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? Email Donna Duckworth with the details and any photos to duckwort@mgm.ufl.edu. Show results, results of inspections, new foals or unusual adventures especially welcome! Please note that any professional photos must be accompanied by a photographer's release before they can be used.

Setting out from Trimble's Mill

Trimble’s Mill, VA: Twenty or so Connemaras plus a few miscellaneous other horses and ponies met last weekend for a ride through the George Washington National Forest in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Organized by Wendy Higgenson and Marynell Eyles, riders from ten to over 70 (not saying how much over!) and from all over Virginia, North Carolina and even Florida started off at about 3 o’clock on one of the most perfect days you can imagine. The ride went through a sparkling meadow, then up the rocky mountain trail to another high meadow where the view of the valley was spectacular. Everyone returned safely at around 5:30 for a delicious dinner in Wendy’s restored old farmhouse, site of the 2007 best-selling book, “See You in a Hundred Years”.

The next day riders convened again, this time at the Eyles’ Greenwood Farm in Middlebrook for a ride through the Middlebrook Hunt territory. This time there was a slow group and a fast group, with the fast group going over jumps and galloping through fields for a two-hour romp. After another lovely meal provided by the hospitable Brooks Cushman the end to an incredible weekend had to come. I can personally attest that these two days of riding are worth all the trouble…hopefully, there will be another one next year so start planning now! (photo credit: Alexandra Duckworth)

Day Two survivors

Tiki Murray on Chesapeake Bay and Donna Duckworth on Loch Linne.
Both horses are half Connemaras by CR Roaringwater Bay.

Hudson, MA: Faye Silva writes to say that Eliza Farren and her seven-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred, Bantry Bay's Dublin (Bantry Bay's Archie X Solar Link [TB]), traveled down to Elkton, Maryland this past weekend for the Fair Hill International Horse Trials. Faye says, “They competed in an Open Preliminary division which they won! They were in third place with a 29.1 after the dressage portion, with one rail down in show jumping that left them in first place. They ran a fabulous cross country to maintain their first place lead out of 22 other competitors. They competed against some of the big name riders in Area 2 such as Buck Davidson and Charles Plumb. Eliza and Dublin are qualified to compete in the American Eventing Championships (AECs) this September in Fairburn, GA. If all goes as planned and the good Lord willing they will be there!”

Photo credit: Palmer Photography

Alachua, FL: On May 9, Balmullo’s Liffey Lad (Concord River Roaringwater Bay X Balmullo’s Miss Emma [by Aladdin]), ridden by Luke McLaughlin, went to his first recognized dressage show, the Canterbury May Days Qualifier, and came home with a special award for the highest scoring pony at the show! His scores of 66.8 and 69.2% in two Training Level tests earned him two blue ribbons and the special award. Jill Torres also competed at the show with her Jolly Mon (*Gunsmoke X Balmullo’s Rhiannon [by Concord River Roaringwater Bay]) and also had scores in the high 60’s for their First Level tests.

Mountaintop, PA: Chelsea DeMeglio has sent the following report. “ I am 17 years old and currently a junior in High School. I am a C2 rated member of the United States Pony Club. I belong to the Sterling Stirrups Pony Club in the Eastern PA Region. I have been riding horses for over 11 years and I absolutely love it! I guess you can call it an obsession. I am hoping to attend Delaware Valley College when I graduate in the hopes of pursuing a career with horses.

This past year I was given the opportunity to work with the Connemara pony, Stonybrook Finn MacCool (Balius Rhyddspence X Tower Hill Eoghan [by Chiltern Copa of Tower Hill]). Finn and I began training together in January 2010 and even though we had a bumpy beginning, we have finally figured each other out and work as a team now. This show season I hope to be very successful with him by competing in First Level Dressage and working our way to Second Level, and possibly FEI Pony. We are taking it slowly and began in May at a schooling series held by the Bucks County Horse Park in Revere, PA. I was pleased that we scored a 63% at Training Level 4 and 66% at First Level 1. Not bad for our first effort.

I want to thank Bliss Siman and Bert Linder for giving me this opportunity to work with their wonderful pony. I have learned a lot in the few months that I have had him and continue to learn every day with the help of my wonderful trainer, Cheryl Ash. Hopefully, this opportunity will lead to great things, so keep your eyes open for us during the show season!”

Bliss and Bert are delighted at the success of their decision to lease Finn to Chelsea. Bliss says, “Chelsea, a lovely quiet rider, boards Finn at Hillside Equestrian Center in Allentown and trains there with Cheryl Ash. At Hillside, Finn continues to have just the kind of life he likes, 24/7 turnout with pleasant friends no matter the weather! He is also getting what we hoped for, good riding, quality care, and lots of loving attention. Despite the difficult winter, Chelsea and Finn seem to be forming a real partnership. Chelsea and Cheryl had enough confidence in their progress to show Finn in the Tuesday Schooling Series, Buck’s County Horse Park in Revere, PA at the beginning of May. For a team that has only been together for four months, and for a pony who has only shown once in the past five years, their scores in their first show are a fabulous beginning.” Plans are in the works for a show program that will include Lendon Grey’s Dressage Festival in July where they plan to compete for the high-scoring Connemara trophy.

