Rhaglen 2 Ceffylau Cymru

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-I'm Nia Marshalsay-Thomas

-and I love horses.

-I'm pleased to say that I'm going

-on an exciting equine journey...

-..in this edition of Ceffylau Cymru.

-This week, we meet top breeders

-Ron and Debbie Thomas.

-I seek the equine secrets

-that are crucial to their success.

-We glimpse the worlds of training,

-trading, and competing...

-..and one girl's journey to the

-world's most famous horse show.

-This isn't my first visit

-to see Ron and Debbie.

-I worked here full-time

-after leaving university.

-After a year here,

-I didn't want to leave.

-I felt like part of the family.

-I can't wait to spend time with Ron

-and Debbie over the coming weeks.

-Money doesn't come into it.

-Your heart

-tells you to do it, really.

-Even at the age I am now,

-I still want to win.

-Winning the rosette at HOYS,

-and this sounds stupid...

-..is more important

-than selling the horse.

-This series focuses on horses

-and horse people.

-Horses are in Ron Thomas's blood,

-his heart and his soul.

-He and his wife Debbie...

-..have won dozens of times at HOYS,

-the Horse Of The Year Show...

-..and at the Royal

-International Show.

-In 2005, they won six times at HOYS,

-a record for a single show.

-Have you always

-been interested in horses?

-Yes, since I was a young boy.

-What's your first memory?

-I was raised on a farm,

-but we didn't have horses.

-I wanted to keep horses,

-but my mother wouldn't have it.

-She said we'd make more money

-from cattle than horses.

-There was a blacksmith's nearby.

-When horses went to be shod...

-..I'd sit on the milk stand

-watching them...

-..and wait there

-for them to come back.

-Because I didn't have any then,

-the urge to keep them grew stronger.

-You keep horses now.

-What exactly do you do?

-What we try to do

-is buy them in as three-year-olds.

-If they do as well as we expect...

-..we sell them on

-or compete with them at shows.

-Essentially, you buy to sell.

-Essentially, you buy to sell.

-

-More accurately, I buy to win.

-You have had a lot of success.

-Everyone in Wales,

-at the end of the day...

-..wants to win

-at the Royal Welsh Show.

-But further afield, they want to win

-at the Horse Of The Year Show.

-Debbie clearly plays

-a major part in the process.

-After I buy them, she's the one

-who takes care of them.

-She's lucky,

-because she's so small and light...

-..that she can ride

-the smaller horses.

-She hasn't done much else

-apart from work with horses.

-She's had a charmed life.

-Working with horses

-is all she wanted to do.

-It's important to do something

-that you enjoy.

-You always enjoy something

-if you win.

-As renowned breeders...

-..Ron and Debbie each bring

-their own skills to the partnership.

-Debbie trains the horses

-and the jockeys...

-..including some big names

-down the years.

-She's among the best and most

-highly respected in the business.

-Having had lessons with you,

-I've felt the benefit of it.

-I can see the difference

-that it makes.

-You've taught

-quite a few well-known jockeys.

-I had Charlotte Dujardin here

-for a couple of seasons.

-Young Nick Scholfield,

-who is now very successful.

-He rides chasers for Paul Nicholls.

-Gemma Rees, as she is now.

-She was Gemma James.

-Yes, some really good people.

-Who would you say was the boss,

-you or Ron?

-Ooh...

-Ron's not here, so I'll say me!

-One talented young member of Ron

-and Debbie's team is Libby Grota.

-She has competed at HOYS many times.

-Winning the championship

-at the 2016 Royal Welsh Show...

-..sealed qualification

-for HOYS once again...

-..and she's still only eleven.

-When did you start riding?

-I started riding

-when I was three years old.

-I've been doing it...

-..almost every day ever since!

-What was so special about horses?

-Well, I ride

-four or five days every week.

-I do a lot of things...

-..like hacking...

-..a bit of dressage and showing.

-I also like galloping

-along the beach.

