for doing the fast processing of the results onto the website.

Beechnut Of Berry being awarded her Gold Award from judge Yvonne Held with owner Bjorn Larsen

Brenda and John Laing with Eynhallow Dutch Prince celebrating their Wedding Anniversary

Buxted Military Man being awarded a Gold Award for his Ridden test with rider Rebecca Fraser. Judges David Gibson, Else Enemark and Yvonne Held

Lynda Cochrane, Ayrshire with Parlington Viola and Irvine Burgess with Trondra Prea in the award presentation