Creedmore, NC: Denise Hill reports that Seaborne's Telltale (Seaborne's Schooner X Aladdin's Delaney) was Reserve Champion of the Children's Hunter Pony division at the Raleigh Indoors Spring Hunter/Jumper Classic (USEF A rated) and also at the Raleigh Winter II "A" show. Details of both shows can be found on the web at www.horseshowsonline.com. Telltale is currently fifth, not including points from these shows, in the USEF Zone standings in Children's Pony Division. Telltale (aka Fifi) is ridden and shown by Lily Meggison of Raleigh, NC.

Seaborne's Sand Dollar (Seaborne's Schooner X Bergerac's Taneishta Rig) and his owner/rider Laura Hopper are excited to be going to Ocala, FL to compete in the City League series of horse shows. Laura and Sand Dollar (aka "Gaelyn") are rising stars in the Pony Jumper division. They are part of the team that rides with Dale Wright at Greystone Farm in Wake Forest, NC.

Denise would also like everyone to note that the date for the N.C. State Fair Horse Show (Connemara Classes) is October 15, 2009. This is a USEF “A” rated show.

Atlanta, GA: Emily Copeland has sent the following story of her spring break adventures in Ireland. "I have been the proud parent of a Connemara pony for six years now and I have been pleasantly surprised to find that my pony embodied the versatility described in the breed standard. He is primarily a dressage pony, but we have also dabbled in eventing and foxhunting, and he even has a weekend job working as the vaulting pony for the young kids at our barn. I had always dreamed of traveling to Ireland to experience the homeland of the Connemara, and this March my dream became a reality. Currently, I am studying abroad in Europe with sixteen fellow students from Davidson College, and I had an opportunity to travel independently for my spring break week in March. I signed up for a weeklong cross-country and foxhunting vacation located in the beautiful countryside of western Ireland, in the small town of Loughrea, County Galway.

"When I arrived at the Aille Cross Equestrian Center, I was quickly introduced to the leader of the outfit, Willie Leahy, who has guided riding vacations for more than 40 years. I could not believe my luck. Not only was I going to spend a week riding horses in Ireland, my guide was a genuine Irish cowboy, complete with cowboy hat, hunt boots and a green overcoat that perfectly matched our grey-green surroundings. Willie handed me the reins of a shy grey Connemara pony, and my adventure of a lifetime began. The week consisted of three days spent riding on Willie's newly constructed cross-country course, hacking in the countryside and helping Willie with farm work, which often included rounding up his 100-head herd of Connemaras. On the other three days, I was lucky enough to foxhunt with the famous Galway Blazers. I should pause here to tell you that Irish horse culture was unlike anything I have experienced in my 15 years around horses. The countryside was dotted with horses, from the rotund shaggy ponies of Thelwell's cartoon to the majestic painted cobs, and everyone we met had some connection to horses. For several days we hacked through the village, briskly trotting down the road waving at passing cars, to discover Willie's favorite spot for stonewall jumping. We spent hours cantering in and out of green fields, dodging strays cows and sheep and jumping any wall that blocked our path. I thought that I was doing well to keep up with Willie over the walls, but little did I know that this jumping was child's play when compared with the challenges of the Irish foxhunt. My one foxhunt in Georgia hardly prepared me for the insanity of the Galway Blazers. We experienced every kind of weather imaginable: rain, snow and hail with six-inch deep mud, but we never slackened the pace. One morning, the hounds picked up the scent early on, and we chased that cunning fox for three solid hours before losing the trail. No jump was too high, no line too tricky for our ponies. One memorable bounce combination took us through a neighborhood as we leapt over one wall on to the road and back into the fields over another wall. The stonewalls were of a formidable size (three to four feet tall), but my brave pony never batted an eye. Although I had never ridden in such wild conditions, I quickly learned that my pony knew exactly how to handle himself and precisely which lines to take, so I put my full trust in him. At the end of the day, after five tiring hours in the saddle, I was exhausted, covered with mud, but still smiling. I am used to riding in a discipline that requires structure and precision, so I finally had the opportunity to let go of "what I should do" and allow the judgment of my horse to guide me. I will never forget the sound of hundreds of thundering hooves as we galloped down the road, or how my little pony always pushed to be at the front of the pack and with ease jumped fences that the "big" horses refused. I am now back to my studies, but my thoughts frequently wander to Ireland, and I remember Willie's warm Irish smile and his herd of frolicking ponies. I think those smiling Connemara faces hold the key to happiness for any rider. What more could you ask for in a horse than versatility, courage, spirit, work ethic, and, most importantly, a desire to have fun! My Ireland experience left me with a renewed desire to have more fun with my own pony and to expand our horizons by trying new disciplines. Now that I realize what Connemaras are capable of, I know than anything is possible with a good pony.”

