Before we delve into the new news, I thought one last look at 2007 would be fun. So below is a report on the activities of the ACPS and its members in 2007. I tried to include everyone but please forgive me if I left you out and you should have been included. And don't forget to send me new news of what you and the ponies are doing!

AMERICAN CONNEMARA PONY SOCIETY HEADING FOR ITS SECOND FIFTY YEARS
A Year-End Report of ACPS Activities for 2007

This year was the first year of our next 50 years for the American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) after our huge anniversary celebration last year in Virginia. Breeders and performers alike have gotten back to work to show off the wonderful qualities of the ponies and to preserve the unique qualities of the breed.

FOALS: The number of foals born was slightly down….while 103 purebred foals were registered in 2006, only 38 have been registered as of October for 2007. For half-breds, the numbers are 76 for 2006 and 31 so far for 2007. This drop is partially, but not entirely, due to the formation of a Canadian Connemara Pony Society which now registers foals born in Canada. Previously they were registered with the ACPS.

BREED SHOWS: But people have been very active showing the ponies they have. Seven Regional Connemara shows were held this year, up from three just a few years ago, in Florida, Virginia, Missouri, California, Massachusetts, Colorado and Indiana. These all have in hand classes as well as dressage, jumping, driving, leadline and the ever popular costume classes. Ponies are judged not only on type and conformation but also on temperament and tractability. In Florida, the US bred WH Top Gun (*Gunsmoke X Ballywhim Candace [by Dallen McMor]) was the Champion Connemara with *Belle Dawn (Laerken’s Cascade Dawn X Lizabelle [by Loobeen Larry]) in reserve. In Virginia, Blue Ridge Hazel (Moxley Duncan X *Hayselden Persephone [by Hayselden Bacchus]) was declared the Best Connemara of the Day with *Fernville Matchmaker (Hazy Match X Ross Castle Moya [by Abbeyliex Owen]) the Champion colt and Guthrie Bonnie’s China Blue (Bluebeard X Balmullo’s Miss Lucy [by Concord River Roaringwater Bay]) the youngstock Champion. China Blue was also Reserve Champion of the first ever Connemara Division held at the Upperville Horse show in June. This show is one of the oldest in the country. Champion in Upperville was Thurman Keepsake (Landgate Bluebeard x Tre Awain Sileach). Interestingly, both these ponies are descendants of Oak Hills Miss Independence (Camus John’s Gladiator X Orphan Bay’s Dun Ho [by Camus John]). The Oak Hill ponies were a very large group of outrageously inbred Connemaras bred in Illinois in the 60’s and 70’s who make wonderful outcrosses with a variety of Connemara lines.

In Missouri, *Laurin of Roscon (Rosenaharley Loughris X Kingstown Dove [by Village Boy]) was the Champion. Other heart-stealers were Blue Ridge Fionuola (Moxley Duncan X Blue Ridge Hobbie Grey), who won the Most Saintly Pony Award, and Foothill’s Magnolia (Balmullo’s Beacon X Foothill’s River Queen [by CR Roaringwater Bay]), who won the versatility award for her combination of driving and jumping ability. In Massachusetts, in-hand Champion stallion was *Coral Bobby (Coral Dun x Sandy Dawn) owned by Gary Bolger. *Smokey Valley (Glenvalley Grey X Smokey Aine), also owned by the Bolgers, was Champion Connemara in Hand. Grand Champion Connemara and winner of the Versatility Award was Bantry Bay's Kenny (Concord River's Clipper X Bantry Bay's Dark Rose). In California, Wildwych Eclipse (*Glenormiston Flurry Knox X *Wildwych Dreamtime [by Aran Milano]) won almost every title available!! He was Champion Stallion, Grand Champion Stallion and Supreme Champion. Coastal Tully Roisin (Montully’s Son X Red Ridge Irish Rose [by Red Ridge Irish Hope]) was Champion Mare as well as Reserve Supreme Champion. Roisin is in foal to Eclipse for '08 for what should be a Champion foal!! In Colorado Ceili Mosi Oa Tunya (Irish Park’s Caraway Finn X *Coral Misty Ciara) was the Grand Champion. At the last of the region shows, held in Indiana, Erin Terra’s Dream On (Fiddler’s Sparrow McDaire X Tre Awain Dare to Dream [by Tre Awain Ginger Blue]) was the champion colt or gelding, while champion mare was Ridgetop Hazy Blue (Landgate Bluebeard X Kilshanny Misty Day [by Windy Day]). In many, but not all, of the Connemara shows in the US, stallions are not judged which explains the lack of a champion stallion in many cases.

