August 2023
40th Shetland Pony Stud Book Society Breed Show
The Black Isle Show ground, Muir of Ord 27 August 2023
The Black Isle Show ground, Muir of Ord 27 August 2023
Hools Dark Ivy – 3yr old Filly – 1st – Reserve Junior Black Ring Champion – Eclipse Trophy
Hools Janet – Brood Mare – 1st – Lovesgrove Trophy
Hools Je t’aime – Yearling Filly – 1st – Parc Trophy, Merlin Trophy for Best Novice from Black/Coloured Ring
Hools Sea Cheri – Yearling Filly – 2nd
Hools Kingsman – Foal – 5th
Hools Miss Jutland – Yeld Mare 4-7yr old – 5th
Hools Janet, Hools Je t’aime & Hools Kingsman – Best Mare and two of her Progeny & Reserve Overall Progeny
Layla riding Clothie Night Krush for Ms I Cromarty – 2nd – Novice First Ridden
Special thanks to Matthew, Craig, Mandy S, Mandy C, Toots & Kirsty for helping me show when needed.
Thank you NorthLink Ferries for sponsorship with travel.
Lastly thank you to the hard working committee and stewards.
Orkney County Show 2023
Hools Je t’aime – Yearling Filly – Junior Champion, V Irvine Cup for Best 1 or 2yr old, Reserve Bred by Exhibitor
Hools Dark Ivy – 3yr old Filly – 1st
Hools Kingsman – Colt Foal – 2nd
Merkisayre Destini – 17yr old Yeld Mare – 2nd
Merkisayre Dawn & Rider Elin – Ridden – 2nd
Hools Dark Ivy & Hools Je t’aime – Best Pair of Shetland Ponies
Hools Dark Ivy, Hools Je t’aime & Hools Kingsman – Reserve Best Group of 3
Shoormal Shetland Stud Rosette for Best Young Handler 8yrs & under & Overall Champion – Elin
Shoormal Shetland Stud Rosette for Best Young Handler 9-16yrs & Reserve Overall – Layla
Thank you Hannah & Tally for help throughout the day.
East Mainland Show 2023
Hools Dark Ivy – 3yr old Filly – Junior Champion, Overall Shetland, Best Bred by Exhibitor & Overall Horse
Hools Sea Cheri – 1yr old Filly – Reserve Junior Champion
Hools Miss Jewayl – Filly Foal – Champion Foal
Hools Ocean – 2yr old – 1st
Hools Miss Jura – 4yr old Yeld Mare – 1st
Hools Dark Ivy & Hools Sea Cheri – Best Pair
Merkisayre Dawn & Elin – Best Open Ridden
July 2023
Sutherland Show 2023
Overall Young Handler Champion 
– Layla Jayne Kirkness showing Hools Dark Ivy (named after her late great grandmother, founder of the stud).
– Layla Jayne Kirkness showing Hools Dark Ivy (named after her late great grandmother, founder of the stud).1st Yearling – Hools Sea Cheri
2nd 2/3 year old – 3 yr old Hools Dark Ivy
3rd 2/3 year old – 2 yr old Hools Ocean
Thanks to Barbara, Alan & Brian for our accommodation. Hannah for her help and NorthLink Ferries for sponsoring us again.
Well done to the Sutherland Show Committee – you really did put on a good show – especially the Red Arrows fly over!
Caithness County Show 2023
Overall Champion Foal – Hools Kingsman
2nd Mare with foal at foot – Hools Janet
3rd Ridden Shetland & YH – Merkisayre Dawn ridden by 7 year old Elin Scott
Special thanks to Jennifer, Jelena & Elin Scott for their help & NorthLink Ferries for sponsorship.
4yr old Stallion Combebank Endeavour passed his VVE this month.
June 2023
Royal Highland Show 2023
Hools Native Royalty – 2yr old Colt – 1st & Reserve Male Champion,
Hools Je t’aime – 1yr old Filly – 2nd,
Hools Miss Jutland – 7yr old Yeld Mare – 4th,
Best Group of 3, one male, two females.
Thank you to Hannah, Toots, Sara & Northlink Ferries for your help & sponsorship.
April 2023
Hools Sea Kraken – our first foal of 2023 – Dam – Sirette of Berry, Sire – Kinkell Elevator
Thank you to Vet Student Caroline, who foaled Berry whilst she was here on placement from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Kraken’s colour was a little shock! My first coloured foal!
My Grandmother started breeding Shetland Ponies in 1958, predominantly breeding Blacks. The first Chestnut arrived in 1965 – Vidka of Hools, followed by Vampire of Hools in 1968. In 1973 there was Selkie of Hools – (003051S), who had Fireball of Marshwood in his Pedigree.
Chestnut ponies are found in both the Dam & Sire pedigrees, including Fireball of Marshwood, who is found in Sirette of Berry’s Pedigree. Fireball is pictured below with Mrs Cox (left), where my mother Jane (centre) worked while she was a student studying Vet Nursing in Edinburgh.
My Grandmother started breeding Shetland Ponies in 1958, predominantly breeding Blacks. The first Chestnut arrived in 1965 – Vidka of Hools, followed by Vampire of Hools in 1968. In 1973 there was Selkie of Hools – (003051S), who had Fireball of Marshwood in his Pedigree.
Thank you to Clothie Shetland Pony Stud for the lease of Kinkell Elevator last Summer.
March 2023
Hools Explanation – 3yr old Colt – Orkney Bred Champion for Tuskerbister Dada Trophy at the Orkney Riding Club Winter Woolie Show 2023 –
1st Youngstock, 1st Small M&M & 1st Orkney Bred In-hand.
1st Youngstock, 1st Small M&M & 1st Orkney Bred In-hand.
Thank you to everyone that makes these local shows happen – usually also run for a good cause – this time being the RDA.
Please keep supporting your local shows – for whatever reason it fits for you (we don’t have many) – if it weren’t for them I’d not be prepared for showing further a field. It’s a thankless job being in a show committee, the hard work does not go unnoticed – well done everyone that took part and the judges for taking time out from their own busy schedules.
January 2023
