Thetford, Vermont: Caileigh Bryant wrote to tell about her Connemara.

Says Caileigh, “I have an almost 3-year-old Connemara gelding. His name is Ocean Mist Vinny Van Gogh. Vinny is by Shammer Charlie boy (Ballinaboy Eamon X Grange Dierdre Sparrow). He is out of Tullymor’s Victoria’s Shadow (Tullymor’s Mountain Shadow X Tre Awain Shelach). Vinny came up from Florida in late June! We did lots of stuff in his 3-year-old year, including going to USEA Event camp, a dressage show where we placed 2nd, we schooled water crossings, and a few little itty bitty jumps, and seeing snow for the first time! He is just a joy and loves chasing around our German Shepard!!!”

London, England: Annie Nicol sent a photo of hr new Connemara, Caspar. His real name is Maeldune Tam Torie and he is by Kirtling Tam O'Shanter out of a Bardsey Zodiac performance mare. Annie is planning to move to Palm City, Florida, with her parents later this year, hopefully with Caspar in tow!

Alachua, Fl: Here at Balmullo Farm, we are awaiting three foals, one in March (Thurman Irish Peach X CR Roaringwater Bay), one in April (Belle Dawn X Windy Isles), and one in August (Ruby the Percheron X Liffey Lad [precocious Connemara colt]). I guess everyone else is waiting as there has been hardly any news! So while we are waiting here are several interesting web sites. The first was sent by Orla Igoe in Ireland. She thought we might be interested in seeing Gunsmoke’s new Irish home. The other two are sort of fun…..things.

http://www.kippureconnemaraponies.com

http://www.horseridingcoach.com/jumporama/

http://www.britishconnemaras.co.uk:80/interactive.htm

Region V: Region V’s annual meeting will be held in Lexington Kentucky at Fonda Eigle’s home on March 15th. Lunch will be served at 11:30, followed by the meeting. We have moved the region show to South Farm in Middlefield Ohio. It will be on August 2nd and 3rd . We will also be holding an inspection on the 3rd in conjunction with the show. South Farm is a great facility and we are looking forward to having the show there. Cross country schooling will be available for an extra fee if anyone wants to take advantage of that opportunity. Fonda has agreed to continue as our show secretary, with Deb Busta being the show manager. Jill McNichol is the inspection site manager. Please contact either Jill or myself if you have ponies to nominate for inspections. We have reserved the Hoosier Horse Park for the weekend of October 11th, and plan a fun day or trail ride. A booth has been booked for us at the Equine Affair in Columbus Ohio for April 10th to the 13th. Jill and I will be managing the booth. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with this endeavor should contact either Jill McNichol or myself. It’s a great opportunity to promote our Connemaras. The quarterly region newsletter is getting bigger and bigger. Thanks for sending your news in to Pat Reichle and Janice Meyer. Its fun to hear about everyone’s ponies. Sincerely, Mary Yeager, Chair