-Do you see Libby as

-an excellent jockey for the future?

-Oh, yes, she's a potential

-little superstar, she is.

-She's a very good jockey.

-She's also got great charisma.

-When you're in the show ring,

-it's a bit like being on stage.

-She does rise to the occasion.

-It's no good going in there

-and being nervous, as you know.

-Once she gets in there,

-she loves it, and she loves to win.

-Debbie has taught

-a lot of famous people.

-What do you hope to do

-in the future?

-I want to do dressage...

-..and go to the Olympics,

-like Charlotte Dujardin.

-Well, you've got the right teacher.

-Yes.

-Same thing on this rein, Libby,

-nice and straight.

-Libby's preparing

-for the Horse Of The Year Show.

-Do you think she's talented?

-Without a shadow of a doubt.

-For her age, she's way ahead

-of any other child.

-She's a little girl

-who doesn't lose very often.

-She wins more than she loses.

-She has determination.

-Of all the children

-we've had down the years...

-..she's as good as any of them.

-She has terrific determination.

-How does Libby deal

-with the pressure of competing?

-As long as she wins, she's fine!

-You've had a lot

-of very successful riders.

-How does Libby compare with them?

-She's as good, if not better,

-than any of them.

-We're talking

-about Charlotte Dujardin...

-..who was here and who has won

-at the highest level.

-She had an exceptional will to win.

-Libby is exceptional.

-All they need then...

-..is the break when they move on

-from ponies to horses.

-A lot of people find...

-..that they don't want

-to go down the road of dressage.

-But if Libby does it,

-she will be a winner.

-Enjoying success at major shows

-is one thing...

-..but it takes a lot of hard work

-to get within reach of the prizes.

-The first step is to buy a horse.

-Let's discuss buying horses.

-You hear that a horse is available.

-What happens next?

-Well, I always say this.

-It's like looking

-at a beautiful woman.

-A good horse shows itself off

-when you go into the field.

-I don't want to see the horse

-in the stable.

-I want to see it trotting

-and cantering in the field.

-If it's a good horse,

-I'll pick it up.

-I'll see the things that matter.

-The signs that it will turn out

-to be a good horse.

-I want a horse with presence.

-If it has it, more often than not,

-it'll do the job.

-Can you spot a horse with potential

-immediately?

-The superstars are obvious.

-Give me a week at home...

-..and I'll know if they're

-top notches or just ordinary horses.

-What do you look for in a horse?

-Well, it must have four good legs.

-We have bought several horses

-where the legs turn a bit...

-..or they have lumps

-on their legs...

-..or they have splints

-or something on their hocks.

-But most of the time,

-I know that I can sort that out.

-I can then buy a horse that's not

-as expensive as it should be...

-..because people don't know

-how to get rid of minor problems.

-Ron has several horses

-in training at the moment...

-..each with its own unique needs.

-Small-land Playalong,

-fresh from the field...

-..is about to start the journey

-to the show.

-What is remarkable

-about this filly, Ron?

-When you saw her in the stable,

-she didn't look impressive at all.

-But when she comes out,

-you can see her legs working.

-She's athletic.

-If you see her under saddle in three

-months, you won't recognize her.

-You won't think

-it's the same pony you first saw.

-Will she stand out in the ring

-when she competes?

-She's different.

-They're all browns and bay browns,

-but this one's a grey.

-She's a different colour.

-I think she'll be

-a good little pony.

-There's another new horse

-currently in training too.

-A brown partbred.

-Teach me what needs improving

-on this horse.

-There isn't a lot to improve...

-..but if you want to be fussy...

-..she's being shown in-hand.

-Her back, from the shoulder down,

-is a bit low.

-I want these muscles

-up about here...

-..right along to there.

-The way we do that

-is to work her fitted with a bit...

-..and encourage her to work

-with her head down there.

-When her head's down, these muscles

-will work their way up.

-That will give you

-a good second thigh muscle.

