“The Super Pony”
Written By Penny Mackillop

We bought Alcheringa Tradition as a 2 year old gelding. He is by Rivington Heritage and out of Wingana Amanda Jones and was bred by Alcheringa Pony Stud at Mullengandra NSW.  I had been looking for a good sized family horse, preferably Welsh, for about a year. I had seen one I liked tied to a float at the All Welsh Show at SIEC and commented to my husband at the time ‘Why isn’t something like that for sale when I want to buy?’ It was a little while later that my husband noticed a small classified ad in horse deals for him and kept urging me to go and have a look. He was for sale from the lady who had purchased him from the stud and had shown him in hand. She was selling him as she had small children and lack of time. He turned out to be the same horse I had seen tied to the float at the All Welsh. When I finally went and saw him I popped him on the lunge and bought him. I believe he was meant for us.

Tradition (fondly known as Cynan as I wanted to give him a Welsh name, now Cy for short) was qualified for the 2003 Sydney Royal for his Welsh Sec D led class. My husband showed him to receive a second there and then we proceeded to break him in anticipating a saddle career. He was not the easiest horse to break in as he is highly sensitive, but to my husband’s credit he persevered, taking him very slowly and carefully. The first few years he just did some flat work with me and trails and I remember vividly how unbalanced his canter was. At one point I remember thinking ‘Will this horse ever be able to canter properly?’ He progressed slowly and by now our children had started riding. They started out on Welsh A’s and it was our daughter Steph who began to show an interest in Showjumping. My husband (Jock) decided that as we had Cy we should try him out to see if he could jump.  Jock started him at home and then progressed to having a few Showjumping lessons only to be told that Cy had fantastic technique and an amazing jump. He is naturally very careful and doesn’t like to hit rails, I guess that is his sensitivity coming through. For a long time he over jumped everything often unseating Jock. For that reason we held Steph back from trying him and he was a little strong to ride.

We took him to a big showjumping festival where Jock was entered in the small ring which had flag bunting around it. A horse standing next to the ring became caught in the bunting just as Cy was going in to jump. Naturally this freaked him out and rattled both horse and rider. It was this day that made us decide that Steph should have a try on him at home as she is a very quiet yet bold rider and quite likes her horses a bit hot. She started to ride him and has never looked back, the pair were just meant for each other.

Steph and Tradition now only concentrate on showjumping as this is where Stephs passion is and certainly where Cy’s talent lies. They have progressed slowly up through the ranks and today Tradition is jumping in open company in showjumping classes at 130cm in height. Steph is having lessons from former 3 times Olympian and World Cup finalist, Vicki Roycroft, who absolutely adores Cy and calls him Cy the Super Pony!  He has a heart bigger than Phar Lap and always gives his all in ever round. We could have sold this pony so many times and have been offered extraordinary amounts of money for him. When we get people expressing interest in him now, our standard answer is to take a ticket and get in line. Despite extraordinary monetary offers for him, including an opportunity to sell him overseas, we wouldn’t sell him as he is irreplaceable! Steph is now 14 years old and we have a son, Riley, also a keen Showjumper who would love to take the reins.

We are fortunate to have Cy living with us. He loves the kids and has loads of Welsh spunk and personality. Lately we have had many high lights, with the pair winning the Malcolm Slater Memorial Trophy at the Bega Showjumping Cup. This is awarded to the overall point score winner from the main ring. It is the first time this award has been won by a junior (and a pony for that matter) and Stephs name follows the likes of Chris Chugg who recently was successful in the World Equestrian Games and qualified for the London Olympics. Steph and Cy were also placed second overall in the FEI Category A Junior Showjumping, placing at the world Cup showjumping weekends and Canberra Royal to name a few. The most recent addition to their performances however would be the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter show. Receiving some fantastic results in the Junior section of the showjumping and winning the Junior and Young Rider Six Bar competition. Standing at 14.2 hands in height he battled it out with his much larger showjumping friends  to be the only clear round and clearing 143cm in height (with ease I might add and scope to go higher). He is a super star and we are sure he will go to even greater heights. We have had so many people comment on the please they get from watching him jump. He is probably the best pony we will ever have and we feel truly blessed that he has come into our lives. He gives our whole family so much pleasure and we are so proud of him!