Highland pony's debut success at Keith Show
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A first time in the show ring proved to be a spectacularly successful outing for four year old Highland pony Traitlow Teviot owned by Fiona Menzies of Myreton, Insch.
Having already claimed the Highland pony title earlier in the morning, the débutante went on to take the overall horse championship title which brought it to centre stage in the show ring, under the gaze of judge Aileen Ingram from Drumblade.
It found itself up against the overall cattle champion, Silvermere Solero, a two year old Charolais heifer from Michelle Hanson and Darren Irvine from Upper Drakemyres, Keith who themselves has success last week at the Nairn show winning the champion of champions with a home-bred Texel ewe lamb.
Joining them in the ring was the inter-breed sheep champion, a Texel ram lamb from Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock, Dunscroft, Huntly, brought out by shepherd Michael Leggat along with, on their own table, the champion guinea pig and the champion rabbit.
Having examined each, and watched the pony put through its paces in a run, there was no doubt in the judge's mind over the champion of champions, heading straight to the Highland pony to select it as the winner, with the reserve going to the Charolais.
On the amazing success Owner Fiona Menzies said: "First outing, first win, first time off the farm.
"I bought him from a lady down in Dumfries after I saw him advertised on Facebook when he was six weeks old,
"I went down to see him and brought him home at six months old and he has just been growing up with us.
"He's got two yearling foals, a foal this year and he has two more mares in foal for next year and I started working with him at the beginning of June and he's just blossomed."
She joked: "But I can't run the length of myself so that's why I bullied my husband into taking him into the ring today.
"He's by Strathlene Achitbuie out of Trailtrow Tabitha More and this will be his only outing this season as I am breaking him into ride and I got reserve to him (on Cerys O'Lundie Crags) in the Highland ponies section so its been an amazing day here."
Judge Aileen said: "They were all fine examples, but the pony was the real stand-out in the line-up.".
