THE NATIONAL PONY SOCIETY – SCOTLAND

AGM, 2019 Harbro Points and SPOTY Presentations followed by
Pre-Season Sunday Lunch

Sunday 9th February 2020

The Huntingtower Hotel, Perth, PH1 3JT

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It is difficult to relate the story of Dougal’s life without also referring his family’s Transy Pony Stud, which was founded in 1896 by his grandfather, William Mungall, on the purchase of two unregistered Shetland pony geldings for his Transy Estate on the outskirts of Dunfermline, Fife. His purchase would soon become a passion for the breed and four generations on it remains strong through his daughter Eleanor and her husband William Dick, grandson Dougal and great-grandchildren Carolyn and Sarah, who became partners with Dougal in 1988. Dougal’s hope that another generation will be added to the list in due course seems assured as his own grandchildren have already shown an interest in the Stud.

At a time when breed societies and stud books were developing rapidly, his family played a prominent role for over a century, all having been elected to Council of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society with Presidency awarded to William Mungall in 1909, to William Dick (Dougal’s father) in 1959 and to Dougal himself from 1969 to 1971 and again from 1999 to 2000. Dougal has been a member of the Shetland Pony International Show and Centenary Show Committees as well as the Centenary Trust. The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was not the only pony society to benefit from Dougal’s leadership as he was also Scottish Chairman National Pony Society (1975-2000), National Pony Society Council member and President (1989-90), founder member Scottish Equine Breeders Association and Chairman (1999-2003) and Chairman of the Scottish Connemara Group.

Dougal took over the breeding of ponies at Transy in 1953 having persuaded his parents to bring back to the Stud six of the remaining mares which had been out on loan to the Harviestoun and Marshwood Studs during the war when the Dick’s farm at Lochend had been requisitioned as a remount depot for the army. It was at much the same time that Dougal was actively engaged in sporting activities including sailing and cricket however it was both hockey and curling at which he excelled and played competitively for local clubs. It was later in life that he pursued the more leisurely hobby of photography, something which he had inherited from both father and grandfather who were both keen amateur photographers in their day.

Following his father’s advice to dismiss options for Oxford or Cambridge, Dougal studied agriculture at the East and West Colleges of Agriculture choosing to return home to run the farms on Transy Estate. Although better known as a Shetland pony breeder, he maintained his interest in farming and having sold his farms at Lochend and Dunnygask near Dunfermline, he moved to Devonshaw in Clackmannanshire in 1969 where sheep became the focus along with cattle and ponies. His interest in agriculture never faded and Dougal always had a view on how Scottish farm land should be managed. His ties with the Transy Estate came to an end in 1989 when it was sold following the death of his mother.

Dougal saw the Transy Stud through its centenary year when he hosted a memorable gathering at Devonshaw in 1996 and the publication of its history which he painstakingly compiled with words and photographs from his extensive library. Bloodlines from the early purchases by William Mungall in 1899 had been proudly maintained and still remain in the pedigree of ponies currently in the Stud. From Mungall’s early domination of the Royal Highland Show championships in the first part of the 20th century, Dougal won his first prize at Perth Show in 1939 when he won with the barren mare Skelmore of Transy. He has since upheld a keen interest in shows and has successfully competed throughout Britain and Europe. Among his many big wins, the Highland Show Championship and Medal won in 2002 with Ceres of Transy was considered by Dougal as his greatest accomplishment in the show ring as it followed a lengthy gap since the Stud had taken the title and his very own first at Scotland’s premier event.

Much success has since followed and in 2010 the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland recognised his outstanding contribution to livestock breeding by awarding him the prestigious Sir William Young Award. It is no wonder as he also exported ponies to all corners of the world including Continental Europe as well as both North and South America, Egypt and Japan making the Transy prefix a key constituent of Shetland pony breeding policies universal.

