Louisville, KY: The semiannual Board of Governors meeting was held in Louisville last weekend in conjunction with the annual USEF meeting. One of the highlights is the Horse of the Year (HOTY) banquet at which two prestigious Connemara awards are given. The McKenna Trophy, given in memory of Joan McKenna, is awarded to the high score purebred or halfbred Connemara at Preliminary level or above Horse Trials, competing at US Equestrian Federation recognized events. This year the award went to Will’ Ya Love Me (owned and ridden by Courtney Sendak of Maryland). He is a striking palamino by Grange Finn Sparrow out of Lady Doreen. Lady Doreen is by Finn, a grandson of Carna Dun. The Clifden Trophy, donated by D.J. Moore and Laura Balding, is awarded to the purebred Connemara with the highest score in US Equestrian Federation Pony Hunter Divisions. Glynmary May Morning, shown as First Kiss, owned by Micaela Kennedy from Missouri won this award. Glynmary May Morning is by Loughmor Aran out of Sweet May du Langwater. Starting in 2011 there will be many more Connemara awards given . At the USEF Connemara/Welsh Committee, a plan to award USEF Connemara HOTY awards was approved. These are awards given by the USEF for Connemaras showing in USEF recognized shows or divisions To be eligible for these awards a pony must be registered with the ACPS, have a USEF number, the owner must be a member of the USEF, and the pony must compete at USEF recognized Connemara shows or Connemara divisions at other USEF recognized shows. The fee for a USEF number is $35 in the year of a pony’s birth, $85 as a yearling, $160 as a two-year-old, and $200 after that. The Connemara HOTY awards will be awarded in purebred mare 3 and up, purebred gelding or stallion 3 and up, hunter, jumper, and others. There are halfbred awards as well. The USEF is eager to help the ACPS Regions make their shows recognized, and to work with the ACPS on developing classes that are eligible for inclusion.

Louisville, KY: The World Equestrian Games were also discussed in Louisville. Susan McConnell has send this report of those discussions. “Some of us have just returned from Louisville, KY where the USEF and ACPS midyear meetings were held. If you were not there, you missed some good, informative USEF meetings, terrific food (as usual!!), and lively Connemara meetings including discussions about WEG (Sept 25th - Oct 10th in Lexington, KY). In the ACPS/WEG meeting, it was decided that there would be 4 subcommittees and chairs or cochairs:

1. Production (demonstrations by Connemaras ~ ponies, riders/drivers and script) Laura Balding and Donna Miller
2. Promotions (booth and everything in it ~~ drapes, equipment, DVDs, handouts, sales, giveaways, etc.) Janice Meyer and Chris Knox
3. Fund Raising ("friend raising" and money raising) Sally Oxnard
4. Volunteers (manning the booth for any portion of the time during the 2 weeks) Susan McConnell

“There is plenty to be done. There are endless ideas and details. There are funds to be raised either as donations thru the ACPS Foundation or sales items from the ACPS Country Store (which is closing) or ads to be printed and used as handouts, etc. In the next two weeks, there will be a lot of information gathered and a budget formed. If you see where you can be useful, please let me know!! Since I am the overall WEG coordinator, don't be shy!! Send an email to me!! Or call!! Please stay tuned!! There will be more news soon!! Kindest regards, Susan McConnell susan@oakfieldsfarm.com cell: 434-242-7778 phone: 434-295-7777”

Ivydell Macey

Alpharetta, GA: Jeri Geary has sent this report on her two Connemaras. “Today was a good day with my ponies! The temperatures have been moderating this past week and I got to ride my Arabian/Connemara, Sweetgum Keiran Le Beau (Heaven's Ridge Patrick Le Beau X Windwood Jewel [Arab]) three times! The weather has presented many challenges to me on the farm this winter, but having my ponies home makes it all worth while! I boarded my horses for 16 years and now wouldn't have it any other way. Ivydell Macey (Corner Oak Reveille X Big Bear’s Lilly) is my ninth mount, I have owned her for two years and adore her! She is five years old and continues to surprise me. She is quick and capable of twisting her little body like no other horse that I have ever ridden. Straightening her out has been a lot of fun. She has taught me how to really gain control of each of her body parts and mind, I had to or I couldn't ride her! Last summer I started jumping her, I am now waiting for her front end to catch up to her hind end. She is growing a lot and changing every couple of months. I put the stick on her today and she is almost 14.2 but very croup-high. I really think she will be nice looking when her chest opens up and she becomes more balanced with maturity. She has natural balance so I just have to be a bit more patient and build her up out on the trails.

Sweetgum Kieran Le Beau

Keiran is now eight years old and I have owned him for almost seven years. He has matured into a more balanced pony, thank heavens! Now what was