Louisville, KY: At the recent meeting of the ACPS Board of Governors a new Premium Stallion designation was approved. To qualify to be a Premium, a stallion must be at least 8 years old, have sired at least one purebred foal, and receive marks of very good or excellent in all categories of inspection. Nominations may be made using the Inspection Nomination Form. A $50.00 fee will be charged for previously inspected and approved stallions. The Premium Mare program was also discussed at the meeting and some changes made. It was decided that, as for Premium Stallions, a Premium Mare should be at least 8 and have produced at least one pure-bred foal. A discussion of Premium Producing Mares was tabled and the path to Premium Mare by producing Premium offspring was eliminated for the time being. Up to this time none of the Premium Approved Mares had been under 8 and no Premium Producing Mares had been nominated.

Practical Horseman: There is an article in the January Practical Horseman called "Crosses That Click" and the last section is headed "Why Connemara Crosses Conquer". As in the previous sections, they interviewed one breeder (or in this case, rider) and appropriately enough it was Carol Kozlowski. She gave a great testimonial to the Connemara/TB cross for upper level eventing - they also mentioned John Williams, who rode Black Points Tilly Go Bragh. They end by listing Hideaway's website and the ACPS website.

St. Louis,Mo: "OOH LA LA" aka Balmullo’s Azalea (CR Roaringwater Bay X Courtney’s April Frolic [by Custusha’s Cashel Rock]), who was trained by Michelle Haas and is owned and ridden by 12 yo Katherine Woodruff, has been showing in the Large Green Pony division since December. Betsy Woodruff, Katherine’s mother, has written to say that Katherine and Ooh La La qualified for the 2007 USEF National Hunter Pony Finals at her very first show and that last weekend she was Reserve Champion Large Green Pony.