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.

Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada: Jocelyn Davies of Devon Ridge Farms sends this report … “We got back late on Sunday night from the Mane Event held this year about 1 1/2 hours south of us, in Red Deer, AB. We took 3 horses, two for the Tim Grubb jumping clinic and our stallion, Bantry Bay Dillon (Bantry Bay Ace [by Springledge Bantry Bay] X Concord River Minute Maid [by Hideaway’s Erin Smithereen]) for the Shannon Dueck Dressage Clinic.

This was Dillon's first outing since May of last year, and he was a perfect gentleman, you would think he did this on a regular basis. Even the crowd and the speaker system didn't bother him at all... Shannon Dueck announced that Dillon was a Connemara Stallion to the crowd attending, and said he was a very nice pony! We had lots of people come up to us throughout the day to tell us how impressed they were of his movement and temperament. I think he did us all proud!”

You can see more of Dillon and Jocelyn’s other ponies at http://www.devonridgefarm.com

Alachua, Fl: *Belle Dawn (Laerken’s Cascade Dawn X Lizabelle [by Loobeen Larry]) was champion Mountain and Moorland Pony at the recent Pony Palooza sponsored by the Southern Welsh Pony Breeders Association. Minnie, as *Belle is commonly known, competed against six other Connemaras, New Forest Ponies, and Shetlands in the three and over class and then beat the winner of the 2 and under class (Balmullo’s Liffey Lad [by Concord River Roaringwater Bay]) for the Championship. Balmullo’s Swamp Fox aka Buddy (Seven Hills Grey Ghost [by Fieldstream Nicholas] X Tullymor’s Heather Lass) was 2nd in the 3 and over class and Reserve Champion. Minnie and Laddie are owned by Donna Duckworth and Buddy by Barbara Beckford.

Elbert, Co: Karen Laden’s nine-year-old daughter, Sarah Laden, competed at her very first 4-H show last weekend. Her pony is Evynstarr Metro (*Glenormiston Flurry Knox x Tower Hills Clarion). Sarah and Metro placed second in a showmanship class of six! (Metro was the only pony.) Along with a red ribbon, Sarah also received a bag of horse cookies. Of course Metro got a well-deserved cookie!

Brooks, Ga: Megan Buchanan of Brambleridge Farm in Georgia has announced that their TB mare has produced a big strapping colt by Aladdin’s Denver (Aladdin [Erin Laddie X Fox Ridge Irish Lady] X Tre Awain Cricket Song [by Tourbillon]). Megan is looking forward to eventing him (in a few years).

Colville, WA: Kelsie Staeheli reports that on April 18th Sweet Princess (Hideaway's Sebastian [by Hideaway’s Erin Smithereen] X Woodland Fairview Charon [by Lavalley Laird’s Challenge]) had a colt by Wildwych Strider. Sweet Princess has produced the 1st and 3rd in Striders growing list of offspring -this one is black going grey like his full brother Jolley Fir Line (JFL) High Stride Laddee. Strider is by *Glenormiston Flurry Knox X *Tyan’s Travellers Joy ).

The photo is of Strider who just turned 5.

Mims, FL: Jennifer Scarpino announces the birth of Ocean Mist Farm's second foal of the season, a purebred colt out of Hillside Virginia Brown (*Bobby Brown x Tre Awain Balefire) by *Kilfenora Windy Isles. Jennifer says, “Named Ocean Mist Charlie Brown, he has proven to be all Connemara - inquisitive, brave, friendly with a dash of Irish humor. Not one for playing "follow the leader", he will have Virginia Brown back in shape in no time. Now, if we can just keep him out of the tack room!”

New Braintree, Ma: Kathy Trum-Searah announces the birth of 2 new pure bred colts. One is by Tullymor’s Mountain Thunder, (Tullymor's Flying Ace [Montully Son X Pegasus] X Kaluha [Connemara's Persuasion X Connemara's Anisette]) and out of Searah's Fells Ishleen (Seven Hill's Grey Ghost [Fieldstream Nicholas X Tullymor's Heather Lass] X White Oak Greystone Classic [Hideaway's Gladness X Greystone Dallen McMor]). The other colt is by Valley Creek Angileri (Heaven Ridge Patrick LeBeau [Bear Creek Croagh Patrick X Kerrymor Teatime] X White Oak Greystone Classic ) and out of S/HCordia (S/H Greystone Special Edition [by Greystone Dallen McMor] X S/H Valentine).

Wilton, CA: Kat Ong of Featherstone Connemaras says they are very proud of their 2006 filly, Featherstone Lauriliath (*Canal Laurinston X *Blossom). She just attended her very first in-hand show at a local Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper show. Liath, pronounced "Leah", has been the hopes and dreams of Featherstone Connemaras. She is by An Toastal winner *Canal Laurinston and out of the Premium Sport Pony mare,*Blossom, who has been evaluated and passed by the American Sport Pony Association. Leah was very quiet and easy to handle - and exemplified all the cherished qualities of the Connemara pony. She entered the Pony Hunter breeding class which was a combined class of 3 year olds, 2 year olds and yearlings. Liath did remarkably well against all the older and more mature ponies! She placed third among some of the BEST Welsh ponies in the area and the judge simply loved her expression, and calm temperament. Kat, who has been working and going to school has enjoyed every moment she can with her ponies, taking them out to compete and promote the Connemara pony in the Sacramento Area She says this is a BIG challenge being that the area is very "Welsh Pony". Kat has recently been approved to the Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper Association Learner Judge program and hopes to move through the ranks and eventually become an inspector and judge for the ACPS. She says, “Thanks to Liath's older brother HK Eagle (*Fairhyhill Hawk X *Blossom), and his Sacramento Area Hunter Breeding successes, there has been some "buzz" going around about the Connemara Pony here in Sacramento. He did a wonderful job promoting Connemaras his first 3 years at these local shows, and now it is Leah’s turn to show off what great, versatile, ponies we Connemara breeders have!" The photo shows Eagle and Leah enjoying being at home. For more information on Featherstone Connemaras can be found at Featherstoneconnemaras.com

St. Louis, Mo: Betsy Woodruff writes to say, “Thought we'd give you the latest update on Ooh La La (aka Balmullo's Azalea). Azalea was 'crowned' 2007 St. Louis Winter Series Circuit Champion in the Large Green Pony Hunters!!! The series was made up of eight (8) USEF "AA" rated H/J shows at the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis between December and April. Out of the 8 shows, she was Champion in her division twice and Reserve Champion 5 times. Not bad for a pony who entered the show ring for the first time in her life in late September! (Note: Azalea is ridden by Betsy’s 12 year old daughter). The really exciting news is that Azalea is currently ranked 7th in the USEF national standings for Large Green Pony Hunters and is 2nd in Zone 7 (unfortunately for us, the top pony in the country is also in our zone!). We went to a show in Memphis, TN two weeks ago and those points are not yet recorded, so she may be in 5th or 6th place soon. We're headed to Kentucky for a show this weekend at the Kentucky Horse Park and then return the following weekend for a show in St. Louis. We have high hopes for Azalea at Pony Finals in August and also hope that we can keep her at the top of the USEF national standings by year's end.” Betsy also says that Azalea has already accumulated enough points for TWO gold medals from the ACPS’ Achievment Award Program. The photo show Azalea showing off some of her ribbons.