BRINGING WELSH COB HOME - ABERAERON FESTIVAL OF WELSH PONIES AND COBS
The purpose of the Bringing the Welsh Cob Home project was to stage a special display and pageant in August 2018 to celebrate the long standing links between Ceredigion and London, as well as marking the centenary of the end of the First World War. ‘Bringing The Welsh Cob Home’ was the main feature of the Festival taking place on the Square Field at the centre of the beautiful Georgian seaside town of Aberaeron.
The aim was to raise awareness of the role played by the Welsh Cob in the London Welsh dairies as well as the story of the dairymen themselves – a platform that will re-energize the history within Ceredigion’s cultural heritage.
The Welsh Pony and Cob Festival, a day celebrating the Welsh Ponies and Cob breed which gives breeders and owners the opportunity to display their ponies and cobs, included numerous displays such as In Hand, In Harness, Under Saddle and the most popular being the Running of the Stallions. However, the main attraction for this event was the ‘Bringing the Welsh Cob Home’, where 10 preserved milk carriages from the Welsh dairies’ heyday put on a display to celebrate the story of Cardis in London – Man and horse. To remember this day and to celebrate the long standing links a DVD has been produced.
The ‘Bringing the Welsh Cob Home’ provided an education for others on the story of Cardis in London – Man and horse in an informal and fun environment.
Because of undertaking the project, stronger links with the London Cob breeders has been built and this has resulted in greater sharing of knowledge. This will provide further opportunities for collaboration in the future.
The celebration invigorated the business profile of Ceredigion’s renowned Cob breeders and further strengthened the important work of the Ceredigion based - Welsh Pony and Cob Society. Although difficult to measure, a longer-term benefit it must also be noted, namely the potential of the story to inspire a new generation of Cardis to work collaboratively and pro-actively whilst utilising their adopted or inherited sense of identity as a central dynamic towards success.
The DVD has also provided an education on the Welsh Pony and Cob communities both within Ceredigion, London and much wider. It will also enable the younger generation understand just how important a role both the Welsh Pony and Cob and the Cardis themselves played during history.
If you would like to purchase a copy of the DVD then please get in touch with the bookshop, Gwisgo Bookworm, https://www.gwisgobookworm.co.uk/.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Further Reading
