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.

Athens, TN: Foothills Maybee (Balmullo’s Beacon X Blue Hill’s Erin), owned by Vanessa Morgan, has produced the first foal of the season. Maybee was sent to foal in Florida where, on January 21, she produced a huge bay colt by *Gunsmoke.Donna Duckworth says he is the friendliest colt ever. He runs to be scratched and whinnies when people leave his pen. He is being called Bruiser until further notice.

Galway, Ireland: And in Ireland, Karen Vicencio reports that her Bubbles aka Gra Mo Chroi (Abbeyfort x Seod Chaitriona) decided to take advantage of the first decent weather they’d had in weeks to have her foal by Fairyhill Hawk (Moy Hazy Cove X Fairyhill Heather [by Loobeen Larry]) . Karen says, “ It's a very big bay colt. He looks like he'll stay bay, no white hairs over his eyes that I can see. He has some very interesting face markings, I haven't seen anything like them on a Connemara before. He was prepared for the bad weather we've been having, he has a very heavy coat, the longest heaviest coat I've ever had on a newborn foal.” He is Hawk’s first foal born since he returned from his stay in the US and Canada.

Milton-Freewater, OR: Bonnie Roemer sent this photo of two of her ponies enjoying the snow. She says they love the snow! Pictured are Rocky Hollow Irish Crystal (Greystone Creggan Winter x Blue Hills Blue Eyes) on the left, and Wintermist Kitty Hawk (Welsh Pony) on the right. Crystal is the dam of three lovely Connemara mares and will be a granddam again this year when Wintermist Mountain Charm has her foal by Wildwych Strider. Both Charm and Strider are owned by Kelsie Staeheli of Jolley Fir Line Farm, Colville, Washington.

Atlanta, GA: But Oregon is not the only place there is snow. Rai Pullen sent this photo of her daughter discussing the snow with Caraway’s Charlotte (Maplehurst Michael MacDaire X *Wensum Plum).

Charlotte is in foal to Wildwych Eclipse and is due to foal in March.

Galena, Mo: *Frederiksminde Marion (Hazy Dawn X Oxenholm Movie Star [ by Marble]), a Danish imported mare, feels right at home in the snow in Missouri. She is owned by Mel Deux of Legacy Connemaras.

Goode, VA: Emily Daly of Cady O’Daly Connemaras has sent this beautiful photo of Kent’s Periwinkle (*Hayselden's Perseus x Wildflower's Toshi) and Aladdin’s Gillis (by Aladdin). Periwinkle is owned by Avis & Paul Hodge and Gillis is owned by Suzanne Phelps. The photo was taken by Emily’s friend Josh (Joshua A. Walker Photography – his other work can be seen at www.jawalker.com).

London, England: On January 18, the United Kingdom’s National Pony Society (NPS) gained a new area chapter and took an important step towards promoting British Native Ponies in the United States. The NPS council unanimously voted to accept NPS America’s application for membership in its 115 year old organization. The NPS was developed to encourage the breeding, registration and improvement of British Riding and Mountain & Moorland ponies and to foster the welfare of ponies in general and is honored to have HRH The Princess Royal as its patron. The organization has continually recognized the importance of the Mountain & Moorland breeds – Connemara, Dales, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Fell, Highland, New Forest, Shetland and Welsh ponies.

NPS America will model the NPS mission and will promote, support, and recognize Mountain & Moorland and British Riding ponies in America. While many of these pony breeds are embraced in the United States, others are little known. The rarer breeds, like the Dales and Highland, are slowly growing in popularity while mainstays, like the Connemara and Welsh, continue to be top choices for equine enthusiasts. NPS America will cultivate these ponies as safe, versatile, and talented mounts for both the amateur and professional horseman, while acting as a resource for breeders and owners alike in maintaining the traditional character of these breeds.

NPS Chairperson Linda Impey, who was instrumental in the development of NPS America, offered her congratulations and good wishes.

Enthusiasts interested in NPS America should contact Kathryn Rayner Freeman (Kathryn@freeraynhill.com) or Kelly Davidson Chou (DavidsonDales@mindspring.com) for information. Additional details on NPS America – membership, benefits and activities – in addition to tidbits on Mountain & Moorland and British Riding ponies will be available on the NPS America website which will be up and running by late February 2008. Additional information will become available in the weeks and months ahead!

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