Native Pony People.

Name
Jane Strick.

Stud Name
Bardsey.

Breeder
Connemara Ponies.

1) When did you first become involved with native ponies; what was the first native pony that you owned?
We lived on Dartmoor in the forties and early fifties, and used to ride some of the wild ponies bareback! The first native i actually owned was a Lundy pony in the sixties, until she died in 1982.
I started breeding Connemaras in 1975, until around 2000.

2) Do you have a soft spot for any pony in particular, owned by yourself or someone else?
Most of them!

3) Speaking as a breeder; what do you believe to be the most important aspects of pony breeding today?
To keep the type and hardiness of our native ponies.
They should be kept out and not mollycoddled. Don't lose the bone!

4) Speaking as a breeder; please state your most memorable experience during your years of pony breeding, be it good, bad or amusing?
The first time one of our breeding won for his new owner, and when another was 2nd overall at Olympia.

5) What is the inspiration behind your prefix name?
We lived on Bardsey Island off the north coast of Wales for 22 years, and bred the ponies there.

6) 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?
It would have to be Whitwell Cockade our stallion of sixteen years; or my first pony, who had a good slice of Arab and was not really a 'good' childs pony, but taught us such a lot.

7) Can you recommend a good Native Pony book?
'Keeping a Pony' by Lucy Rees - full of common sense, though not specifically a Native Pony book.

8) Any 'words of wisdom' you wish to share?
Don't breed just to show. Breed to give people fun and pleasure from your ponies,
therefore temperament is all important.