 All Over, The World: Another year has come and gone leaving us with many things to ponder. I asked people to send me what were their most memorable Connemara events of 2006. Of course the 50th Anniversary Celebration was high on alot of lists……especially all the Region 3 members that made it happen! They will likely not forget how hard they worked and all those present will not forget the wonderful exhibitions that were put on.
Several other people had nice memories of visiting Clifden, which is always a fabulous place to visit, especially for the show in August, even if you have been there many times before. Expatriate Karen Vicencio says that, “I think my two favorite Connemara events in 2006 were the stallion parade and carriage drive in April in Clifden, and the parade and dressage demonstration the day before Clifden show. I have found it very exciting to see the Connemaras starting to be promoted as the working and performance animals they were originally bred to be, in their "hometown" of Clifden. I really loved when Sabine drove Judy Cazebon's hitch of four Connemara ponies all the way from Cleggan to Clifden to participate in the drive and demonstration the day before Clifden show.”
Sabine said that these two events were also the first which came to her mind when she was thinking about the most memorable occasions. She said, “In fact driving our own "German" ponies at Clifden in April has definitely gone to top my Connemara pony events of a lifetime. I again felt very honored when offered to drive Judy's and Enda's ponies in August. They have such lovely personalities and were real fun to drive.” The team consisted of: the lovely mare Dríocht na Mara, "Dree" (Loobeen Larry x Lisglassick Laura),the very industrious gelding Taibhse na Mara "Caspar" (Village Boy x BibiD), the strong gelding Cu na Mara "Blue" ( Slisneoir x Mervyn Blue Tac by Sticky) who also took part in the Dressage display, and the very green but honest mare Park Wren (Annilaun Oscar x Parc Erica).
Sigrid in Sweden, where she says there is no winter in sight, said, “My own memory of the year has to be the week I spent in Connemara including Clifden show. Nothing special to those of you that visit Ireland several times a year, (or live there), but for me it was the second time in Ireland ever (and the first time since 1977) and the first time at Clifden show. Returned back home with 1,000 photos and I am still struggling with the website that became a result of my trip.”
 Elke, from Black Forest Connemaras also had a very special Clifden memory. She says, “Our very special Connemara event in 2006 was the moment Deirdre entered the Clifden show ring with our Blackforest Vivienne who she and her husband Michael purchased - I had tears in my eyes seeing her being back in original Connemara land and competing so well within this huge class of ‘original Connemara fillies’. We never will forget this time and have been so happy making new friends in Ireland.”
Julie in New Zealand said, “We were contacted by a filming company to take part in a documentary they were making about William Larnach (a prominent businessman/politician in early NZ history), also a first for us as we had never taken part with a film company before. My husband had to do the driving (it HAD to be a male coachman, not a disguised female one), so he had a very quick course in driving (we had one month) and it was just beautiful driving around the grounds of NZ’s only castle with our Landau. Whenever anyone asked what the beautiful white horse was, I was very proud to say she is a Connemara.”
Sabine in Germany had another memorable event……She says, “There is another thing that was a real smasher last year. It was in July, when we showed Martina's foals at their breed show in Wickrath, near Aachen and both were awarded a gold premium for outstanding quality. (Keep in mind, that not every year foals are awarded gold premium, so this success was a tremendous one for the "Smaragaid" stud).
Jenny in Sweden also picked a show as a favorite…” It's a difficult pick for me. Maybe I'll pick the Swedish breed show. It was three days of beautiful weather, beautiful ponies, talented ponies and riders and friendly connemarapeople. And a lot of fun.”
”Pony” from Colbyn Farm in Australia said, “Well, my first Connemara arrived from Molly's/Robyn in late '05 and now I have 3! So I guess accumulating Connies would be one highlight. But the most memorable moment would be when one of them danced for me during a storm! The thunderheads seemed almost to touch the earth, looming black and grey yet luminescent with late afternoon sun, the wind gusted fiercely and the stunning white horse on the end of my lead began to dance with the wild magic of the moment. He caprioled and levaded with the grace of a one born to ballet shoes and, as his mane swept back and forth, his passage would have been awarded a 10 by the toughest of judges. A moment in time I will never forget.”
 Our own Michelle Haas from St. Louis had lots of memorable events….”Going on the trail ride in TN with Vanessa Morgan and a whole group of others...one of the most relaxing and just plain great times with Connemara 'folk' in a long time. We all had a blast!! --my first homebred purebred filly going to VA/50th Anniversary/Region 3 and winning the futurity and then the following week heading to VT/Region 1 Show and taking the youngstock Reserve Championship.--Starting my stallion Balmullo's Gallagher in recognized USEF competitions and doing it in style-Winning Champion his first time out. He amazes me at his good nature and superb versatility when asked to do anything. A true Connemara in every way.
And Lisa Martin of Redbud Ranch in California said, “This year has been so exciting and each pony here has accomplished something wonderful (both big and small). I think the birth of our Moonshadow (Wildwych Eclipse X Hannoverian mare) was perhaps the most exciting and memorable for me…especially since her mom decided to have her standing up! CATCH!”
I (Donna Duckworth at Balmullo Farm in Florida) would have to say that a birth was also my most memorable event… I waited almost 20 years to be able to import a mare from Ireland to breed. Then when I tried to breed her (*Belle Dawn [Laerken’s Cascade Dawn X Lizabelle{by Loobeen Larry}])she didn’t get in foal. I tried AI three times then decided to enlist a local stallion, Seven Hills Grey Ghost (Fieldstream Nicholas X Tullymor’s Heather Lass). Of course THAT worked the first time. So Balmullo’s Isabelle was born in late July and is the apple of my eye!”
Several sad events also occurred. Sue Clark from Glenormiston Stud in Australia wrote, “As you know our two old stallions died this year. Irish bred Abbeyleix Finbar (Ballydonagh Rob X Finola of Leam) was put down in March at the age of 28 and Australian bred Domo Cavallo Praize (Connemara Park Peter X Kirtling Haze) was put down in June aged almost 31.
Dale Haze, the sire of Hazy Dawn, was also put down in Denmark, another very sad loss.
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