News
April 24th, 2007
Northern Cross is downsizing for various reasons. The main reason is retirement. Wayne retired from the Canadian Grain Commission last summer and is now a contract worker for SGS of Canada. We would like to have more time for travelling and time away from the farm, thus cattle will also be sold this fall. Between cattle and ponies, we have over a 100 head of stock.
Over the last 2-3 years, there have been many factors that have brought about change, the most noticeable one is gas prices that have obviously affected transport costs. I have had more buyers back out of sales in the past month than ever before, due to transport costs. I have posted transport prices on my homepage to give prospective buyers some indication of what it will cost to transport ponies. If breeders are going to remain in the business of buying and selling, I think they should be more aware of transport cost and that transports do need to make a living as well as breeders and are a necessary part of the business.
There are many advantages and disadvantages to living in Manitoba, obviously distance and border crossing are a disadvantage today. The advantage to living here is the quality of life we can give to our ponies. Ponies living here are never kept in small paddocks or boxstalls. Stallions, mares and foals all have more than adequate space to run and be free. None of the ponies here have issues or health problems, brought on by being contained in cramped spaces and constantly hauled around the country. Northern Cross Farms is well known for the quantity and quality of feed it produces. Thus, ponies raised here have the best quality of feed at all times. Sometimes youngsters and stallions are not too interested in feed and drop weight very quickly, despite the quality or quantity of feed available to them. Because we do have an abundance of hayland and pasture land, we are able to raise our ponies with a very low overhead, thus pony prices reflect that in the ones bred and raised on the farm. Prices are set according to what we have invested in them, and not the quality of the pony. Ponies we have purchased have varied in price, and distance of the ponies location, making the price on each one different.
Last, is our lack of a show system here in Canada and, particularly Manitoba. With the point system the US now has in place for their shows, and the strong pursuit of point collecting by many, it leaves no room for concientious breeders in many cases. When I first started in the Welsh Pony world, breeders were extremely considerate and helpful, that is not the case today.
Therefore, all things considered, we have decided to sell out. This will not happen over night, but more likely over a period of a couple of years. We have met a lot of wonderful people over the years, through the ponies and made some wonderful friends. Those friends, I hope to find more time to visit with.
July 8th, 2006
Northern Cross was delighted to hear from Cathy Chalack on the morning of July 9th, that Cadlan Valley Cardinal was Champion B stallion and Glanteifi Nutmeg was Champion C & D Cob at the Parkland Welsh Show, under both Judges, Norman Kalinski & Lorne Robertson.
June 2006
We are very excited about our latest purchase, Quorn Lark Song. Since visiting the Quorn Ranch in 1992, I have had a keen interest in the breeding behind Heathwood Gold Coin as well as Rosedale Flamenco and the offspring. Northern Cross Farms would like to send a huge thanks to Kathleen Alves of Kobur ponies, for allowing us to purchase this wonderful mare. Quorn Lark Song is bred to Morton's Prestige for 2007.
February 2006
Northern Cross would like to thank Tammy Stewart for selling us the lovely filly, Fiddle In Gold, a 2005 chestnut filly, sire is Wedderlie Maradonna. The dam, Evan's Babylon Rose, is out of an imported mare, which Northern Cross owned and sold, Cloigen Fair Trial and the first stallion Northern Cross imported, Heniarth Neon, now owned by Sharon McHone of ID. We are very pleased to be adding these lines back into our breeding program.
January 2006
Northern Cross Farm would like to wish everyone all the best in 2006, we hope everyone has a great foaling season ahead and show season as well. We are eagerly looking forward to foaling season here, a list of expected foals can be seen on our 2006 Foal Page. We have put Reserved beside the expected foal, that people have asked for first refusal on, that does not necessarily mean a definite sale, so if you are interested in a certain foal, please feel free to express you interest.
Cadlan Valley Miss Wales filly of 2005, Northern Cross Black Velvet, has been sold to my daughter, Ginger Felbel, so she will be joining the broodmares at Northern Cross Farms, as she matures.
We will put new pictures of the latest purchases, up in spring, as most are far to woolly at this time. We are continually receiving new pictures of Northern Cross ponies from their new owners, as they mature or move on in performance, so please check our Gallery page and photo page often.
2005
The community pasture by the Lake Heads was so badly flooded that cattle farmers were evacuating pasture land early in the season. The cattle had to swim out, on what is normally a road. The cattle are owned by Jack and Joan Grandmont of Argyle, Manitoba. This year, 2006, the road is now a dust bowl.
