THE owner of the pint-sized young stallion who caused something of a sensation by being crowned Supreme Champion at Cardigan’s Barley Saturday has revealed the five-year-old was only entered as ‘a trial run’.

Rod Lewis, who runs the acclaimed Cwm-Meudwy Stud at Llandysul, elected to bring Cwm-Meudwy Bonwr to Cardigan simply in order to gain experience.

Instead the home-bred Section A Welsh Mountain Pony achieved the highly unusual feat of carrying off the Supreme Champion rosette – the first time it had been awarded to an entry in his class since 2000.

“I only took him to Barley Saturday as an education,” Mr Lewis told the Tivy-Side. “He hadn’t been anywhere since he was a yearling so I decided it was about time he experienced a big crowd and soaked up the atmosphere.

“And the crowds at Cardigan were just extraordinary. There were rows of people pretty much three or four deep for pretty much all of the way round.

“How did I feel when the winning announcement was made? Disbelief, I think. But also very, very thrilled.”

Despite his callow years, great things are now being predicted for Cwm-Meudwy Bonwr who boasts an excellent pedigree.

His promise was underlined when he was named overall Reserve Supreme Champion at the Winter Fair in Builth Wells.

“His sire, Blanche Montana, was exported to America and his mother won a high class at the Royal Welsh,” said Mr Lewis.

“Cwm-Meudwy Bonwr himself was a youngstock champion in the Royal Welsh so his pedigree is tremendous.

“What sets him apart? Well, for a young horse he’s very well balanced, movement-wise.

“He also has a lovely nature – you can do anything with him. He may be only a little a horse but he thinks he's the bee's knees!

“Stallions don’t mature until the age of nine, so although he’s reached full height he will fill out a little bit as he matures.

“The aim is to eventually win the Royal Welsh, but we’ll see how things go.

“He’ll be entered in the 3-7 class at this year’s event and will be up against stallions a couple of years older, but time is on his side.

“I think it’s fair to say he will rank among the best stallions I have bred.”