Breed Show Letters
Some of the letters received by our Breed Show Secretary following the event
(27th August 2009) BREED SHOW LETTERS (1)
Can I thank you and your colleagues on the committee for an absolutely wonderful show?
I think I said that having been on the 2008 show committee I have some idea of what goes into a show and I know I speak for all of those visitors on the Clickimin site when I say we had a memorable time.
The staff at the centre, the show staff, stewards and helpers could not have done anything else to make our visit so memorable.
The pageant on Sunday was a triumph – we had a little taste of the concept in Sweden but could not achieve the level of co-ordination and quality of dress and exhibits shown on Sunday because we were travelling so far. Pat Renwick must have been very proud to see such a wonderful demonstration of the idea she had “piloted” in Sweden with the British contingent at the International Show. We will certainly look forward to the video/DVD that will no doubt follow.
The visits that we were able to take part in confirmed our previously limited experience of the warmth and sincerity of Shetland hospitality and we are appreciative of the effort of breeders and others who contributed to such enjoyable experiences.
I feel sure that you are already planning for the next time the Breed Show is offered to Shetland!!!!!!!!! Well maybe not quite just yet but you know it is never too soon to start.
Please extend our best wishes to all concerned and thank you most sincerely for what has to have been one of the best experiences we have had in over thirty years of Shetland showing.
It is perhaps best summed up with the phrase;
“We came as guests and left as friends.”
Kind Regards
All at Butterby Shetlands
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We have arrived back here in East Yorkshire this evening with a stop over yesterday in Clackmannonshire to let the ponies run at grass for a day.
Please convey our best wishes and a big thank you to the Shetland Committee and Islanders for all the hard work in staging a wonderful week at the Breed Show. Nobody has staged a show like it in the UK, completely on par with the wonderful International shows that we have competed at over the years.
Once again many thanks
Joy and Michael Barugh. Birchmoor Stud.
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Just to let you know that we thought the Breed Show went superbly well.. The standard of ponies was great and the whole event was well organised and ran smoothly.
Hope you are all proud!
Fiona and Jim
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Congratulations to the Shetland folk who planned and pulled off an excellent show at Clickimin last weekend. A wonderful array of ponies with well turned out ponies, riders and carriages.
I am glad to hear that the two young ladies who had a spill with their trap after some children spooked the pony were unhurt and that the pony too came to no harm. All credit too, to the man who caught the fleeing animal and brought it to a halt from a full gallop, it was a timely intervention.
The show as whole was not marred by this incident. It demonstrated how well the organisers responded to what had happened by clearing spectators from the problem area and making sure that no more ponies could be accidentally spooked in the same way. It was proof of sound organisation.
For me the highlight of the show had to be the heats for the Shetland Pony Grand National, with some very spirited young riders and ponies giving all their best efforts around the grand arena, taking the fences in their stride. The final was a classic finish with the pony and rider in second position coming through on the outside at the final bend and showing real stamina, gradually pulled alongside and then ahead of the leading pony, which was beginning to tire after leading the field for so long. Exciting stuff indeed and the crowd responded with roars and cheers of delight and encouragement.
I can't wait until the next Stud Book Society show comes to Shetland and that record entry of ponies in their centenary year will surely encourage them to come back.
It was also good to hear that the show's Supreme Champion is an animal born and reared in Shetland. Of course it should be no surprise really that the best stock is raised in the home of the breed, but lovely to see it confirmed and with such a fine animal.
Well done all of you who worked so tirelessly and gave visitors and locals alike such a splendid experience.
Leslie Lowes
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I'd just like to say a very big thank you to the Shetland Breed Show Committee for the fabulous show last Saturday. They not only ran the show but also organised many stud visits in the preceding week together with a very interesting seminar and the Shetland Pageant which took place on the Sunday morning in pouring rain! It was the best Breed Show for several years and one which will be very hard to equal let alone better. Well done everyone. Can't wait for the next one in Shetland in 10 years time.
Tee
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We'd like to congratulate the organising committee for an absolutely awesome show, in fact an entire week of events. From the stallion evaluations, stud visits, pony index, the stabling, show rings, pens & general layout at Clickimin, the show catalogue, rossettes & other merchandise, stewards, judges, announcers, pageant organisers, Grand National organisers, parking attendants, Red Cross volunteers, photographers, etc. There are so many folk to thank.
We had an exhibitor & a friend staying with us. They have attended quite a few Breed Shows & said they have never attended such a well organised & set up show. They added that this one would take some beating. They were thoroughly impressed.
Thank you all.
John & Mari
Benston Stud
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We wish to put on record our thanks and appreciation to the Festival Committee for all the obvious thought and hard work put into organising and running such a memorable and entertaining week of events. We found the stallion assessments and subsequent seminar very interesting and they gave us food for thought.
It was obvious that the stud owners went to a lot of trouble for the stud visits to make their ponies available for viewing and the hospitality displayed, not forgetting all those who provided food for us on the tours, was second to none. Please convey our thanks to all concerned.
It was a pleasure to be present at the first ever Breed Show held on Shetland and we offer our congratulations to all those who enjoyed success. Congratulations are also due to Pat Renwick and her family for the organisation and running of the pageant and to all those who took part, especially those who endured the rain and cold with no protection other than a shirt or blouse.
Finally, we feel that the Breed Show & Festival on Shetland was a tremendous success and we look forward to the next time when Shetland (deservedly) hosts the Breed Show.
Thanks and best wishes
Davy and Jackie Bell, Glenlough Stud (N. Ireland)
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Although we were unable to attend the festival, we have heard that it was a great success and people were made to feel most welcome. the Breed Show itself obviously went well. So may we offer our thanks and congratulations especially that you have ensured that the reputation of the home of our beloved shetland ponies remains way out on top!
Gabrielle and Horace Davy (Abbotsbury Shetlands)