-And only specialist training

-can make that difference?

-Yes, because most people would keep

-riding her with her head up.

-The more her head's up,

-the more her back will sag.

-At a show, when you get marks

-for the conformation...

-..she'd be marked down.

-A higher back

-will produce higher marks.

-Do you get more pleasure

-from improving the tougher horses?

-Yes, but you know how it is.

-Sometimes, when improving a horse

-has been hard work...

-..you get more satisfaction

-out of the job, ultimately.

-You start off

-thinking every one will work out.

-But as the year goes on,

-a lot of them fall by the wayside.

-They're not quite what you want.

-Obviously,

-the longer you spend on them...

-..the more pleasure you get

-if it works out ultimately.

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-I'm back on the farm

-with Ron and Debbie Thomas.

-The training continues.

-Of the horses we saw last time,

-why didn't some work out?

-You know, a horse is like a person.

-They have a heart.

-If their heart isn't in it,

-whatever you do, you won't succeed.

-The heart makes you smile.

-If they won't smile, ultimately...

-..whatever you try,

-it won't work out.

-Is it disappointing...

-..when a horse fails to achieve

-the potential you saw in it?

-It's doubly disappointing...

-..in that respect

-and because it hits my pocket!

-There's a good boy.

-Over the weeks,

-the work is steady and detailed.

-They sometimes call on

-trainer Barry Thomas's expertise...

-..to break in the horses.

-As well as the physical work,

-the diet plays a key role too.

-There was a time

-when people used to say...

-..that 70% of the success

-came from the manger.

-Years ago, for a short while,

-I was a policeman.

-I went to a place in Johnstown

-where an old chap reared Herefords.

-His name was Shadrach.

-He's probably dead now.

-We were looking at the cattle...

-..and I asked him

-how he got them into condition.

-He told me that if you want

-an animal with a big body...

-..you give it a lot of hay.

-Lots of hay

-makes it drink lots of water.

-Water keeps its kidneys clean...

-..and gives a healthy animal

-with tremendous depth.

-If you want more muscle,

-use solid feed instead of hay.

-I've stayed two or three steps

-ahead of a lot of people...

-..because of what he told me

-that evening.

-One horse we saw last time,

-Small-land Playalong...

-..has certainly benefited

-from the diet and training.

-You saw a lot of potential

-in this horse last time.

-Do you still see it?

-I do now, but at one time,

-I wasn't sure she'd come through.

-But she came again,

-and I think she'll be very nice.

-Once they start working with

-the horse, what do you look for?

-You want a wet mouth.

-If the horse

-is right in the brain...

-..it'll mouth nicely, as we say.

-It's as if it slobbers.

-A white froth

-comes out of the mouth.

-That's a good sign.

-If the mouth's right,

-the brain's right.

-If the mouth isn't right, you're

-hitting your head against a wall.

-What's the next stage for the grey?

-The grey has got everything.

-We need to mature it now.

-To get the body right and so on.

-To carry on

-as well as she is doing.

-I believe now...

-To be honest,

-she has surprised us.

-She has come on

-better than we thought.

-How much time does she need

-before she competes?

-As a four-year-old,

-we won't take her to every show.

-She'll have a couple of shows...

-..and will hopefully end up

-at the Horse Of The Year Show.

-With luck, I genuinely think

-she's good enough to win it.

-So far, we've seen

-the training and the exercise...

-..and Ron has been kind enough

-to share the odd secret with us.

-But it all boils down to money.

-What better shop window

-for Ron and Debbie...

-..than the world's

-most famous horse show?

-The Horse Of The Year Show

-in Birmingham...

-..is the climax

-of the competition season.

-There are over 1,500 horses

-and riders...

-..and 65,000 visitors.

-This is the climax

-of a year's preparation...

-..for Libby

-and her horse, Glebedale Jubilee.

-Libby, we've made it

-to the Horse Of The Year Show.

