Shetland Ponies From Shetland

Benston Stud

About Us

Benston Kara (M11 AR1635) 31" mare By Romany Shrimp out of Daffodil of Lochside

In 2004, we took over the Benston Stud and continue with John’s mother's (Agnes Anne Laurenson) love of miniature Shetlands. 

Our foundation stock was a very chunky 29” piebald stallion from the renowned Romany Stud called Romany Shrimp.  Our 4 foundation mares were of differing sizes and colours but they all crossed nicely with Romany Shrimp giving us 2 nice colt foals and 2 lovely filly foals.  The 2 colts have since been passed as stallions and are siring good stock in their own rights.  The 2 fillies were retained & have done well in the show ring as well as sired some nice foals.

In 2006, we got the opportunity to lease a young stallion from the renowned Halstock Stud - a piebald 31" stallion named Halstock Milky Way.  He did us proud in the show ring becoming the 2007 Miniature Ring Reserve Overall Ring Champion.  His beautiful neat head & kind temperament was passed onto this offspring.

In 2008, we decided to look for a couple of colt foals to run on as possible stallions.  A lovely day was spent at the well known Merrylees Stud in Derbyshire where we saw a piebald colt foal, Merrylees Nuggett. He was soon heading north to Shetland once weaned.  A super day in Barnsley meant another 2 colt foals (Hermits Pedlar & Hermits Lucky Omen) had to travel a long way to get to their new home.  All 3 wintered well.  How amazing it was watching them develop in character, body & mind.

We look forward to foals by Hermits Pedlar this year.