Rhaglen 5 Ceffylau Cymru

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-Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

-That's the proverb, and that's

-what happened in our next story.

-It's not a story about trees,

-but rather about cobs and horses...

-..some of the best

-Wales has ever seen.

-Welcome to Ceredigion,

-and welcome to the Derwen Stud.

-The Derwen Stud

-is a giant of the cob world.

-They are breeders, sellers

-and ambassadors for this fine horse.

-We look at Ifor and Myfanwy Lloyd's

-contribution to the equine world.

-It includes archive family footage

-never before seen on television.

-What's so special about a Welsh cob?

-What's so special about a Welsh cob?

-

-It's the best horse in the world.

-Simple?

-Simple?

-

-Simple.

-It's multi-purpose.

-You can do anything with it.

-You can look at it.

-You can be its friend.

-The Welsh cob, in my opinion,

-is the best horse in the world.

-They mean the world to me.

-I've heard the sound

-of their hooves since I was a child.

-Their neighing in the morning

-is my alarm clock.

-Ifor Lloyd was born in Llanybydder

-into a family of horse fanciers.

-His grandfather and great-uncle

-were among the founders...

-..of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

-According to Ifor,

-he has lived three good lives...

-..in the worlds of cars,

-singing and cobs.

-He was a car dealer

-until the mid 1980s...

-..and a noted singer

-and Blue Riband winner.

-But the cobs always came first.

-How did the stud start?

-The stud started back in 1944.

-..when my father bought Dewi Rosina,

-bred by J O Davies, Pentrebrain.

-At the time, we lived as a family

-in Drefach, Llanybydder.

-One spring day, my father

-went to Llanybydder to buy seed.

-He always used to go to the mart,

-the horse mart.

-But as there was seeding to be done,

-he couldn't go that day.

-When he came out

-of Sheffield House...

-..he heard the sound of hooves

-coming down from the station.

-He thought he should

-take a look at the horse...

-..because the hooves

-sounded interesting.

-What he saw

-was a wonderful black mare.

-He bought her for 95

-before she went to the mart.

-That sounds very cheap now,

-but it was a lot at the time.

-A friend asked him

-if he wanted to sell her on.

-My father said he would,

-but only for a 200 profit.

-He refused, saying that my father

-hadn't spent that much.

-My father agreed,

-but wouldn't sell her.

-If he had, Derwen wouldn't have been

-the success that it is today.

-Your mother played an important role

-in the venture as well.

-She kept detailed records

-and took photographs and so on.

-Yes.

-She also had a little cine camera.

-We've finally got round

-to transferring the footage.

-Hopefully, the CDs will give people

-pleasure when we've finished them.

-What was the stud's first success?

-Beyond a shadow of a doubt...

-..winning the Prince of Wales Cup

-in Cardiff in 1953.

-Winning that cup

-is every breeder's ambition.

-We were fortunate enough to win it.

-I was a young boy, with my parents,

-sleeping in the hay in Cardiff.

-I still remember it clearly...

-..and it's a while ago!

-Blood and lineage

-are key words in Derwen's story.

-The Derwen bloodline went on

-to win the Prince of Wales Cup...

-..at the Royal Welsh Show

-no less than 13 times...

-..as well as the Queen's Cup

-in 1983.

-Names like Derwen Rosina, Derwen

-Rosinda, Princess, Viscountess...

-..and Groten Goch

-have passed into legend.

-Derwen Dameg was an important mare.

-She was very pretty,

-golden with four white legs.

-She won the Challenge Cup...

-..and at England's Royal Show,

-which was still going then.

-As well as competing...

-..breeding to sell

-is also a vital part of the story.

-Derwen led the way,

-selling to over 18 countries...

-..including Sweden, the USA...

-..and even one horse,

-Derwen Welsh Comet, to Pakistan...

-..to develop the bone structure

-of the army's polo team, apparently.

-Is this where the horses are kept?

-Is this where the horses are kept?

-

-Yes, this is Cae'r Ardd.

-We're looking across the sea to

-Aberystwyth.

-In the other direction

-is Aberaeron...

-..and New Quay.

-Over there, Lampeter.

-Over there, Lampeter.

-

-An ideal spot for Welsh breeds.

-Yes, we're very lucky.

-Mind you, in winter,

-we do get a lot of wind.

-But that's what makes the cob

-the best horse in the world.

-What do you look for in a good cob?

-Everything.

-A pretty head.

-Plenty of neck.

-Depth, and the ability to move.

-Over the years,

-do you think you've managed...

-..to create the perfect cob

-at Derwen?

-I won't say there's such a thing

-as the perfect cob.

-But I like to think,

-after all these years...

