In one way or another Joyce Newbery has been involved with horses from a young age and started showing ponies from a ripe old age of seven. Along with her brother Tony they travelled the country aided by their parents Alfe and Peggy, attending all manner of shows. Tony's route led him down the showjumping path and is now a BSJA trainer, but Joyce, staying with showing and a love of teaching people to ride, went on to open Oaklands Riding School in 1972 (see Oaklands Riding School.co.uk). Various ponies have been bred over the years but Show Pony & Dartmoor breeding started seriously in 1990.
Some of the ponies that helped start them off were Creadon Lucky Charm, China Tea, Cribon Ninon, Little Sir Echo, Tetworth Love Song, Creadon Dubonnet and Hendbury Serena. From ponies Joyce moved on to horses, some of these were Good News, Game Fair, Mark Time, Foxcourt.
Throughout the '80s Joyce was accompanied in showing hunters by her daughter Jacky in LR classes with Downderry Man Friday. A chance phone call from Mrs Montgomery of the White Willows Dartmoor stud placed a Dartmoor pony with us to sell, from that moment we were hooked on Dartmoors and have steadily increased our herd over the years.
Show ponies have always had a strong significance to our stables after Joyce became friends with Jane May of the Ardenhall stud and showed Ardenhall Miss Dior and her half sister Ardenhall Royal Secret. Joyce perchanced Royal Secret as a two year old and brought her out as a ridden pony. She then went on to be the show pony of the '90s, winning HOYS more times than any other pony. Miss Dior went on to breed Ardenhall Missoni, our senior stallion. Below are some of our memories, we hope you enjoy them, as we have enjoyed making them.
