Mr Barrie Owen, Ruth’s father, who had ridden since a young age, started breeding Welsh Cobs under the prefix of Tudor. Her mother, Mrs Dale Owen (née Davage), who had also ridden since a young age and had considerable experience as Head Girl for the Quorn Hunt in Leicestershire, naturally had a background in hunters and larger ridden horses. They met out hunting in Cardiganshire, with Barrie riding his 14.2hh Welsh Section D Cob, Toffee, and Dale on her hunter, Jasper. Barrie and Dale decided to sell their two geldings and with the money they bought the Welsh Cob Section D mare, Fronarth Ladi Lwyd (affectionately known as ‘Cariad’ which is ‘Love’ in Welsh). This was their foundation mare for the Deicin Stud.
Ruth grew up surrounded by the day-to-day activities of a busy stud farm (testing and covering mares, foaling, weaning, breaking and schooling youngsters) and becoming increasingly involved with the management. She was an active member of the local Pony Club, competing in all team events from dressage to show jumping and one day events, in addition to showing and hunting. The purchase of her first Welsh Part Bred, Cwrt-Y-Cadno Sidan Las, created a wonderful partnership and was the beginning of her passion for this cross.
Later on, Ruth went to Warwickshire Agricultural College, Moreton Morrell, to study a degree in Equine Studies where she gained an upper second class honours.
Sadly, at the age of 17, Ruth lost her beloved mother prematurely to cancer. Her memory and influence lives on and the stud is named after her childhood nick name, Dali (pronounced with a Welsh ‘i’ as in ‘valley’).