Story and portraits by Jennifer DeMaro
The first of Farnley Farm’s Welsh and Dartmoor pony breeding stock crossed the seas from England to the United States in 1936. Situated in the picturesque lower Shenandoah Valley in White Post, Virginia, Farnley Farm has a longstanding tradition of breeding exceptional ponies including Welsh Section A and B, Dartmoors and Crossbreds.
Farnley Farm is a testament to vision and dedication in the world of pony breeding. Joan H. Dunning’s decision, with her husband, Alexander Mackay-Smith, to start the farm laid the foundation for what has become a legacy in pony breeding. As the farm evolved, the next generation, represented by their daughters, Hetty Abeles and Amanda Mackay-Smith, and daughter-in-law Meridith Mackay-Smith, started programs of their own. Amanda bred under the prefix Dolrhedyn and provided the foundation sire, Dolrhedyn Rambler, to breeder James McLean who used him to breed the Benlea ponies, including the great sire Benlea Rambler. Meridith tamed many of the foals at Farnley Farm and bred under the prefix Windfall.
Hetty started her breeding program in the 1950s at the farm with the Shenandoah prefix. “I used my mother’s wonderful stallions to breed for conformation, athleticism, temperament and reaching Welsh movement,” Hetty said. Shenandoah and Farnley ponies ran together on the farm and in 2009, upon her mother’s death, Hetty acquired her mother’s breeding stock and continues the Farnley as well as Shenandoah ponies.
“My mother was always very clear that the ponies were for her to raise; she didn’t buy them for her children,” Hetty said. “Back then, the purpose was to develop good breeding stock and improve your herd. Stallions were offered to outside breeders, and in the busiest years the farm had 40 of its own foals and covered the same number of outside mares.”
The Next Generation
The involvement of Hetty’s daughter, Damaris Abeles, further underscores the continuity and commitment to the breeding program. Damaris is a large part of the multi-generational commitment that is often seen in successful and well-established breeding programs. Damaris’ decision to join the family farm after a successful 20-year career as a lawyer speaks to her deep connection to the farm. The fact that Damaris’ husband, Brown, and their two children also made the move to the property in 2007 underlines the family-oriented nature of Farnley Farm.
“My husband, whom I met in law school, was very supportive; he grew up on a farm in Kentucky and came with tractor skills!” Damaris said. Her cousin Catharine also breeds ponies on a piece of the farm that she now owns. “Other family members have a deep connection to the land and an interest in farming. At its largest, the farm was about 800 acres. Now, other family members own sections and steward it.”
Farming is a way of life and Farnley Farm is a true working farm with not only a pony breeding program but also a cow-calf operation and haymaking to feed all the livestock. “Farming is not a hardship; it’s hard work. Over the years, the farm has been blessed to have dedicated employees who are essential to stewarding the farm, caring for the livestock and getting the work done,” Damaris said.
“Our current stallion manager, Hershell Shull, and his wife, Karen, have been working here for over 40 years,” Damaris added. Hershell and Karen came to the farm when they were 18 and live on the property. Their four-decade commitment to the farm is truly remarkable and speaks volumes about the farm’s dedication to the breeding program and overall operations. “Hershell has been a big part of the operation, and his expertise ranges from fixing tractors to showing ponies in hand at horse shows,” Damaris said.
Farnley Ponies
Today Farnley Farm focuses on producing versatile ponies that excel in various disciplines, with notable success in the hunter-jumper arena. The farm prides itself on not just breeding, but bringing up ponies from birth to backing, which provides a comprehensive approach to their breeding program. This approach allows the farm to have a hands-on role in shaping the development of their ponies.
No farm would be complete without pony-loving kids that want to help with chores and ride. “Young riders are an important part of educating the ponies. The goal is to produce sensible, confident, well-educated ponies. I don’t run a lesson program, but do work with a few students
to provide them with an education in training our ponies,” Damaris said.
Though Welsh ponies are Farnley Farm’s prominent breed, they do have some crossbreds and Dartmoors. Offering prospective buyers options based on their level of experience ensures that the ponies find suitable homes where they can thrive.
The versatility of Farnley Farm ponies is evident in their achievements. “We have won the Virginia Pony Breeders Association Filly Futurity for the last two years and have had many successes in the show ring through the years,” Hetty said. Farnley Farm has not only produced premium hunter-jumpers, but their ponies have also gone on to be star foxhunters and FEI driving ponies.
The accomplishments of the farm are many, but two that stand out are the recognition of one of their stallions, Farnley Triton, and being on the list of top breeders. “Triton is third on the USEF pony hunter sires list and my mother is third on the USEF’s list of leading breeders of pony hunters for 2023,” Damaris said. Achieving such recognition on a national level is a testament to the farm’s expertise in selecting and breeding stallions with exceptional qualities.
Happy Ponies
Farnley Farm’s approach to the well-being of the ponies is to just simply let them be ponies, recognizing the importance of natural behaviors and social interactions in their overall well-being. “All the ponies live out except the ones we’re showing in hand, or occasionally if we have a pony far enough along in its training to show recognized,” Damaris said. “We manage fields and herds according to their nutrition needs and age group. The youngsters get strong and are happy living out all the time. We spend a lot of time on groundwork, grooming, lunging and long lining, so they understand and accept and enjoy going to school.”
Beyond the tangible successes in competition and breeding accolades, the farm’s legacy is also measured in the personal connections and learning experiences that their ponies provide to owners and riders. The dedication, love and commitment to the well-being of the ponies have created an environment where both the animals and people involved thrive. The emphasis on allowing the ponies to be themselves, combined with a thoughtful approach to horsemanship, has clearly contributed to the overall success and positive reputation of Farnley Farm.
Reaching 85 years of breeding is a remarkable achievement for any program, and Farnley Farm has clearly demonstrated a commitment to excellence, passion for ponies and a dedication to their craft. Their impact goes beyond breeding statistics and show ring successes. “The success of the ponies is rewarding, but we also love hearing, ‘That pony really taught me to ride,’” Damaris said.
For more information, visit www.farnley.us
Photos by Jennifer DeMaro