OPEN COMPETITION: Besides Connemara shows many Connemaras compete in Open shows in a wide variety of disciplines. They can compete in Open Shows for awards given by the ACPS in Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Eventing, or Driving as well as several non-competitive disciplines. Twenty-two ponies received awards for Dressage, 17 for Eventing, 10 for Hunter, and 5 for Driving. Many ponies qualified for and competed at international and national shows. They are far too numerous to mention individually but include Alison Stroud and her Four-in-Hand of Connemaras who were fourth out of 19 in the World Pony Driving Championships held July 18-22 in Denmark. Shammer Jake (Ballinaboy Eamon X Grange Dierdre Sparrow) with Courtney Yeager competed at the USDF Championships at FEI levels. They got a 63.75% at Prix St. Georges and a 65.9% for their freestyle. They came in 3rd and 4th respectively. It was a nice show and a great facility. Lauren Ochs & Bantry Bay’s Kenny (Concord River's Clipper X Bantry Bay's Dark Rose) went to the Training Junior/YR division of the American Eventing Championships and earned a forth place.

Will Ya Love Me (*Grange Finn Sparrow x *Lady Doreen) aka "Willie" has been doing exceptionally well at the higher levels in the eventing world. Willie is 9 y/o and has been owned by his rider, Courtney Sendak, since he was two. They were second in the NCDCTA Horse Trials, Area II Preliminary Championships last year and are now competing at the Open Intermediate level. Many half-Connemaras, quite a few sired by Hideaway’s Erin-Go-Bragh, also compete at all levels of eventing.

Balmullo’s Azalea (Concord River Roaringwater Bay X Courtney’s April Frolic [by Custusha’s Cashel Rock]), shown as OOH LA LA, was 10th in the Over Fences phase and finished 12th Overall (out of 73 ponies) in the Large Green Pony Division of the National Pony (Hunter) Finals. The overall ratings are based on the over fences class as well as a hack and a model class. Azalea is owned and ridden by Katherine Woodruff of Hallsville, Missouri.

Micaela Mabragana won the 4th Level Division Championship and the FEI Young Rider Championship at the Lendon Gray Youth Dressage Festival. She was also presented with the Jacqueline Harris Memorial Trophy for the highest scoring rider on a Connemara. Her partner was Ballywhim Ardan Mor (Tre Awain Dobh McDuff X Ballywhim Ethylyn [X Greystone Dallen McMor]), aka Danny, a 15 yo 14.3 stallion owned by Lendon Grey.

STALLION TESTING: Two Connemara stallions have been entered in rigorous stallion tests. Donna Miller reports that their 15 hand imported Connemara stallion *Ard Celtic Art (Monaghanstown Fionn X Moydow Lady [ by Murphy Rebel]) was entered in one of the 4 year old divisions of USEA Spalding Labs Young Event Horse tests. The ultimate goal of the Young Event Horse Series is to choose the youngster that possesses the talent and mind set, and who with proper training, will excel in the uppermost levels of the eventing world. They give owners and breeders the opportunity to showcase the potential of their four- and five-year-old horses while encouraging them to produce top-level event horses for the future. The horses are asked to complete four sections, with the following distribution of scores: conformation and type (15 %), dressage (35 %), jumping (40 %), and suitability and potential (10 %). Each section is scored on a 1-10 mark basis. (1 = very bad, 5 = sufficient, and 10 = excellent.) Art placed 2nd out of 5 horses with a score of 76.14.

