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FORLAN CAREFREE. I sold Carefree as a foal, he is very successful under saddle, by Friars Liberty. Dam: Fronbach Cutabove |
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2011 This year so far, a total of 30 Forlan ponies that I have heard about, have won Championships, 1st Prizes or placed in the first four, well done to all their owners.
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FORLAN MOONDANCER (Left) Honey Magician (Right) Bermuda here we come, they have been sold to Susan in Bermuda for her son to ride, today they left for the first leg of their journey to New York and are expected to arrive in Bermuda on Sunday, Is this a first? |
| FORLAN HONEY RHYTHM Supreme Champion In-hand The Tudor Rose Show |
| FORLAN HONEY CRACKER & FORLAN HONEYSUCKLE ROSE both 3RD WPCA Avon foal & Youngstock show |
| FORLAN HONEY RHYTHM. 1st & Overall Reserve Welsh Champion at The National Foal Show at Solihull |
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FORLAN HONEY COOKIE. 1st twice, 2nd and a medal winner at major shows this year with her foal by Blanche Makardo. |
FORLAN HONEY RHYTHM. 1st & Reserve Champion "A" Foal Clwyd WPCA Foal & Youngstock Show. Great news Gary, Radlee Stud, the owner of this lovely filly.
FORLAN CAPRICE Dear Betty, just wanted to update you with Forlan Caprice (Precie). As always she has been marvellous this showing season, and has given my daughter Olivia the most amazing time at the shows. I have sent you 2 photos of Olivia and Precie, the picture of us in the tweed outfits is Precie coming 2nd in the BSPS Brights Stars Final at the summer champs and the other picture is Precie in the evening performance at the British Elite Show gaining second place out of a huge amount of entries in the Open M&M Lead Rein. We are over the moon with her. Kindest regards Kate Smith
FORLAN HONEY DANCER Just to let you know we have had another fabulous summer on Dancer. She was 6th at the Royal International in the Mountain & Moorland WHP. Won and went champion and qualified for HOYS at the NPS Summer Championships at Malvern. Won and reserve champion in the Shearwater WHP at Ponies UK. The icing on the cake was coming 4th at HOYS in the PRP Rescue Services M&M 122cms WHP of the Year!!!! We were delighted and have some wonderful photos which I will try and get to you for your lovely website. We are going to the BSPS Heritage Championships this weekend and then Dancer is having a well earned rest until the new year!! Heidi is going to have another season on Dancer next year her 5th! She is such a fab pony and a firm favourite on the circuit. Since hearing from Dancers rider Heidi & mother I read in Horse & Hound that Honey Dancer & Heidi took the Blue Ribbon Worker Title at BSPS Heritage Championships, Congratulations.
FORLAN TRYSORI Champion
| FORLAN CONQUEST First prize in a dressage competition in Sweden. |
FORLAN RAZZMATAZZ 2 Supreme Championships, waiting for a photo.
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FORLAN BOWTIE. 1st. 1/2/3yr old class, Dorset County Show Show |
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FORLAN HONEYWISE At 15 years of age still winning rosettes. |
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FORLAN HONEY POPSTAR Avon & Border WPCA Show 3rd & 4th prize. |
| FORLAN HUCKLEBERRY FINN Just had an email to say that the new owners of Finn have been very successful showing him he is now 16ys old and this is the first I have had news about him since he was a foal. |
| FORLAN MISS MILLIE 1st M&M In-Hand Tenbury Agricultural Show |
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FORLAN MON AMIE Amie also had a good week end she
won her class on Saturday - M &M small breeds 4 years and over qualifying her again for Equifest this year. |
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FORLAN HONEY SUPREME.
1st The Welsh International, yearling colt. Forlan My Honey. 10th Barren Mare |
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Hi Betty, |
| FORLAN HONEY SUPREME 1st & Overall Youngstock Champion Blaenavon Show |
| FORLAN CANDYMAN 1st Worsley Gala Show, his 3rd 1st prize this year, all three ponies sold at Fayre Oaks last year are prize-winners |
| FORLAN EMMA 2nd Brood Mare Royal Highland |
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FORLAN CAPRICE
Dear Betty, following our phone conversation a week
or so ago, I have sent you a picture of Preecie and just wanted to say
how trilled we are with her, she truly has the most fantastic kind and
gentle nature. And both my little daughters adore her, Olivia whose only
just turned 4yrs and Isabel whose 2yrs. Preecie has given Olivia so much
confidence, not just with riding, but being around ponies on the ground.