-..that we've got

-to where we were aiming to be.

-This is some shed, Ifor!

-We're lucky

-that we built it when we did.

-We couldn't afford it today.

-In 2008,

-after years of keeping horses...

-..they decided

-to cut back on numbers...

-..permanently.

-I've been in this shed once before,

-when you held your sale.

-Yes, eight years ago.

-If you remember, the weather

-was apocalyptically poor.

-If it wasn't for this shed...

-..we would have had

-to cancel the sale.

-There was a foot of water

-on the yard the previous day.

-But we got everything ready in here.

-Thank heavens, we managed it.

-The sale was a big success.

-Who do we have here, Ifor?

-Derwen Reason and Derwen Tess.

-I don't think I can

-improve on these two.

-The Welsh cobs,

-indeed the Welsh breeds...

-..give me a thrill.

-They have a special character.

-They're your friend.

-Every time you show them,

-you have to remember...

-..that you are their best friend

-in that big ring.

-They'll respond to you

-with kindness.

-That's what I try to do

-every time I show.

-When did you and Myfanwy

-take over the stud?

-We married in 1974.

-Ever since, Myfanwy has played

-a key role with this stud.

-Without her, as with my parents...

-..I couldn't have carried on

-as I have.

-For the first eleven years,

-Ifor was at the garage every day...

-..and I was at home on the farm.

-But Ifor's father was alive then,

-and I learnt so much from him.

-I knew nothing about horses

-before I got married.

-What did Roscoe,

-Ifor's father, teach you?

-One of the first things

-was how to handle a horse...

-..and how to brush a horse.

-But the main thing

-was how to prepare them for a show.

-How to load a wheelbarrow.

-Who knew there was a proper way?!

-He taught me that.

-He also taught me

-how to show horses.

-It was a tough school,

-but I'm glad because I learnt a lot.

-From one of the best.

-That's true enough.

-He was here with me every day.

-How do you feel about the horses?

-Well, I'm very fond of the horses.

-Their nature attracts you to them.

-I enjoy brushing them

-and preparing them.

-If you spend time with a horse,

-you get to know it and its virtues.

-Ceredigion is the home of the cob.

-Before the days of the tractor...

-..Ceredigion

-was full of small farms.

-The cob did all the work.

-Most farms had just one cob.

-That was a mare, usually.

-It was used

-for ploughing, harvesting...

-It did everything on the farm,

-as well as raising foals.

-They were then sold

-to bring money in.

-The cob in Ceredigion...

-..is like the Houses of Parliament

-in London.

-I can't say any more.

-Myfanwy, farmyard museums are rare.

-Where did you get the idea?

-I've always

-been interested in antiques.

-I started collecting

-among the family.

-I've been to many farm sales

-over the years.

-Year on year, a collection grows.

-Year on year, a collection grows.

-

-What are you recording here?

-For me, it records a bygone age.

-I still enjoy antiques.

-If children come here...

-..they can't imagine

-a horse having to pull a plough.

-They can't link the two things.

-We try to show them

-how the horses used to work.

-The threshing machine,

-pulling the hay cart.

-These are cobs.

-This shows a bygone age.

-Of all the pieces,

-does something stand out?

-Well, there's the saddle.

-That belonged to Ifor's father

-and he used it on Dewi Rosina.

-That means a lot to us.

-We've kept it through the years.

-This is a rein for a mare.

-It has been worn by many

-of our Royal Welsh Show winners.

-Groten Goch, Princess, Rosinda...

-I could go on and on.

-I spent hours as a boy

-going through these journals.

-They used to come

-every year around February.

-Mine only go back to 1983,

-but you have a fair few more here.

-Yes, they go back to the start,

-and this was the first one.

-1962.

-I'm just the same.

-Someone once asked me

-if I read books.

-I said that I did.

-The next question was,

-"Who's your favourite author?"

-I said, "Welsh Pony

-and Cob Society stud books."

-He had no idea what I was on about!

-He had no idea what I was on about!

-

-I know the feeling.

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-Ifor Lloyd

-may not compete at shows now...

-..but he's very much in demand

-as a judge.

-Today, he's at the National Welsh

-& Welsh Part Bred Championship Show.

-It takes place in Malvern,

-just over the border in England.

-Ifor has had a busy morning judging

-the preliminary gelding classes.

-All the Section A, B, C and D

-and Welsh Part Bred horses...

-..have been shown in the ring.

-Ifor then selects the five

-best entries, not in any order.

-The best five in every section

-will go on to compete...

-..for the Welsh gelding championship

-in the main ring.

-For those not in the know,

-can you explain what a gelding is?

-A gelding is a male horse

-that has been castrated.

-Geldings have an advantage

-over mares riding at shows.

