Rhaglen 8 Ceffylau Cymru

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-In the equine world, some horses

-are big and some are small.

-In this programme,

-Nia's with the shire horses...

-..and I'm with the Shetlands.

-They may be petite,

-but they are big in personality.

-Welcome to Ceffylau Cymru.

-This time, we're focusing

-on the macro and the micro.

-The tame and the mischievous,

-the hard-working and the cautious.

-The bold and the gentle,

-from Gwynedd in the north...

-..to Moylegrove in the south.

-Two extremes of the equine world

-are the stars this week.

-Dogs are intelligent, but nothing

-is as intelligent as a horse.

-I'm in awe

-of how much manipulation there is...

-..when they want something

-or don't want to do anything.

-There's a feeling of freedom

-when you're with them.

-There's just you and them,

-and it's always a wonderful feeling.

-Our journey starts on Anglesey...

-..with a mother and daughter team,

-Ann and Gwen Holland.

-One team, but two studs,

-Minmon and Llangeinwen.

-Daughter Gwen

-once focused on mountain ponies...

-..but Shetlands

-have now stolen her heart.

-Why did you decide

-to buy a Shetland?

-I've kept mountain ponies

-for 20 years.

-I've bred them, shown them

-and had a lot of fun with them.

-It's an interesting story, really.

-There's a lot of politics

-in the Welsh mountain pony world.

-I tried to diversify a bit

-at the Anglesey Show one year.

-We entered a veteran class...

-..with a former Section A pony.

-While waiting to go into the ring,

-there were a lot of Shetlands about.

-A lot of lovely-coloured ones.

-I'd never really looked

-at Shetlands before that.

-But they were

-so pretty and correct.

-I remember

-discussing them afterwards.

-Anyway, later that year,

-we went to Trawsfynydd Show.

-I took a Welsh pony there.

-She won the supreme championship.

-After going home, the way you do...

-..you try to find out who was

-judging at the show and so on.

-I went on Facebook

-to find out who it was.

-I realized that he had

-a big Shetland stud on the island.

-I just saw a photo

-of a little black and white pony.

-I just thought, I must have her.

-You run both studs

-with your mother, Ann.

-Do you work well together?

-Yes, 95% of the time,

-we work great together!

-We have a lot of fun.

-It's quite interesting.

-Mam has more of an interest in

-Section B, particularly geldings...

-..whereas I'm with Section A

-mountain ponies, and now Shetlands.

-It's nice

-that we have different interests.

-It's nice to go to shows

-with one of your best friends.

-Having a bit of fun

-while you're at it.

-It's not all

-about winning and losing.

-You need to enjoy it and stop

-somewhere to eat on the way home.

-Doing something different,

-creating a story for every show.

-Gwen's first Shetland

-was Edern Cain.

-She has already enjoyed

-a lot of success.

-A reserve championship and second in

-Llanelwedd and the Anglesey Show...

-..and first place

-at smaller shows across Wales.

-What's so special about her?

-I look at her

-as I would any other horse.

-She has a sweet head.

-I look at the way she stands.

-How she moves.

-You're used to mountain ponies...

-..but you've clearly

-taken a fancy to Shetlands now.

-Do you deal with them differently?

-They're quite similar, really.

-The Shetlands I have

-are fairly highly strung...

-..as are my Section As,

-so they are similar.

-These are much more mischievous.

-If they don't want to be caught

-on the field, they won't be.

-It can be quite a performance.

-As for showing them...

-..the main feature

-is that their hair is much longer.

-Their coat is made up of different

-layers, especially in winter.

-So, preparing them is difficult?

-So, preparing them is difficult?

-

-Yes, extremely difficult.

-The second Shetland Gwen bought

-was Edern Cadog.

-A small horse

-with a big personality...

-..and very mischievous.

-Cadog is full of love

-and full of mischief.

-He's quite a character,

-and he makes me laugh a lot.

-He bites a bit more

-than I'd like...

-..but we are working on that,

-so we'll see how he is.

-But we're really pleased

-with how he has developed.

-People do tend to prefer

-one over the other.

-For me, it's Cain every time,

-but lots of people prefer Cadog.

-That's interesting.

-They're extremely similar,

-but there are a few differences.

-I can pinpoint one thing.

-I thought his markings

-would do better in colour classes...

-..because both sides

-are fairly similar.

-But she has done better, despite

-both sides being nothing alike.

-You can never tell.

-It's a matter of judges' own tastes.

-It's a matter of judges' own tastes.

-

-A judge's taste, exactly.

-The Shetlands have made me feel

-like I did when I was ten.

-When I got Augusta, my first pony,

-I lost my head completely.

-The same happened when Atlanta,

-her daughter, was born.

-It was just the best feeling ever.

-Nothing else mattered.

-When Cain came along,

-and I started to show her...

-..I look forward to coming home

-from work and seeing them.

-That's something you lose

-as you get older.

-You even have fun

-when mucking out the Shetlands.

-They try to bite everything,

-tip everything over.

-You put them out on the field

-and they refuse to be caught.

-You spend half the time laughing.

-What happens at a show

-soon becomes much less important.

-As well as seeing him at home...

