The Late Eva Smith
Eva born in 1930, was brought up on Berry Farm, Scalloway and had a great passion for farm life at both their Berry Farm and their farm at Pitmeden, Aberdeenshire. Alongside her brother, the late Jim Smith they also took over the running of the family business Jamieson & Smith Wool Brokers following the passing of their father and the company’s founder, the late John Smith.
Eva alongside her late brother Jim ran the Berry Shetland Pony Stud. The Berry Stud is known and respected worldwide for quality miniature and standard ponies. Berry bloodlines trace far back in the stud books and can be found in ponies pedigrees the world over.
Eva was a keen horsewoman from a young age, having several bigger horses throughout the years alongside the Shetland Pony Stud. She was a great supporter of the Pony Breeders of Shetland Association and stewarded annually for years at the Pony Sale, up until she retired just a few years ago.
Eva was a well respected judge, and at 17 became the youngest judge of her era to judge at the prestigious Royal Highland Show. Eva’s passion for the standard pony remained strong throughout, with Jim’s preference to the miniatures. 2017 saw Eva’s homebred mare ‘Willow of Berry’ achieve the highest score since the evaluations started in 2006 at the Shetland Pony Evaluation Scheme with 92%. Many of the Berry ponies achieved Gold Awards at the Shetland Pony Evaluations including ‘Rum of Berry’, ‘Watzo of Berry’ and ‘Zorti of Berry’. Eva and Jim’s ponies were regular prize winners in the showring, including Supreme Champion at the Millennium Show, Supreme Champion at the Viking show in 2010 and Miniature Ring Champion in 2012 to name just a few.
Eva was a stalwart for the Shetland Pony, always keen to share her knowledge with those who asked. She will be hugely missed by all who knew her, and by the Shetland Pony World as a whole.
Gallery
