Thomson, Ga: The Region 4 show was held this weekend at the Pine Top Equestrian Center. Marynell Eyles was the judge. While the number of ponies was modest, the quality was high with the judge declaring that each class was harder than the last! Susan McConnel’s hunter mare, Oakfield’s Diamond (Kingston Joe X Templebready Ruby), was the Champion in hand as well as Champion in hand as well as Connemara Overall Champion!

In the individual classes, Fernville Matchmaker (Hazy Match X Ross Castle Moya), jointly owned by Donna Duckworth and Deb Norman of Virginia and enthusiastically welcomed to Region 4, won the blue in the 2-3 year olds, Diamond was the top mare, and Landgate Bluegrass (by Bluebeard) took the gelding stakes. Complete results will appear in the American Connemara.

After the show a cookout and meeting was held at the farm. The venue was so beautiful that everyone decided to return for the Region 4 show next year.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Bantry Bay Dillon (Bantry Bay Ace X Concord River Minute Maid) was recently Reserve Champion Jumper in the Beginner Jumper Division at the Caledonia Classic Horse Show.

Chicago, Ill: On Memorial Day, Windy Isles and Murvey Connemaras brought ponies to the Gaelic Park Irish Fest. The Irish Fest is one of the biggest Irish festivals in Chicago. There are carnival rides, traditional Irish music and Irish dancing, and now Irish Connemara Ponies! It was a great time and great weather for it too. The ponies behaved perfectly and I couldn't have been happier with them. It was a great experience for all of us and we're hoping to come back next year.

The star of the show was 6 week old Murvey Molly sired by Windy Isles Farms stallion *The Quietman (Moy Hazy Cove x Blaithin Chonamara by Cloonisle Cashel) out of *Caitin (Monaghanstown Pat x Misty Glenn by Maam Hill), owned and bred by John Keaney. John is a third generation Connemara pony breeder from Connemara now living in Illinois. His family has been breeding Connemaras in Ireland since 1931. Had several Irish people coming over to see the Connemaras because they missed them and also a bunch of new people getting introduced to the breed. One Kerryman who must have been about 97 came over to see them, he'd been a blacksmith for years and was reminiscing about the Connemaras and Irish Draughts.

Concord, Ma: Sally Oxnard reports that Region 1 ponies and riders and auditors descended upon Bantry Bay Farm again on May 18 for our Field Day and annual meeting. Sally said, “the multitalented Wendy Warner coached 4 groups of ponies- in hand one and two year olds, great greenie three and 4 year olds in hand and under saddle, and then two groups of jumpers after lunch. Candy and Bill Verhulst arranged perfect weather and gorgeous indoor and outdoor and welcoming stalls and kitchen for meeting in. 30 or more participants watched or chatted or shopped at the famed Region 1 Store. The annual meeting covered elections, planning for the show, national awards, Equine Affaire, etc. Nobody fell off, nobody cried. Success!! “

Colville, Wa: Kelsie L Staeheli of Jolley Fir Line Farms has sent an update….” JFL Finoxen Wind(name pending) by Wildwych Strider x Out of Wintermist Mountain Charm (Kilfenora Windy Isles x Rocky Hollow Irish Crystal ) has out grown his angular limb displacement in less than 20 days. He's looking grand and growing strong. He and his half brother JFL Rebel Master (Wildwych Strider x Bien Mallin's Legacy) are now pastured together and awaiting their moms okay to play together along with their yearling half brother TBF Begley Liam (Wildwych Strider x Sweet Princess).Liam's full brother JFL High Strider Laddee, 3years old is also here at the farm - watching 4 of the 5 foals produced by Strider, these boys are so much alike and all so big and strong with kind hearts - it makes me excited to see them all mature and gives me wonderful dreams of what the future will bring for them when they have handlers of there own. The picture is of Fin ( JFL Finoxen Wind).”

Middleburg, Va: Theodore O'Connor, an internationally known pony owned by Karen and David O’Connor and ridden by Karen was humanely euthanized on May 28, after injuring himself as a result of an accident sustained at his barn. Teddy got frightened and bolted. He slipped running back to the barn and suffered a severe laceration to his hind leg, severing the tendons and ligaments. Dr. A Kent Allen was on the scene immediately and it was determined after examination that the injuries were catastrophic. AlthoughTeddy had no Connemara breeding, he had become a popular symbol of “pony power” due to his incredible performances at the Advanced Level in Eventing’s world-wide competitions. He was short-listed for this years summer Olympics in Beijing.