Welcome to the American Connemara Pony Society Web Site

Do you have news about your Connemara that you would like to share with other ACPS members? News from all over the world is welcome. Email Donna Duckworth with the details and any photos to connemaras@windstream.net. Show results, results of inspections, new foals or unusual adventures especially welcome! The sire and dam of any ponies should be included. Please note that any professional photos must be accompanied by a photographer's release before they can be used.

Estes Park, Co: We like to say that Connemaras do it all but not many are cowponies. Julie Keahey’s 3 yo stallion, Celi Mosi oa Tunya (Irish Park’s Caraway Finn X *Coral Misty), had a chance to be just that while he was in training at a ranch in Colorado. Gary Gayler, Mosi’s trainer, wrote a story about their adventure. The complete story will be in the next issue of the American Connemara. Gary is a caretaker on a sheep and cattle ranch that Julie says looks like the Ponderosa but has dressage letters in the arena! Many people wonder where Mosi’s name came from….it is African for Smoke that Thunders.

Galena, Mo: Legacy Connemaras has also called in the cowboys to help with their training. Mel Deux says, “Century Hill's Zodiac Flynn" ( Irish Park's Caraway Finn X *Tatham Ballinanna [by Bardsey Zodiac] ) visited with the Sorrel family on their family cattle ranch, where for a month, he was introduced to cattle sorting, and delighting the hearts of a family who had never known what a Connemara Pony was before Flynn came to visit. In the photo, Evan Sorrel was relaxing after showing off Flynn's unflappable temperament by riding him all over Legacy in a mere halter.”

Westmoreland, Ks: Journey’s End Farm Sir Lancelot (Tre Awain Dobh McDuff X Mack's Greystone Erin's Pride), who appeared in the news last week, has received another award. He's the 2007 USEA Area IV Beginner Novice Horse of the Year.

Creedmor, NC: Denise Hill has sent the following news from Seaborne Farm. Most recently, Seaborne’s Schooner (Balius Brannigan X Hideaway’s Greystone Cover Girl), a 12 yr old Connemara Stallion, was champion of the Carolina Hunter Division at the Duke Children’s Benefit Horse Show in Raleigh, NC on November 6th-11th 2007. Schooner is trained and shown by Denise’s daughter, Lauren Hill. Seaborne’s Billabong, (by Schooner out of a TB mare) took home ribbons in the VERY competitive baby green/hopeful hunter divisions. Lauren plans to move him up to the pre-green division in 2008. After several years out of the horse show spot light, Seaborne’s Jamaica Bay has returned to the show ring with her new rider, Chelsea Jones. Chelsea and Jamaica are trained by Lauren. The newest addition to Seaborne Farm is the Irish import *Kilfenora Rosie O’Day (Windy Day X Kilfenora Rose [by Westside Fred]). Rosie has regained her trim figure after producing a beautiful filly this spring by Seaborne’s Schooner and made her début in the Children’s Hunter Pony ring with her new partner Charlotte Yarbrough. Lauren was extremely pleased with her students performances and attitudes. Both girls are dedicated hard workers. Look for them in the show ring in 2008!

Louisville, KY: Several awards sponsored by the ACPS and awarded by the US Equestrian Federation were given out at the Horse of the Year banquet held recently at the USEF meeting in Louisville. The Clifden Trophy for the Purebred Connemara in the Pony Hunter divisions who has received the most points in USEF sponsored competition went to Balmullos’s Azalea (Concord River Roaringwater Bay X Courtney’s April Frolic [by Custusha’s Cashel Rock]) who shows under the name of Ooh La La. She was bred by Donna Duckworth and is owned and ridden by Katherine Woodruff of St. Louis, MO. McKenna Trophy for the best Purebred or Halfbred Connemara in eventing at Preliminary Level and above went to the halfbred, Leprechaun’s Rowdy Boy (Bar S Tex [Lynfields Cormac MacCarthy x Bar S Heather] out of Katie Scarlet [Avenns Majestic Hope x Confederate Doll – TB].

He was bred by Cindi Oldham Dinan. Missy Miller of Alabama is the owner/rider. They compete at the Preliminary and Intermediate levels. ACPS/USEF Hunter - Halfbred Connemara award went to Wellen Goldsmith (Greystone Ian McVai X Welsh/Arab) Savannah Jenkins, VA, is his owner/rider. He was bred by Gayle Presson and Susanna Rowe.

Clifden, Ire: Karen Vicencio participated in a drive sponsored by the Connemara Pony Breeders Society, two days after Christmas. Four carriages pulled by Connemara ponies, and several ridden Connemaras made their way from the pier in Spiddal, all the way to Moycullen. Karen drove Brannigan (aka Balius Derring Do). We had typical very "Irish" weather(in other words, it rained the whole way!), but fortunately, the horrid wind and cold we'd been having was absent. It rained, but the temperature was temperate, and we all had fun.

Breman, Germany: Last but not least, Mai Reiman sent the following photos of her weanlings of 2007. Several of Mai’s ponies have come to the US, including Hohnhorst Branni, a stallion imported by Catherine Mack and now in Canada.

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