Upperville, VA: Two classes of Connemaras competed in the Connemara Breeding division, In Hand classes, at the June Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Catherine Mack was the judge. In the Connemara Mares, Eight and Under, first place went to Ridgetop Harriette (Aladdin’s Denver X *Cloud Shadows [by Windy Day]), owned by Marynell Eyles and shown by Paula Moore. In second was Thurman Keepsake (Landgate Bluebeard X Tre Awain Sileach [by Tre Awain DeValera]), owned by Barbara Byrd and shown by Mary McMillan. Third place went to Guthrie’s Bonnie China Blue (Landgate Bluebird X Balmullo’s Miss Lucy [by Concord River Roaringwater Bay]) owned by Cynthia Polk and shown by David O’Flaherty. In the Stallions and Geldings class, Eight and Under, winner was Ridgetop Windy City (Windy Isles X Greystone Echo's Megan [by Greystone McErrill]) owned and shown by Karen McIntyre Welch. In second was Thurman Bramley ((Landgate Bluebeard x Thurman Raven [by Aladdin's Admiral Byrd ]) owned by Barbara Byrd and shown by Mary McMillen. Third went to Blue Ridge Conor Larkin (Moxley Duncan X *Hayselden Persephone [by Hayselden Bacchus]), owned by Judy Brescia and shown by Kristen Noggle. Champion of the Connemara Breeding Division was Ridgetop Windy City with Thurman Bramley in Reserve. There were also four ridden classes with Ridgetop Windy City, Thurman Bramley or Ridgetop Columbine taking the top spots. A complete report will appear in the American Connemara.

South Royalton, VT: Katie Reuther and her horse Tower Hill's B'agan (*Chiltern Copa of Tower Hill x Tower Hill's Killaire) were first at their first three-phase event of the season at Hitching Post Farm in South Royalton, Vermont. They competed in the Junior Grasshopper Division against twelve other competitors. They were clean Cross-Country and Stadium, winning on their dressage score of 30.5. Katie says, “B'agan was wonderful throughout the whole event, calm, cool, and collected.” (Photo credit, Grand Strides Photography)

Ozark, AL: Foal reports are still coming!! Kelly Windus has sent the following. She says, “I wanted to share news of our colt born last month. He is Dark Horse Laus Deo and affectionately called "Praises". He is by *Glenormiston Cuchulainn out of Dark Horse Semper Fi. This little guy has been a dream in the works ever since his dam was born. Praises has a tremendous pedigree but himself is the culmination of it all, in person, he lives up to his power packed pedigree. He is a vibrant, inquisitive, incredible blessing. In the short three weeks of his life he has completely moved into the hearts of all in our family. Praises comes from two breeding programs I have greatly admired: Hideaway Farm, New York, and Glenormiston Farm, Australia. His maternal grandsire is Hideaway's Erin Go Bragh and his paternal grandsire is Domo Cavallo Praize. The grandmares are worth noting as they are Sue Clarke's Glenormiston Fionnuala and Mary Prewitt's Wildwych Silverheels. Born septicemic, we were quick to administer antibiotics only to have him admitted to Auburn University's Veterinary School for more intensive care. Back home he responded well to his medication only to put us through it again! This little fellow, so eager to take on the world, was already eating like a big guy! And, in true Connemara fashion, with a hearty appetite. He suffered, not one, but two, esophageal compactions! How he continued to retain his medication and grow is nothing less than a miracle: Laus Deo!

It has been four years of waiting for this dream to come to fruition. Sometimes the foal watch seems like the most intense part of the waiting. How many times did I massage and rub Semper Fi with prayer and supplication for a safe foaling and strong healthy foal? Now we are praying for his complete recovery, homecoming and no more visits to Auburn!”

Bloomfield, IN: Erin Lemrow has finally had a filly! She says, “I woke up at about 5:30 with ‘that’ feeling and sure enough Gypsy (Shammer Gypsy Queen [*Ballinaboy Eamon x *Kingstown Brigid]) had already foaled a lovely little buckskin filly! She is by Big Bear Farms stallion Fergus (Kil Dara Swift Jonathan X Katie O’Hara). I was sure it was going to be a colt and I almost fell over with surprise when I lifted her little tail--what a relief.”

Queen of Granada

Saskatchewan, Canada: Elsie Priddy has sent a photo of a half-bred filly by Century Hills Aedan Zodiac (Century Hill Fredrick McTeague X *Tatham's Ballinanna) out of a TB mare, Quincy's Quiz by Royal Quiz.

Danbury, CT: Patricia Shields reports that DryBrook Farm has had its first purebred foals. Patricia says, “both little darlings were born May 17th…perhaps it was destiny to share a birthday as their dams, Roscommon Annika (Balius Malichi X Lasrachai’s Blue Oak Dunlath) and Jillian’s Mahogany’s Surprise (Greystone An Lauren X Clove Annagh) share the same birthday. DryBrook’s Cosmic Comet, born black with the star is by Aluinn Durango (Aladdin’s Denver X Patty’s Meredith) and shows wonderful bone, size and temperament. DryBrook’s Surprise Flash, is by Tullymor’s Mountain Thunder (Tullymor’sFlying Ace X Kaluha) and is a very lovely mover with a fun, curious horse-ality. This picture was taken of the foals at one week old. We are very excited to have our first purebreds born and eager to show them in hand at the Region Show in August.”

Colville, WA: Kelsie Staeheli of Jolley Fir Line Farm writes, “Finally we have a foal ( 20 days later than expected)

Dam : Bien Mallin's Legacy (Landgates Holy Smoke x Bar S Heather)

Sire: Tullymor's Mountain Sun (Tullymor's Mountain Shadow x Tullymor's Kiss of Sun (by *Hayselden Perseus]).

It is a colt foaled 6/12/09, name pending is JFL'S Cliff Dun.”

Alachua, FL: Ballywhim Candace ( Greystone Dallen McMor X Bantry Bay’s Caitlin [by Springledge Bantry Bay]) has given birth after 371 long days to a colt, Jester, by Concord River Roaringwater Bay (Galway Bay X Lynfield’s Proud Hope).

The colt is a half brother to Region IV’s two--time Grand Champion, W. H. Top Gun (by *Gunsmoke), and was bred and is owned by Patricia Starnes.