INSPECTIONS FOR 2012

Inspections are once more upon us!! By and large, participants in the Inspection process will attest to the fact that they are highly educational, with discussions by Inspection Team members of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each pony presented. In addition, owners have a great sense of accomplishment when their ponies are approved.

All requests for information and pony nomination packets
will be available by contacting:
Megan Buchanan Harris, ACPS Inspection Operations Chair
770.833.5159 or via email at fade2greyfarm@yahoo.com

All COMPLETED nomination packets will be sent to
Marynell Eyles, ACPS Secretary
PO Box 100
Middlebrook, Va 24459
Questions to: marynelleyles@hughes.net

Oakfields Hazel Sparrow

Cincinnatti, OH: The ACPS Board of Governors held its semi-annual meeting this past weekend. This meeting was, as is usual, held in conjunction with the annual USEF Meeting. One of the highlights was the Horse of the Year (HOTY) Banquet where, for the first time, year-end Connemara awards were presented. On hand to accept awards were Marian McEvilly for Susan McConnell who took home the Championship award for Connemara Hunter – this went to Oakfields Hazel Sparrow. Marian also accepted two other awards for Susan -- the Reserve for Connemara Hunter won by Oakfields Fuchsia, and the Reserve for Connemara Mare (in-hand), also won by Fuschia.

Ridgetop Windy City

Also present for the awards was Karen McIntyre whose gelding, Ridgetop Windy City, won for Connemara Stallion or Gelding (in-hand), and Marilyn Cheek, whose mare, Sycamore Ridge Irish Lace, was the Champion Halfbred Connemara Hunter. Also winning but whose owners were not present to be recognized were Tintern Merry Robuck owned by Rebecca Severt, for Connemara Mare, Elphin Song Sparrow owned by Natalie Kupperman, Reserve for Connemara Stallion or Gelding, and Talari’s Junior McVai owned by Riley Moore, for Reserve Halfbred Connemara Hunter. Two other awards are traditionally given out at the HOTY Banquet, the McKenna award for High Score Connemara for Combined Training and the Clifden Trophy for High Score Connemara Pony Hunter. This year the McKenna was won by Bantry Bay’s Dublin, ridden by Eliza Farren. The Clifden went to First Kiss, ridden by Michaela Kennedy. Congratulations to all!!

Cincinnatti, OH: Another highlight of the ACPS Board of Governors meeting was a presentation by Jocelyn Davies of Alberta, Canada, on HWSS, a rare defect in Connemaras and some other native breeds (perhaps Lipizzaners as well), which causes the hoof wall to separate from the underlying structures. The condition had first been described by Jocelyn and Penny Huggons some years ago, and, along with researcher Sheila Ramsay from New Zealand, they hypothesized that it was caused by an autosomal recessive gene. Jocelyn reported the very exciting news that a genetic basis for the condition had within just the past week been confirmed by researchers at the Bannasch Laboratory of the College of Veterinary Medicine in Davis, CA. Although initially attributed by some to environmental conditions, HWSS has been observed in Connnemaras in nine countries on three continents. It occurs in varying degrees of severity and is often misdiagnosed as white line disease. Two parents carrying the defective gene are necessary to produce the condition, in a manner similar to the inheritance of the chestnut color. It is hoped that, with a genetic basis confirmed, a DNA test will shortly become available, so that carriers of the gene can be safely bred to non-carriers and the condition can be eliminated with no loss of genes from the Connnemaras’ limited gene pool. More information can be found at http://connemara-pony.blogspot.com/

Vass, NC: Sandy McShea writes the following, “Bow and I, along with navigator and friend, Phyllis White, attended the second annual New Year’s fun drive at Keatley Farm in Vass. It was a beautiful day and Bow was charming. It was the perfect way to start the year.” Bow is Aluinnn Bowline (*Hohnhorst Branni x Aladdin's Midnight Jazz). (Photo by Montana Mary.)

State College, PA: And Shawn Markel writes some sad news. Shawn says, “It's a sad day. I had to put Tower Hill's Megan down. She would have been 32 in April. Megan was by Tower Hill's Skibbereen (by Whitewood Galway Bay) out of Sir William's Fantasia (by *Aura Dun). I just want to thank Gerry and Dolores Bogaard so much for their gift to me of Megan. She was a best friend, a total character, the self-appointed one who took care and watched over all of the other horses, the perfect granny mare, a lover of children, and my door back into life with horses. I've attached pictures of her last pony ride. My first grandchild got his first pony ride over Thanksgiving Nov. 2011.

“I know you all can understand what Gerry's and Dolores's gift has meant to me. I know she did have some offspring and would love to hear from anyone who has one.” Shawn’s e-mail is shawn@sugarbushfarmpa.com

Cyberspace: And from Denny Emerson’s web site http://howgoodridersgetgood.wordpress.com/

(With his permission)

“If ever there was a sport pony or small horse identified with eventing, it would be that quintessentially Irish breed, the Connemara, named after the Connemara region of County Galway, in the west of Ireland. There are all kinds of legends about the origin of these tough, hardy athletes, so pick one. Who`s going to prove you wrong?

“1.The Vikings brought their ancestors to Ireland. Or, 2. They descend from the extinct Irish Hobby. Or, 3. When Spanish galleons from the Armada ran aground, in 1588, Andalusions got loose, and interbred with the native stock.

“There`s also Arabian, thoroughbred and hackney blood in there, or so they say. Who cares? The Connemaras I know are little jumping and cross country machines, sort of the pony answer to the thoroughbred/ Registered Irish Draught crosses that kick butt wherever eventers duke it out. The typical Connemara is an interesting mix of stocky and breedy, strong loins, crested necks, attractive heads, strong hooves and limbs, an all around athlete in a small package.

“In the undiluted pony form, the Connemara is a great kid’s mount, but plenty of small adults crave them, too. But crossed with the thoroughbred, the sky seems to be the limit. I had a stallion, Forfeit, whose dam, Fru, an international show jumper, was said to be part Connemara, and her full brother, Foster, was an individual bronze medal winner in the 1968 Olympics. Another of my advanced eventers, For Pete`s Sake, was supposedly out of an unregistered Connemara mare. He could jump as well as any horse I`ve ridden.