Native Pony People.

Name
Fiona Cameron.

Stud Name
Lammermuir – my mother’s stud, now my prefix.

Breeder
Connemaras, Dartmoors and Hunters.

Current / Former panel judge
Current NPS, BSPS and BCPS panel judge.

Society / Rank
NPS, BSPS, BCPS and DPS member.

Author Of
'How I Spend My Summer' in a State Veterinary Service magazine.

1) How and when did you first become involved with native ponies; what was the first native pony that you owned?
Midgehope Julian, a Dartmoor, in 1960 - he was 3yo and I was 2, so I learned to stick on like glue. From then on, I had some involvement with every native breed, and I can remember riding 8 ponies a day one Easter holidays.

2) Do you have a soft spot for any pony in particular, owned by yourself or someone else?
Cusop Swank aka Bobbysox (Welsh Mountain), Poigin and The Dubliner (both Connemaras).
I never met a jump they couldn’t jump. I didn’t have to tell them to do anything; I just had to think it, such was our rapport. I honestly think they would have jumped off a cliff if asked to, yet they were sane, sensible and snaffle-mouthed. My four sisters and brother rode them too and they were frequently exercised bareback in a halter.

3) Please state your most memorable judging experience, be it good, bad or amusing?
Olympia 2005 was a real thrill and honour. My co-judge and stewards were great, the ponies were fabulous and the atmosphere incredible.

4) Speaking as a judge; what do you believe to be the most important aspects of native pony breeding today?
Maintaining hardiness, type, bone and limbs, especially a good hindleg. Not letting youngstock get too fat or over-schooling young ponies.

5) When judging in the ring, what brings a smile to your face?
Small children concentrating really hard on ponies who know the ropes, young ponies gaining confidence jumping round a course and exuberant ponies who jump for fun. Also ponies being slightly wicked, because they can’t resist it!

6) Speaking as a breeder; what do you believe to be the most important aspects of pony breeding today?
Breeding for type, soundness, temperament and performance as well as looks. (I should not really answer this, as I only have a hunter mare in-foal at the moment).

7) Speaking as a breeder; please state your most memorable experience during your years of pony breeding, be it good, bad or amusing?
Losing Lammermuir White Rebel and Lammermuir Snowgoose (both Connemaras), at 4 years old, to grass-sickness. They had enormous potential.

8) What is the inspiration behind your prefix name?
The hills near the family farm.

9) Speaking as a competitor; please state your most memorable experience at a show, be it good, bad or amusing?
Leading the parade at the Highland Show and competing at the early Ridden Connemara Shows. Amusing: my sister and I ,aged 6 and 7, in a pairs class, coming out to do our show in front of an eminent judge. As we halted, both ponies put their heads down to eat grass, and we simultaneously slid down their necks between their ears onto the ground – it was pairs after all!

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?
Leam Finn o’Doon or Bwlch Zip, who were absolute stars which we owned as youngsters.

11) Can you recommend a good pony book?
Any of Pat Lyne’s, and I find the Native Pony magazine and Hamlet’s House posts interesting and educational.

12) Any 'words of wisdom' you wish to share?
Listen to the senior judges, who have probably forgotten more about ponies than most of us will ever know.

13) Any further comments?
I like to see native ponies walk without being restricted, trot in their own rhythm without being overbent, and to canter without ‘sitting up’ so much that they put strain on their hindlimb joints. Fun and variety between shows is important for ponies and riders.