Dolbadarn Film Horses – Our History

Dolbadarn Film Horses has a long and distinguished career in the film and TV industry, but our beginnings were very much as a family business.

The business takes it name from Dolbadarn Castle, a 13^th century castle built by Llywelyn the Great in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) in North Wales, a landscape of mountains, lakes and legends, and a very popular filming location.

Established by Aneuryn Jones in 1974, Aneuryn’s introduction to the film industry was alongside his friend and horsemaster Austin Gaskin on the 1974 movie “Zardoz” starring Sean Connery. From there Aneuryn and his wife Jeanette worked with Austin on a number of features in Ireland including the Irish R.M.

By the 1980s, North Wales – and Snowdonia in particular – was becoming a popular filming location. Aneuryn was approached to supply a horse and various other animals for Michael Mann’s WW2 horror “The Keep”, and then – more famously – in the mid-80s George Lucas brought the feature Willow to the Llanberis area and Aneuryn and Jeanette were asked to supply 100 horses to assist horsemaster Gregg Powell. These horses were easily sourced from their own riding stables as well as other trusted yards in the area.

From there Dolbadarn Film Horses was born…

Aneuryn and Jeanette’s son Dylan Jones has since taken over the reins, and is successfully horsemstering his own productions as well as supplying horses for larger productions, both through his own network of horsemasters, and working alongside other film horse teams.

Under Dylan’s direction Dolbadarn Film Horses has grown to become one of the most respected names in the film horses business, both in the UK and internationally. Dolbadarn Film Horses can supply trained horses and riders for any size of TV or film production, from regional TV programs to major feature films. Alongside the film and TV work the business also captivates audiences across the country with their riding shows and displays.

Dylan Jones – Horsemaster and Rider

Dylan subsequently trained in classical equitation in Portugal as well as training in trick riding with Ian Van Temperley (Horsemen of the Apocalypse).

The business has grown steadily and Dylan now splits his time between live shows across the UK, training and managing his stable, and as horsemaster, supplier and rider for film and TV productions large and small both in the UK and abroad.

Skills:

• Classical Rider / Trainer
• Trick Riding Trainer / Performer
• Saddle Falls
• Fire Work
• Jousting
• Mounted Combat
• Rearing
• Carriage Driver (single and pairs)
• Martial Arts
• HGV Licence