Friars Golden Mark

(photo Summer 2009)

Golden Mark - golden (adjective) meaning special, successful, or giving someone an advantage; mark (boys name) taken from the latin meaning of the god Mars (God of War).

Bought at the Fayre Oaks High Flyer Sale 2008 (highest priced section A stallion) this gorgeous stallion has an absolutely exceptional pedigree and unrepeatable breeding – he is by the great stockgetter Penual Mark and out of the twice Royal Welsh winning mare Friars Lleucu Llwyd. His dam is a great show mare who has won the Royal Welsh twice and the Royal of England Show as well as being a multiple champion including Female Champion at the Royal of England and Champion Shropshire & West Midlands Show. Lleucu Llwyd is by the great Cefn Fedw Golden Glory and out of another great show mare, Friars Sarah (three times Royal Welsh winner). As I have said, his immediate pedigree features some of the all time greats - Penual Mark, Revel Jeeves, Friars Lleucu-Llwyd, Cefn Fedw Golden Glory and Friars Sarah. His extended pedigree is no less impressive featuring mares and stallions like Coed Coch Madog, Coed Coch Asa, Coed Coch Glyndwr, Coed Coch Siriadus, Friars Ranger and Twyford Sprig. Just like his illustrious relatives he has already been a massive prizewinner in hand and is a multiple medal winner himself. He has proved himself a valuable sire for the Pontgam Stud and is the sire of champion stock with several offspring exported abroad like the prizewinning fillies Pontgam Seren Aur and Rosedale Just-Lucy. We have retained his daughter Taraco Chiquita as a future broodmare and show filly and I am looking forward to more fabulous foals in the future.

His brilliant breeding is enhanced by a wonderful front, great conformation, lovely action and superb temperament. I first saw this stallion in his stall at the sale, where he was being handled by the whole family, with children in his stable. He stood looking every inch the champion, and just as importantly every inch the family friend. Despite being owned by the Pontgam Stud from a foal – he was completely unfazed by the buzz of the sale, with people coming and going, the sales speakers on full volume, stallions, mares and foals everywhere. I fell in love instantly and was determined he was coming home with me. We might have to have paid the highest price for a section A stallion that night, but he is worth his weight in gold.

Now broken to ride, in tip top condition and ready to go 2011 sees the return of this lovely stallion to the show ring. A multiple medal winner, prizewinner and supreme champion in hand as a youngster, I have high hopes that Mark will be as successful as a senior stallion. Watch this space.  

Taraco Stud, Canterbury, Kent

A small stud specialising in breeding quality palomino and buckskin welsh ponies and cobs