-..we caught up with Cadog

-competing at Trawsfynydd Show.

-I've competed here

-since I was twelve.

-I used to compete

-with mountain ponies.

-I stopped coming here

-when I went away to university.

-I started coming again

-five years ago.

-Two years ago, I won

-the supreme championship here...

-..with a mountain pony,

-Rhydyllech Golden Sundae.

-Last year, I was a judge here.

-It's one of those places

-that are very close to my heart.

-It's the Shetland's first time here.

-Don't. Don't!

-Don't bite!

-Don't! You don't want

-hoof oil in your mouth.

-He's a yearling colt,

-so I don't expect much difference...

-..between him

-and a yearling pony or cob.

-They're naughty at that age.

-By the time he's two,

-I hope he'll be better behaved.

-But he probably won't be great

-until he's four.

-Don't break everything!

-Are you being naughty?

-Are you being naughty?

-

-I'd say he is, Gwen.

-You're playing up

-in front of people!

-Don't even think of escaping!

-He loves escaping

-every chance he gets!

-And he's the right size

-to do it as well.

-We need eyes

-in the back of our heads.

-This is a dangerous time.

-He likes to take chunks of hair.

-His name's Cadog,

-but we call him King Cadoogie!

-And a few other things

-when he bites.

-I call him Crocodile.

-Don't bite.

-Television or not,

-you'll get a slap.

-Cadog is almost ready.

-All that's left

-is to rein in his excitement.

-Don't bite!

-Gwen will show him in the class

-for colts and fillies under three.

-Ann is on hand to commentate.

-They've brought them out

-and are leading them around.

-The judge is looking at them again,

-and he's picked out the skewbald.

-Cadog has been picked out as well.

-He clearly impressed the judges

-as he was walking around.

-He's up to second place,

-and I'm sure Gwen will be pleased.

-She'll know that it's not

-down to his conformation.

-He's in second place

-because of his behaviour.

-Cadog was a bit of a naughty boy,

-so he only deserved second place.

-It's a shame, but so be it.

-He does really well when he behaves.

-When he doesn't,

-that's what happens.

-I'm OK. I'm happy enough.

-I enjoy local shows

-as much as the national shows.

-All contests are competitive.

-You can't predict the standard

-at any show.

-Smaller shows will sometimes have

-more entries and higher standards.

-But I enjoy them all.

-A competition is a competition.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-There are some 4,000 tigers

-and 5,000 black rhinos in the world.

-But there are only

-about 1,500 shire horses.

-Four of them are here,

-in Pembrokeshire.

-At the turn of the last century,

-before the Second World War...

-..there were over a million

-shire horses in Britain alone.

-But things changed

-with the onset of the tractor.

-During the 1960s, thousands

-were killed for their meat.

-Numbers are now slowly increasing...

-..thanks to enthusiasts like John

-Fletcher and his daughter, Stacy.

-She competes across the country

-with her horse Black Velvet, or BV.

-All the practice and preparation

-happens here, at Penrallt Uchaf.

-This year, you competed

-at the Horse Of The Year Show.

-Tell me about that.

-It was nerve-racking, really.

-I'd never been there

-either to watch or to compete.

-I won a qualifier

-at my first attempt.

-We went there

-and tried to enjoy it.

-It was difficult,

-because I was so nervous.

-BV went well,

-and I was happy with seventh.

-Is that a fairly new event at HOYS?

-Is that a fairly new event at HOYS?

-

-Yes, that was the first time.

-I'm sure it'll go

-from strength to strength.

-Is riding a shire horse

-different to riding other horses?

-It's more slow-motion, maybe.

-There's less chance

-of falling off one of the big ones.

-They have so much power.

-I can't describe it, really.

-There's so much horse beneath you.

-It feels completely different.

-Do you do anything with the horses

-apart from riding them?

-I often help Dad with show

-demonstrations or tugs of war.

-We take carts out, we do weddings.

-We plough, we do funerals.

-Lots of events.

-So there's a variety of activities

-you can do with them.

-We try to demonstrate

-that they can do anything.

-What happens during any year?

-It usually starts with ploughing.

-Dad goes out to compete locally.

-In March, it's the National

-Shire Horse Show up in Stafford.

-That's a great show

-for us as a family.

-Then, more shows and weddings...

-..and back to ploughing again

-in the autumn.

-Do you look forward to competing

-in the show in March?

-It's the highlight of the year

-for me, Dad and my cousin, Hayley.

-We really enjoy competing there.

-The best of the best compete there.

-John is the boss.

-He focuses on driving carts

-for wedding and funerals.

-He's also an old hand at ploughing

-with these gentle giants.

-I get a lot of enjoyment

-working with these horses every day.

-Over the years, I've had

-lots of memorable experiences.

-But the ones that stand out...

-..are winning

-the Welsh Ploughing Championship...

-..being chosen to represent Wales

-at the European Championships...

-..and one of the weddings

-that stands out...

-..was Cerys Matthews's wedding

-in Cardiff.

-I'm sure your father is happy

-to see you taking an interest...

-..and taking part

-in more modern activities.

-I think he enjoys

-watching me compete with BV.

