Native Pony People.

Name
Alison Mountain.

Stud Name
Twyford.

Breeder
Welsh sections A and C.

Current / Former panel judge
Former panel judge of all sections.

1) How and when did you first become involved with native ponies; what was the first native pony that you owned?
At age 5, my first pony was a registered welsh mountain mare. My father bred highlands, and later welsh mountain ponies. After my marriage, my husband and I bred all four types of welsh.
Now back to my first love - the mountain ponies and section C's, which are very like them in character.

2) Do you have a soft spot for any pony in particular, owned by yourself or someone else?
Twyford Gurkha, a section A stallion, who looked good but more importantly got very nice foals.
He had an outstanding temperament too. He died suddenly from an accident, when he should have had many more years ahead of him.

3) Please state your most memorable judging experience, be it good, bad or amusing?
Judging in Australia at Sydney. The standard was so high that every pony was a pleasure to look at.
Another I shall never forget was in this country when in one class I could not find a pony I really liked, so they were very difficult to place.

4) Speaking as a judge; what do you believe to be the most important aspects of native pony showing today?
I suppose presentation, as this really covers everything else.
I think many exhibitors at home should get someone else to practise the pony; so it can be seen both standing and moving, how best to disguise its weaker points and show it to the best advantage.

5) When judging in the ring, what brings a smile to your face?
Finding a pony I would love to take home, and it is not necessarily the winner!

6) Speaking as a breeder; what do you believe to be the most important aspects of pony breeding today?
Breed type, soundness and temperarment.

7) Speaking as a breeder; please state your most memorable experience during your years of pony breeding, be it good, bad or amusing?
During an early morning patrol of the pony 'maternity wards' I heard a very strange noise.
Going very quietly to the gate, I was in time to see a very new foal with the bag over it's nose and the noise was the bag ballooning as the foal tried to breathe through it. The mare was still down.
Before I moved in to help, her best friend who was nearby went to the foal, pulled the bag back from its head and then retreated quickly. I thought that was amazing.

8) What is the inspiration behind your prefix name?
The place where I live is a small hamlet called Twyford, where there are three fords.

9) Speaking as a competitor; please state your most memorable experience at a show, be it good, bad or amusing?
Watching teams of heavy horses in the ring when one team took off. The other teams steadily boxed them in until they were under control again. Not many people realised what had happened.

10) If you could wave a magic wand and have any pony brought to your yard; be it past, present or future, who would it be?
Twyford Gurkha.

11) Can you recommend a good Native Pony book?
For the welsh breeds, anything by Dr. E Wynne Davies.

Breeder information at: Twyford Stud