Emily’s pony (pictured) is a 9-year-old gelding, Big Bear's Royal Finnegan (Big Bear’s Blue Royal X Big Bear’s Lily). Last season they competed at third level dressage. Emily is studying classics (archaeology, art, literature and history) in Europe, but her major is biology, and she plans to go on to vet school.

Ocala, FL: SusanMc Connell of Oakfields Farm in Virginia and her daughter, Stephanie Keen, hosted a small but enthusiastic group of Connemara owners and breeders at an Open House (Open Barn would be more accurate) at Stephanie’s farm last Saturday. Seven of Susan’s ponies, almost all by *Hearnesbrook Dunoon (Kirtling Bonnie Doon X Hearnesbrook Fastnet) showed off their jumping abilities as well as all around good “ponyship” to the visitors.

Exeter, NH: Three NH riders enjoyed a beautiful first day of spring at Hampton Beach State Park. They are, left to right, Sarah Chisholm on Paradox Cricket (*Canal Laurinston X Tower Hills Carmody), age 9, Linda Haines on Blueridge Bluebell (Landgate Bluebeard X Blue Ridge Arabell), age 5, and Sally Oxnard on Tower Hill's Breeze (*Kilfenora Windy Isles X Tower Hills Kathleen X), age 5.

Union, MO: Ava Frick, DVM , is the owner of a veterinary physical rehabilitation clinic where eliminating pain is her priority. Her specialties include certifications in animal chiropractic, herbal therapy, whole food nutrition, and microcurrent therapy. She is a professional and public speaker, published author, and 2006 HartzÒ Veterinarian of the Year runner up. She has recently published a book called Fitness In MotionÒ that combines stretching exercises, massage therapy, and pain management tips to help the veterinarian, animal chiropractor, physical therapist, horse owner and trainer condition and rehabilitate a horse for every level of activity. The Fitness In MotionÒ book includes more than 30 exercises, full color photographs for all the exercises, and a trouble shooting guide for specific injuries and conditions.

A wonderful Connemara Pony gelding named Tre Awain Medelago (Loughmor Aran X Tre Awain Falstor) nicknamed Mel is a very good demonstrator and has been Ava’s equine companion since 2001. His favorite sport is jumping but he finds enjoyment in just about anything. Mel is a friend to all horses he meets. He enjoys his vacations at Eminence, Missouri where we go on week long trail rides. He also enjoyed the time he went to Wyoming to a see the Wild West. In this book Mel sets the bar for flexibility and extension. Ava’s website for further information is www.avafrick.com.

Saskatchewan, Canada: Connemaras REALLY can do it all! Besides demonstrating rehabilitation techniques (see above) they can also be cow ponies. This photo shows Elise Priddy’s stallion, Century Hill's Aedan Zodiac ( Century Hill Fredrick McTeague x *Tathams Ballinanna), doing his job of herding cows.

Elise owns Elodon Connemaras.

Cottrellville, MI: And yet another “do it all” story—Nine-year-old Oakfields Ronan Finch (*Grange Finch X Tullyglen Truffles) traded his western tack for a dressage saddle and switched from trail riding, team cow penning, and mounted shooting to USDF tests Intro A and B and Training Level Test 1 Novice Horse for a spring schooling show.

He and owner Diane Pettinato scored 66.5%, 68%, and 66.9 % and won all three classes—not bad for a first attempt at dressage!