Tracey Dopko and Scooby Doo

Features > Outstanding Pony Profile

Scooby Doo

5-yr-old Dun Gelding, 13.3 1/2 hh
Reg. 3/4 Welsh 1/4 Quarter Horse
Registered As: Crignant Joker's Wild
Show Name: Scooby Doo
Barn Name: "Joker"

• Sired by Asgard Argentina (passed away in 2004), full Welsh Section B stallion
• Out of Crignant My Lucky Friend (1/2 Welsh 1/2 QH)
• Bred by Crignant Welsh Ponies in Busby, AB
• Ridden and trained by Tracy Dopko of Daventry Farms
• New owner as of February 1st is Dr. Susan Haralabatos of New York



“ Joker is probably the most enjoyable horse or pony I've ever had the pleasure of riding,” says Tracy Dopko, his trainer and owner until very recently. “He is very personable and loves attention. He is willing to walk right off the trailer and march right into a ring full of big, spooky jumps, without a warm-up, and win a class. He has always been incredibly brave and willing to do whatever was asked of him. We have had countless comments from judges and trainers who were so impressed with him having to compete against the Thoroughbreds and warmbloods and beating them and all at the age of three no less!”

Daventry Farms purchased Joker as an unbroke two-year-old. He had previously won the Alberta Half-Welsh Yearling Futurity and won Classic Award at Horse Improvement. He was started as a late two-year-old, as he was quite bored out in the pasture and wanted to go to work. At his first show, after only being under saddle for 30 days, he won his class.

On top of Tracy showing him full time in 2004, he also took on the roll of babysitter and looked after Tracy's 5-year-old step-son in the leadline classes and crosspole hunters. She says, “He is not one we were looking forward to selling this year and were actually hoping we would be able to keep him as a permanent fixture in the barn. He will be sadly missed and not easily replaced.”

As a three year old, Joker showed on the Alberta hunter/jumper B circuit and was Champion nearly every time out competing in the Baby Green hunters against the horses. He also was shown in dressage and ended up Senior High Point Champion for the Edmonton & Area Dressage Association Year-End Awards. Again, won this honor competing against the big warmbloods and was the only pony showing in his classes.

In 2004, he showed on the Alberta Welsh circuit once again with consistent Championships on the line, 1st’s in under-saddle classes, and was Champion of the Alberta Welsh Riding Futurity. He also attended the Horse Improvement Program in hopes of obtaining a Premium Alberta Bred award. In order to be classified a Supreme Alberta Bred, a horse or pony must receive a Classic (75%) or Premium (85%) score as a yearling and/or two year old as well as receiving a Premium (85%) score in the 3 to 5 year old riding class. Joker already had a Classic score as a yearling and two year old and needed a score of 85% in the 3 to 5 year old class to be considered Supreme. He ended up with a score of 80% in the 3 to 5 year old riding class so just missed out on Supreme.

Tracy also took Joker down to Washington in August to compete at the US Welsh Western Nationals as she felt he would be very competitive and, as she says, “He proved us right!” He ended up Reserve Grand Champion Half-Welsh English Pleasure Open and tied for Reserve Grand Champion Half-Welsh Hunter Open. At the end of the year, he was 9th overall in the US for Half-Welsh Adult Hunters and was named 2004 WPCSA Northwest Reserve Champion Half-Welsh Adult Hunter

Joker will be shown this year by his new owner, Dr. Susan Haralabatos of New York, in dressage. Her daughter, Stephi, will finish out her hunter/jumper season on her medium pony Snickers and will then show Joker on the hunter A circuit in 2006.

Photo: Rick Kroll

Joker and Nick in the lead-line class.

Photo: Paula Meehan

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