-He cries a lot when we do compete!

-It's nice for him to see

-one of his horses doing well.

-What's he like as a boss?

-What's he like as a boss?

-

-He's OK.

-The older I get,

-the more he listens to me.

-We used to argue a lot,

-but it's getting better.

-We do work quite well together.

-The shire horses

-are a family business.

-John's granddaughters

-help from time to time...

-..including the youngest, Maia.

-Do you enjoy riding, Maia?

-Do you enjoy riding, Maia?

-

-Yes.

-Even the big horses?

-Even the big horses?

-

-Yes.

-Isn't he a bit too big for you?

-Isn't he a bit too big for you?

-

-No.

-Not at all?

-Not at all?

-

-No.

-Stacy, the original plan...

-..was to follow you

-to the show in Stafford.

-Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

-Sadly, a few days before the show,

-BV fell ill with a virus.

-We decided to keep all the horses

-at home until she was better.

-Why did you withdraw all the horses?

-Why did you withdraw all the horses?

-

-We weren't sure what was wrong.

-We decided not to risk taking them

-such a long way from home.

-Is she better now?

-Is she better now?

-

-She's recovering slowly.

-It was an important event for you

-because it was a HOYS qualifier.

-We've missed the first qualifier...

-..but we hope to compete at the

-Three Counties or Cheshire in June.

-Good luck to you.

-I hope you win next time.

-Despite Stacy's disappointment,

-life goes on.

-There's lots of training to do

-in the fields and the arena.

-John is an expert ploughman.

-But the harrow is a good way

-to train the young horse, Jack.

-What is the purpose of harrowing?

-It breaks up old pasture,

-but we use it to train horses.

-We start off with a single horse

-and a small harrow...

-..and work up to this heavy harrow

-when they're older and stronger.

-How long does it take

-to train a horse to this standard?

-Every horse is different.

-It's easier if they're younger

-and they've seen a lot at shows.

-It they're older, it takes longer

-to show them everything.

-Anything from a month to a year.

-How does this training

-help prepare for weddings?

-Practising here with Dad

-is important.

-They might have to walk on a bit...

-..then stand still

-for ten minutes, maybe...

-..then move on again.

-It teaches them good manners.

-They have to listen to Dad,

-not do what they want to do.

-Is cornering

-as complicated as it looks?

-Dad works a lot on this.

-When he goes ploughing, and he has

-to turn at the end of a furrow...

-..space is at a premium.

-Being able to walk

-with their legs crossing is vital.

-Can you do this work too?

-I can, but they usually behave

-a lot better for Dad than for me.

-A bit more practice, perhaps?

-Maybe, if Dad lets me.

-Whoa!

-As well as the shire horses...

-..John loves buying, selling

-and restoring carriages...

-..and old farm equipment.

-Stacy, these carriages are superb.

-Tell us a little about them.

-OK, this is a glass landau.

-It was made in Poland,

-especially for us.

-It's a lot bigger,

-designed for use by shire horses.

-They're usually only this high,

-but this one is really big.

-What is this used for?

-This is for weddings.

-This is for weddings.

-

-It looks very fancy.

-Why did you need a bigger one?

-The horses would look too big

-drawing a traditional carriage.

-This way,

-everything is in proportion.

-What about this one?

-This is a brewery dray.

-It was made circa 1905, I think.

-The Newcastle Brewery used it

-to deliver beer locally up there.

-And what's that other cart?

-And what's that other cart?

-

-It's a Shropshire boat wagon.

-It's more like a hay wagon.

-That was made in the early 1900s.

-We use it for shows

-and demonstrations.

-It's a traditional wagon.

-They must be great to see at a show.

-It does look really good

-when it's drawn by a pair of horses.

-It really catches the eye.

-Clearly, Dad looks after these.

-Clearly, Dad looks after these.

-

-Yes, they're his pride and joy.

-There are many ploughs

-in the shed as well.

-Dad ploughs often in the autumn...

-..and also in the spring.

-He competes over Wales and Britain.

-It's a wonder that he finds the time

-to do all that he does.

-Ploughing is hard work

-but at the end of the day...

-..it gives him great pleasure

-to see what he has done.

-Unfortunately, it's a dying art,

-but Dad tries to keep it going.

-Anyone who has a go

-while he's ploughing...

-..soon finds out how hard it is.

-Have you ever tried?

-Have you ever tried?

-

-No, it's too difficult for me!

-Stacy, I hear that you train

-the horses in a particular spot.

-We often go down to Poppit Sands,

-a local beach, to train them.

-Is there a reason for that?

-It helps with their legs,

-because it cleans the feathers.

-They also enjoy it there.

-They mean a lot to me.

-I spend a lot of time with them,

-and I really enjoy shire horses.

-They may be giants,

-but they're also gentle.

-Do shire horses stand out

-a lot more than other horses?

-Definitely.

-You think they're so strong,

-but they're so nice.

-Whatever you do,

-they'll help you out.

-They're gentle giants.

-Horses have played a part in my life

-since I was very young.

-I get a lot of pleasure

-keeping and working shire horses.

-But I also get pleasure...

-..watching others

-enjoying their company.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.