Obviously my daughter Olivia is still very much a novice so we haven't
been out to an awful lot of shows, but in the few we have done Preecie
has qualified, Amateur Showing Society Summer Champs, Trailblazers
second round, BSPS Bright Stars Performance Supreme and Royal London
show. What a good girl she is !!!. We will keep in touch and let you
know how Preecie is doing from time to time. Kindest regards Kate,
Olivia and Isabel Smith |
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FORLAN BOWTIE
3rd SW WPCA spring show 1 2 or 3 yr Welsh A
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FORLAN MY HONEY Cheshire County Show 2nd in a very large Barren Mare class.
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FORLAN MOTOWN Reserve Champion, picture of him 3rd in a large Heritage class at Derby County Show, full brother to My Honey & Miss Millie. Betty this is Forlan Motown with his new family doing very well. Megan and little sister Jess love him to bits and have lots of fun looking after him. Just what all little girls should have, a wonderful pony x" |
| FORLAN CANDYMAN 1st Yearling colt East Midlands WPCA ( Top priced colt foal at Fayre Oaks 2010) |
| FORLAN BOWTIE 1st yearling South Western WPCA |
WEST MERCIA . Novice Mare. Just heard the line up was 2nd Forlan My Honey. 3rd Forlan Trysori. 4th Forlan Mon Amie. 5th Forlan Miss Millie, if only I had a picture!!!
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Just an update about Forlan Honey King he has started the year in great fashion.
3 shows results. Reserve Champion. next Show Champion, and at weekend Champion A medal
winner and Reserve overall welsh. |
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FORLAN MY HONEY 1st Stafford County Show in Novice Mare class. West Mercia 2nd in the Barren Mare class. |
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FORLAN MOONLIGHT. At her first show in Sweden 27th May, she received a silver medal. |
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FORLAN MY HONEY 2nd Shropshire & West Midlands, her first outing as a mare, she looks stunning, thanks Justin. |
Eight foals have arrived, four fillies, four colts, lovely lovely foals, more pictures to be posted today, keep looking
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Just a little update Forlan Honey Dancer won heritage junior riders WHP at the BSPS Winter Champs and went champion!!!!!!!! She got 20/20 for jumping!
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FORLAN CONQUEST Competing in a dressage competition in Sweden, his rider is 10 years old, well done Sandra. |
All systems go on the farm, completing new fences, fingers crossed all be be ready when more mares return from winter quarters, also avenues between paddocks will be in place, three mares home and in foaling paddock, Bron-Y-Coed Charm, Maescwm Music & Forlan Tiggy, about eight are due in April.
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FORLAN HONEY DANCER 1st Champion South West Counties BSPS AREA 9B in WHP Class. BSPS Area 4B 1st Mixed Open M&M, also winning WHP Supreme, as her owners said she is a little star, congratulations to her rider Heidi, what a team effort. I too am delighted that you have made it into Horse&Hound. |
| Three sons of Forlan Caradog had a successful weekend 3/4th April. |
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FORLAN HONEY SUPREME by Forlan Caradog 2nd West Midland Show |
FORLAN BOW TIE by Forlan Caradog. 3rd in 3yrs and under class at SWPCA Show, also 2nd in M&M
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RAVENSHEAD CHARMER by Forlan Caradog. 1st & Champion Welsh "A" North Eastern WPCA |
FORLAN CHRISTINA. Prize winner in youngstock M&M
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2011 Forlan Maytime went to her first show today. 26th February; Southern Counties Winter Woollies. She won the NPS Novice lead rein, won the NPS Open Lead Rein and was mini champion. She has qualified for the NPS winter finals at the Spring Festival. Not bad for her first show. The judge thought she had a wonderful front and liked her very much. |
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2010 FORLAN HONEY DUNDANDY. Picture of Minty & her father winning Adult & Child Concour De l! Elegance, attired in Easton Harriers colours, also winning the Concour de l! Elegance leidrein Minty & Dundandy have won Tiny Tots WHP, Ch Novice M&M at Suffolk County Show, also won local classes First Ridden & SHP, at the final of Equifest where he was third, it was a strong class and the winner of the class won HOYS. Dandy & Minty went off to pony club camp, happily jumping 2ft 9" and frightening mum silly, perfect in the bending race as he changed legs. Congratulations to all for a perfectly produced pony. |
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FORLAN MISS MILLIE. 2010 At four shows three first prizes. one second, shown by her owners Mr & Mrs Rose |
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FORLAN HONEY SUPREME 1ST The Winter Fair. Congratulations to Sara Stromberg his owner & to Justin Davies for producing this handsome colt. |
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FORLAN HONEY STAR. 1st Yearling, Champion overall yearling & Champion Overall Welsh, Congratulations Alex at The Raith Stud |
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FORLAN HONEY KING.
