Taraco Stud

~breeding for colour without compromise~

A small stud, established in 1998, specialising in breeding top quality palomino and other dilute colours (e.g. cremello and buckskin/ dun) Welsh ponies and cobs from top class stock by champion stallions. Despite only breeding for a hobby, foals bred here have been very successful in the show ring already including both section A and D wins at the Royal of England. The aim is to breed true to type cobs and ponies with excellent temperaments, conformation and action, that have the temperament  and ability to excel in any sphere - in hand, under saddle, or in harness – If they end up palomino that is an added bonus! As many people know, there aren't many guarantees in breeding palominos (other than the fact that your favourite palomino mare will consistently throw you chestnut colts, but when you sell her she will have an outstanding palomino filly the following year) but it is nice to have a focus as a small stud. The range of palomino and dilute colours is fully evident at the stud with mares ranging from cremello (Celeste and Cherish) through pure golden (Charm and Storm) to dark dappled (Fantasy), buckskin (Lulu and Fiasco) and chestnut (Rara and Cherimarie). Please visit the photo gallery for more pictures of the different chestnuts, palominos and cremellos at Taraco Stud and don't hesitate to email me for more information on any of the ponies or cobs! 

To that end, and after several false starts, I have carefully selected the foundation stock, each of which has been chosen specifically for their bloodlines, conformation, action and temperaments. The Section Ds are based on combining Trevallion Flash Jack with Nebo Brenin bloodlines and all the Welsh Cobs feature one or both of these stallions in their pedigrees. There are presently six wonderful welsh cobs at Taraco four the mares - Danaway Fantasy (by Supreme Champion and RWAS winner Danaway Flash Jack), her dam Danaway Cherimarie, Danaway Ribbon (both by Royal Welsh winner Tireinon Triple Crown), Terackie Golden Beauty (by Royal Welsh winner Nebo Thomas) and the two superb colts - Danaway Desert Storm (palomino) and the buckskin Taraco Fiasco (both by Danaway Flash Jack).  It took several years to find (and breed!) these fantastic horses and I have been thrilled with my foals. Please visit the Section Ds page for more information on these Welsh Cobs.

2003 was a very exciting year and after much debate saw the start of the Welsh Mountain Pony side of the stud with the arrival of the Supreme Champion and medal winning palomino mare, Ringstead Charming Lass (by Forlan Brigadier) and her superb cremello daughter, Craigdorne Celeste (by Owston Harvest). I was also thrilled to be able to announce that the fantastic mare chestnut sabino mare, Vervale Rara (by Vervale Gangster) also joined the stud in 2003 (thank you to Barry Shepherd). I hope that I have been successful in seeking out ponies that epitomise the Welsh Mountain Pony - kind-natured, intelligent, pretty, with a good length of rein and limbs set square with good flat bone and tail set high - and was thrilled when this seemed to pay off with two cracking foals in 2004! Both Taraco Renegade (by Supreme Champion Vervale Grenade) and Taraco Crossfire (by Supreme Champion Larapinta Oystercatcher) have been multiple winners in the show ring already, with Taraco Renegade winning RASE 2005 for his owners! 2004 saw the unexpected arrival of a little perlino mare, Granby Lacewing, who I unfortunately lost in 2005. Please visit the Section As page for more information on these Welsh Mountain Ponies and our first foals from 2004 and 2005. The Section As are based on combining the old-fashioned lines with Penual Mark bloodlines. (Ringstead Charming Lass photo above right copyright either Bella Frost or Pleasure Prints - we are trying to find out!).

One of the most wonderful things about breeding welshies is the lovely people you meet – I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me – to name but a few (the list is endless!): My friends and family for their patience and for helping out when I want to go wandering round the countryside in pursuit of ponies and social life (thanks Mum, Midge, Simon and Hannah!); The Mitchell Family for keeping an eye on the ponies for me and for their ongoing support and friendship; Matt and Josie Attrell (Danaway Stud), for allowing me to have the stunning cobs, Danaway Fantasy, Danaway Desert Storm and Danaway Cherimarie, and also for all the encouragement they have given me as a new breeder; Barry Shepherd (Vervale Stud) for trusting me enough to buy one of his fantastic ponies and his mum for letting me use her lovely stallion; Jackie McEwen (Terackie Stud) for sharing the ups and downs of breeding palomino welsh cobs with me;  Jean Smith (Jebeth Stud) for keeping me sane and giving me the confidence to believe in myself and my horses; Ruth Thacker (Farchynys Stud) for starting me on the slippery slope to welsh addiction by selling me the delightful filly Farchynys Cristal; Helen Tattersall (Runshaw Stud) for providing unlimited laughter and support throughout the years; Mark Ayres; Helen Vaughan who has leased Farchynys Cristal and is doing such a wonderful job of bringing her on under saddle; Rebecca Jarvis for backing Bennie so brilliantly – and to everyone else without who’s friendship, support, help and advice I would not be happily breeding welsh ponies and cobs today: THANK YOU!

Taraco Stud, Canterbury, Kent

A small stud specialising in breeding for colour without compromising on quality