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ACPS Pony Ambassadors
Karen McIntyre has owned, ridden and loved Connemaras for over 25 years. She has competed in dressage, earning multiple state titles on different horses; however, Karen's main love is jumping. She has competed on both the Virginia and Florida A show circuits, and has qualified and shown a half-bred Connemara in the adult jumper divisions at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, D.C.
In 2003, “Harry” started his illustrious show career as a driving pony. At the time, no one realized what potential the 13.3½ hand, bay stallion possessed and what accomplishments were in his future. Over the next 4 years “Harry” would make his mark in the show ring, winning over 30 Champion or Reserve Champion driving titles and numerous Year End Awards. Some of his more prestigious wins would include the New York State Horse Council Millennium Horse Medallion High Point Driving Pony and the Pony Driving Championship held at the New York State Fair. The following year, he would go on to win the Open Pony Pleasure Driving Championship at the State Fair and was awarded the Sandy Mather Memorial Perpetual Trophy. He continued his winning ways at the Region I American Connemara Pony Society Breed Show by being the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Driving Champion. In 2006 he was entered in his first driven dressage class at the Preliminary Level and won with a score of 69+ %. Harry and Cindy have also competed and won at the Lorenzo and Walnut Hill Driving Competitions. In fact, in 2008 “Harry” was the Reserve Champion Large Pony at Walnut Hill. For those who do not know, Walnut Hill is THE largest pleasure driving competition in North America.
In 2007, at the urging of the German inspector, Harry was presented and approved as a German Riding Pony Stallion (the FIRST “US” born and bred stallion to receive such approval). Typically stallions are required to go through the 100 day testing; however, because Harry had such an impressive show record and driven dressage scores, he only needed to be inspected. Since his approval, Harry has produced 3 foals out of two different mares that have received Premium status at their inspections. Besides being a Connemara Ambassador here at the World Equestrian Games, Harry has been a popular “petting pony” at the Connemara booth at Equine Affaire in West Springfield, MA . And this year he has been invited to participate in the Pfiser Fantasia horse extravaganza. To say the least, 2010 has been an exciting year!!! Come visit us at the Irish Village.
Paddy is a very gentle, friendly pony who likes to schmooze and drink Coke with anyone who pauses to visit with him. Three years ago he served as an equine ambassador to Mongolian guests participating in the city of Middletown's annual Middfest celebration. His easygoing, charming demeanor was a hit with visitors to the Midwest Connemara Breeders' Show in Illinois last summer. He also does "time" giving pony rides at Holy Family of Middletown's annual parish picnic and figures if he ever transgressed in his life, this would be sufficient penance. When he isn't working, he passes time with Connemara mare Hillside Lily Brown and pasture buddy Eddie in the fields of Strawberry Hill Farm in southwest Ohio. Paddy will be ridden by Steph Burke at the WEG.  Wildwych Eclipse is a seven year old approved Connemara Stallion owned
by Redbud Ranch Connemaras in Browns Valley California. Eclipse is the
son of the Australian Import Glenormiston Flurry Knox and out of
Wildwych Dreamtime by Aran Milano (AUS). In 2007 Wildwych Eclipse made
breed history by becoming the first and only American Bred Purebred
Connemara Stallion to complete and pass an Internationally Recognized
30 Day Performance Test for Pony Stallions. Subsequently Wildwych
Eclipse became the first purebred Connemara Stallion standing in the
US to hold Lifetime Breeding Licenses ISR/OLD NA Sport Pony Division and the Oldenburg Verbands Weser Ems (German RIding Pony). In 2009 Wildwych Eclipse was awarded the coveted "Star Award" from the ISR/OLD NA Sport Pony Division
designating him a Premium Stallion based on his competitive success in
recognized Dressage.
Danielle is a successful 24 year old Trainer from Granite Bay California specializing in Dressage and Combined Training. Danielle is both a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist as well as active Pony Club member. Danielle with the help of her trainer Micheal Etherly are currently working towards achieving her USDF Gold Medal aboard her 15 year old Swedish Warmblood Knock On Wood. Danielle and "Bud" as he is known recently competed at the Del Mar International CDI winning both the Intermediare Open and Prix St. George Open Sweepstakes.
Around the barn Lil likes to keep her finger on the pulse of the barn. She is constantly watching and loves to have her head out on the aisle. Her pony in your pocket personality means she becomes the barn favorite where ever she goes. Katherine Short has been involved with horses for 23 years. Flatlands Foto took the XC one, and I can't remember the name of the guys who took the dressage one.
