Natives in all their glory!

Nothing strange about that, I hear you say, but none of them were wearing New Zealand rugs – a remarkable sight, in my view, when every other horse in the country seems to be wearing one.

I am sure they had been wearing them previously, so I can only assume that the unseasonably mild weather inspired their owner to take them off.

Despite the fact that none of the ponies here wear rugs during the winter, I noticed a few weeks back that the coats were starting to move – something attributable to longer day length, rather than rising temperatures, I suspect.

On this subject, I was interested to see images from this year’s National Stallion Show in The SF which showed the three Scottish native breeds in all their glory and each showing a distinct difference in show production.

Knowing only full well that Clydesdale exhibitors seldom, if ever, rug their horses, I was most impressed by the fantastic coats on the winners, possibly a product of lights but more likely produced by oil-rich feed.

Conditioning and turnout are a feature of the breed’s production, the former costing a fortune no doubt and the latter achieved by hard graft, better described as a labour of love.

As many of you will know, there are many dangers lurking in feed bags for the ambitious but ignorant exhibitor, not least of which is the dreaded laminitis.

Gleaming coats and plenty of hair are particular features of the Clydesdale and many a show exhibit will live its life inside, often surrounded by electric fencing to make sure none of the latter is rubbed off.

I don’t know if it’s a Scottish or simply farming tradition that hair features high on the agenda of show stock, as my cattle friends are also consumed by the importance of hair and lots of it.

Prior to the bull sales, many a cattle shed will be blasted with cold air from huge fans in an effort to achieve plenty of coat. And then there is the copious amounts of lacquers and gels which are applied to make it stand on end on show day.

Given that judges have probably also adopted the same production techniques themselves, one has to wonder if they are conned by would-be prize winners.

Added to that the large amount of touching and feeling that goes on when judging cattle (something that we seldom see in the equine rings) one has to wonder why it is all so necessary.

Shetland exhibitors also place great value in hair, especially mane and tail, although there seems to be little regard for its quality. Quantity is the name of the game and wo betide any suggestion to shorten or thin it.

In terms of image, too much hair can spoil the overall picture. However, more worryingly, is the difficulty to see below or behind it when judging, particularly the hocks, which are almost impossible to view.

At this time of year, Shetland ponies are presented in their full winter woollies. In all fairness to their exhibitors, in keeping with breed etiquette, these diminutive ponies have to be shown in their natural state and most are presented in this way whatever the time of year and especially in Scotland.

Southern Shetland ponies appear to undergo a full beauty treatment before entering the ring and, dare I say it, may even enjoy the shelter of a stable throughout part of the year!

Looking at the Highland champion, there is a marked difference in the show production here, as the champion had been clipped out. This led me to wonder if any previous champion had appeared in such a body coat – perhaps you’ll write and let me know.

Given that this particular pony is currently being campaigned in the dressage arena as preparation for ridden classes in the show ring, it is completely understandable that he is clipped during the winter months and fully within the breed regulations.

It is a sign of the times that our native stallions are appearing in the performance field and encouraging to know that the best our breeds have to offer are included.

All too often in the past, performance was regarded as something for the less worthy examples of the breeds and something from which the best were exempt.

With few breeders’ pockets as deep as those with performance in mind, it is little wonder that the best go to performance homes, which is no bad thing provided that they return to the breeding ranks at some point in their lives and not lost to the breed.

This wasn’t quite the case recorded recently when some 21 colts and stallions were presented for the KWPN select sale of dressage horses as part of the grand final to the society’s stallion grading at held at Hertogenbosch (Holland), from February 1-4, this year.

The select entry grossed almost €1.2m with the top price of €160,000 for Jerez, paid by well-known performance horse and pony breeder, Eric Koele, who adds this impressive son of Vivaldi to his Turfhorst Stud, at Wesep, in Holland.

Meanwhile, the next top price of €150,000 was paid for the impressive black colt Jetlag, which went for training and stud duties at the famous Helgstrand dressage establishment, in Denmark.

Both purchases were striking in colour (black), showed much quality and with exceptional movement obvious for all to see on the live streaming which came from the event.

The excitement at this well organised auction was palpable and a great advertisement for the breed throughout the world.

Closer to home – while fully appreciative of the wonder of the technology which has gone into the modern rug – long gone are the days when our outwintered ponies were heavily laden with jute rugs and woollen blankets to help shift the coats for the early shows.

Currently, the need for that helping hand is no longer necessary –how much easier it has all become.