2 X Reserve Supreme. 4 x Champions. 2 x Reserve Champions.
8 x 1st prizes. Congratulations to his owner Sue Smith King is full brother to Forlan Honey Poppet, Honey Queen & half sister to Honey Dream who still reside at Forlan |
FORLAN MON AMIE, Sold at Fayre Oaks this year. 1ST. 2ND. 3RD. 4TH PRIZE. At three shows with her new owner. Congratulations.
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SOUTH WESTERN ASSOC FOAL & YOUNGSTOCK SHOW. Forlan Honey Bravo 1st. Forlan Bowtie 2nd. (pictured) |
WEST MERCIA SHOW MAY 2011 Judge. Francis Goggin "A"
27th October, always a difficult time when we have to say goodbye, all three ponies are buried beneath an oak tree in a field where they spent many happy hours.
FORLAN TREASURE 1985-2010 This lovely mare has left me with many happy memories, a delight to own and a breeder of champions in-hand & ridden. At Forlan all of her life.
FRONBACH CUTABOVE 1992-2010 The most beautiful mare to look at but never shown, her offspring always looked so much like her, a breeder of champions. Bought as a foal she was very much a part of the stud.
FRONBACH CHRYSTAL 1987-2010 Her claim to fame that she was Champion of The Royal Welsh in 1997. She spent her last two years at Forlan.
FORLAN MOONLIGHT the only filly I bred this year left for Sweden today, with nine colts born I am pleased that I have sold five, two being shown for me, so it is just Class Act & late born Moonraker still at Forlan, it will make an easier winter for me. The mares & young fillies will be going to their winter grazing, new fences are being erected ready for their return in the Spring. I am continuing with the stud for the foreseeable future, with lots of support from my son Jeremy, daughter in law Carman , my daughter Sara, her partner David and granddaughter Charlotte not forgetting Charlottes boyfriend Alex . My sisters & nieces & nephews have giving me a great boost and the determination to continue with what Brian and myself have built up between us.
FORLAN MOTOWN. His first show was 2nd, 3rd & Reserve Champion
FORLAN JOY. My Blue Birman, sadly put to sleep at the grand age of 20years, Brian & I bred beautiful Chinchillas Blue Persians and then Birmans, Joy was the last of the line.
FORLAN HONEY DANCER
FORLAN HONEY COOKIE 1st Brood Mare. Nantwich & South Cheshire Show 28th July Onwards & Upwards FORLAN CARADOG. 2nd in the sire ratings at The Royal Welsh, four by him in the first four, a colt came 8th. FORLAN RAZZMATAZZ son won the 2yr old colt class at The Royal Welsh FORLAN HONEY KING. Three First prizes& Supreme Champion 2010 |
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Brian French
Eulogy
By: Sara French 31st May
1931—1st June 2010
When I was 16 I danced the Waltz with my father. I had never learned to
dance but this didn’t matter. Dad danced so well all I had to do was follow.
Things went so much more smoothly when you let him lead!
