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? Email Donna Duckworth with the details and any photos to duckwort@mgm.ufl.edu. Show results, results of inspections, new foals or unusual adventures especially welcome! Please note that any professional photos must be accompanied by a photographer's release before they can be used.

Ballyowen Maybelle Molly

Fairlawn, OH: Ponies like Ballyowen Maybelle Molly (Monaghanstown Fred X Ballyowen Bonnie Belle [by Callowfeenish Mairtin]), who recently won the European Jumping Championships, are the future of Connemara ponies, said Tom McLochlainn, one of three fabulous speakers at the Annual meeting of the ACPS held last weekend in Ohio. He said that there needs to be a greater emphasis on performance if Connemaras are to continue to thrive. Tom gave his talk featuring the past, present and future of the ponies at the very festive awards banquet held Saturday night. He later was very deservedly awarded the Crestwood Service Award for his work on behalf of the Connemara Pony.

The meeting began on Friday with meetings of the ACPS Board of Governors and General Membership. At the General Membership meeting, four new individuals were elected to serve on the Board of Governors; Donna Miller, Fonda Eigel, Megan Buchanan Harris, and Sue Laidlaw. Pam Liddell and Laura Balding were also elected for another three-year term. Sally Oxnard, President, Pam Liddell and Laura Balding, Vice Presidents, and Cathy Blackmon, Treasurer, were all re-elected for another year. There was a great deal of discussion on whether the ACPS should be part of an Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games, which are to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010. A narrow majority of the Board thought that we should. How we will participate has yet to be decided. Saturday morning featured two talks, one by Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, on color genetics, and one by Sandra Gebhart, DVM, on insulin resistance and Cushing’s disease. Both were fascinating. Saturday afternoon featured demonstrations by the ACPS Youth Council and the inspection of one pony who could not be present on Sunday for the regular inspection. Highlights of the banquet on Saturday night were many but included a wonderful meal, the raising of $3600 in the silent auction, Tom’s talk, and the awards. Among the awardees were Aladdin (Erin Laddie X Fox Ridge Irish Lady [by Texas Pride]), who won the Tooreen Laddie Award for a stallion who has had an exceptionally positive influence on the breed through his offspring, and Cashel’s Rock of Ages (Custusha’s Cashel Rock X Erinmoor Lily O’Fallon[by Hisega Meadows Erin Bobby]), who received the An Tostal Award given to a stallion for outstanding achievement. *Ard Celtic Art (Monaghanstown Fionn X Moydow Lady [by Murphy Rebel]) was the Horse of the Year. A complete report with all the awardees will be in the next American Connemara.

Sparrow's Owen

Fayetteville, GA: Megan Buchanan Harris reports that two related Connemara ponies made an appearance at Ashland Farm's Fall Combined Test and Jumping Derby on September 5th. Sparrow's Owen (*Grange Finn Sparrow X Appendix mare) and his nephew, Stonybrook's Conan O'Brien (*Kingstown Joe X Stonybrook's Irish Crème [by *Grange Finn Sparrow]) both took home blue ribbons in their divisions. Owen and his owner/rider, Megan Buchanan Harris, were the only pair to go clean in the Novice jumping derby, a mix of both stadium and cross-country obstacles. Conan O'Brien, also known as Dillon, and Sarah Beth Hood led their Beginner Novice CT from start to finish, ending on their dressage score of 34.7.

Eliza Farren and Bantry Bay's Dublin

Greenfield, MA: Faye Silva sent this report on the Eliza Farren Event Team and her Bantry Bay Boys. Eliza and Bantry Bay's Winston finished in second place at the Stoneleigh Burnham Horse Trials in Greenfield, MA, on 9/27/09. They also won the Connemara award at this show.

The team went to the University of New Hampshire Fall Horse Trials the weekend of 10/3/09 and did quite well. Bantry Bay's Devon and Katie Wohl won their Beginner Novice Division as well as the Connemara Award! Katie was also reserve champion Pony Clubber. Anna Vellante and Bantry Bay's Winston finished in fourth place in a Novice division and the dynamic duo of Eliza Farren and Bantry Bay's Dublin finished in second place in the Preliminary division. This was their second Prelim ever!!!

Saskatchewan, Canada: Elsie Priddy of Elodon Connemaras has written to say that Century Hills Aedan Zodiac (Century Hills Fredrick McTeague X *Tatham’s Ballinanna [by Bardsay Zodiac]) won the Low Hunter Championship (2'3" and 2'6") at his very first ridden show. He was ridden by Frank Hough.

Aedan won three firsts and one of the classes was a hunter classic judged over 2 rounds. Elsie says the 78" and 84" coolers won are a bit large for Aedan! Unfortunately Elsie didn’t get any photos of Aedan at the show but sent this of Elan Priddey riding Aedan.

Janus

Skovde, Sweden: Jenny Hagenblad sent the following sad message, “I'm sad to report that the Swedish stallion Janus has been put down at the age of 20 after an acute case of laminitis which did not respond to treatment. He's now buried in the heart of Connemara. Janus was the first Swedish stallion to be standing in Ireland where he spent the last three years of his life. In Sweden he had a successful career in the show ring winning supreme championships, progeny class gold awards, the Pony of the Year title, performing in a music video, etc. As a sire he has left a large number of successful ponies. He has stallion sons in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Ireland, a large number of daughters and sons doing well in the show ring (including winning the supreme championship at our breed show) and competing in dressage, show jumping and eventing. He was truly a magnificent pony and will be sadly missed. The photo is taken at the 2007 Clifden show when Janus was 4th in the stallion class.”

Jenny has also put together a collection of photos of him and his progeny. Jenny says, “The first photo is of him as a wee four-year-old at the Swedish breed show and then all the way up until he's 18 at Clifden. And a bunch of sons and daughters.” You can find the link to it here: http://www.tephra.se/CC/photo/photos.htm

Osceola, WI: Voyageur Press has just released the The Official Horse Breeds Standards Guide: The Complete Guide to the Standards of All North American Equine Breed Associations by Fran Lynghaug. The Press web site indicates that, “This is the only guidebook collecting the official North America breed associations’ standards and conformations, making it a much-needed, handy, and comprehensive reference. Like the American Kennel Club's The Complete Dog Book (now in its 20th printing), this is the book for horse breeds. For each of 118 North American breeds--from ponies and small horses to pleasure horses, draft horses, and thoroughbred racers--the massive 200,000-word guide provides an official history, detailed conformation ideals, descriptions of gait and distinctive traits, temperament, colors, and variations. Fine color photographs complete the detailed picture each entry presents. This guide is destined to become the bible of the horse world.” Information on ordering this interesting-sounding book can be found at http://www.voyageurpress.com/Store/default.aspx

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