And Wildwych Eclipse (Glenormiston Flurry Knox X Widwych Dreamtime [by Aran Milano]) has made the trip from California to Ohio for the Sport Horse Stallion Testing, LLC (a joint venture of th ISR/OLD NA and American Hanoverian Society). Four year old Eclipse is the first Connemara Stallion in the US to attempt the 30 day test for pony stallions, which until now has been the exclusive domain of popular New Forest and German Riding Ponies. Eclipse passed the test with flying colors. He is owned by Lisa and Max Gerdes of Redbud Ranch.

ANNUAL AWARDS: Each Year the ACPS gives both Breeding and Performance Awards at their annual meeting, this year held in Sacramento, California. The Tooreen Laddie award, given to a stallion that has had an exceptionally positive influence on the breed through his offspring, went to Springledge Bantry Bay owned by Candy Verhulst, MA. Bantry Bay is found in the 3rd, 2nd or 1st generation of the pedigrees of over 500 ponies registered with the ACPS. Many of these are stallion sons or grandsons. Also included amoung his offspring are many broodmares whose names are immediately regognizable, including the dam lines of Hideaway’s Erin-Go-Bragh and Cushtusha’s Cashel Rock. These two well known stallions are the only two Connemaras that have been made into Breyer (model) horses. Castle Beau Geste (Ballydonagh Cassanova X Tulira Maggie [by Napolean]) received the An Tostal Award for a performance stallion for accomplishments in the Hunter/Jumper arena, and Cashel Rock of Ages (Custusha’s Cashel Rock X Erinmoor Lily O’Fallon [ by Hisega Meadows Erin Bobby]) was named Horse of the Year for his accomplishments in dressage. Carolyn McEvitt’s CKC Katie (by Erin-Go-Bragh) was awarded the Tre Awain Halfbred Trophy.

INSPECTIONS: Our Inspection Program, now in its 12th year, continues apace, with more and more ponies inspected each year and the quality and type of the ponies rising each year. Although our country is vast, a group of 4 or 5 inspectors will go to any venue where there are 10 or more ponies to be inspected. This year inspectors went to Virginia, Missouri, California, and Washington state. Last year, we instituted a program for Premium stallions and this year approved the first three for Premium status -- Balius Rhyddspence (Chiltern Colm X Polaris Suzanne), Cashel’s Rock of Ages (Custusha’s Cashel Rock X Erinmoor Lily O’Fallon [by Hisega Meadow’s Erin Bobby]), and Skyview’s Orion (Custusha’s Cashel Rock X Skyview’s Lady Rigel [by Gilnocky Drumcliffe]).

In order to help with the maintenance of the athleticism and usefulness of the Connemara, Inspectors have had several clinics with Judy Wardrope. Judy has studied the pedigrees and photographed and analyzed the conformation of top horses, in both sport and thoroughbred racing, to determine the impact of conformation on performance. She is now sharing her knowledge through a series of informative and entertaining clinics, seminars and workshops. Of these, Improving Your Eye for Functional Conformation is one of the most frequently requested. Judy has recently been to Ireland to give her Functional Conformation clinic, which was a great success, and that was the subject of a clinic in July for US inspectors as well. With the great emphasis on type in both Ireland and the US in recent years, it is feared that the ponies are losing some of their athleticism (Judy says they are going from an all-around pony to an all-round pony) so Judy’s clinic concentrated on the conformation of good athletes. The Inspectors are now trying to point out, to owners of inspected ponies, some of these conformational aspects such as location of the lumbo-sacral (LS) joint, freedom in the elbow, height of the stifle, height of the point of shoulder, and lightness of the front end.

SAD NEWS: Lastly, two well-know stallions were lost to US breeders this year. Ballinaboy Eamon (Loobeen Larry X Ocean Bambi [by Carna Dun]) sadly died, while *Gunsmoke (Smokey duncan X Brown Lady [by Abbeyleix Owen]) returned to his original home in Ireland.