On 31st May 1931 my father was born into the middle of the great depression; but
relatively untouched by the financial crisis, my Grandparents set up home on the
outskirts of Bristol. He remembered this time as happy, safe and comfortable,
but as World War II broke out everything changed. There was such risk from the
bombing raids that the family moved to the Village of Ford, trading modernity
for safety. My father was 8. In what
is
now the
idyllic setting of Mercombe Farm he may have struggled to adjust to the
conditions; no piped water supply, an outside toilet, no electricity, the
rations of war; and still the bombs fell, very close by. Gone were the servants.
Gone was the private tutor. When he talked about those years I was struck by the
fear and insecurity he must have felt but did not admit to - an only child and
in some way a lonely child in a house he never grew to love.
My father became a self sufficient young man with an appearance of
confidence and a talent for ball-room dancing. He was, they say, just a foxtrot
away from becoming a professional dancer. Strikingly good looking and with a
tantalizing tango; one 20 year old girl (arguably one of the prettiest in Bath
and so very like my daughter Charli)) caught the twinkle in his eye and set her
cap at him. For five long years, in the dance halls and clubs of Bath they
courted but mum never knew if he would save the last waltz of the evening for
her.
There is a photograph from that time that shows my mum gazing up at my
Dad with adoration and him looking like the cat that got the cream. Surely
this was my father’s greatest achievement - to conjure in
mum such love and determination that would keep their marriage alive for 48
years.
My father could not be described as a ‘new man’. Awash with testosterone,
he crafted us a house with his bare hands. Jeremy was born before it was built;
and I arrived just as it was finished. Over the years mum and dad worked side by
side. As a turkey farmer he was surely Wiltshire’s own Bernard Matthews. There
followed chicken… sheep…. the occasional pig… and rather incredibly…. rabbits;
almost branching out at one point into Alpaca!
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My parents are best known, though, for the Forlan Stud. With my mother’s
energy and my father’s management they created a stud that is
internationally renowned. He
gained an intricate knowledge of the bloodlines of the Welsh Mountain
Pony. My brother and I remember coming home on more than one occasion
and finding rolls of wallpaper unfurled on the floor with the breeding
of our ponies charted on the reverse. On hearing of his death a friend
reflected on Dad’s immense knowledge; he said ‘but now Brian has gone
who will I ask!’
In latter years Dad struggled with infirmity but would never admit the
impact of this. He adapted somewhat uncomfortably to the role of
supporting my mother as the success of the stud grew. They were always
together day and night for 48 years but Dad was most happy away from the
farm that had become a reminder of what he could no longer do. He craved
my Mum’s singular attention and liked nothing better than to sit in
Aberaeron with my mum still gazing at him, Rosie their Jack Russell
snuggling into him and a cream tea in front of him.
We want to say thank you for the friendship we have felt this last week
or so. It is clear that Dad was loved more than he knew. He made friends
at each stage of his life and so many are here today.
On 1st June, the day after his 79th birthday, my Father collapsed; and with a
characteristic show of stubbornness and spirit, fought against leaving
us; but now we have to say goodbye.
He was a man of contrasts.
He had the appearance of certainty………built on the
fragile foundations of insecurity.
He was an exacting father…….and a patient friend.
He was a gypsy…….who never roamed
Despite an education cut short……..he had a wealth of
knowledge.
He was a countryman through and through.
He was the only man my mother ever loved
He was our father.
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If I could get another chance.
If I could get another walk.
If I could steal one final glance, one final dance with
him.
I’d play a song that would never end.
How I’d love to dance with my father again.
Sara French |
All owners of Forlan Ponies please keep in touch, it is great to have an update .
| H&H 8th July Forlan Honey Dancer
1st, Reserve Ch M&M WHP Derbyshire. Forlan Emma
inhand 2nd Royal Highland. Forlan Honey Cookie 1st Reserve Ch
inhand Cheshire |
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Forlan Honey Dancer Qualified for Royal International WHP AT Royal Windsor & HOYS M&M at East Anglian Native Pony Show |
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Glanusk 2010. Two of Forlan Caradogs daughters were 2nd & 3rd, the picture is of Forlan Caradog taken in 2008 when he was Supreme Champion |
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FORLAN CAPRICE. 1st &Champion Mini Heritage
Novice Leid Rein. Hereford Marches Weekend March 27/28th 2010. |
MARCH 26TH 2010. I have said goodbye to Welsh Honey 34yrs & Honeybee 30yrs, so many many happy memories of these lovely mares. See front page.
