26 October, 2008:
It is hard to believe that almost a year has gone by. Our biggest news is that David retired in April, a couple of years earlier than he had planned, and with that change, our plans to relocate to a rural farm escalated. We are thrilled to announce that we have purchased a 38+ acre farm in Roseburg, OR, and will begin moving all the ponies and other critters to that location in January. David will move up the second week in November, right after the last shows of the year. Our son, Ben, and his family will be moving up to join him in January. I will remain in Southern California until our house in this location sells. Once that is done, I will join them in OR. Darci will remain in California, as her job will not transfer. We are hoping that, in time, she will be able to move to "God's Country" with us!

1 January, 2008:
Happy New Year to everyone! We have much to celebrate... our foundation Section C mare, *Synod Aurora, ridden all year by a junior, Sidney MacWhorter, has earned the Year End Hi Point Championship for Section C/D Western Pleasure. She was bred for the first time last year, is due to foal this month. We are also anticipating six Section A foals, two of which have already been sold.

Our senior stallion, *Ceulan Lwcus, was once again the Leading Section A Sire for another year, and has now earned four of the required progeny "legs" for his Sire LOM, also very close to getting a Sire AOE, due to the outstanding show record of his oldest get, Gaslight Chwyrlwynt LOM/AOE. We expect him to finish the requirements for those two Lifetime Sire awards this year.

Our foundation mare, Chaparral's Crystal, will be awarded her Dam AOE at the AGM next month. She is currently the leading Section A Dam of all time. Her 3rd and final "leg" for the Dam LOM is likely to be earned in 2008.

10 August, 2007:
This entry HAS to have a picture! My "maiden voyage" driving Rocky in a show was last week, at the California Sunshine Warm-Up and Classic. I was PROUDLY last place in almost all the classes, though I managed to beat David with our 17yo mare, Gaslight Siwgr Baby, in a couple carriage classes. The fact that he took the little Wilform and let me have the fancy Buckeye helped those placings, without a doubt! But since no one believed I would actually drive him (they all thought I would chicken out), getting in the classes and having a GREAT experience was the goal for the show.
Again, Rocky was quiet and responsive, no studdy behavior or calling whatsoever. If it wasn't for the inconsistent speeds of his gaits (driver error, for sure!), people did not believe he was so yung and so green. Yes, Lwcus can be proud of his son, and how well Rocky "took care of" his green driver!


Gaslight Shamrock, green-broke to cart and my first show in harness with him... I am having a blast!
Photo: Tammy Burgin 1 August, 2007:
We just got back from out annual trip to the UK, to attend the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in Builth Wells, Wales. It was a great trip, lots of fun, as usual, visiting with the many friends we have made through the years, attending this show, including seeing several of our American friends who also make the trip each year. The best thing about these Welsh Ponies and Cobs are the people you meet while enjoying them! If you ever have the chance to go to the RW, I encourage you to make the trip. Nowhere in the world will you see so many Welsh in one show!
Now to prepare for the show in just two more days! I haven't driven Rocky since before we left, and this will be my first experience on my own in the ring. My first class will be on our 34th wedding anniversary....!

15 June, 2007:
Our first show of the season at the beginning of this month turned out to be more fun than usual. Our young stallion was ready to be returned to us, having been broke to cart by Gerald Verkuyl of Goldhills Welsh in Elk Grove, CA. Gerald brought Rocky to the show, took him out for some practice in the warm-up arena, then gave me some driving lessons. I was impressed with how well-trained and sensible he was already, having been hitched only a few months. In spite of all the distractions at the show and in the practice arena-- ponies taking practice jumps, riders cutting in and out, lots of MARES he had never seen-- Rocky was quiet, attentive and responsive, never called out, never lost attention to Gerald, never spooked. Gerald then took him in three Pleasure Driving classes, and managed to earn the Division Reserve Championship with him! Gerald plans to drive him again for me at the Sata Barbara show early next month, then after that, I will be on my own.
For those of you who do not know me, I was a yee-haw rider and driver, never had lessons, really had minimal experience driving an old street-safe grade pony about 20 years ago. David and I were smart enough to get training for our children, but I have been satisfied just being a spectator and groom at the shows. I also had developed anxiety issues, realizing I never had good balance and had seen my mortality on the pavement one-too-many times. So when my brain "clicked" in February, and I decided I wanted to show in performance myself, not just be the groom, it was a momentous occasion. Watching Rocky's behavior, how quiet and attentive he was, even as a young, green stallion, has given me the confidence to drive him myself. It was also a great testament to the temperament his Lwcus had put on him. We have known his daughters and gelded sons were doing well in training and performance, but this was his first intact son to go out in an arena in performance. I am all the more in love with his daddy and what he can produce......

