 Above: Ballinton Lady has now been retired, having bred three foals for us. She was foaled in 1989 and had bred many foals before she came to us.  Above: Money Spider and her foal by Whitefield King Duncan - Miss Moneypenny. Spider is now 28 years old and still winters out with just a few slices of hay when there is snow on the ground - a rare occurence on Islay. Although she looks rather Thoroughbred, she's actually TB/Irish Draught/Cleveland Bay. She is out of my "once in a lifetime" mare Branta and I hope the foal "Miss Moneypenny" is showing some of the outstanding qualities of this family. Also see photo of Andy riding Spider on the page "About us". Spider is an excellent aunty - putting up with no nonsense but always ensuring her charges remain calm.  Lordy is a great companion for our stallion Forester or for any colts and geldings. Having a companion that is too in your face is a disadvantage when you want to handle the others in the field. On the right: Forester and Lordy |
 The grey mare above with Tamaradene, is Coulmore Pearl - also retired.  Above: Ballinton Islay Breeze is an Appendix B mare out of Ballinton Islay Mist Mist was one of the ponies Scott McGregor of the Ballinton Stud found on Islay many years ago. They had been bred by Islay Estates but were not registered. Breeze has bred only two foals: Ellister Islay Flight died at 18 months old from what is now thought to have been Atypical Myopathy, tho at the time we thought she'd been struck by lightning. Her second foal, in 2000, was Ellister Islay Harmony now owned by Pauline MacPherson and concentrating on dressage. She was recently placed third in her first Open Ridden class and first in her first affiliated Novice test at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre. Breeze has an ovarian tumour which shows itself by altering her sexual behaviour from a mare to a stallion. She is therefore ideal at playing aunty to the young colts.
On the left is Ellister Islay Sea Lord, a 4yo gelding by Whitefield King Duncan out of Ballinton Lady. Lady's first two foals with us were both extremely nervous; the second one, Solo Dance, changed as a yearling into the most friendly, easily managed pony I've ever known. Sea Lord, however, remains a little wary, but is now relatively easily headcollared and led; he will do anything for food - as every Highland Pony knows. I've decided he should stay here as another companion pony - although he would be for sale to the right home, at a reasonable price - as long as it was in Scotland so that he could be collected if he proved impossible to handle further. He wasn't cut until he was 3yo.  |