Stonybrook Belmont is the last homebred foaled and raised at Stonybrook Connemaras, Napa, CA Out of Joan Webster's blue eyed cream mare Stonybrook Irish Crème and by the Susan McConnell's English imported *Hearnesbrook Dunoon, "Monty" is the Connemara we just can't part with! Foaled the day of the Belmont stakes in 2003, Monty has developed into a fine example of the Connemara. Fond of everything except in-hand classes, Monty especially loves to graze, and is happy to hang out with friends or be the parade pony, but he really shines in the hunt field, skillfully opening gates, enthusiastically negotiating the coops with room to spare, and covering rough territory like the native pony he is. During more civilized activities, he has qualified for 2009 USDF Regional Finals in dressage and has qualified for the 2010 American Eventing Championships in eventing. Owned and trained by Lee Webster, Monty looks forward to showcasing his many talents at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games!
Lee Webster
Shadey Hill's Oscea was bred by Debbie Shade who says Connemaras are the perfect breed. Connemaras are quiet enough and small enough for the amateur adult breeder yet talented enough for Sarah to help them find the perfect discipline to shine in. Whether it be dressage, jumpers, eventers or just someone's best friend.
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Ridgetop Windy City is a 15 hand, eight year old, grey gelding by the imported stallion *Kilfenora Windy Isles and out of Greystone Echo's Megan, who is by the noted stallion Greystone McErrill. He is owned and ridden by Karen McIntyre. Windy, as he is known around the barn, is a beautiful example of the Connemara breed type, with excellent conformation, good bone, and lovely movement. In typical Connemara "do -it- all" fashion he has excelled in both dressage in-hand classes and hunter breeding in-hand classes. In 2005, as a three year old, Windy won the Connemara class at the Dressage at Devon Breed Show in Devon, Pennsylvania. In 2009, he was the Champion Connemara at the A rated hunter/jumper competition, the Upperville Colt and Horse Show in Upperville, Virginia.
Windy has a joyful personality and he loves a good adventure. He is always the first to greet you in the morning, ready for a ride, and looking for carrots. Although he enjoys jumping and dressage, Windy's true love is trail riding. Quiet, sensible, and smart, he takes care of his rider. Although entirely barefoot, he surefootedly marches through boulder-filled rivers, and up and down rocky hillsides. When not on the trails, he competes primarily in hunter shows.
Loughin's Journey is a six year old gelding with a marvelous sense of Irish humor who, as a judge commented at one of his early hunter shows, certainly brings some life to the party. He came to Onalark Farm, owned by Martha and Sarah Slamer, at age three from Mary Yeager’s Loughin Farm. He is by *Rosemont Irish Abbey out of Elphin April Mist. He was to be a sale project but has instead created a place for himself at Onalark Farm and in Martha's heart that would be difficult to dislodge. Martha and Journey have a fun relationship that has involved many different experiences, all of which he has embraced willingly, some after a bit of discussion to clear the air on expectations. Martha is often smiling or laughing when she is on his back. Journey has fox hunted since age three, growing in maturity and patience with the seasons. He has successfully competed in hunter and jumper classes, dressage shows, eventing, hunter paces and just lately, a 15 mile competitive trail ride. He will be shown at the WEG by Martha Slammer.
Greystone’s Adirondack A’Herne (also known as “Harry”) is a 17 year old, bay, inspected and approved stallion. He is owned and driven by Cindy Fletcher. “Harry’s” sire was the imported stallion *Rosenaharley Laurens (Rosenaharley Cormac X Leam Laurella) from the Rosenaharley Stud in England. Laurens was ridden, jumped and driven but his forte, like “Harry’s”, was driving. “Harry’s” Dam, Hideaway’s Smitheranne (Hideaway’s Smithereen X Lynnfield’s Proud Hope), bred at Hideaway Farm in Geneseo, NY., is a half-brother to the famous eventing stallion, Hideaway’s Erin-Go-Bragh. 
“Harry’s” success has not been limited to the show ring. He has also proven himself in the breeding shed. In 2006, three of his daughters were presented to the Oldenburg Verband as candidates for the Weser-Ems Pony Division (German Riding Ponies) in Germany. All 3 obtained outstanding scores and were entered into the “Main Mare Book.” One of these mares, HMF Wild Irish Rose, has been bred to the 2005 German Riding Pony Champion, Hilken’s Black Delight, three years in a row and each foal has received a Premium status at their respective inspections. Each year, the inspectors comment on the quality and beauty of this mare and what great attributes the Connemara blood brings to the breed. 
