History of Dalbrae

Dalbrae Stud, located in the Adelaide Hills, was founded in 1995 by Barry and Marlene Mitchell and the eldest of their five children, Kathryn.

 

But in reality the Mitchell Family has been involved with horses for three generations starting with Marlene’s father Murray Miller.  He was keen horseman who dabbled in the thoroughbred industry.  His two children, Marlene and Paul were accomplished horse people enjoying considerable success in the 1940s and 50s in the show ring, show jumping and hunting.

 

The stud is named in honour of a fiery little brown mare of unknown breeding who was a champion show hunter/hurdler for Paul in the 1950s. At only 14.2hh she was a little dynamo out hurdling horses in open company.

 

When Marlene married Barry Mitchell in 1958 he had had nothing to do with horses – dairy cows were his thing. But that soon changed with his daughters being encouraged by their grandparents to take up riding.  The rest as they say is history.

'yearlings at Dalbrae'

In 1995 the Mitchell family entered the Welsh Mountain pony world buying Hazelmere Megan (Hazelmere Highlight x Twyford Tavy [SOD Twyford Gurka] from Pat Weinert as part of her final dispersal sale at Hazelmere.  Old Fairway Ocelot [Little Welshman x Craven Sprightly Light [SOD Craven Daylight]) and Fairway Roslyn (Coed Coch Senig x Fairway Melita [SOD Little Welshman]) were also ‘acquired’ at the same time from Pat. Unfortunately both these lovely old ponies proved to be too old to breed from.  However Hazelmere Megan produced a black filly foal, Dalbrae Tavy, by Dalpura Stud’s Imperial Haroun.

 

The stud is largely built on Weston bloodlines which feature Waxwing Herod, Revel Pye and Carnalw Hyderus.  We have also brought in outcrosses of Imperial, Flowerdale, Cherry Tree and Owendale bloodlines.

 

We have two resident stallions.  Weston Park Tipperary (Weston Paladin x Weston Treasure [SOD Weston Hoopla]) who we purchased from Janet Evans as a yearling.  He has had a phenomenal show-ring career taking our Supremes and Best in Hand awards in Vic and SA.  Now his progeny are following in his footsteps in the show ring.
 

Weston Park Vintage (Weston Paladin x Weston Virgilia [SOD Carnalw Hyderus]), our young stallion, has only just commenced his breeding career.  We have used him over a couple of our mares but the ultimate plan is to use him over our WP Tipperary fillies. 

 

WP Vintage has also had considerable success in the show-ring with the highlight undoubtedly being his Supreme Young Stock award at the inaugural National Welsh Show in Victoria in 2006.

 

Our aim is to breed a small number of quality Welsh Mountain ponies that are equally at home in the breed show-ring, in the pony hack ring or at pony club.  We pride ourselves on breeding ponies with outstanding temperaments and lots of welsh character.

'Mitchell clan'

Just like its origins over a decade ago, Dalbrae is still very much a family affair with a further generation - Barry and Marlene’s grandchildren - becoming involved.

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