Mandy Burchell-Small

The Rowfantina prefix is dominating the mini circuit thanks to several Welsh section A stars. Rebecca Haywood meets the lady at the stud's helm

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BREEDER of some of the best Welsh ponies in the country under her Rowfantina prefix, Mandy Burchell-Small says a touch of “natural instinct” plays a part in her quest to continually improve the breed – and who are we to argue? She’s a woman at the top of her game, though she explains the breeding operation that now spans four generations is very much a family affair.

Her programme, which was originally founded in 1960 by her mother Jean Shemilt and friend Felicity Wilson, is a huge passion for Mandy who thrives on these distinctive Welsh section As despite a recent health scare.

“They are the reason I get up very early in the morning,” says Mandy, who can look back on the past few years with satisfaction and pride. Not only has the family themselves achieved some fantastic successes in the ring, with Mandy’s grandson James, 10, winning the mini mountain and moorland (M&M) title at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) aboard Rowfantina Orlando Bloom in 2021, but ponies they have sold on have been doing the prefix proud, too.

One memorable show for Mandy was the 2021 National Pony Society summer championship when Rowfantina Double Dutch and Rowfantina Our Vintage took champion and reserve in the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) M&M mini championship. And last year, George Levett rode Rowfantina Trademark to second in the M&M first ridden at RIHS.

“Another highlight for me was in 2000 when I led my son Owen to win the M&M lead-rein at HOYS with Rowfantina Old Fashioned,” she adds.