Although Paddy would probably rather hang out in the pasture grazing and snoozing (his owner describes him as "Homer Simpson in a horse suit"), he is a hardworking pony who, in addition to his show career, has foxhunted with the Miami Valley Hunt Club and galloped annually with the rest of Team Connnemara (Martha and Sarah Slamer) in the hunt club's Memorial Day Pace and Chase event. He has also logged hundreds of miles on both public and private trails in Ohio and Indiana, sometimes in competitive trail rides and sometimes just for fun. 
Between 2004-2009 Wildwych Eclipse went undefeated on the West Coast
at the West Coast Connemara Pony Show for Champion Colt/Stallion
competing in his age group. He has won both Supreme Champion, Reserve
Supreme Champion, Champion Connemara Stallion and "Best In Show"(all
breeds all comers) titles. In 2007 at the age of four Wildwych
Eclipse was awarded the prestigious Gilnocky Ard Righ MacDaire Trophy
for Overall Performance Champion Connemara Stallion at the West Coast
Connemara Pony Show. Eclipse has also won numerous ACPS/USDF ALL
breeds awards including ACPS/USDF Champion Connemara Three Year Old
Colt/Gelding and ACPS/USDF ALL BREEDS 1st Level Champion (Amateur
Division). In 2009 Wildwych Eclipse was successfully campaigned by
his amatuer owner and was the California Dressage Societies High
Scoring Pony at First Level. Also in 2009 Wildwych Eclipse
successfully qualified and successfully competed at the California
Dressage Societies Regional Adult Amateur Championships, the USDF
Region 7 Championships and the USEA Region 6 Eventing Championships.
Aside from being an active competitor Eclipse is also a successful
sire of Champion offspring. Among his prizewinners are the 2009 USEA
Champion 2 year old Future Event Horse Redbuds Moonrock and USDF
Champion Sport Pony Redbuds Moonshadow, as well as Champion Purebred
Fillies Featherstone Nightsong and Blue Rock Maria and class winner,
Redbuds Celtic Tiger. 
Currently Wildwych Eclipse along with his rider/trainer Danielle
Casalett of Granite Bay California have successfully competed at
Hunter/Jumper Shows, at Second Level Dressage as well as successfully
competing at Training Level in Three Day Eventing. Most recently
Danielle and Eclipse have participated in a Jimmy Wofford Three Day
Clinic, performed five days under lights representing the Connemara Pony at the Calfornia State Fair and successfully finished the Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana.
She is a B graduate of Pegasus Pony Club and was the barn manager at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield MA for 3 years. In that time she took on the job of secretary for all the on campus horse shows including the 2 USEA horse trials held each year. Katherine and Lil met 6 years ago when Katherine took on Lil as a summer project. They quickly became partners and have been together ever sense. Lil was the first Connemara Katherine had ridden and she is now a convert. Both Lil and Katherine recently moved to Lexington KY and are looking forward to The WEG! 
Lee Webster is a longtime fan of Connemaras and has been instrumental in the
Stonybrook Connemaras breeding program. From starting the youngsters under
saddle to showing the stallions, Lee is involved at every level, and
continues to stand the senior stallion *Canal Laurinston. Her training
business, Blue Chip Stables caters to the development of young horses and
adult amateur riders in dressage and eventing. A USDF certified instructor
and trainer, Lee has also begun the journey towards her judge's credentials
and is currently a candidate in the USDF L Program. 
Sarah Shade Kleintop is a graduate A pony clubber who owns and manages Shadey Hill Farm in Georgetown Kentucky. Sarah has trained both horses and students up through the intermediate level in eventing. She also has students excelling in both dressage and jumper shows. Sarah has a love for both riding and teaching which is obvious to see through her horses and students energy, attitude, and knowledge. 
In 2009 Raney became part of the Saggese family and moved from Legacy’s Farm in Galena, Missouri to the green mountains of Vermont. Kiera Saggese is Raney’s owner, and Cailin, her oldest child, is Raney’s primary groom and rider. Raney and Cailin share a special relationship and delight in knowing that they are literally less than one month apart in age. Raney turned 11 at the end of June and Cailin at the end of July. They began training together in early June of 2009 and their first outing came shortly thereafter when Cailin brought Raney to the Junior Horsemanship Clinic at the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) in South Woodstock, Vermont. They continued working together, building their relationship, until it was time to let Raney rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Raney delivered PSF Finnegan McMor on February 22nd and introduced the Saggeses to the wonderful world of foals. Cailin and Raney resumed training in June 2010 and placed 4th in Purebred Mares In Hand, ages eight and older, at the ACPS Region 1 Breed Show, only 5 months after foaling Finnegan. They continue to learn and grow together everyday and we look forward to their progress and future achievements.