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? News from all over the world is welcome. Email Donna Duckworth with the details and any photos to connemaras@windstream.net. Show results, results of inspections, new foals or unusual adventures especially welcome! The sire and dam of any ponies should be included. Please note that any professional photos must be accompanied by a photographer's release before they can be used.

Alachua, Fl: Now that Christmas and New Years AND the annual USEF/ACPS annual meeting are all over for another year, it is time to get back to the news. This week I will try to catch up with some of the things that got lost in the holiday hustle (especially the cute Christmas photo from Terry Pierce that got left out of the montage) and next week I will report on the meetings and current news that (I hope) everyone will send. In 2008, I would like to have at least one piece of news from every member, so please send me any news at all that will serve to introduce you to the other members. Donna D. <connemaras@windstream.net>

Westmoreland, Ks: The Connemara stallion, Journey’s End Farm Sir Lancelot, ridden by Dehlia Burdan, won the United States Eventing Association's Area IV Championship on Oct. 28 and 29 a the Hill 'n Hound event facility in Kane, IL. Competitors at the Area IV Championships represented nine states. Burdan is a trainer at the Vermillion Valley Equine Center in Belvue and has trained and evented Sir Lancelot at the Beginner Novice level throughout 2007, never placing lower than second.

Sir Lancelot is by Tre Awain Dobh McDuff X Mack's Greystone Erin's Pride. He was bred at Joe and Ginny Winkler’s farm in Gardiner, NY and was foaled in 1999. He's black, 14-3 with 10" bone. He was approved by the ACPS at the Colorado inspection in 2005. He is owned by Bob and Pattie Stalder and stands at the Backdoor Farm outside Westmoreland, Kansas. There he is crossed with a solid black Reg. Paint, a Thoroughbred mare and a gray Quarter Horse. Sir Lancelot is the only Connemara stallion in Kansas and is becoming well known across the Midwest. He's already qualified for the USEA Nationals in 2008 so will be headed there in September.

Kewadin, Mi: Katie Peterson has sent an update on her stallion, now a gelding, Elphin Song Sparrow. The photos show his last baby, very aptly named Elk Creek Swan Song and “himself” showing in a Saddle Seat division at a High School Equestrian Team Show last September. He is currently in driving training. Talk about Connemaras do it all!!

Takoma Park, Md: Susan Hearn has sent updates on her two ponies….she didn’t think it rose top the level of NEWS but here it is anyway. Here, any news is good news. Balmullo’s Katydid (Fieldstream Riley X Tullymor Ladybugg) and 11 yo daughter Matison Hearne-Desauteles are continuing with dressage and eventing, and they've done well this year - some highlights were fourth place in the Maryland Combined Training Association starter event, fifth in the MDCTA Jenny Camp Starter Horse Trials, and 8th at the Full Moon Farm Starter Horse Trials. They were Dressage Series Champions of the Equilibrium Dressage Schooling Series. They were 6th in the junior division of the TROT of Maryland judged trail ride. Susan says that Matison adores Katy and that they have a really sweet relationship. “One day Matison was riding bareback and was laughing so hard she started to fall off. Our beloved but horse-chasing idiot dog came charging at Katy- usually she gets very upset and spins and runs away from him but with Matison half off, she stood statue-still until Matison sorted herself out, though she looked petrified.”

Balmullo’s Billy Eliot (*Gunsmoke X Balmullo’s Veronica [by CR Roaringwater Bay]) (now 4), who is the pony that Susan has wanted since she was a little girl (thirty-some years ago), started eventing this year. He won two baby beginner novice divisions (one at Olde Hope Farms and one at Full Moon Farm), plus a 5th at Jenny Camp, a second at Olde Hope. He was series champion of introductory test B at the Equilibrium Dressage Schooling Seiries with an average score of 72.75%. Susan says Dressage judges love him. ”After one ride the judge, a four-star level rider, said he was amazing and asked if she could have him.” He also won both Novice Horse and Novice Rider divisions at the TROT judged trail ride.

Leland, Mi: Carol Vittert sent the following photo while they were in the midst of an unbelieveable midwest ice storm. It is a picture of their summer adventures on Lake Leelanau in Leland, Michigan. Carol was wishing it was summer again! They are, Liberty (Carol’s daughter) (on the right) and Carol on Milford's Shooting Star (Shootie) and Tre Awain Buck Mulligan (Buck) respectively. Summer will be here before we know it!!

London, Eng: The Connemara stallion Bunowen CastleRi has made history at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, becoming only the second ever to record a second championship win in the prestigious NPS/Bailey's Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland Supreme Ridden Championships. Jackie Webb's grey stallion was ridden by his regular rider Bristol based Matthew Lawrence, with whom he won the title in 2005. "For four years he has won through to this final and for four years he has tried his hardest for me," said Matthew. "He is just exceptional." It will be the last time that Ri graces the ring at Olympia as he has been retired from ridden classes. "He was always going to be retired after today, but I have several young offspring by him so hopefully in a few years his name at least will be back at Olympia," said owner Jackie Webb. The Connemara pony Rosenaharley Rossleague was until today first and only pony to have previously won the championship twice taking the championship sash in 1983 and '84. Castle Ri has a son in Colorado that was imported in utero from England.

Athenry, Co Galway, IRE: Liam and Maria Fanning from Belleville Stud are Irish Connemara owners. Lisa wrote the following, “It was by chance we got into Connemara ponies even though we always had a great love of the animal. They have recently imported a stallion from New Zealand to Ireland because they wanted to introduce some new bloodlines and also the background of the Stallion impressed them. This unusual story is detailed on their website, www.bellvillestud.com. Here you can read the story of their Stallion, Lonsdale Legend, and how they obtained him.

Alachua, Fl: I have received many other photos to share. They appear in no particular order…..the first group is from Australia. While most of the US is covered in snow, they are lazing in the sunshine in Australia. Plus it is the middle of their foaling season. so here are some miscellaneous photos sent from Down Under.

Born on New Year's day, this is
Gl Rosaleen's new filly by Henry

A beautiful new filly by Lonsdale Moonwind
out of Canninvale Bonnie Sue

Just one of the foals born at Glenormiston
Connemara Stud in Australia

Pella taking advantage of the comfy green
pasture under a big tree in Queensland, AUS

Lastly, my humble apologies to Amanda Pierce who sent this nice message before Christmas! “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Prairie Rockstar ( Blue Ridge Jefferson x Tre Awain Ballyclare) in the blue halter and Prairie Dublin (Blue Ridge Jefferson x Dawns Drumlin Abbey) in the red. Thanks to Carol Siebecker for selling me TWO great ponies! I am loving having them at Red Top Farm and you are never to old to have fun with a pony!”

Blue Ridge Jefferson is a son of Moxley Duncan out of the imported Hayselden Persephone.