While latterly Dougal’s interests have mainly rested with the showing of his Shetlands in breed classes, over the years he has been a great supporter of all performance aspects of the breed with successes recorded with ponies both under saddle and in harness. This probably explains why in discussion with Dougal on the merits or demerits of conformation, hind legs, active action behind and good movement have always featured as a priority with him. In time he was invited to join the Shetland Pony panel of judges in 1959 and judged his first show at Echt that year. Following his first major judging appointment in 1967 when he judged the Royal Show, he went on to judge every major show in the country as well as extensively overseas. In addition to the Shetland panel he has also been a panel judge for the British Driving Society, the British Connemara Society and the National Pony Society for which he was an authority on all native breeds. It is a little known fact that Dougal also bred a few Dartmoor and Connemara ponies at Transy, two breeds which he had previously selected for his children to ride as they outgrew their Shetlands. Even less known is the fact that he also stood a Thoroughbred stallion for many years which was popular with breeders in Central Scotland.

It goes without saying that Dougal’s dedication to public duty knew no bounds. He was one of the willing volunteers of life, generous of his time, his knowledge, his experience and his enthusiasm; he was also a very generous sponsor from which many good causes benefited. He will be remembered as a wonderful host to the many hundreds, if not thousands, of people who enjoyed his hospitality at Devonshaw. Dougal’s passion for the Shetland breed and ponies in general never faltered and until very recently his lack of mobility never stopped him from attending shows and events.

While I am sure Dougal’s recognition as a successful breeder and exhibitor are well earned, these go nothing towards describing the man known affectionately so many people both in his locality and world-wide. He would have been the first to recognise the life-long friendships which he established through the Shetland breed or horses and ponies in general. While Dougal didn’t suffer fools gladly; his likable character, interesting conversation, good nature and wicked sense of humour made him easy and enjoyable company, something which he generously shared.

Dougal was a great family man having married Katherine in 1963; although divorced they remained friends to the end. He was immensely proud of their daughters Carolyn and Sarah and encouraged their interest in competitive riding as well as breeding and showing Transy ponies. Their respective husbands James and Ian have become backroom boys at Transy and their children Charlotte, Matthew, Sophie and Lucy have begun to play a key role. Sincere condolences are extended to them all.

NPS Scotland held their second Charity Bake Off on Saturday 16th November by very kind permission of Anna Roberts at the wonderful venue of Stathallan Castle. Members and friends travelled from the north and the south to this very central venue. There was wonderful imagination, high skills, strong competition and a lot of laughs along the way. The men only class topped the class entries with 9 entries of shortbread and there were carrot cakes of all shapes, designs and sizes making it a tough decision for out two wonderful judges Ann Whitelaw who has provided the NPS Summer show lunch for over 20 years and Graham Barclay, master baker and more know to most of us as the working hunter course builder.
The photograph class brought an amazing range of entries, but first prize went to a spectacular shot of two of Dougal Dicks Shetland ponies out on the hill.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event which was run as a fund raiser for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance and raised £401.50 which NPS Scotland are rounding up to a £500 donation.

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Senior Section (Over 16 years)

Class 1 Decorated Carrot Cake
1st Adrienne Taylor
2nd Jo Jack
3rd Pat Rennie
4th Wendy Wallace
5th Elaine Smith
6th Emma Jane Murray

Class 2 8 Square of Tablet
1st Jean Ralston
2nd Gillian McMurray
3rd Sheila Keron
4th Fiona Roebuck
5th Dave Cuthbert
6th Gillian McMurray

Class 3 3 pieces of Shorbread – Men Only
1st Willie Ralston
2nd Duncan Cameron
3rd Peter Keron
4th David Blair
5th Tom Best
6th Isla Roebuck

Class 4 Swiss Roll
1st Jean Ralston
2nd Jo Jack
3rd Fiona Longley
4th Gillian McMurray
5th Emma Jane Murray
6th Alicia Hay

Junior Section

Class 5 Age 10 years & Under – Any choice of Tray Bake
1st Lucas Piperias

Class 6 11 – 16 years Decorated muffins with a horse theme
1st Max Millichip
2nd Caleigh Taylor

Class 7 Decorated Gingerbread Man
1st Lucas Piperias
2nd Aaron Piperias

Class 8 Seniors – Decorated Wine Bottle
1st Kirsty Miller
2nd Wendy Wallace
3rd Elaine Smith
4th Alicia Hay
5th Pat Rennie

Class 9 Juniors – Decorated Flower Pot
1st Nathan Evans

Class 10 Photograph ‘ Any Spectacular Pony Photograph’
1st Dougal Dick
2nd Dougal Dick
3rd Molly Keron
4th Nathan Evans
5th Kirsty Miller
6th Emma Jane Murray