2006 opened with some disappointing news in that Bliss had slipped her foal at some time in the winter (to no ill effect to her whatsoever).  She had however blossomed into a much more substantial cob, having done nothing but eat all the previous year.

Gambit had been backed during the winter and together with Lavinia who no longer figured in our plans because we didn't have time to back her and produce her properly (and we felt she deserved more than we  could offer) were both sold at the Clwyd Spring Auction.

At the Royal Welsh Spring Sale we saw Tongwynlais Magical Lady accross the sale ring.  As she looked our type of mare she was added to the stud and is scanned safely in foal to Gwynfaes Culhwch.  Also scanned in foal to him are Madonna and Sali, we await spring 2007 with bated breath.

We showed Sian at Royal Bath and West but she looked very immature compared to most of the rest of the competitors.  We were not disappointed by her though.  We knew her time would come.  We decided to show Dwynwen even though as an August foal she was going to look very small.  At Newcastle Emlyn she entered the ring like a train and trotted all the way round with her tail up like a flag.  If only she could do this to order, if only we had a camera our life seems to be full of if onlys!  Although she didn't disgrace herself at the Royal Welsh finishing on the second row, she didn't repeat the display.

Elsewhere on the showing front Bliss was 3rd in the Barren Mare Class at Pembroke County and Supreme Welsh Champion at Capel Dewi Show.  Sian (who seemed to grow up in a week over the summer) won her class at the NPS area 28 Summer Show and won her class at the Glamorgan Assoc Foal and Youngstock sShow and was second in a very strong class at Avon and Border Counties Autumn Youngstock Show., she is fast becoming an absolute bargain buy from the sale the previous year.

Unfortunately we weren't able to resist adding to our numbers.  We were innocently wandering through Merion's field one sunny afternoon with not a care in the world when Rebecca caught sight of a chestnut filly foal who just screamed out look at me.  She didn't even have a name but Rebecca refused to leave the field until Merion named his price and so Gwynfaes Alwena came to Nantwood.  She is by Gwynfaes Matholwch and he has passed on his superb neck and front and with her breeding of course she can really move.  I must add that this Autumn we have found a profusion of black hairs in her mane and tail so she might be a chestnut that turns bay!

In the Autumn sale we saw Thorneyside the Marksman and liked his breeding (we especially like the Gwynfaes-Thorneyside mix) so he has come to Nantwood as a potential stallion.  He has a fantastic temperament and a lovely scopey action, coupled with a good head and eye.  We have high hopes for him in the future.  So watch this space. 

We seemed to have come a long way very quickly and cannot wait to see what 2007 has in store.  All we can say is that if we have as much fun and meet as many nice people as we have so far on our adventure in Wales we won't be able to complain at all!