-What makes competing at HOYS

-different from other shows?

-The atmosphere is very different.

-It makes you more nervous, yes.

-Are you feeling nervous now?

-Are you feeling nervous now?

-

-A little bit.

-How do you hope to get on today?

-I'd like to get a placing...

-..but as long as it goes good,

-I'll be happy.

-Libby seems nervous

-during the preparations.

-A problem means that the bit

-must be changed at the last minute.

-They manage to do so just in time.

-I've got an idea

-how Libby will be feeling.

-I've competed here

-several times myself.

-At the moment,

-I'd be feeling a bit sick...

-..and worrying about anything

-that could go wrong.

-But Libby seems very cool,

-and without a care in the world.

-With Debbie's help,

-I think she's ready to go.

-Clearly, you know

-how to prepare a winner.

-You've won here many times before.

-What is the secret of winning?

-Well, you go into that ring

-with no idea what will happen.

-The atmosphere

-is heightened in there...

-..and this little pony

-is only four years old.

-You just hope

-that nothing will go wrong...

-..when she does what she has to do.

-All I can do is keep my fingers

-crossed and hope for the best.

-She's walking away now.

-Are you feeling nervous now?

-Are you feeling nervous now?

-

-I am now, yes.

-She has to trot in a circle here.

-She looks fantastic, I must say.

-She picked up the canter superbly.

-She's galloping nice and quietly.

-This is another circular canter.

-This is another circular canter.

-

-Yes, that's right.

-You can see

-that Libby's trying really hard.

-She's doing well.

-OK, she keeps going past us.

-She needs a nice trot to finish.

-A trot now, then a walk.

-She's showing the horse off nicely.

-She's showing the horse off nicely.

-

-Yes, she's done a good job.

-Libby has done her level best.

-All she can do now

-is wait for the result.

-She's not third.

-Oh!

-Hopefully,

-she'll be second or first.

-TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT

-She did it!

-She won! That's fantastic!

-Really great. Fantastic.

-Well done, Roy!

-Well done, Roy!

-

-It's a good show!

-It's amazing, really.

-It feels the same as my first win,

-30 years or so ago.

-You've won here several times.

-Is it still special every time?

-I didn't think winning

-would mean so much...

-..but this feels very special.

-Libby, congratulations.

-Libby, congratulations.

-

-Thank you.

-Well done. How do you feel?

-I'm very happy and excited.

-You looked very emotional.

-Yes.

-Have you dreamt about doing that?

-Have you dreamt about doing that?

-

-Yes.

-Very well done.

-I've just won!

-Are you celebrating, Debbie?

-Are you celebrating, Debbie?

-

-I am, yes.

-Absolutely fantastic.

-How do you feel?

-Absolutely thrilled to bits.

-The little pony, four years old,

-Libby's first win.

-Her grandparents are here,

-the breeder's here.

-A fantastic feeling.

-I always believed in the pony...

-..but it's all

-got to come together on the day.

-I'm relieved as well,

-but yes, fabulous.

-A great start to the week

-and a sign of things to come.

-Thank you very much, Nia.

-Ron, I've enjoyed your company.

-Was it nice to have me back?

-Was it nice to have me back?

-

-It was marvellous.

-There's a job here for you any time!

-You may have had success at HOYS,

-but everyday life carries on here.

-It's less of an anticlimax

-after HOYS...

-..because you're looking

-for the next one.

-You dedicate your life, really,

-to finding more good ones.

-What makes horses

-so special for you?

-You know, that question

-is almost impossible to answer.

-I was so obsessed

-with horses as a boy.

-I sat on that milk stand, watching

-horses going to the forge...

-..and waited two or three hours

-for them to pass back.

-That's how obsessive

-I was about horses.

-Horses have taken us

-all over the world, really.

-Australia, America, New Zealand.

-I can't think

-what else I could have done...

-..that would have made me

-so many friends.

-I could never have dreamt

-that we'd do what we have done.

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