Let's give … Jenny van de Wetering a call

Each week, Dieke Slingerland tries to take a few moments to call a Welsh breeder, user and/or enthusiast for the ‘Just a call with ...’ with whom she calls depends on what is current at the time.

Last weekend, the Fayre Oaks took place in England, and many Dutch breeders and enthusiasts were there. But what exactly is the Fayre Oaks? We called Jenny van de Wetering after seeing her purchase posted online.

Do you guys go to auctions in England often?

We went to Fayre Oaks for the first time in 1999. After that, we visited Fayre Oaks a few more times, but then we switched to Hay-on-Wye. At Hay-on-Wye, there were more ponies that fit our criteria—the true Hill ponies.

The atmosphere at Hay on Wye was always really cozy. People sat on bales of straw, and the event took place partly indoors and partly outdoors; many of our friends came there, too. Everything has now changed due to animal welfare and safety concerns. It has moved to a new location and has become a lot more modern.

How exactly does the process work if you want to buy a pony?

Beforehand, go to The Office, where you’ll receive a buyer’s number. Your information is registered under this buyer’s number, so you can buy multiple ponies without anyone having to run over to you to write down all your details. Afterward, you can pay for all your purchases at The Office.

So you've bought a pony—what's next?

The pony needs to be transported the same day. Fortunately, there are several transport companies ready to help you with that. We’ve arranged for Nebo Stud, and they’ll take care of everything until he’s safely at home.

What's the best part about the auction in England?

When you see a pony walking by, you have to make a decision right away. You get a rush of adrenaline. You really only have a split second to bid. And so far, we’ve always made good purchases at auctions.

Do you check out the collection online beforehand?

Usually, we go through the entire catalog and make a selection of the items we want to look at. But this year, we didn’t decide to go until the Tuesday before the event. So it was pretty last-minute, and that’s why we didn’t really get a chance to look at the collection.

You bought a young stallion?

Yes, he’s a 2.5-year-old stallion; we were looking around for a new stallion. This stallion doesn’t share the same bloodline as our mares, and he was just a good fit for our breeding program.

What are your plans for your new addition?

He should be arriving on Monday, and then we'll take a look at him at home. We have a few options open, but we might also be considering entering him in a stallion inspection.

Photos: Van de Wetering Family