| FORLAN CAREFREE 1ST & Reserve Heritage Novice Leid Rein & 3rd in Open Leid-Rein at BSPS Barleyfields, Etwell, Derbys. |
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FORLAN HELLO AGAIN 2nd Novice & 2nd Restricted Open at the BSPS WINTER QUALIFYING SHOW, his first show under saddle at the age of eleven. |
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FORLAN CELIC DREAM 1st Prize, shown 22nd November |
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FORLAN MAGIC MOMENT. Blaenavon Foal & Youngstock Medal Show 3rd. A very large class, twenty plus, superb fillies that would not have looked out of place at major shows. |
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FORLAN NEPTUNE. Champion Mountain & Moorland Small
Breeds 2009 See more pictures on Photo Gallery page |
SUPREME CHAMPION REVEL TORC
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Left to right. 1998 Glanusk park At home 28 yrs 10 years old 3 years old
| REVEL TORC 1971/2000 Sire:
Rhyd-y-Felin Serenllys. Dam: Revel Toots. By Bowdler Blighter . Writing this story of Torc has certainly exercised my memory, so many good times in his 29 years. In 1970 we bought a filly foal Revel Tootello, by Revel Cello at Fayre Oaks, Tootello was dam of Royal Welsh Winner Forlan Torchlight by Torc. Showing Tootello the following year at Abergavenny Show, Emrys Griffiths asked if we were interested in her half brother and we agreed to visit the Revel. There loosed in the lane was Revel Toots (Bowdler Blighter )and her golden dun colt (it was only at three years he showed his roan colouring). As they trotted up & down the lane we could only gasp at the colt’s superb action and he had the bonus of type and substance. One problem we had thought of buying a grey colt and said we would sleep on our decision, all night I dreamt of this handsome dun colt and at 7.30 am rang and said yes please. We agreed to pick him up at Fayre Oaks and as he was not handled we backed the trailers up and rested the ramps one on top of the other, Emrys climbed into the trailer and both trailers bucked and rocked until Emrys said (got him) we certainly hoped so, gates were opened to create a passage and with some struggling, he was transferred to our trailer and so homeward bound. The first decision was to name him, he was strong, he was Welsh, so Torc it was after a welsh collar of gold called a Torque or Torc. He was all that we wished for, as a youngster he won many championships, as a two year old he won 13 firsts on the trot and as three year old, amongst his prizes he was Supreme in hand at Southern Counties W.P.C.A.. Also he was Champion at Kington and his son Forlan Blue Boy then one year old Reserve Champion, the result of a mating to Bowdler Belladonna by Torc when Torc was a yearling. Blue Boy was Supreme Champion at Northleach, when ten years old. At four years old Torc settled in as stud stallion, he especially nicked with Fayre Waterfall our foundation mare and between them produced seven superb fillies. All prize-winners, there daughters retained were Forlan Welsh Honey who is still with us and after a time away, Forlan Welsh Melody, also Champion Forlan Sugar out of Littleworth Sunset, Forlan Bronwen full sister to Blue Boy whose grandson Forlan Bora Da was first as a foal at the Royal Welsh in 1996. Torc was a sire of mostly fillies. But the few colts were good, already mentioned Forlan Blue Boy, Forlan Sharpshooter 2nd/3rd/2nd in succession at The Royal Welsh, also Forlan Torchlight Reserve Champion youngstock at Royal Welsh, Time moved on and we had a wealth of Torcs bloodlines and he was leased to other studs, in 1995 his daughter Highland Lady May was 1st Small breeds Mountain & Moorland at Olympia and many of his offspring were successful ridden or breeding including Welsh Honeys full sister Forlan Welsh Cream, her son by Charlie was also a supreme ridden M&M pony. Torc loved to carry things around especially when young and I remember Brian had left his hammer in his field, I had last seen Torc galloping across the field hammer in his mouth, we did not find it until was found two years later, of course it was Brian’s best hammer. At thirteen Torc was broken in and for a year enjoyed jumping & hunter trials at 15 we brought him out again in hand at Forest of Dean where he was Champion “A ". Torc covered 10 mares away at stud in Wales in 1997 He always liked to run out but later in life he had a field shelter and hard feeds each day. He had always been kind and generous his temperament was superb which has followed down through all the generations. At the “A” &”B” Day at Glanusk in 1998 in the personality /veteran parade he gave a wonderful performance when asked to give a show. At the beginning of his 29th year he moved as well as ever and we have a video of him trotting round his field, he did not show his age. Two months later the day before the Welsh Pony & Cob Society AGM, he appeared to have a stroke whilst in his field, the vet was called and it was agreed the kindest thing for him was to put him to sleep, he is buried beside Fayre Waterfall . Revel Torc and Fayre Waterfall contribution to the Forlan Stud was enormous |
