Emma and her family have been showing Welsh Mountain Ponies for almost 30 years. In 2003, they were preparing a yearling - Frongoch Carwyn - for his first taste of the main ring at the Royal Welsh Show. In the run-up to Carwyn's big day on Wednesday 23 July 2003, Emma kept a personal diary - charting the highs and lows of competing on the agricultural catwalk.
Read Emma's countdown diary by clicking on the links below:
19 days to go 14 days to go 5 days to go Judgement Day
4 July 2003 - 19 days to go
"As Welsh mountain pony enthusiasts, the Royal Welsh Show is the highlight of our year. Not only do we enjoy taking part in the showing competitions, we also look forward to meeting friends from all across the world - many of whom share the same interest as us.
This year is extra special. My younger sister Karen qualified as a solicitor last year and, for a graduation present, my mother (who established the Frongoch Stud over thirty years ago) gave her a foal named Frongoch Carwyn.
Carwyn's "parents" are Carregcennen Swynol, herself a regular prize winner at the show, and Revel Jack. His half brother was the 2002 Glyn Greenwood Supreme Champion Frongoch Cardi and in 2003, Carwyn will be competing at the RWAS for the very first time.
Preparation for the show means lots of hard work and commitment. It started back in October 2002 when Carwyn was weaned from his dam along with our other foals.
He spent the winter grazing in the paddocks during the day and in a warm stable during the night. He has been regularly groomed, fed, wormed, exercised etc.
As the Royal Welsh gets closer, he will attend other shows to get used to travelling in a horsebox and hearing loud noises, such as crowds cheering and loud speakers. We are already getting butterflies in our stomachs...." Written by Emma Jones of Frongoch Stud.
Read the following three instalments of Emma's diary by clicking on the links below:
14 days to go 5 days to go Judgement Day
your comments
Sarah Evans
helo dwi yn caru'r sioe hyn mae o yn gret dwi yn mynd bob blwyddyn a dwi yn hoffir ceffylau y myaff a dwi yn hoffi'r llun o'r ceffyl ar top y tudalen -Hello, I love this show, it is great and I go every year, I enjoy the horses the most. I like the photo of the horse on the top of the page.
Mon Jul 2 12:43:47 2007
Gail Stone, Honiton
I just got section A and he looks really scruffy with his faol coat whats the best thing to do to make his coat look good for showing this year?
Mon Apr 30 15:12:05 2007
Mark Pugh
hello, my surname is pugh,and i was wondering if that name is royal, and if so royal enough to compete, i hope this wasnt a stupid question.
Mon Oct 23 10:02:43 2006
Patsy from BHS (Powys)
Hi Emma - could you write something for the BHS newsletter that we are bringing out in January - it would I am sure be of interest to all our members - we should be putting newsletters out to all tack shops etc so there will be quite a few people that would read them.
Many thanks - patsy
Fri Dec 9 21:16:50 2005
chloe (abergavenny)
I like your horses very much and the pictures of them in your diary. I am a horse lover myself and I think that they are wonderful creatures. I love to ride them and groom them. I have competed in all the Rroyal Welsh Shows and have come 1st twice, 2nd seven times but never come last.
Thu Jan 27 09:45:15 2005
Sally Clarke
i have just brought a section a which i want to show next year, she is superbly bred but i have never done much showing before and what i have done was only at a local level as i am more into the showjumping side. but i would really like to know anything that anyone can tell me about the showing of the welsh section A, from clothing to stance to rules, anything... thank you all and good luck to everybody!!
Mon Dec 6 14:20:36 2004
georgina from cheshire
i watched most of the welsh section a classes this year and there was alot of competition. so well done for getting placed at 10th, and its great to know what its like to show there as i will be showing my section c there under saddle next year.
good luck with the rest of your showing.
Thu Sep 2 00:48:11 2004
Tom Best, Waxwing Pony Stud, Fife, Scotland
Having been a "regular" at the Royal Welsh for about thirty years, it's great to read about another generation which is as enthused about going to Builth as all those previously have been. In many ways, the anticipation of going sets the adrenalin running as much as the competition does itself. I hope that you feel equally as excited about going in thirty years time, Emma. But in the meantime, savour the moment with your colt when he enters the ring early on Wednesday morning and enjoy the walk back to the stable regardless of whether or not he is wearing a rosette.
Thu Jul 10 22:41:50 2003
Gwyneth Bird from Montgomery
Good luck Emma. Will see you there!
Wed Jul 9 13:06:19 2003
Vicki Llewelyn from Aberporth
"Good luck to Emma, Carwyn and family. We hope all your hard work will be rewarded and look forward to seeing you at the Show."
Tue Jul 8 14:17:27 2003
David Morgan from Aberystwyth
"Like the idea of a diary from the Royal Welsh. I'm sure you are all at Frongoch excited and looking forward to seeing Carwyn again. I bet Colin (Tibbey) will be flat out in the next 2 weeks producing his clients ponies to reach the show in excellent condition, and I bet he will have Carwyn looking just fine! Good Luck to them both!"
Mon Jul 7 09:42:22 2003
Have you got a message for Emma, Carwyn and family? Have you ever competed at the Royal Welsh - or any other major event? You can add your comments here.