Holly and Snap

Chesterfield, VA: Cady O'Daly Patina ("Snap") and owner/rider Holly Richard brought home a blue ribbon from the Combined Tests and Dressage show held at Campbell Springs Farm on May 8.

Snap and Holly completed the Intro Level Dressage Test A with a respectable score of 66% at Snap's first show - and Holly's first show in over 40 years! A good time was had by all! Snap is by Tre Awain Goldsmith and out of Ridgetop Cady O'Daly.

Plant City, FL: Beth Davidson has written to say that Tina Wells rode Loughin's Leighseach (Tre Awain Cavan O’Connor X Heaven’s Ridge Treasa) to a first place (out of four) at Training Level Test 1. ”Lucy” has been shown in the hunters and intro dressage so this was her debut at training level! Jennifer Marriott handled Black Dog's River Ghost aka Toby for the in-hand class and Toby was second of five! He is a three-year-old gelding by Seven Hills Grey Ghost and out of Swift Ocoee River.

Both Lucy and Toby will be at the ACPS Region IV show in June in Georgia.

Midlothian, VA: Margaret Long has sent photos of Kim Harrison and her daughter Lydia at a Bedford County Hunt Hunter Pace event May 8th, galloping in for the finish. Margaret says, “Kim is on my gelding, Glenmeadow King McVai (Greystone Ian McVai X Barleycorn), and Lydia is on her unstoppable Haflinger cross, Real Bella. They came in second last year, and, as Kim says, ‘were bridesmaids again this year’; they were five minutes off the pace for their second place finish. King was the only Connemara there, I couldn't believe it. King is actually on loan to me, courtesy of his original breeder and forever owner, Serena Wiley. He foundered lightly on too much grass two years ago last fall, and thanks to quick action by Serena, the resiliency of the breed, and the exceptionally competent pasture management of Kim Harrison, he is now totally BAREFOOT SOUND! I think the Little Heaven descendant bloodlines seem to be more reactive to excess body weight than some other lines…really have to be careful not to let them get fat. Interestingly, Marianne Alexander of Greystone fame never had a founder case under her pasture management, either. It's all about keeping them in work, off more than a handful of grain, and restricting rich grass forage, a good reminder for anyone this spring. King is probably below 900 lbs at 15.1h+, and he looks, and is, just about perfect. Did I mention I adore him?”

Bloomfield, IN: Erin Moira Lemrow of Willow Run Connemaras writes that their first foal of the season is a lovely and FRIENDLY shiny bay filly. Erin says, “ My daughter Rosie has called her Star and so her official name will be Willow's Star of Armoy, after the town from which my grandfather's family hails.” Mama is Summerstreet's Mountain Heather and Erin’s Willow Boy ( *Chiltern Colm X *Sillbridge Miranda [by Thunderbolt]) is the sire.

A link to the filly's breeding can be found on the AllBreed site: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/willows+star+of+armoy

Colorado Springs, CO: Karen Laden writes of the birth of New Song's Courageous Son, (*Smaragaid Cliff X *Glenormiston Rossleague). Karen says, “I guess you could say that Germany meets Australia in Colorado. Courage's owner/breeder is Alyce Wich of New Song Ranch in Colorado Springs. Cliff is my stallion,*Smaragaid Cliff (Munkholm Cobbergate X Shamrock Bright Roxanne). *Glenormiston Rossleague is by Castle Baron and out of Glenormiston Rosmara.” It is Cliff's third purebred foal.

Bremen, Germany: May Reiman has reported that their stallion, AC-Samson af Engvang (Skousboe Morning Rock X AC-Soft Jewel af Engvang [by Oxenholm Godot]) has sired healthy twin fillies for the Lecuyer family of the Dundee Stud in France.

The twin’s dam is Isis Schueracher (Cheviot Midas X Shipton Blue Bonnet).

Bridport, VT: We heard the very sad news that Mary Rutter had died. Mary was, along with her husband, Rogers, the owner of Tower Hill Farm. Tower Hill was, at one time, one of the most prominent breeders of Connemara ponies in the country. Mary and Rogers were also ardent supporters of the ACPS. Both were BOG members and Mary was one of the original ACPS inspectors. Mary was also a big proponent of performance geldings -- she sponsored the gelding class at the Region 1 show for years. Rogers died several years ago and Mary had spent the last few years in a nursing home in failing health. Her son, John, who had lived next door and looked after them also died 3 weeks ago. Expressions of condolence may be sent to Mrs. John Rutter, 1450 Middle Rd., Bridport, VT 05734-9543

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