At the Scottish Equine Breeders Association agm the award for the best Scottish-bred horse or pony of the year was awarded to the Highland pony Stirlingdene, writes Melanie Scott.

The award and trophy, donated by Dougal Dick of the Transy Stud, was presented to Stirlingdene – owned by Frazer Atherden from Buckinghamshire.

The 10-year-old Highland stallion was bred by Scott MacGregor, from Stirlingshire who now lives in Australia.

Stirlingdene is by the Royal Highland Show ridden and in-hand champion Fyfedene and out of Dark Maiden of Kildavie, and was bought as a three-year-old by the Atherden family in 2005.

He has had a consistent showing career, in 2012 he was ridden mountain and moorland champion at the Horse of the Year Show before going on to be supreme pony champion of the show.

In 2010 Stirlingdene was reserve champion in the Cuddy in-hand championship, the highest placing for a Highland pony to date.

Runner up was Kilmannan Black Magic, owned and bred by Bill Ireland, Blanefield. The 10-year-old Dales pony stallion is by the past HOYS and Olympia finalist Slaypits Black Magic and out of Trimdon Black Velvet, and is the last of this successful line. His full sisters have also done extremely well, Kilmannan Black Pearl was champion at Olympia in 2002, and Kilmannan Black Velvet was champion at HOYS in 2004.

Magic has had an illustrious show career, being champion ridden mountain and moorland pony at the Royal Highland Show in 2008 and 2012, has qualified for Olympia the past three years and for HOYS four times, ridden by Richard Telford.

Attraction, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare, owned and bred by the Duke of Roxburghe, Kelso. Winner of 10 races from 15 starts (including five Group 1 races) winning almost £900,000 over her career, making her the finest racehorse ever bred in Scotland. Retired to stud, her first two foals are now winnners.

Beinnliath Hartshornpike, an 11-year-old Exmoor pony gelding owned by Lynda Mulholland and bred by Mrs Dickson. Reserve champion Exmoor at RHS 2012, and M&M novice ridden and reserve at Blair 2012.

Cuthelton Envy-Me, a four-year-old sports horse mare owned and bred by Lynne McDonald, Stirlingshire. In-hand NPS Scotland light horse champion 2011, and after backing, winning show hunter, sports horse and riding horse classes in 2012.

Falfield Honeybear, a 19-year-old Connemara pony mare, owned by Sheila Gordon, Midlothian and Jane Somerset, Kent, and bred by Winsome Aird, Fife. Many championship wins over the years, in-hand, under saddle and WHP, and qualified for HOYS, RIHS on several occasions. Veteran champion at the Breed Show 2012.

Gartconnel Shooting Star, a 15-year-old Welsh Section A stallion, owned and bred by Elizabeth Russell, Glasgow. Four times RHS champion, twice breed champion at Royal Welsh, and many other championships. Came out under saddle at 12 years old, and had a successful ridden career qualifying for Olympia, HOYS and RIHS.

Kebroyd Onyx, a six-year-old Dales pony mare, owned and bred by Jill Graham, Roxburghshire, that was the highest placed Dales mare at HOYS 2012.

Robina of Catlaw, a nine-year-old Eriskay pony mare, owned by Nigel McWilliam, Edinburgh, and bred by Catriona Rowan, Alyth. Champion Eriskay at RHS 2012, and at the Eriskay Breed Show 2012.

Robin's Brae Neve, a three-year-old Shetland pony filly owned by Glenn Smith, Staffordshire, and bred by Lorna Burgess, Shetland. Won Shetland pony owners and breeders national award for two and three-year-old mini filly in 2012.

Romanno Bedriska, a three-year-old riding horse filly, owned by Mark Armstrong, Worcestershire, and bred by Jennifer Gilchrist, Lanarkshire. Winner of the Cuddy supreme in-hand championship at HOYS 2012, and also supreme champion at Derby County 2012.

Towford Harmanie, a four-year-old Fell pony filly, owned by Elizabeth Robinson, France, and bred by Moira Hall, Jedburgh. Supreme champion at the Cumbria Fell and Dales Show, also hunted regularly with the Jedforest and Borders Hunts. Now exported to France, to break for driving and then for breeding.