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From the Editor - Claudia Novak |
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Growing up in a ‘horsy family’can be either a curse, a great
joy, or some where in middle. As
a small child, I thought it a curse.
Dad rode polo on his evil black mare that could go and go and go.
Mom had her field hunters, including her beloved Twilight who
stood 17.2 hands. Even my
mother used a step ladder to mount him.
My parents’ animals were talented but NOT suitable for a child.
I was dumped, lifted off my feet, bitten, stomped on, dragged,
and many other things by their HORSES. By about nine, I was rather scared of equines. Mom realized my fear and bought Comet, a half Welsh. He was such kind yet testy pony. Finally, something close to my size (he was 13.2 hands) that I could actually bridle by myself. He taught me how to drive, to ride without falling off all the time, and, more important, to love an equine with a crafty mind. Forever coming up with ways to out think me, Comet went on to give my younger sisters and brother much joy and prepared me for venturing forth in the horse world with my fourteenth birthday present, Copper Glow, an American Saddlebred. Fast forward …. In 1977, Les Novak and I married. I got his three small children, and he got Copper. In my great wisdom, I decided to purchase a pony for my new children. They were to have ponies – NOT horses. The first issue of WPCC is dedicated to that pony, Tredana Marchfire. He changed the lives of at least eight people, including the next generation of Welsh lovers, my two young granddaughters. To 'meet' Marchie and read more about this ‘Welsh saga’ go to www.tangwyllt.com Why am I (with Vanessa) doing the Welsh Pony and Cob Connection? First of all, Vanessa and I recently renewed an old friendship. One of the high spots in my life was riding Lithgow Gay Grenadier many years ago in Louisiana at Vanessa’s (our only face to face meeting). We share much in our love of Welsh, pedigrees, teaching, and the written word. Thankfully, I now have Vanessa to keep my commas and other composition quirks in check. Secondly, this is web only publication. No fees, no mailing lists, and no hated printer, all of which I learned to dread when doing the North American Cob Connection with India Haynes. What you see IS what you send email us at wpcc@hotmail.com . Thirdly, for the last twenty plus years (ten internationally), I have enjoyed the opportunity to travel around the globe with my husband, sons, and daughters, visiting with Welsh breeders. They opened their homes to us and shared their passion for Welsh. This experience has greatly changed my perspective not only on Welsh ponies and Cobs but people around the globe. WE all share the same common goals and passion for Welsh. We NEED to share this and better understand how it all fits together. We need to ‘educate’ one another with our personal experiences and knowledge. The Welsh Pony and Cob Connection is our way of doing just this. |
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