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FAYRE WATERFALL WITH FORLAN WELSH LACE
FAYRE WATERFALL
This is the 40th year of the
FORLAN STUD.One of our first foundation mares was
FAYRE WATERFALL who we purchased from Fayre Oaks as a foal in 1968. Waterfall arrived on the farm after we had become thoroughly tired of letting our land for grazing cattle especially bulling heifers that were forever getting out, it was decided that something else should take their place.We decided to look at ponies primarily as our children were young and might like to ride. Having looked at several Native Breeds it came down to the
Welsh Mountain Pony.1967 saw our first visit to
Fayre Oaks and the following year was momentous because we bought our first welsh mountain pony Fayre Waterfall as a foal. Trying to load her that day did not prove easy (I had only ever had experience with Show jumpers and Eventer etc) Looking back I remember two stalwart members of the WPCPS Mr. Llewellyn Richards and Waterfalls breeder Mr. Theron Wilding Davies arriving on the scene and helping us to load our new acquisition. Arriving home she settled easily into her new home.Two days later I decided to lead her out, a big mistake you do not lead a foal as though she is a well trained riding pony and in a flash she took off, I landed flat on my face hanging on for grim death, as at the time a lot of our farm was arable, there being no fences, had she escaped she could have travelled for miles
As I said previously I was used to equines that were broken in, but showing in hand was a new experience for me, a real learning curve, there followed lots of practice in the schooling paddock but we got our act and together over the years
Waterfall won many rosettes.Her first foal was by
Clan Pip, a colt Forlan Grey Falls, not a good looking foal, but very successful in gymkhanas and jumping then she had a colt foal by Bengad Nepeta and Eureka in 1976 she produced Forlan Welsh Honey by Revel Torc laying down a foundation for our stud and more lovely sisters of Honeys followed, more colts, but they were always average, Waterfalls daughters were her forte, it was only at the age of 25 having put her to Wilcrick Saturn she produced her very best colt a dun Forlan What HoAnother
Fayre Waterfall daughter who contributed so much to Forlan was Forlan Welsh Melody, a lovely breeder we decided to sell her when she was ten and bought her back when she was fifteen, she sadly was put down last year we have two of her lovely daughters that remain in the stud,5 generations on, Waterfalls descendants are spread over three continents. Waterfall’s filly foals name began with Welsh……. i.e.
Welsh Honey, Welsh Melody, Welsh Lace, Welsh Cream, Welsh Maid, after all it was not easy to find that many names beginning with W, then all of her daughter’s foals names began with the second name of their dam.
On the lighter side although Waterfall was never broken in she would allow our children and their friends to ride bareback, when she tired of her little riders she would drop a shoulder and they would gently slide to the ground.
Waterfalls temperament charmed everybody and she passed this lovely nature down through all her descendants many who are now doing so well in lead rein and performance classes with great success. In the spring of 1996 Waterfall looked tired and showing her age and the decision was made to put her down, she is buried in a paddock under an oak tree where she spent many happy hours. She was put sleep on the Monday and on the following Thursday I opened the Horse & Hound and in the
Prizewinners was her last foal then four years old Forlan What Ho.We have missed Waterfall over the years, but through her we made many friends. In this our
40th year we are always reminded of our foundation mare when we look at so many of her descendants that remain at Forlan.
