If Joanna Wilburn had to sum up Rollingwoods Berry Last One, affectionately known as “Berry,” in a single word, it would be “fast.” However, his career in Carriage Driving has been anything but quick.
After years of reigning at the top, Berry formally retired from the speed classes last month at the age of 25. Yet, despite stepping back from the fast lane, Berry’s days of showcasing his talent are far from over.
Standing proudly at 14hh, this Section B Welsh Pony, with his stunning grey coat, was bred by Rollingwoods Farm with a purpose. Rollingwoods Berry Last One was named in honor of his mother, Timbercreek Blackberry, who passed away the day after his birth. As the last of her foals, Joanna wanted to memorialize her legacy through his name.
As Berry grew, he proved to be a challenging ride, consistently finding ways to unseat his riders. It was then that Joanna discovered his true talent in Carriage Driving. What she loves most about him is the sheer joy of driving him! Berry can zip through speed classes and then gracefully slow down for pleasure classes, exemplifying true versatility. Joanna believes this adaptability is a testament to his breed.
Adding to his renowned story, Berry had one of his eyes removed two years ago due to scar tissue from an old injury he sustained 10 years prior. Since he had already lost sight in that eye, the vet opted for full removal. This didn’t deter Berry; he continued to excel, proving his resilience and spirit more than ever.
In his career of Carriage Driving, Berry has done it all. He excelled in the timed Carriage Speed classes and Pleasure classes with both adult and juniors drivers. If that wasn’t enough, he also competed in Combined Driving as a single, and as a pair with his brother, Rollingwoods Back In Black. Despite Berry’s seemingly effortless performance, Joanna admits that he is challenging to drive independently, without her in the cart alongside him. She also acknowledges the invaluable support of long-time navigator Alex Clark in guiding Berry through the speed classes. Full of personality, Berry remained unfazed by water or spooky decorations, yet standing still during the Pleasure classes was his kryptonite. Nevertheless, Berry’s talent shined through, earning him championship titles at prestigious shows like the Nashoba Carriage Classic and Driving Derby, and the Germantown Charity Horse Show. Remarkably, Berry has secured the champion title at the Germantown Charity Horse Show no fewer than three times, excelling in both speed and rail classes!
As Berry is now 25 years old, Joanna felt that it was time to retire him from the Carriage Speed classes, while he was at the top. She stated that he is still ready to go and run, but since he has cushings now, some days are better than others. There would be no better place for a retirement ceremony than at the 75th Annual Germantown Charity Horse Show, held June 4-8, 2024, in Germantown, Tenn. Joanna had written a statement about how it was his last time competing in a speed class, and gave it to the announcer. Having known about Berry, the announcer put his own words into the farewell as he read it before their class. As a staple in the Driving community, the cheers from the crowd couldn’t be more fitting for such an amazing pony.
According to Joanna, Berry’s driving career isn’t over entirely just yet. “He needs a job,” she says, and thus he will continue to compete in Novice Driver classes, as well as teach lessons. “Berry knows his job, and thrives on work,” Joanna recalls, “There was an instance recently where we arrived at a farm that was too hot to drive at, and the normally easy-loading Berry refused to go home because he didn’t get to do anything.” His days in the speed classes may be over, but he is embracing the teaching life well!
Rollingwoods Farms, a family-run operation by three sisters based in Olive Branch, Mississippi, specializes in breeding and raising Section B Welsh ponies and crossbreds for hunters and carriage driving. Within the family, Sally Ross Davis manages the training and sales of the ponies, Joanna Wilburn oversees the carriage driving operations, and Ruth Wilburn, D.V.M., is responsible for the breeding program. Their primary goal is to sell to hunter children who are well-matched with the ponies.
Distinctively, Rollingwoods Farms does not sell or lease their ponies until they are 3 to 4 years old, allowing them to personally ensure the young stock gains sufficient experience. Once the sisters are confident in the ponies’ foundations, they begin the process of finding suitable sale or lease homes. Another unique aspect of their operation is leasing out their mares to accumulate show experience in the open hunter world before returning them for breeding.
If you are interested in learning more about Rollingwoods Farm and their ponies, you can find them online at https://www.rollingwoodsfarm.com, and their Facebook page under the name “Rollingwoods Farm.”
