The End of an Era
HEWID MEREDITH 1974 -2006
Written
2006
Hewid Meredith with Rebecca
Peter and Ann Hunt sadly report the death
of Hewid Meredith, affectionately known as Toad,
due to the wrinkles in his neck when first clipped. He came
into their lives 26 years ago as a young 6 year old Welsh
Cob stallion on the verge of an astonishingly successful showing
career. Having already won the Royal Welsh show under saddle
he went from strength to strength under the careful riding
and training of a close friend, Rebecca Lodge(
now Diamond).
Highlights of his showing career were winning
at the Royal show under saddle, 3rd twice at Olympia, and supreme Champion under saddle at the Mid Southern Counties
three day show under the late Dorian Williams. Reserve was
the hack champion. Comment from one of its supporters was ‘ My God, the pit pony has
won’!!!
At the age of 8 his talents were turned to
dressage and within two years he was chosen to compete for
Great Britain
in the Pony dressage team (1984). At this time adults could
not compete on ponies and juniors could not compete in adult
classes. This made it very hard to produce experienced junior
teams. However one comment was made in Germany
that at last GB were producing something that looked like
a dressage pony rather than a converted show pony.
At 10 years old the decision was taken to
have him gelded as his value now lay in his dressage training
rather than his stud work. He was offered for sale as a junior
team pony but at the same time the rules were changed and
height restrictions removed so he was withdrawn from sale.
Ann then competed on him successfully for
some years moving from riding prelims to achieving good results
in medium tests.
Meantime the Hunts had moved to Scotland and bought a farm very close
to Gleneagles where he went on loan.
Captain Mark Philips wanted to offer all disciplines and found
a vaulting Instructor from Germany.
She tested all the horses and decided that only Toad had the
required combination of the attributes of great temperament,
lunging ability and balanced canter.
Ann went to find out what was happening to her horse
– the rest is history! Toad taught most of the vaulters who were eventually in
the first Scottish Equestrian Vaulting Team, Kathryn
Hunt, Gemma Russell, Hannah MacGillivray, Jenny and Hazel
Croft, Pamela Murray and Philip Beasley. Ann is now Chairperson
of British Equestrian Vaulting and committed to growing this
fantastic branch of equestrianism.
Throughout his life, Toad has been the best
possible ambassador for the Welsh breeds. He has been ridden
for dressage, cross country, jumping and side-saddle. The
number of people that have learnt a little about dressage
on him is legendary. He was broken to harness and finally
taught vaulting to so many children. At the age of 29 he went
to help a new group start vaulting at Pathhead
Riding School
at Kirriemuir. He returned to Easterton Farm last October
and spent a very happy winter mainly roaming free or playing
with the young colts. It is very sad that he will not enjoy
another summer.
The GLEANNMHOR stud started with Toad. Ann now rides his great grandson,
a 15.3 Welsh Cob gelding, Gleannmhor
Jupiter, who competes at Elementary dressage and looks after
the beginners of the Eagles Vaulting Group.
Sadly Peter and Ann have made the decision
that having started with Toad, the stud will finish with him. There are three mares due this season. The
two older mares, Alena and Forgetmenot, his granddaughters,
will not be put back in foal. Forgetmenots last foal is Quince, little sister
to Jupiter. The
part-bred mare, Harmony, will be offered for sale along with
the stallion and all the young stock will gradually be sold.
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