All horseplay for star Tinkerbell
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A STAR of the Ross-shire equestrian world has continued her long-running tale of success.
Ord Tinkerbell, the Clydesdale champion from Muir of Ord, added to her impressive array of silverware recently when she won the supreme title in the native horse breeds category at the Black Isle Show, Nairn Show and the Highland Show.
The young horse, owned and bred by Eric and Miranda Johnstone of Highfield Circle, also scooped a total of 10 trophies at the Ingliston show.
The multi-champion also won best two-year-old filly at The Stallion Show in Glasgow this year as well as the tri-colour tickets at Perth, Nairn, the Black Isle, Keith, Grantown, Dornoch and Sutherland shows, last year, scooping the champion of champions accolade at three of those.
Mr Johnstone (55), who breeds horses as a hobby, said she was a magnificent example of the Clydesdale breed.
"She is just exceptional," he said.
"She is everything you would want in a Clydesdale. She has it all.
"I would definitely say she is the best that I have ever had.
"She has strong flat bones in her legs, the hock is nice and high in her hind legs, her second thigh is nice and short, and she has a good deep body and good long silky hair covering her legs and the back of her hooves.
"And she’s good natured too, they generally are."
The plant fitter, who works for Macdonald Groundworks, has been breeding his own Clydesdale horses for more than 30 years, following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, Donald Clarke, who worked on farms with the horses and took a stallion around the area.
Mr Johnstone said: "We also have Ord Tinkerbell’s full sister Ord Destiny and her mother Ord Envy.
"We keep them on a bit of rented ground. We just have them for showing and breeding.
"It’s a hobby, a very expensive one, but we try not to count it up.
"There’s quite a lot of work in it too, but it’s worth it," he added.
