Raymond, CA: Pat Ashworth has sent the following item: “We were so excited to see Cobblestone Rocky Rose (Cashel's Rock of Ages X Coastal Tully Roisin) compete at Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials three weeks ago. She is a granddaughter of the well-known Custusha's Cashel Rock, "Rocky". Her owner, Ashley Tobin, was looking for a Rocky descendant. She had owned Rocky's dam as a youngster and hated to part with her when she went off to school. We were so thrilled that she found our Rosie. We made a weekend of the trip. It was so much fun. The attendance was huge, and everyone treated us like royalty when they found out that we were Rosie's breeders. Rosie's family's pony club was there, and all of the girls had to show us their ponies. So many people had such nice things to say about Connemaras. It was wonderful. It was Rosie's first cross country with water, and she was so brave. She just took a brief look at the water and then splashed on through. We were very proud of her. She ended up second overall. It was a great weekend.”

Photo credit: Tass

Elizabeth, WV: Buery Stout of Providence Farm Sporthorses has written to say that their first foal of the season has arrived. It is out of a draft cross mare and by Tullymor's Samson MacDara (Tullymor's Chip O'Perseus X Tullymor's Ursula May).

Buery says, “She's a joy, is huge (41 inches at birth) and I think is going to be black like Sammy.”

Photo by Masie Stout.

Fountain, Fl: Julie VanderMeer sent her three-year-old Ivydell Isabel (Corner Oak Reveille X Big Bear’s Lily [by Rosehill’s El Lasto]) to be trained. After two weeks she got the following glowing report from trainer, Mary Baltikauski, who is the County Agricultural/Extension Agent and 4-H guru for Geneva County, Alabama. Mary trains many of the 4-H riders in Geneva County so Isabel is in the perfect place! She says, “Isabel is such a star! She was ridden off her tether yesterday. She trotted around the square pen like a seasoned champion. She makes beautiful transitions. She halts naturally square and stands like a statue. She mistook one of my commands for canter and popped immediately into a little canter. She went about three strides before she caught her mistake and went right into a nice trot. She is cantering on the driving lines in both directions. I tied her to the barn last evening because I had so many kids & horses out at the same time. She was very curious, but extremely well behaved as horses walked by. She loves attention. She no longer pushes into people. She is very respectful. She is beginning to be more comfortable with her new position in the people pecking order. As soon as she understands the rules, she is a rule follower. I can't tell you how much I love this little mare! If you have any designs on showing and doing clinics during retirement, you should keep this one. She naturally carries herself and has a natural balance that is not common. She is not spooky at all. She accepts noise. I think you could shoot a shotgun off her! Yesterday I had the rider use a thumping leg to encourage her to move forward. She did not mind it at all. I'm bridging the response by using my lunge whip at the same time. Today I will see if she gets it on her own. She is a very cute and lively mover. I love her canter. She places her hind legs well under the center of her body. In fact, she places them almost at the girth. She has very flexible hind legs. This is her best feature. I think she will be able to do canter pirouettes all day long! I can tell you that lateral work will be very easy. She is built for dressage. At the moment she is very slightly croup high, but that will change in a year. She earned the title, Connemara! She loves to jump.”

Arlington, VA: Deb Norman reports that Luray (Ballywhim An Luan X Gately’s Darling Dara [by Balius Rhyddspence]) has a new home with Fran Marshall. Fran works for the Phillips Collection Art Museum in DC and had an unpapered Connemara cross mare for many years who has retired to teach lessons to pony clubbers.

Deb says, “She was looking for a Connemara to replace her and fell instantly in love with Luray. They fit like a hand in a glove. The pictures are his first time to jump! He is quite a little athlete. She wants to trail ride and event him.”