Michelle, Linda, Dolly, Samantha, Jill, Cindy and Lucinda.  These names could very well relate to the girls you went to school with.

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Amberluka, Sky, Sparkle, Folly, Gipsy, Dainty, Biddy, Kavora and Hot Pants. Okay, maybe not these.

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Who are they? These are the quiet achievers, the matriarchs. The mares that produced the show-stoppers, the dressage stars, the kids’ ponies and all that bare the Koora-Lyn name. For over 35 years, Lynette Hohlweck has been breeding Australian Ponies that don’t just meet the breed standard, but improve the breed standard in both type and temperament.

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We know the stallions – their presence cannot be missed, their beauty not denied. We admire the beauty of the show ponies, exceeding in breed classes and in open competition. And we appreciate the temperament of the pony we trust to look after our children, to bring a smile to their face.

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But do we know the mares behind it all? Some of them have been successful show ponies in themselves before going on to be even more successful as broodmares. Others have never seen a show ring, a dressage arena or a pony club ground in their life. But the Australian Pony wouldn’t be where it is today without them.

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We only need to consider five mares that have made significant contributions to Koora-Lyn to see the legacy a good mare, paired with a good stallion, can leave.

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KOORANA BIDDY (Baringa Toledo x Dallas) was born in 1963, and went on to produce ten foals. Two of these, Golden Circle Star (x Lowlynn Silver Chief; b. 1972) and K Bonny (x K Desert Chief; b. 1975) were instrumental mares for the Koora-Lyn breeding program. Golden Circle Star produced just one filly, K Samantha (x Barolin Angwyn; b. 1979), but this filly went on to build her own empire. Samantha was a delightful but awkward little grey mare, whose descendants include KL Silhouette, KL Bewitched, KL Adam, KL Aladdin, KL Enchanted, KL Enchantment, KL Enchanting, KL Fascination, KL Fantacy and KL Majestic, between them all winners at National and Royal level.  K Bonny, a cremello before cremellos were trendy, produced five foals, of which K Jill (x K Ambassador; b. 1980) was the standout. Jill’s descendants include KL Obama, KL Marley and KL Smith, all very successful geldings in Australian Pony and open competition. Biddy has over 200 descendants in the APSB registry, and enormous contribution to the Australian Pony breed.

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KOORANA GIPSY (Moorooduc Park Baringa x Glen Echo Risala), a grey mare born in 1971, had six fillies, five of which bore the Koora-Lyn prefix. K Folly (x K Desert Prince; b. 1976) produced the successful show fillies KL Cabaret and KL Celeberity. Celeberity was a petite, exquisite filly whose descendants include KL Parade, KL Pageant (a great dam herself, producing KL Masquerade and KL Mardi Gra amongst others) and KL Festivity. KL Nova (x KL Blues Union; b. 1987) was a successful show mare herself. Her presence can still be seen through her descendants KL Acclaim and his progeny, KL Gemini, KL Caprice, KL Viva and KL Lumina. Gipsy’s contribution to the Australian Pony breed is significant, with over 151 descendants currently recorded in the APSB registry.

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KOORANA DOLLY (Koorana Desert Chief x Baringa Mary), a grey mare born in 1977, produced just three fillies, all by KL Blues Union, and all successful in the showring – one bay (KL Dolly), one liver chestnut (KL Molly) and one grey (KL Mary). KL Dolly’s first foal KL Paper Doll produced five foals for Koora-Lyn. KL Molly only had three foals before dying too early, but it was her first filly KL Nancy that went on to have the greatest impact. Descendants include KL Narla (who went on the produce two fillies for Marbuck Stud), KL Applause, KL Wedgewood and KL Regal. However, it was KL Mary who was the most prolific. While she only had two foals herself, the first was colt KL Kent (x Barolin Angwyn). Kent grew into a successful stallion, siring foals under the Earsley Park, Lyn Burn and Kooyong prefixes. In all, K Dolly has left a legacy that currently stands at 88 in the APSB registry.

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BAROLIN AMBERLUKA (Barolin Feluka x Barolin Amber Star) was born in 1975. A pretty grey mare, she had the most incredible eyes, a feature she passed on to her offspring. Another breeder’s dream, with five fillies from seven foals, her daughters include KL Amberluka, KL Why Amber (who went on to breed prolifically for Bamborough Stud), KL Amberstar (dam of KL Desert Star and KL Royal Amber), KL Duet (the surviving twin; dam of KL Lullaby) and KL Amber. Descendants include the 2016 Sydney Royal Supreme Champion KL Princess Amber, 2017 Canberra Royal Supreme Champion KL Rhythm and successful pony eventer KL Storytale.

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BAROLIN KAVORA (Lowlynn Silver Chief x Barolin Carmen), born in 1972 and a very successful show mare herself, produced five foals. Kavora has more than 330 descendants registered in the APSB registry, but it is her first filly, K Natasha (x Barolin Angwyn; b. 1980) that has had the greatest impact. A small, black buckskin, she was hugely successful in both Australian Pony and Buckskin classes, in-hand and under saddle. She had ten foals, eight of them colts. But boy, what impressive colts – KL Mikhail, KL Boris, KL Gordost, KL Tishka and KL Cossack going on to be represented by KL Honeymoon, KL Rosette, KL Desert Star, KL Nathaniel, KL Aladdin, KL Red Rock, KL Smith, KL Pageant, KL Lumina, KL Festivity, KL Enchantment, KL Lady Dawn, KL Pretty Ribbon, KL Chantilly Lace, KL Prophecy, KL Marley and KL Rhythm to name just a few. Importantly, these stallions and their offspring have made significant contributions to other studs, including Benita, Colpardas, Emont Park, Gundarimbah and Vancouver Park.

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They are the fluffy ones in the paddock, the ones with dirty hocks and long whiskers. They may never have had a ribbon wrapped around their neck or their photo on a website. Most people will never know their name, certainly never know their personalities. It is these mares that studs are made from. These are the mares that make a difference, quietly nurturing their foals without fuss. It takes a great breeder, a person dedicated to the breed to really get the best out of them. I don’t think anyone can deny that Lynette Hohlweck is such a person.

 

*KL = Koora-Lyn; K = Koorana;                                                                           Written by Lindell Andrews for the 2017 APSB Journal