-A gelding can be ridden any time...

-..whereas mares can be in heat.

-During those times,

-mares can misbehave.

-As far as riding is concerned,

-geldings do have an advantage.

-When did you start judging, Ifor?

-When I was 16 years old...

-..but not at an official WPCS show.

-I was lucky enough

-to have been my father's apprentice.

-When I was 15, I remember going

-with him to a show in Caernarfon.

-Now, I have to select

-the best five horses...

-..out of the ten

-that have come this far.

-I have to take my time

-because there's a 500 first prize.

-I have to be certain

-that I'm doing the right thing.

-I remember my father telling me...

-..before my judging debut,

-in Llanddarog.

-If it's fifty-fifty

-between a friend and a stranger...

-..no-one can blame you

-for choosing your friend.

-But if there is a difference...

-..you won't make a monkey

-of the owner or the horse.

-You'll make a monkey of yourself,

-and I'm not prepared to do that.

-Some people ask me

-why I judge so quickly.

-The reason is...

-..I took two minutes

-to choose a wife...

-..so I don't have to take two hours

-to choose a horse.

-Well done. Congratulations.

-Well done, all of you.

-Thank you very much.

-Wonderful turnout.

-After years of service

-to the horse world...

-..Ifor has one important role

-to accomplish during this year.

-It's a role

-that honours and excites him.

-I think that the members

-have been very generous...

-..in electing me president

-of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

-Since last year,

-it has been a members' vote.

-Prior to that, it was the task

-of a small committee.

-I hope to promote Welsh ponies

-and cobs during my term...

-..which begins in April.

-We have the best Welsh ponies

-and cobs in the world.

-I'll travel

-over the whole country...

-..and maybe onto the Continent...

-..visiting various associations...

-..going to shows,

-meeting people and so on...

-..all the while focusing

-on bringing Welsh ponies and cobs...

-..to the attention of people

-all over the world.

-It's probably

-the biggest honour I've had.

-When I was a boy, my mother

-was very interested in photography.

-She bought a Brownie camera.

-Years later, when cine cameras

-came out, she bought one of those.

-She took the camera

-to every show she attended.

-By now, those films

-are a historical record.

-It's lovely to look back at them.

-Well, David,

-we're back at the pictures!

-The Royal Welsh Show in the 1960s.

-Some of the stallions are familiar.

-Llwynog y Garth,

-Tyngwndwn Cream Boy and so on.

-Brenin y Bryniau.

-They were icons, every one of them.

-People used to come round

-after the judging...

-..to see if the animal

-was a worthy winner.

-That tradition has disappeared.

-That tradition has disappeared.

-

-Yes, certainly.

-This is the 1966 Royal Welsh Show.

-I'm showing Derwen Rosina.

-I'm showing Derwen Rosina.

-

-You look very young, Ifor.

-I was young then!

-It's a big thrill

-to show at the Royal Welsh.

-Here is Rosina.

-Here is Rosina.

-

-That's right.

-That's my father leading her round.

-Here he is receiving the prize.

-Was this Rosina's first win

-at the Royal Welsh?

-Yes, 1966.

-Here's Richard, Gordon Jones,

-my father and myself.

-And the prizes.

-This is my mother,

-on the other side of the camera.

-She wore the rosette herself!

-That's Jimmy Davies, aka Jimmy Daps.

-It's great to see these old horses.

-I've only heard tell of them.

-I've only heard tell of them.

-

-Yes, of course.

-We're back home now.

-We're back home now.

-

-With one of the best.

-Yes, Nebo Black Magic.

-I carried a lot less weight then!

-We had visitors from England,

-who had come to see the horses.

-This is Derwen Rosina's Last...

-..son of Magic, out of Rosina.

-This was her last foal.

-There's the bus.

-It's an old one!

-A lot of people

-used to come on stud visits...

-..from all over the country.

-We showed them the horses,

-the foals and so on.

-This is Brynymor Welsh Magic

-out on the farmyard...

-..showing himself off.

-I think this was Derwen Sensation.

-It's hard to remember

-back over 50 years!

-# Neithiwr mi glywais

-# Lais angel fel hyn

-# Dafydd, tyrd adref

-# A chwarae drwy'r glyn

-# Delyn fy mebyd #

-Derwen horses have won the cup

-a total of 13 times.

-Does one win

-stand out over the others?

-For me personally, my first win,

-leading Derwen Rosina...

-..is the one that stands out most.

-But I loved them all.

-They all did their best for us,

-and I'll never forget that.

-"On the level, don't protect me

-"On the climb up, do not force me

-"On the descent, do not ride me

-"In the stable, don't forget me."

-That was my mother's verse.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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