Tallahassee, Fl: Some very sad news is from the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida. At fence #17 A and B in the Advanced division, Missy Miller, of Gulf Shores, Ala, and Leprechauns Rowdy Boy fell while negotiating the combination. Unfortunately, Leprechauns Rowdy Boy suffered an immediate fatality. Missy was thankfully uninjured. A later necropsy found that Leprechauns Rowdy Boy had suffered a heart attack which resulted in the fall. Rowdy Boy was a ¾ Connemara who was by a son of Lynnfields Cormac McCarthy, Bar S Tex, and out of Katie Scarlet, a half Connemara by Lynfield's Cormac McCarthy. The ACPS wishes to extend their deepest condolences to Missy and her family on the loss of this talented horse. The photo was taken by Emily Daly shortly before the accident.

Ocala, Fl: W.H. Topgun ( *Gunsmoke X Ballywhim Candace), owned by Jim and Nancy Kilcrease of Elderglen Farm, has had his first foal, a filly. 'Janie's Got a Gun' aka Teagan was born March 16 out of a QH mare. Jim says, “ Some say she's buckskin and some say she looks palomino but her mane and tail are black....and blond.” What do you think??

Loveland, Co: Julie Keahy and *Coral Misty Ciara (Murvey Ross X Coral Misty’s Girl [X Boden Park Finard]) went to a Schooling Dressage Show on St. Patrick’s Day and decided to show off their true Connemara colors!

Alachua, Fl: Michelle Haas has returned to Missouri after a 3 week visit in Florida to attend the HITS shows. While in Florida she visited Janet Wootten at her farm, Chance, and her two Connemaras.

One of them, Tre Awain Tinker’s Moon (T.A. Ginger Blue X T.A. Ballydoon Beauty[ X T. A. Donoghoo]), is from Michelle’s stomping ground, St. Louis. Here she is seen with Tinker and Tinker’s 3 yo daughter by C. R. Roaringwater Bay, Chance Cloe.

British Columbia, Canada: And now some GOOD eventing news….. It was a fantastic eventing season for progeny of Connemara stallion Elphin Cronan in B.C. His partbred and purebred offspring placed consistently in Horse Trials throughout the season, in some cases winning Year-End High Points. Elphin Cronan was bred by Heather Sherratt of Elphin Mountain Farm in Ontario, and is by Maplehurst Michael MacDaire and out of SP Mils Braeban ( X Aladdin’s Owen).

From left to right they are: Simply Irresistable is a 6-year-old mare out of a mare from Avenns Daimond Dee and an Arab stallion. She owned by 12-year-old Ryan Varchol of Summerland, B.C. This pair had a great season with highlights including several 2nds and 3rds. They also placed 2nd at their first ever go at Pre-Training level to earn them the Hi Point Trophy for the highest overall combined score out of all competitors!!!!
Cover Girl (also pictured jumping) is a 7-year-old Connemara/TB mare owned by Vicki Davies of Salmon Arm, B.C. This pair had a successful season placing in all seven of the Pre-training level events they competed in this season, and consistently finished on their dressage score.

Irish is a 9-year-old Connemara/TB gelding owned by Glynis Schultz and Vicki Davies. Irish, with Glynis onboard, completed a successful season placing 2nd overall in the Training Division at the year-end ceremonies. The duo also completed their first Preliminary Event this year with a 3rd place finish at Avalon on Vancouver Island. They compete at the Preliminary level in 2008. Cronan’s Mac MacDaire is a 7-year-old Connemara/TB gelding, owned by Pam Hall of Enderby B.C. who placed 2nd at the Maple Ridge Event early in the season.

Not pictured is Coolmore, an 8-year-old purebred Connemara gelding, ridden by 12-year-old Elspeth McGillivray of Victoria, B.C. They finished the season 1st overall in the Pre-Entry Division. Also not pictured is KS Priceless, a 6-year-old purebred Connemara gelding out of Avenns Diamond Dee (X Lynfields Cormac Macarthy)), recently purchased by Shannon Thompson of Kelowna B.C. and the “Priceless Syndicate”. Shannon and Priceless won their first event together as a “catch ride” at Topline stables in 2007. Shannon immediately recognized his amazing athletic abilities and scope – so she bought him!!! Shannon, already being an International level rider, is aiming for her and Priceless to represent Canada in the sport of Eventing.

Adelheidsdorf, Germany: The 3 year old stallion, Rhinstroem Mighty Man, bred in Denmark, has passed his stallion inspection. He is owned by Patty’s Connemaras in Germany.

His pedigree can be found at http://www.connemara.de/Pedigree-mightyman.htm and is interesting in that it contains photos of many of Mighty Man’s ancestors, some of whom also have descendants in the US or Canada.