10 May, 2007:
We have five mares confirmed in foal, with three more pending breeding or confirmation. After the "quiet" two years of minimal foals, 2008 is going to arrive with a bang! Our first will be due in January.

28 February, 2007:
Our plans to send our senior stallion, *Ceulan Lwcus, out for harness training had to be scrapped for this year. The trainer was not able to take him until this month, and because we have too many mares that need to be bred, we decided to send his 3yo son, Gaslight Shamrock, instead. More updates on him as time goes on.....

20 February, 2007:
The WPCSA AGM is now past... I want to thank all the members who had trust in me and who voted in the election to make me one of your Directors. It was an awesome-- and humbling-- experience to know that I had the highest number of votes, and to realize that now the HARD part starts... working on behalf of the membership to fullfill that confidence. Again, thank you to all.

14 October, 2006:
We are leaving this morning for the UK, destination Builth Wells, Wales, and the Cob Sales. It is another "looking" expedition, a wonderful, relaxing break and a chance to see friends and lots of C ponies to consider buying. We will return on the 24th. Any messages sent to us while we are gone will be answered as quickly as possible upon our return.

12 October, 2006:
Congratulations are now officially due to Carrie MacWhorter, for all the work and time she spent, training and completing with her Section A mare, GASLIGHT CHWYRLWYNT (pronounced like "whirlwind" in Welsh, and means the same). "Wendy" now has completed both her Individual LOM and her Individual AOE. We are especially thrilled, because this is the first Lifetime award earned by one of our home-bred ponies. "Wendy" was the first foal produced by our senior stallion, *CEULAN LWCUS, out of our foundation mare, CHAPARRAL'S CRYSTAL. We have retained two full sisters, who will be shown and hopefully complete their dam's LOM soon.

Congratualtions again, Carrie and GASLIGHT CHWYRLWYNT, and thank you for bringing those two awards home in the Centennial Year for the WPCSA.

5 September, 2006:
The Brookside and WW Nationals in NoCA are now behind us. Held back-to-back, it was the first of this combined format that has been held in California. It was a great success, generally appreciated by exhibitors who are feeling the "crunch" of current gas prices, to be able to show over five days for the cost of one trip.
Our two Section A geldings, GASLIGHT LONDON FOG and GASLIGHT CRICED, placed first and second repectfully in the 2/Under A Gelding class, and Judge Schiller named them Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Section A Geldings in the Brookside show. Both judges placed GASLIGHT SWEET SURRENDER 1st in the 3/Over A Gelding class, with judge Iverson awarding him Grand Champion Section A Gelding. "Snurdley" as also the Short Stirrup Division Champion at Brookside. At the WW Nationals, the A gelding class was combined. Judge Rhinedollar picked GASLIGHT SWEET SURRENDER as her 1st place Section A Gelding, while the WW Nationals Judge Simon Bigley gave his approval to the two youngest in the class, with GASLIGHT LONDON FOG as 1st and his half-brother, GASLIGHT CRICED as 2nd. Since it was a combined class, no Championship was held
*CEULAN LYDIA also placed well at both shows. At Brookside, she won the broodmare class under both judges and was Champion Section A Mare and Reserve Grand Chamion Section A under judge Schiller and Reserve Champion A Mare under judge Caudle. At the WWNatls, Uk Judge Simon Bigley also made her his 1st in Broodmares and Reserve Champion Section A Mare.
GASLIGHT SIWGR BABY, returning for her second and third shows in performance since retiring seven years ago, was consistantly 3rd in all Pleasure Driving classes throughout both shows.

