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? Email Donna Duckworth with the details and any photos to duckwort@mgm.ufl.edu. Show results, results of inspections, new foals or unusual adventures especially welcome!

Deadline approaching! September 7 is the deadline for both Juniors (18 and under) and Adults to apply for scholarships for educational or training activities. The purpose of the Scholarships is to recognize Junior and Adult Amateur riders and encourage them to continue training activities with their Connemaras and may be used for clinics, lessons, or any other educational activity. For the juniors there are two $200 awards for the most outstanding applications, two $100 awards for the runners up and a $25 honorable mention award. For the adults there is one $200 award and one $100 honorable mention.

Both Junior and Adult applications must include the name of the rider, who must be an ACPS member, and his/her age, if a Junior, the name and registration number of the pony, and the answers to three questions.

For Juniors the questions are: 1)What do I like about my pony? 2)What do I do with my Commmemara? 3)What learning opportunity would the Scholarship provide for me and my Connemara? Send applications to Linda Haines, troutranch@metrocast.net, or
149 Shaw Rd, Northfield, NH 03276-4219

For Adults the questions are: 1)Why is the Scholarship important to you? 2)How do you intend to use the funds for equestrian learning? 3)What are your ultimate goals for your Connemara? Send applications to Pat Lightbody pcl@bbs2.rmrc.net, or
32600 Fairmount Blvd, Pepper Pike, OH 44124

The forms are also on the web site. E-mail is accepted, in fact perhaps necessary at this late date.

Leesburg, Va. At the recent annual awards banquet held in association with the ACPS annual meeting and the 50th Anniversary celebration, Catherine Mack was awarded the Crestwood Trophy for her many years of tireless support of Connemaras. The award was established to honor Ann Gascoyne, a long time breeder and President of the ACPS who died in 1985. It is given annually to the individual who has done the most for the Connemara Pony in the United States. Catherine has been breeding ponies at her farm in Middleburg for over 35 years. She owned the well-known stallion Aladdin, who sired ponies for children and adults all up and down the Eastern seaboard. Catherine established the now highly popular Region III Connemara show as a way to show case the abilities of Connemaras in the country in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Other award winners, these all the four-legged variety, were Canal Laurinston, Ballywhim Merrianne, Hideaway’s Flicker, Greystone Dallen McMor, and Coosheen Penny Royal. Read all about them and what they won in the American Connemara!

Elk Grove, Ca. Three year old stallion Wildwych Eclipse (Glenormiston Flurry Knox X Wildwych Dreamtime), owned by Lisa and Max Gerdes of Redbud Ranch, was presented at the recent ISR/OLD NA (International Sport Horse Registry/Oldenburg Registry North America ) inspection and was approved for the Sport Pony Division. His part bred daughter Redbud Moonshadow, out of a Hanoverian mare, was also presented, recieving an overall score of 7.7 and outscoring several Warmblood Horses. For more information on the ISR go to http://www.isroldenburg.org/index.php.

That same weekend Wildwych Eclipse topped the Pony Division under Judge Christel Carlsen scoring an overall 73 % at the USEF/USDF recognized Golden State Dressage Warm Up (where ponies are judged in hand on the triangle for their suitability for dressage) at Rancho Murrietta Equine Complex. Wildwych Eclipse also took fifth prize in the open three year old colts division beating some warmblood horses.

Also included in the line up were Redbuds Cracker Jack who took third in a large Yearling Colts Class and was called back for the Colt/Stallion Championship. Yearling Purebred Century Hills Taylor Maide won her class and also took 6th prize in the open fillies division.

Alberta, Canada. While many Connemaras spend their days showing off their beauty as pasture art, Rills Carrick Fergus earns his keep as a cowpony! Owner Elsie Priddy says, “Fergus is so much fun to ride while herding cattle as he is very willing, can put on bursts of speed when needed, can turn quickly, yet is sensible and quiet around the cattle. Also in a pasture with some very rough land and I really trust Fergus to keep his footing.” He was bred by Penny Huggons (Rill Connemaras in Sundrae, Abta) and is by *Scottsway Bali Hi out of Rills Ocean Pearl. Elise admits that he does have one vice - he has the appetite of a pony, but other than that says he is perfect! Quarter horses beware!! Connemaras can work cattle with the best of them!

Lake Villa, Ill. Balmullo’s Wind River is settling in to his new home in Illinois with Pat Cunningham, having traveled from Florida in mid-August. Wind River aka Wally (Concord River Roaringwater Bay X Courtney’s April Frolic) was the champion gelding at the Region IV show in Georgia in July. Says Pat, “I think his temperament is wonderful - very much like his niece Foothills Faithfilly (Balmullo’s Beacon X Foothills Hopefilly [by Roaringwater Bay]), which is what I was hoping for. He's got that same combination of quiet plus sensitive and trusting that I think is kind of remarkable. He is outgoing and curious and learns fast - I can see he's going to be very easy to train…. I took him for his first walk down to the creek, and I swear he liked the creek (was splashing in it). He's been very unflappable, pretty much unfazed by my whole arsenal of scary horse stuff… On our second walk to the creek there were some big carp stranded in a shallow part. I thought Wally might be a bit concerned about the fish splashing around, but no. So then we went up to the spillway bridge. I have lived here for 13 years and every horse/pony I've ever had has been worried about crossing it at first, except Wally. It's a small earthen bridge but water runs under it. Wally was completely fine, like he'd already been across it 100 times. I was amazed to say the least. Anyway, I'm officially in love with Wally. Endearing is a good word for him.”

Mulino, Oregon. Lydia Krueger-Blehm and Skyview's Cassiopeia, a 26 year old Connemara by Custusha's Cashel Rock out of Sherrie, went to their first horse show at Freeman Farm. Lydia, 8 years old, has been riding for two years. Cassie, although blind in one eye, still is teaching beginners to ride and works very hard at her job. She and Lydia have a special bond, with Cassie always taking great care of Lydia.

Napa Valley, CA. Foothill’s Foggy Morning (*Gunsmoke X Balmullo’s Rhiannon) has been confirmed in foal to MGRM Brigadoon. FM is a bay 3 yo bred by Vanessa Morgan in Tennessee. She suffered a serious leg injury when just 6 months old but was nursed back to health and sent to California to start a breeding program for Darien Hall.

Monroe, N.C. Devon Miller and Limerick have had a great year competing in Horse Trials, qualifying for the American Event Championships to be held at Southern Pines in September. At their Last event at the beautiful Why Not An American Ark Equestrian Park in Monroe, N.C., they were 6th in Open Training. Limerick is a purebred gelding by Erin-Go-Bragh and out of a Greystone McErrill mare, Rocky Springs Greystone Earrach. Devon’s mother, Donna Miller, will soon be joining Devon at competitions with her young imported stallion, Ard Celtic Art. Art was the Grand Champion at the Region IV show held in Georgia in July. Both ponies reside at the Miller’s Georgia Farm.