I started Ballytruckle Welsh Cobs in 2000 to breed quality Welsh cobs with lightness of movement, quality bone and a fantastic temperament. My criteria was and still is- a fun, sensible, pretty, weightbearing horse for me to ride. It has been an exciting and fulfilling journey so far, and I am pleased to say my whole family enjoy riding their Ballytruckle Welsh cobs and Welsh cob crosses on the hunt field, in the ring and on the arena. We welcome visitors to our Welsh cob stud from near and far and wish past and present customers every success at their chosen sport.
BLACK BEAUTY:This season's foal, the fabulous black filly Ballytruckle Kaleidoscope (Cwmkaren Beaufort Express (imp) X Ballytruckle Alexander Rose) at 4 months old. She has a perfect star (like Black Beauty) and 4 white feet (cant see them due to horrendous mud this summer).
STUNNING STALLION:Our resident stallion 5 yo Cwmkaren Beaufort Express (imp AUS) - Nebo Dyfrig Express (imp UK) X Sydenham Brioni (imp UK )
CHAMPION COMBINATION:Ballytruckle Shamrock (Welsh cob X tb) Champion Category C Showhunter Pony, ridden by Katherine Martin.
ON A RUN:Ballytruckle Sally Gap (Mill Creek Valiant X Star ( Indian Ore X Blazing Star)) 15-1hh 7 yo Welsh cob X tb mare ridden by 15yo Conor West over a spa at South Farms. Search "Sally Gap " to read more about this fun mare on this website.
Stud Aim
Our stud aim is to produce quality Welsh cobs and Large Welsh Partbreds as we believe they are the best riding horses possible for NZ riders and NZ conditions. The heritage of most NZers is from the UK so we looked at UK native breeds to find a breed that compliments our temperament. We have found the Welsh cob to be a dependable, longlived, strong horse with a good brain that can take our challenges of terrain and weather.
The features that we admire most about the Welsh cob is that they are easy to ride, they are competitive in many ridden sports and they have wonderful movement. The Welsh cob is an active horse with a powerful reach of the forearm which is matched by strong hock action. They point their toes with style and will work all day without flagging. They have quality flat bone which allows muscle fibres to adhere strongly so tendon injuries are minimised. They travel gaily, patting the ground lightly with a true moment of suspension and fabulous elasticity of their joints. They have fizz and activity without exploding and will usually stop to assess a threat rather than flee.
MATURED INTO LOVELY MARE:10yo Welsh Cob Mare Ballytruckle Alexander Rose held by Owen Jones, Nebo Stud.
We are a small stud on only thirty acres, we breed only for our own needs so seldom do horses with our prefix come up for sale. We stand at public stud the black Welsh cob stallion Cwmkaren Beaufort Express (imp) and strongly encourage breeders to use him over quality Tb mares resulting in the perfect modern sporthorse, with a bit of bone and a bit of brains.
Notable Examples of Welsh cob X tb
Auckland based 5yo Welsh cob X Tb gelding Stonedale Magician (Mill Creek Valiant X Cautious Leigh) won his first registered dressage competitions at the Auckland Manukau Dressage Group Spring Series 2011.
Auckland based Ballytruckle Sally Gap (Mill Creek Valiant X Star[Indian ore X Blazing Star]) won 3 firsts and one second from four starts in her first ever registered Showhunter Hack classes at the Northland 2* Showjumping/Showhunter Show in Oct 2011 under two different judges with scores in late 70s and early 80s ridden by 13 yo Katherine Martin. Two weeks later she won all four Low Hunter Hack classes at Bay of Islands ridden by rookie Showhunter rider Steve West.
Ballytruckle Shamrock 9 yo Welsh cob x tb mare scored 95% in a Showhunter round in January 2012 ridden by 13 yo Katherine Martin, they were simply stunning and won the Champion Category C class.
Sir Wattie ridden by Ian Stark, is a 25% Welsh cob X 75% Tb, by Bronze Hill and was co-owned by the late Dame Jean Maxwell Scott the last surviving descendant of Sir Walter Scott. Ian Stark said “The horse dearest to my heart was part Welsh cob, Sir Wattie, who won Badminton twice and two Olympic silver medals, was by a TB out of a 50/50 Cob x TB mare. The breed confirm all I thought about Wattie; the good temperament, cheerful attitude, gritty toughness and abundant scope” Ian Stark OBE
To see many photos of Welsh Partbred Horses competing in the UK follow this link http://www.welshpartbredhorses.co.uk/page8.html
Welsh Cob X Tb Garmon Cerise eventing in Pau (France) 2* CCI
West Farthing -winner of Kentucky Event CCI*** 2004, Buddy Bunn ridden by William Funnell wins at British Jumping Derby, Hickstead 2004, Langarth Darcy currently ridden by Rodney Powell 2010 European Champion in Eventing, Smart Move a 7yo Welsh cob X tb gelding wins the Jersey Fresh CCI ** in May 2011 at his first try at this level. His rider Lisa Marie Fergusson says "They are super willing and really forward, which is a nice combination,” she said. “They’re super cool horses, really willing, love to jump, and especially love to run and jump. They tend to be really sound, and they’re very personable.”
I am regularly asked about breaking in/starting Welsh cobs and Welsh cob X tbs. My personal view on this topic after breaking in many Welsh Mountain ponies, Welsh pony, Welsh cob and Welsh cob x tbs, can be found on a page in the For Sale section titled "When do I break in my Welsh cob or Welsh cob cross.?"