Ancestors

This photo below, taken in September 1948 shows six of the nine mares imported in February of that year, plus Coed Coch Ebrill purchased in 1947. From left to right are Coed Coch Serog, a full sister to Miss Brodrick's Siaradus, with her foal by Tan-y-Bwlch Berwyn (Severn Stella,my first Welsh riding pony); Coed Coch Ebrill, Criban Waaf with foal by Criban Priority; Coed Coch Morfa (who foaled Severn High Tide (by Coed Coch Seryddwr) in October of that year); Coed Coch Pansi with foal Severn Stardust by Coed Coch Socyn; Gatesheath Moonlight, who died in 1950 before she had any foals; and Coed Coch Trysor with foal Severn Treasure by Coed Coch Seryddwr. My father is holding Moonlight and my brother is holding Pansi. I don't know where I was for that picture!!

COED COCH EBRILL, bay roan mare, 1933-~1955, (Revolt x Coed Coch Eirlys). Her dam, Eirlys was one of Miss Brodrick's foundation mares. Ebrill's sire, Revolt was also Coed Coch Glyndwr's sire. Captain Bassett (Ebrill's importer) wrote to Ebrill's owner (he had sold her in 1943 to a Mrs. McGillicuddy whose son is in the above picture) that he had seen "a two year old gray half brother to (Ebrill) that (he) liked very much and prophesied some day would be a future champion. Miss Brodrick wrote she had just sold this gray stallion GLYNDWR for 400 pounds, which would be about $2000 in U.S. money. She also wrote that there was quite a demand for good Welsh ponies over there because of the gasoline shortage." This was 1944. Already 14 years old when Mrs. Iliff bought her, Ebrill was sent in 1948 to Farnley Farm to be bred to *BOWDLER BRIGHTLIGHT who was in his late 20's at the time. SEVERN STORM, born in 1949, was in Brightlight's last foal crop. Storm became one of two of Mrs Iliff's herd sires for the next 20 years. Ebrill,in the meantime, continued as a broodmare and riding pony - but only for the experienced rider. Ebrill was lots of fun but strong under saddle. She could run away with you at the trot which was her favorite gait!

The Severn Oaks Breeders Herd at Maryland State Fair in 1950 (stallion and 3 mares of one owner), comprised of *Severn Treasure, roan colt foaled 1948 (Coed Coch Seryddwr x *Coed Coch Trysor by Tan-y-Bwlch Berwyn), *Coed Coch Serog, bay roan mare (Coed Coch Glyndwr x Coed Coch Sirius by *Bowdler Brightlight), *Criban Waaf, grey mare (Criban Grey Grit x Criban Nesta by Ness Commander ), and *Coed Coch Pansi, grey mare (Coed Coch Glyndwr x Tan-y-Bwlch Prancio by Tan-y-Bwlch Berwyn). Treasure was going to be the Severn herd sire, but was sterile. I think my mother's breeding program might have taken a slightly different turn if Treasure had in fact been used at stud. To me, he shows a little more of his Berwyn ancestry than his A ancestors as he was tall as a two year old.

Storm and High Tide were the herd sires at Severn Oaks for more than 20 years. STORM, a grey roan foaled 1949, (*Bowdler Brightlight x *Coed Coch Ebrill by Revolt).was the sire of SEVERN WEST WIND who took over the honors as herd sire in the middle 1970's. Storm was shown infrequently because it was hard to keep him in show shape as he lived out and spent most of his time having fun chasing after mares! This photo was taken in 1961 at the MD State Fair at Timonium where he was Grand Champion. At that time during the 50's and 60's, this show was one of the largest in the country although there were classes only for Section A's. One could expect to see 8-10 ponies in the stallion class.

HIGH TIDE, a bay roan foaled 1948, was imported in utero (Coed Coch Seryddwr x *Coed Coch Morfa by Tan-y-Bwlch Berwyn) was also shown minimally, but had a great impact on the Severn ponies as a sire. He was the grandsire of SEVERN WEST WIND . He crossed very well with Storm daughters and High Tide daughers crossed very well with Storm children. High Tide had a very quiet disposition whereas Storm sometimes showed a bit more fire. Many of our current mares have both Storm and High Tide in their pedigrees - especially those by Severn West Wind. High Tide's photo was taken about 1955 at the Maryland State Fair.

SEVERN WEST WIND LOM AOE

(1971 - 2001)

(Severn Storm x Severn Lyric by Severn High Tide)

In my mother's mind, West Wind was the culmination of her breeding program. He had the conformation and disposition that she wanted, and he passed on his best qualities to many of his foals. The broodmare page has many of his daughters listed. Photo at left about age 6. Photo at right about age 22. Photo below at age 28 (1999)