Manakin-Sabot, Va: The weekend of April 26 & 27, 2008, was a busy one for the Wellen ponies bred by Gayle Presson and Susanna Rowe. The sisters’ small breeding operation consists of one broodmare, Good As Gold, a homebred chestnut Welsh/Arab mare. Four of her offspring, full siblings by the late Connemara stallion Greystone Ian McVai, competed during the weekend at the “AA” Lexington Spring Premier Horse Show in Virginia with impressive results. Seven year old Wellen Goldsmith, owned and ridden by Savannah Jenkins, won two Over Fences classes while amassing 281/4 points to earn the Reserve Championship in the Large Pony Hunter Division. Wellen Golden Glory, five years old, carried owner-rider Peyton Smith to the Championship in the Large Childrens Pony Division, with a first, second, and third in the three classes for a total of 20 points. Four year old brother, Wellen Gold Chip, in just his second show, won the competitive VPBA Performance Division Under Saddle class and placed second in the VPBA Young Ponies Under Saddle with Savannah Jenkins riding for owner Emma Shure. Baby sister Wellen Gold Leaf, handled by Dowell “Jr.” Johnson, took on six other Yearlings at her first outing. Competing against both colts and fillies, she stood second between two colts, which had each previously earned Best Young Pony honors and/or won yearling classes.” The photo is Wellen Golden Glory with owner/rider Peyton Smith of Ordinary, Virginia.

Brookfield, Vermont: Northern Connemaras, owned by Sarah McRae and Blake Schoenbeck, have announced that Aluinn Durango (Aladdin's Denver x *Patty's Meredith) has produced two gorgeous foals with 2 more to come this year. Northern Destination, out of Roscommon Annika, is a large dun filly with an in your face personality. Northern Decision is a grey colt out of Tre Awain Ballydoon Beauty and is a real athelete at just 2 weeks old. Both foals are very correct and have wonderful personalities taking after their sire. Sarah says that visitors are always welcome and that young stock may be available for purchase. The photo is Northern Decision aka Dune and his mom.

Athens, Tn: Vanessa Morgan reports that Elphin Chickadee has had a colt by *Gunsmoke. Vanessa recently sold Chickadee to Sue Holland of Maryland.

The colt has a full sister in Florida, Balmullo’s Dixie Chick.

*Gunsmoke stood at Vanessa’s Foothill’s Farm for several years but has now returned to Ireland. He has a son, W.H. Topgun that stands in Florida and a number of weanling and yearling foals.

Harwinton, CT : DryBrook farm is happy to announce that Irish Park's Royal Tara (HB) by Hideaway Sebastian, out of Glenmary Jenny Wren (HB) by Bobby Brown has given us our 2nd foal....and she is a beautiful, big filly. The new filly has been named DryBrook Tara's Legacy. Owner Patricia Shields says, “My 3 girls and I were present at the easy, exciting birth, which was 4/29 @ 9:45pm. I am thrilled to have a filly from my favorite horse....hoping to be able to carry on her wonderful, kind temperment and terrific jumping ability. DryBrook Tara's Legacy is by Kathy TrumSearah's stud, Valley's Creek Angeleri. Patricia says they are planning on raising 1 to two PB and/or HB Connemaras yearly. Her plan is breed sport horses and ponies. They are breeding for temperament, jump and uphill movement. Patricia says that by breeding only 1 or 2 ponies yearly, they will get lots of handling by her and her girls...so they will be ready to be loved by other children and maybe some adults too.

Grass Valley, CA: The first of two 2008 foals has arrived at Free Rayn Hill. Kathryn Rayner Freeman writes, “Wildwych Valkyrie (*Glenormiston Flurry Knox x Hideaway's Irish Mist) presented us with a gorgeous filly by *Village Prince on Sunday, May 4 at about 9:30 pm. Her name is Free Rayn Tsunami. She is seal brown with a white star and two white hind feet. She is going grey fast - with the telltale grey rings around her eyes and a tiny little grey nose! We had a great vet report on Monday afternoon and Valkyrie is a good "first time mom". Proud "grandmother" Hideaway's Irish Mist is awaiting the birth of her foal by *Village Prince in June. Thanks go out to Wildwych Connemaras in Colorado for their graciousness in allowing us to lease Valkyrie and Royal Connemaras in Clayton, CA for standing *Village Prince.”

Browns Valley, Ca: Lisa and Max Gerdes of Redbud Ranch are very happy to announce that their mare Glenormiston Amelia has produced a foal by Redbud Ranch’s senior stallion, Wildwych Eclipse.

The colt will be called Redbud Celtic Tiger.

Radford, Va: Jesse Cohen is very much looking forward to getting home from college to Chicago to see all the *Quietman’s foals.

She has sent a photo of one of them.

Jesse says, l “Cici (*Catherine's Pride) foaled a colt on the 21st and I'm not quite sure when the photo was taken - he's still a bit crunchy looking :)

We're currently debating what color he really is. Martin originally thought he was a buckskin and then he darkened up - Mom thinks he's black -

I'm going for a very dark buckskin (to go grey) - anybody know for sure?”