10 August, 2006:
What an extrordinary weekend we had at the Inland Welsh Classic in Riverside, a new gold show here in SoCA! We couldn't have asked for nicer August weather, and the facility had a lovely clubhouse with shaded patio and misters overlooking the arena, for those who wanted the extra comfort. Kudos to Carrie Gunn, the organizer of this event, and Carrie MacWhorter, for all they did to make it happen. Thanks also to all the exhibitors who traveled so far to attend--too many to list individually-- who threw in extra ponies to help us reach our numbers for the gold rating. It is once again an example of the special comraderie that Welsh exhibitors have, and how they will extend themselves to help everyone reach their goals.

As the closest local breeders with the largest stock of available ponies, it was our responsibility to "dump out the barn" if that was needed. We took 11 ponies, many who were not in show condition and intended as class "fillers," but they all showed well. It was a long halter day, but with the help of so many other exhibitors, who assisted in showing, holding, and generally being patient, we got it all done with minimal gate hold requests.

GASLIGHT CRICED and GASLIGHT LONDON FOG, our two year old Section A geldings, repeated their performance at the SB Show last month, going 1st and 2nd under one of the judges, but this time, Criced was named Supreme Champion Gelding and London Fog was Reserve Supreme Gelding! The other judge placed them 3rd and 4th, behind the mature geldings, GASLIGHT SWEET SURRENDER and LARKIN PROMISE KEPT. "Keeper" is a son of our senior stallion, *Ceulan Lwcus, so it was still a "win" for us! Judge Maxwell was impressed with our C mare, *SYNOD AURORA, and placed her 1st in Section C/D Yeld Mares, and Reserve Champion C/D Mare. Darci was thrilled! *CEULAN LYDIA and GASLIGHT CHWYRLWYNT swapped places for 1st in Section A Broodmares, but with *CEULAN LYNETTE as their unanamous choice for 1st in Yeld Mares, Lynette was then awarded Champion and Reserve Champion Section A Mare.

Two of our retired performance mares also made appearances in this show. GASLIGHT SIWGR BABY, a 16 year old driving mare who has been retired (and unhitched) for seven years, put in a respectable performance in cart, winning the Pleasre Driving Stakes class and Reserve Champion A/B Pleaure Driving. Cindy Dibrino from OR volunteered to ride *CEULAN LYDIA in the English Pleasure classes. Lydia has not been under saddle for four years, and with each class, Lydia improved. Cindy has offered to ride her again at the Western Nationals next month and we are excited at the opportunity.

1 August, 2006:
Carrie MacWhorter reports that her mare GASLIGHT CHWYRLWYNT (aka "Wendy") completed the last halter points needed for her individual Legion Of Merit at the SB Nationals show, and then at the show in Eugene, OR, she finished off the last points needed for her Award of Excellence. She will be awarded her LOM and AOE at the WPCSA's AGM and celebration of the Centennary year in February next year.

14 July, 2006:
Our two young geldings, GASLIGHT CRICED and GASLIGHT LONDON FOG, were placed 1st and 2nd in Section A 2/Under Geldings under both judges at the Santa Barbara National Horse Show this month. The judges then swapped Champion and Reserve Champion A Gelding between Criced and another homebred gelding, GASLIGHT SWEET SURRENDER, owned by Ingrid Jackson, shown by her daughter, Kristina.

May, 2006:
After a LONG period without a functioning web site, we are pleased to finally have a new, redesigned site, thanks to the expert assistance of Annie Beamer. Annie gets all the credit for putting this site together and then for teaching me how to make minor changes and updates, so that I can keep it updated and current. We hope you enjoy taking a virtual tour of our "farm" and breeding program. As always, we are available to answer any questions you may have and welcome suggestions that could improve our site. Thanks for looking! -- Carol