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FORLAN WELSH HONEY |
Glanusk Park 1998 Northleach 1st Prize
This is the 40th anniversary of the Forlan Stud; an opportunity to write about a pony that has made such an impact on the stud. Forlan Welsh Honey was born in 1976 out of our foundation mare Fayre Waterfall (Bought at the Fayre Oaks in the year we founded our stud and living to the good age of 28yrs.) by Revel Torc our senior stallion who lived to 29yrs old. On the night of Honey's birth I found two angry mares battling over a beautiful dun filly foal, I picked the foal up and with some difficulty managed to carry her across the 10 acre field with two mares showing the protective maternal instincts in no uncertain manner, by jostling and pushing till we reached the gate, once the other side of the gate I invited the rightful mother to squeeze through the narrow opening, one happy mother safely with her foal and one not so happy mare the other side of the gate who foaled down an hour later.. After a few relaxed moments admiring this most beautiful new born. I phoned Brian for help from the stable phone. Brian was soon on the scene, after stabling the pair the foal was soon enjoying her mother’s milk. Honey looked good then at birth and has inherited her Sires ability to always look good under any condition, Torc always looked half his age and so does Honey. Wouldn't we all like to inherit such a flattering gene?
We knew we had a special filly and she made her first public appearance at the Southern Counties show Judged by Mr Meredith of the Craven Stud, where her mother won the novice mare class and Honey won the foal class and at a show where her sire Revel Torc had been Supreme Champion in 1974.
At four years old she had her first foal by Twyford Sprig. She produced 4 fillies and 3 colts by Sprig. Her daughters Honeybee and Honey Bubbles, are retained with her in the stud and have made their own mark by producing Champions. It was when Honey had her 3rd foal that we decided to show her at Northleach the only year she was ever shown as a Mare. Honey won the novice mare class and her foal Heather won the foal class. Also retained is Honeys daughter Honey Delight Reserve Supreme as a foal by Fronbach Hello Charlie. Another daughter Harmony was sold to Israel, Honeymoon by Brierwood Fullback, is at the Cwm-Meudwy Stud her daughter Hello Dolly and son Hello Jamie are Champions in America, Honeytime who won 1st prize only time shown at Northleach, was also out of Honey by Ovington Remus who was a Champion in Belgium sadly she died of grass sickness in Scotland. Honeysuckle by Synod Scamp
& Honeybun by Fronbach Hello Charlie are successful leidrein ponies and Honeybunch by Eppynt Superstar who is with Craigdorne stud.Honeys name is even more secure in the W.P.C.S. Stud Book through her male offspring Champion Hallmark by Synod Scamp owned by the Tallrares Stud, Champion Honey Buzzard by Springbourne Claret owned by the Coed-Tirio Stud, Champion Humdinger by Twyford Sprig, is in France and the many times Supreme Champion Honey Wizard and sire of champions is with the Craigdorne Stud.
Honeywise & Harvester are ridden ponies. Last but not least is Honey Dundandy who has been so successful under saddle
Back tracking to her seven foals by Twyford Sprig, we used to take Honey down to Ceulan on the third day of her season, cover her, put her in a stable and then enjoy a cup of tea and a chat, cover her again and bring her home, in fact she has had a foal every year but one of her breeding life.
Honey holds the record by producing a 1st prize-winning foal at the West Midland Foal Show five years in succession with some going on to be Champion or Reserve Supreme foal.
The only unfortunate incident in her life happened in 1997 when she badly injured her near hind leg, It took 12 weeks to heal with daily changes of bandages and a lot of T.L.C., but soon she was moving as well as ever.
It was a proud movement when Honey won the mare progeny class at the 1997 Royal Welsh Show with her sons Forlan Honey Wizard, Forlan Honeywise and her daughter Forlan Honey Delight.
In 1998 Honey was in the Personality/Veteran Parade at the highly successful A & B Field Day at Glanusk Park and belied her age as she settled into her wonderful trot when asked to give a show.
Her quality of life is good, she enjoys two hard feeds a day, hay is always available, she has a stable which is open to the a yard and the yard open to a field, she hates being shut in and as to a rug a definite no no
Honey's contribution to the Forlan Stud has been immense and she has given us years of pleasure. We have been privileged to have bred such a lovely pony
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