     Ellister Islay Solo Dance is by Whitefield King Duncan out of Ballinton Lady, born in 2008. She has an exceptional temperament and active paces. Now greying out from dark brown, she has been running with Forester since May 2011 and is hopefully in foal. 
 Ellister Islay Merry Dance, below, is a 3yo filly by Whitefield King Duncan out of Kayleighdene. She has good bone and conformation and will be another nice addition to the brood mares. Like her mother, she carries Rhum blood on both sides (a long way back) and it will be interesting to see if she leaves unusual colours.
  Above: Rain and Chanter Right: Ellister Islay Whisper, 2yo filly by Whitefield King Duncan out of Willowdene. I shall see how she grows over the winter and put her to Forester either as a 3yo or 4yo. |
Nearly all of my brood mares were bought from Scott McGregor at the Ballinton Stud. Although I'd kept horses and ponies since I was 18 years old, and used Highland Ponies in my Riding School here on Islay, I only went into breeding Highlands on the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage. Their adviser reckoned I needed a herd of ponies in order to provide the dung that choughs (rare birds of the crow family) need for their invertebrate food supply. Ceilidh of Glenmarkie is by Falcon Frost of Sauchrie out of Maranbet Fraoch and foaled in 1994 (now 17 yo). Ceilidh has bred me a lovely foal every two years since I bought her in foal to Rory of Balinoe, as a three-year-old. Her first foal was Ellister Islay Dancer (by Rory of Balinoe). Subsequently, all by Whitefield King Duncan, she has bred: Ellister Islay Melody Ellister Islay Flute Ellister Islay Peregrine Falcon Ellister Islay Sea Holly Ellister Islay Chanter Ellister Islay Mariner Willowdene is a 16yo dark brown mare by Keiran of Dalbrack out of Moragdene I bought Willow in foal to Fyfedene and she bred a fantastic foal called Ellister Islay Royal Fern. Fern has won many championships in hand and is now starting on her career under saddle, with Liz and Bill Mangham of Potterton Park. Willow has since bred three more foals for me: Ellister Islay Sea Storm, a filly by Nashend Buzzard Ellister Islay Whisper, a filly by Whitefield King Duncan Ellister Islay Royal Fleet - a colt by Whitefield King Duncan. Kimdene, seen on the left with Willowdene, is by Fyfedene out of Kirsty o'Kinnoul. She is a lovely mare but is half brother to my stallion Forester. She will either have to have another year off from breeding, or other arrangements will have to be made. Kim is the dam of Ellister Islay Raindance; she has a superb temperament and is a recovered grass sickness pony.  Kayleighdene, known as Bracken, is a 7yo mare - daughter of Kimdene, by Josethdene. Bracken can be difficult to keep condition on, but this is no disavantage; she does her foals well and will be kept on as a brood mare as she produces lovely foals. Tamaradene is an 18 yo mare by Highfield Glen Albyn x Dark Maiden of Kildavie She is a full sister to Tiegandene. See photo left - Tiegan on left and Tamara on right. They are both full up 14.2hh Tamara was the foundation mare for the Carlung Stud and bred many wonderful foals. She came to me with foal at foot and in foal to Lairig Ghru - unfortunately it had not thrived in the womb and was stillborn. We gave Tamara another year off and her first foal with us was born in 2010: Ellister Islay Juniper by Glenbanchor MacGillie Dubh Tamara has been running with Forester early in 2011. Tiegandene is a 1997 mare by Highfield Glen Albyn out of Dark Maiden of Kildavie. Tiegan is the dam of my stallion Forester and will therefore either have to have another year off, or other arrangements will need to be made. Fiona of Torlundy is a 14yo mare by Bodach Dhu of Glenshiel x Rum Mary IV Fiona sadly lost twins to Whitefield King Duncan last year in 2010, so went back to Forester for foaling in 2011. She foaled on 4th May with no problems - a yellow dun colt - and it soon became apparent that it was not sucking properly. The foal died at three weeks old and Fiona has since been running again with Forester.
.jpg.opt378x296o0,0s378x296.jpg) Ellister Islay Raindance is by Whitefield King Duncan out of Kimdene. She has nearly been sold on several occasions but I have particularly wanted a dressage home for her. She is now a 4yo and 14.1hh - and by far my favourite pony, with a very sweet nature - never nasty to man nor beast !
Rain will go to Forester next spring.
Below: Ellister Islay Chanter, 3yo filly by Whitefield King Duncan out of Ceilidh of Glenmarkie. Chanter was Liz & Wendy's favourite and I'm delighted to be keeping her for a while longer. She is very laid back and deceptively, not quite as big as Rain.
 And just arrived home from two years in Aberdeenshire, is Ellister Islay Sea Holly, now a 5yo. Holly is by Whitefield King Duncan out of Ceilidh of Glenmarkie, so is full sister to Chanter. She is 14.1hh and had already had a foal.  Photo courtesy of Kate Lines
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