Eatonton, GA: Rai Pullen reports that “on Jan.16th the Athens Area Hunter-Jumper Association banquet was held and Caraway Charlotte (Maplehurst Micheal MacDaire X *Wensum Plum [by Hearnsbrook Fastnet]) was honored with MANY awards. ‘Lottie’ carried two riders, Grace Bridges and Lily Bridges, through the 2009 show circuit and competed in quite a few divisions. While she didn't stay in all of the divisions for the entire year, she still did well enough in each one to qualify for year end awards: Junior Beginner (9 and under) Champion; Crossrail Equitation-Reserve Champion; Green Rider Equitation-4th; Green Rider Hunter-6th; Green Hunter-Champion; Schooling Hunter-Reserve Champion; and Junior Equitation (12 and under) Champion. A HUGE congrats to both Grace and Lily! Along with all the pretty ribbons, both Grace and Lily won all sorts of fun horsey stuff and Lottie got her second Champion cooler!”

North Chittenden, VT: Katie Reuther reports that Catskill Keiran (Bantry Bay's Dillon X Cobweb Allison) is spending his winter in Southern Pines, North Carolina at Tamarack Hill Farm, instead of in frigid Vermont. Keiran traveled down to North Carolina in November, when his owner, Lin Reuther, went to work for Denny Emerson, a past Olympic Team member and world renowned Three-Day Eventer. Keiran has been enjoying the beautiful, warm, North Carolina winter and will continue to do so until March. While "vacationing” in the South, Keiran has been in work, training to be an event horse. He had a successful season in 2009, competing at the Elementary level and hopes to further his career in the next couple years. Denny enjoys working with "the pony," as he is called at Tamarack Hill Farm, and enjoys his forwardness, powerful gaits, and beautiful jump.

Katie, Keiran's rider and Lin's daughter says, "Just a few weeks ago, I went down to Southern Pines to visit my mom and ride Keiran. Though I was only able to be there for a few days, I had a blast!! I was there for three days and had a lesson everyday. The first day I had a Stadium lesson, the second a Dressage lesson, and the third day, a Cross-Country lesson. It was like riding a different horse! Keiran is normally a bit lazy, but he was forward during all three lessons and willing to do what I asked. He had a blast jumping and had to be held back toward the fences. I am very excited to get him back this spring with more mileage under his belt and better fitness. We are all looking forward to what Keiran has to offer in the coming year. Lets just hope the Vermont weather cooperates and allows us to get going at a reasonable time this spring!"

Lexington, KY: The following story is reprinted in its entirety from the Wheelhorse, the on-line newsletter of the American Driving Society, with the permission of the Executive Director of the ADS, Susan Koos Acker. Jack Sparrow is a pure-bred Connemara by Seven Hills Grey Ghost and out of Tullymor Rose. For more information about the American Driving Society, see http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/

One Cool Pony!

St. Louis, MO: DO YOU AND/OR YOUR PONIES WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING EXCITING???

DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE A CONNEMARA, OR CONNEMARAS READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO BE PART OF A PERFORMANCE DEMONSTRATION AT THE WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES???

IF SO, READ ON……

You may know the ACPS is planning to have a real presence at the World Equestrian Games this year. The WEG will be held at the end of September and will run into the first week of October at the Kentucky Horse Park. This is the happening of a lifetime! The President and Board of Governors, with the support of the Membership, at our Annual meeting last October, voted to sponsor an information booth, plus produce a display of world class performance for an international audience of thousands!!! Seven stalls are available over at least five days (maybe more), with two volunteer entrance passes (rider and groom) per Connemara performing pony. If you have, or know of someone who has a Connemara, ready, willing and able to be part of this performance please let us know! We are auditioning through videos, DVD’s and You Tube clips as many Connemara performances as you can send us, in an effort to identify appropriate candidates to represent our American Connemaras in this most exclusive of venues.

Send your information to Laura Balding

555 Old Wolfrum Rd, St Charles, MO 63304

You may phone or email if you have any questions; laurabalding@aol.com or 314 308 2330.