The End of an Era
HEWID MEREDITH 1974 -2006
Hewid Meredith with Rebecca
Peter and Ann Hunt sadly report the death of Hewid Meredith, affectionately known as Toad, due to the wrinkles in his neck when first clipped. He came into their lives 26 years ago as a young 6 year old Welsh Cob stallion on the verge of an astonishingly successful showing career. Having already won the Royal Welsh show under saddle he went from strength to strength under the careful riding and training of a close friend, Rebecca Lodge( now Diamond).
Highlights of his showing career were winning at the Royal show under saddle, 3rd twice at Olympia, and supreme Champion under saddle at the Mid Southern Counties three day show under the late Dorian Williams. Reserve was the hack champion. Comment from one of its supporters was ‘ My God, the pit pony has won’!!!
At the age of 8 his talents were turned to dressage and within two years he was chosen to compete for Great Britain in the Pony dressage team (1984). At this time adults could not compete on ponies and juniors could not compete in adult classes. This made it very hard to produce experienced junior teams. However one comment was made in Germany that at last GB were producing something that looked like a dressage pony rather than a converted show pony.
At 10 years old the decision was taken to have him gelded as his value now lay in his dressage training rather than his stud work. He was offered for sale as a junior team pony but at the same time the rules were changed and height restrictions removed so he was withdrawn from sale. Ann then competed on him successfully for some years moving from riding prelims to achieving good results in medium tests.
Meantime the Hunts had moved to Scotland and bought a farm very close to Gleneagles where he went on loan. Captain Mark Philips wanted to offer all disciplines and found a vaulting Instructor from Germany. She tested all the horses and decided that only Toad had the required combination of the attributes of great temperament, lunging ability and balanced canter. Ann went to find out what was happening to her horse – the rest is history! Toad taught most of the vaulters who were eventually in the first Scottish Equestrian Vaulting Team, Kathryn Hunt, Gemma Russell, Hannah MacGillivray, Jenny and Hazel Croft, Pamela Murray and Philip Beasley. Ann is now Chairperson of British Equestrian Vaulting and committed to growing this fantastic branch of equestrianism.
Throughout his life, Toad has been the best possible ambassador for the Welsh breeds. He has been ridden for dressage, cross country, jumping and side-saddle. The number of people that have learnt a little about dressage on him is legendary. He was broken to harness and finally taught vaulting to so many children. At the age of 29 he went to help a new group start vaulting at Pathhead Riding School at Kirriemuir. He returned to Easterton Farm last October and spent a very happy winter mainly roaming free or playing with the young colts. It is very sad that he will not enjoy another summer.
The GLEANNMHOR stud started with Toad. Ann now rides his great grandson, a 15.3 Welsh Cob gelding, Gleannmhor Jupiter, who competes at Elementary dressage and looks after the beginners of the Eagles Vaulting Group.
Sadly Peter and Ann have made the decision that having started with Toad, the stud will finish with him. There are three mares due this season. The two older mares, Alena and Forgetmenot, his granddaughters, will not be put back in foal. Forgetmenot’s last foal is Quince, little sister to Jupiter. The part-bred mare, Harmony, will be offered for sale along with the stallion and all the young stock will gradually be sold.
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