SDL Royal Duke
1988-2010

1988 section A stallion, 12.1h
Dixie Playboy x Winks Selah
(link to his pedigree)
 

We originally bought Duke in 1989 as our first herd stallion from his breeder, Art Pomerenke, of Miltona, MN.  Duke was a wild yearling, but very quickly became the biggest pet on the planet.  We used him to create our first purebred and half Welsh babies and they all carried the Duke stamp.
 

SDL Taffy’s Joke
1991 colt out of Taffy (POA)
loved by the Pekarek family

SDL Princess Rosette
1991 filly out of Westrums Rosina
lovingly owned by Meg Ryberg

In June of 1999, a nice man called to ask if we had a section A stallion for sale.  Since we had already planned to move to the bigger B ponies, Duke found a new home creating lovely Welsh/Arabian babies.  Just before he left, we used him on Manda’s little Arabian mare.

Duke left us one of his best – SDL Diamond Tiara (Sassy).
 

Sassy has excelled at everything Manda has attempted with her.  From being a regional jr. trail champion at 2 years of age to being the 2004 WPCSA National High Score jr. driver pony to the 2005 WPCSA National Res. Champion High Score Half Welsh pleasure driving pony.  Sassy not only carries Manda in English, Western and trail, but shepherds little people in leadline, trains novices in showmanship and allows Mom to drive her when necessary.  At home, Sassy carries Manda all over the country bareback in a hackamore, jumping trees and herding ponies. 

We always missed Duke while he was gone and finally in March of 2005, Steven decided we had to track him down and get him back.  A few phone calls and an afternoon trip later, Duke was back with us!!!! 

While he had been gone, we learned a few things about training ponies and how they all need jobs.  Duke went to our trainer to learn to be a driving pony.  He took to that quite well.  Next, Manda decided that he’d be fun to ride, so Duke was her little sport pony.  He was very well behaved in company and smooth as glass at any trot speed.