The new Cefn Gwlad series continues on Monday, May 11, on S4C, as Dai Jones, Llanilar goes to Anglesey to meet Tony and Audrey Jones and their Shetland ponies.
Tony and Audrey have been breeding Shetland ponies on their smallholding in Rhostrehwfa, near Llangefni since 1971 and they currently have sixteen. They attend numerous horse auctions across the country looking for ponies to buy and they compete and judge in shows all over the UK.
This is the first time the Shetland breed has featured on Cefn Gwlad and Dai was delighted to visit the couple on their farm.
“They were very welcoming and chatty,” says Dai. “They knew so much about the Shetland breed and had travelled far and wide to buy the best ponies in the country.”
Dai Jones first met Tony and Audrey at the Llanrwst Agricultural Show. Dai was judging at the show and Audrey decided to introduce herself to the popular presenter from Llanilar, Ceredigion.
“Dai was judging the cattle competition and said that our horses had caught his eye!” said Audrey, who is originally from Cyffylliog, near Ruthin. “I said to him, ‘you’ve never made a programme about Shetland ponies! Why don’t you make a programme about us?'”
Two weeks later, Dai and the Cefn Gwlad crew started filming at Tony and Audrey’s smallholding in Anglesey. The couple have busy social lives and made sure Dai joined them at various events and meetings.
“They were filming here for three days, and we had a great time,” laughs Tony, who’s originally from Llanddeusant, Anglesey. “We took them to the Women’s Institute in Llanfairpwll where Audrey is the president and I’m the supporting husband! We also went to Moreia Chapel, Llangefni where I’m a deacon for my sins!”
Dai also visited Theatr Fach Llangefni, a community theatre in the town. Tony and Audrey are actors with the amateur theatre company and compete in community-based drama competitions around north Wales. But Dai says there is no mistaking Tony and Audrey’s main interest.
“It’s obvious the ponies bring them a lot of pleasure. They talk about the Shetlands as if they are close family!”
During the series, Dai travels around Wales meeting farmers in rural communities, from Kidwelly to Trelawnyd, and Cyffylliog to Landovery.
