Tryon, N.C. Devon Brown (incorrectly identified as Devon Miller last week), daughter of Donna Miller, and Limerick continued their winning ways on their last outing prior to the American Eventing Championships in September. They were third in Open Training at Tryon. Healing Springs Limerick was found by Devon and her mother in Syracuse NY as a four year old. Devon was 11 at the time, and although matching a green rider with a young green horse does not always have the best outcome, when the horse is a Connemara, and the Mom trains horses, it can work. And work it has! It is almost 3 years later, and the two have a solid relationship and true partnership. Although Donna has given Limerick a solid dressage foundation, Devon has done all his jumping training. The two have progressed well together, qualifying for the American Eventing Championships at Training Level this year. Devon only competes about 4-5 times a year due to her intense soccer schedule, but she makes every competition count! Stay tuned for news of Devon at the AEC’s.

Exeter, N.H. Sally Oxnard, Region 1 Chairperson, is back in New Hampshire after a little Connemara odyssey. She left NH at 4:00 AM the day after the Region 1 Show to make her annual 1000 mile trek to Barking Waters, the family summer home near Traverse City, Michigan. This year she was accompanied by Paradox Caeli (*Canal Laurinston x Tower Hill's Carmody) who had been sold to Liz Henry in Lowell, Michigan. Liz picked Caeli up in Hamburg NY and took her the second half of the trip. They plan to burst onto the pony h/j scene in a few years. Once in Traverse City, Sally stopped to see Katie and Maggie Petersen, of Elkcreek Farm Connemaras. Maggie has been riding Tower Hill's Carmody for two years, and won an ACPS Junior award with her last year as well as doing very well at the Region 5 show. This year they are going for their C2 in the USPC. Carmody had a dun colt this spring by Elkcreek’s lovely bay stallion, Elphin Song Sparrow. Sally got to admire Elkcreek O'Connor and the other foals by Sparrow, and make plans for Carmody's return to the east. What a great way to spend a vacation, visting Connemaras wherever you go!!

Alberta, Canada. Fairyhill Hawk (Moy Hazy Cove X Fairyhill Heather [ by Loobeen Larry] ) has gone into quarantine to prepare for his trip back to Ireland. Hawk was purchased by the Cihaks in California from Tom Macnamara in Ireland. Karen Vicencio bought him from the Cihhaks. Three years ago Karen moved to Ireland and left Hawk with Jocelyn Davies in Canada who bred many fine ponies from him. Now, however, Karen has many people wanting to breed to him in Ireland, so he's going home. He is, as far as we know, the first stallion to return to Ireland from the States.

All Over, USA. The upcoming Labor Day weekend will be an eventful weekend for many ACPS members. There is to be a USEF Connemara/Welsh judges clinic in Charlottesville, Va. for those wanting to be credentialed as Connemara judges. Kathy Bridges, a Welsh judge, and Donna Duckworth are driving from Florida for the clinic. Kathy Sparks is going to a combined driving show with her pair of dun Connemaras, and Jill MacNichol, veterinarian and IC, is taking her Connemara mare to her first show at the state agricultural fair. Lisa Martin is also taking her ponies to a Mountain and Moorland Show in California. So there should be lots of news next week! Don’t forget to send your results.