Alachua, Fl: Balmullo’s Mr. Peeps (C.R. Roaringwater Bay X Tullymor Shandora) is pretty in pink! He left home for the first time ever on Saturday to go to his first show, and do his first ever judged dressage test. It was a big day for him, but he took it all in stride. Even though he was one of the smallest competitors, he showed the biggest heart. He even came home with a ribbon, earning 5th place out of 12 riders with a score of 63.5% in Introductory Test A. He was ridden by Cassie Gaisser. Attending the same show was Balmullo’s Swamp Fox (Seven Hill’s Grey Ghost X Ballywhim Candace), ridden by owner Barbara Beckford, who put in a beautiful Training Level Test 2 for a 67%.

Fairhill, Md: Julie Scaife, featured in the news of 8/17/08, has some more news…. Julie and H.K.’s Sassy Pants (MGRM Brigadoon x TB) won at another horse trial! They won the Beginner Novice division on August 3rd at Olde Hope (Earleville, MD) finishing on their dressage score of 24.5% . Julie says, “I am moving her up to Novice for our next event Sept 13th at Fair Hill. The weekend of August 16/17th we went to the Fair Hill Dressage Sport Horse Breed Show and she placed 1st in the American Sport Pony Registry class with a score of 71.5% and 2nd in the dressage pony under saddle class. This last weekend I took her to the ISR/OLD Registry Inspection at Hilltop Farm and she was approved for the main mare book (pony division). So far we’ve had a great summer!” Ann Moe who visited with Julie says, “you might be interested to know that Julie is a PhD who is head of Quality Control at Select Breeders Services in Colora, MD. She gave me a tour of the facility when I was at Hilltop Farm one day watching Nancy Dillon ride. Quite a facility!” Nice to know that smart, capable people choose Connemaras!!

Orange Park Acres, CA: Kathy Lucas reports that Balmullo’s Veronica aka Lamb Chop (C.R. Roaringwater Bay X Tullymor’s April Fool) has FINALLY had her foal, a colt by Sydserff Avalon. The foal was somewhat of a surprise as, although Kathy had bred Lamb Chop, the vet had told her that the foal had been re-sorbed. So it was somewhat of a surprise when the mare started to produce a milk bag almost two months ago.

Ballygar, Galway, Ireland: And Karen Vicencio, previously of California but now happily ensconced in Ireland also had a surprise foal. Karen says, “I had a ‘surprise’ baby last night. Well, a surprise I learned about a couple months ago, definitely not planned, but fortunately all has gone well. Faerietale Dreams (Fredricksminde Hazy Match X Gra Mo Chroi) presented me with a lovely filly by Fairyhill Hawk (Moy Hazy Cove X Fairyhill Heather) last night. Dreams is only 2 1/2, so I was VERY concerned, but her foaling was textbook perfect, and she is being the perfect mommy. Dreams is very people oriented, she'd rather be with people than other horses. Apparently she explained to her daughter (her name will be Faerietale Magic) that people are good, because there was NONE of the typical hide behind momma stuff from Magic. She walked right out in front of mom to take a look at me, and Dreams actually shoved her towards me. She had no problem letting me rub her all over, and when I went to take pictures I had trouble with her wanting to see the camera.

I noticed about two months ago that Dreams was getting fat, and fat in places she shouldn't be fat. As I was examining her, her side started bouncing.... A phone call to the woman who took care of my horses when I was away on holidays the end of last September confirmed that Hawk had escaped and was out with the mares for about an hour. The mares were all in foal, except for Dreams, who was only a yearling. When she brought Hawk in, everybody was eating grass, there was no drama, and so she didn't think to tell me...Fortunately all has gone well, mother and daughter are in great shape, and what could have been a tragedy has turned out well. And Dreams is so proud that she has been showing off her new baby to all the neighbors. They are in a field next to a bog road, where many people are coming to bring in the turf they cut at the beginning of summer. The neighbors tell me everytime they come down the road, she brings her baby to the gate, and pushes her out in front of her, and shows her off to anyone who will stop to look.”

Clifden, Ireland: On August 21 at the 2008 Connemara Show in Clifden in the heart of Connemara, Kingstown Dana (Monaghanstown Fionn X Kingstown Silver) was the Supreme Champion. A half brother, a stallion by Monaghanstown Fionn, Ard Celtic Art, resides in the United States. Kingstown Dana is owned by Malachy Gorham from Clifden and was bred by his father, Joe. Pictures and complete results can be found at http://www.cpbs.ie/index.aspx

Pinehurst, NC: On Oct 2-5 the ACPS will hold its annual meeting at the Hampton Inn and the Pine Needles Resort in this horse-y North Carolina town. Highlights of the meeting will be a clinic by Judy Wardrope, conformation guru, and a talk by one of the most successful Irish breeders, Henry O’Toole. See the July-August American Connemara, p 25 for complete details