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.

Atlanta, Ga: Donna Miller reports that their 15 hand imported Connemara stallion *ArdCeltic Art (Monaghanstown Fionn X Moydow Lady [ by Murphy Rebel]) was entered in one of the 4 year old divisions of USEA Spalding Labs Young Event Horse tests. This series of tests may be best described as an equine talent search. They give owners and breeders the opportunity to showcase the potential of their four- and five-year-old horses while encouraging them to produce top-level event horses for the future. The horses are asked to complete four sections, with the following distribution of scores: conformation and type (15 %), dressage (35 %), jumping (40 %), and suitability and potential (10 %). Each section is scored on a 1-10 mark basis. (1 = very bad, 5 = sufficient, and 10 = excellent.)

Donna says they did not make this decision easily, as once you become familiar with the specifications of the test, and the requirements for judging, you wonder if the judges can be impartial to a "pony". She says that although Art is taller than 14.2 hands, he is pony in every way, but still possesses all the components of what the young event horse test desires. The following goal of the Series and Guidelines for judging, taken directly from the USEA website, are what caused them to really think about entering Art: "The ultimate goal of the Young Event Horse Series is to choose the youngster that possesses the talent and mind set, and who with proper training, will excel in the uppermost levels of the eventing world. The aim of these classes is to encourage breeders and trainers to produce and present the correct type of young horse which is considered to be the best material to make a top international event horse. In conclusion we could sum up by asking the question, Which horse would I buy to make the best international eventer?”

Donna says, “Art may not become an upper level international eventer, however, per the guidelines, his conformation and movement should enable him to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina, and to move up through the levels. So we decided that we would enter Art to see how objectively the test could be judged. We entered Art in the YEH Test at Sporting Days Farm in February. It turned out to be a fantastic experience and I feel was judged objectively. I would encourage others of full or partbred Connemaras to consider participating in the Young Event Horse test. The one requirement to be aware of is the horse must be a minimum of 15 hands. Art placed 2nd out of 5 horses with a score of 76.14, which is a qualifying score for the end of year championships. The test provides detailed scoring in the 4 categories listed on the USEA website at http://www.useventing.com/competitions.php?section=yeh. These scores would be very useful to have, especially for a stallion (or even a mare) owner.”

It appears that Art’s high test scores were just a harbinger of things to come as he won the Junior Novice division at FENCE in April, ridden by Donna’s daughter Devon, as well as the Novice Horse division at the VA Horse Trials at the end of May, ridden by Donna. In Virginia, they were in a large division of 17 horses and they finished on their dressage score of 30.0. They broke the tie for first going into XC by being closest to optimum time. They were 2 seconds under optimum, which is quite a challenge and could have easily gone the other way which would have incurred time faults. Donna says, “He has matured so much, taking it all in stride (there were over 500 horses at the horse park). Show jumping was in the indoor coliseum, and unlike our other two horses who were really distracted by the indoor, Art went right to work - must be the stallion thing with showing off!!” Donna also said that Limerick, a full bred Connemara gelding, successfully completed the Ocala CCI* in April.

Elbert, Co: Karen Laden of Kingswell Connemaras writes to report that a week ago, 18-year-old *Sillbridge Miranda (Thunderbolt X Laudale Rannoch [by Kings Ransom II]) foaled a beautiful brown filly by *Smaragaid Cliff (Munkholm Cobbergate x Shamrock Bright Roxanne) who was imported from Germany. This is Cliff's first foal.

Alyce Wich, who owns Miranda, named her filly New Song's Raining Miracles since she was born on a dark and stormy evening. Karen says she thought it was a very appropriate name for a Thunderbolt granddaughter. The attached photo was taken when Miracle was four days old. Miranda is also the dam of the stallion, Landsdowns Willow’s Harbour Boy, owned by Erin Lemrow in Indiana. Karen also sent a photo of Cliff enjoying his Colorado home.

Windrush Farm, New Hampshire: Debbie Shade has written to say that Balmullo’s Rhiannon (CR Roaringwater Bay X Tullymor’s April Fool) produced a filly foal by Seven Hills Grey Ghost, aka “Mosby” (Fieldstream Nicholas[by Balius Brannigan] X Tullymor’s Heather Lass) on May 2. Debbie said, “ all went well, 10 minutes from the first sign of labor until her new filly was completely born and at the civilized hour of 8:45 PM. “Shadey Hills Oscea” is a bay, looks just like her mother and is very independent. Perfect in every way, the vet on her foal check was very impressed at how solid and mature she was.”

The filly is two weeks old in the photo. Rhiannon was previously owned by Mike Edwards of Florida where she produced many purebreds by “Mosby” including the dam of the champion colt at the ISR/Oldenburg Inspection held on Oct 3, Rastaman Jeeves (by a Hannoverian stallion).

St. Louis,Mo: Ooh La La, aka Balmullo’s Azalea (CR Roaringwater Bay X Courtney’s April Frolic [by Custusha’s Cashel Rock]), has continued to impress the judges! She and rider Katherine Woodruff went to an "AA" show in St. Louis this past weekend. Azalea and Katherine were RESERVE CHAMPION in the Large Green Ponies, CHAMPION in the Regular Large Ponies and they won the USEF Pony Equitation Medal (out of 11). This represented their first championship in the regular division, after having been reserve a number of times. Also, the win in the medal class qualifies them for the big USEF Pony Medal Finals to be held at Pony Finals! Katherine’s Mom says, “Azalea was absolutely awesome. Went through her rounds like a pro, it was simply beautiful to watch. Katana (trainer) and I both had amateurs and professionals alike coming up and telling us they've noticed how far she's come and what a nice pony she is. No one can believe that she's just five. Made Katherine VERY proud!” Breeder Donna Duckworth as well.

Lexington, Ky: Marian Caldwell writes of news of Piedmont Sundance (Balmullo's Beacon x Kitties and Cash [TB]). Sixteen year old Laura Burns and Sundance did their 1st training level recognized Combined Test today and brought home the blue ribbon, a saddle pad and a Julep Cup! The show was Sayre School Combined Test. The morning was hot and humid and Sundance was very quiet and cooperative. Laura had a nice steady dressage test and scored a 32. Laura’s mother, Marion, said, “She was eight points better than 2nd place as it turned out. We didn't know that and were surprised when she was called as the winner. It was a confidence builder for her. She really needed a good stadium round and she had that this time out.”