 Peotone, IL: Stephanie Burke wrote the bulk of the following report with some additions by Jessie Cohen and Pat Reichle.
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*The Quietman |
“U.S. Connemara fans were treated to a taste of Ireland at the Midwest Connemara Breeders Show held August 29, 2009 at Windy Isles Farm. The show was dedicated to the memory of farm owner Martin Prendergast, who passed away in May of this year before he could see his conception of a show celebrating the Connemara Pony in the Midwest come to fruition, but his family, friends and associates turned out in force to help make the goal a reality. As show secretary Jessica Cohen explained, “Martin wanted to make the show something in the tradition of a typical Irish horse show, more like a fair with activities for everyone.” Certainly all those who attended the show agreed that it was one of the most entertaining equestrian activities they had ever experienced. In addition to the actual competition, hay rides and childrens’ activities were provided, raffle tickets for a number of nice prizes were available, and free massages were offered to customers of the two AND four-legged variety!
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Blue Ridge Fionuala |
“Competitors were treated to a well-managed, efficiently run show program with a diverse range of classes including an in-hand division, a performance division featuring hunters and jumpers, the opportunity to ride dressage tests, several fun classes including a trail class and a foal race, and a class for horses and ponies available for sale. The in-hand judge was Marynell Eyles, who later in the afternoon presented a talk on evaluating and judging the ponies; the hunter-jumper judge was Vicky Reeve, and the dressage judge was Kathy Dunk. Horses and ponies of breeds other than Connemaras were welcome in many of the classes – which helped enlarge the field of entries – and indeed one spectacular jumper was an Appaloosa pony named “Appily Ever After.” Higher-level jumper classes – over 3’ fences, including a Gambler’s Choice that included a 3’6” triple oxer - were welcome and exciting additions to the show program and drew a large and enthusiastic crowd (and yes, “Appily Ever After” did fly over that 3’6” jump, but hot on his heels was our own Connemara Loughin’s Journey piloted by Martha Slamer of OnaLark Farm near Middletown, Ohio ).
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*Murvey Inver Lor |
“The Supreme Champion of the show was Blue Ridge Fionuala (Moxley Duncan X
Tre Awain Hobbie Grey [by Hisega Meadows Erin Bobby]) owned by Martin Fitzgerald of Kerry Meadows Farm and shown by his daughter Amanda. Reserve Supreme Champion (and also Junior Champion) was the Irish-imported mare *Murvey Inver Lor (Currachmore Cashel X Murvey Cara [by Boden Park Finnard]) owned by John Keaney of Blue Rock Farm.
The All-Around Performance Purebred Champion was the German-imported gelding
*Kinzighausen Golden Mortimer (Glaskopf Golden Merlin x Carragh Lass [by Fort Dara]) owned by Wendy Bennett.
Windy Isles Farms Irish-imported Grade 1 stallion, *The Quietman (Moy Hazy Cove x Blathin Chonamara by Cloonisle Cashel), had a banner day as a sire. His two-year-old colt and filly won the Get of Sire class: Windy Isles Quiet Lady ( X *Cree Lady [by Forest View Sparrow]) owned by Windy Isles Farms and Windy Isles Silver Cloud (X *Summer Sun [by Ashfield Jovial Joker]) owned by Oliver Cotter. Quietman’s foals finished 1st and 2nd in the Foal class: 1st. Windy Isles Martin's Pride (X *Catherine's Pride [by Gurteen Paddy]) owned by Windy Isles Farms; 2nd. Sooey Annabelle (X *Kilmurray Aisling Owen [by Glanns Owen]) owned by Seamus Flanagan. His foals again finished 1st and 2nd in the Yearling class with his yearling colts taking top placing. 1st. Blue Rock Riley (X *Laurin of Rosscon [by Rosenaharley Laughris]) owned by John Keaney of Blue Rock Farm; 2nd. Windy Isles Island Rebel (X *Catherine's Pride [by Gurteen Paddy]) owned by Windy Isles Farms. Blue Rock Riley then went on to be Reserve Junior Champion.”
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Elmshoot's Krispin O'Thule |
Stephanie Burke said, “The accommodations for our ponies were excellent: very large box stalls (we guessed 12 x 14 or 14 x 14’) were freshly bedded deep in clean shavings awaiting their occupants; fresh water was provided, water buckets refilled as needed and muck buckets were whisked away and cleaned whenever they contained, well, muck. (This writer particularly appreciated not having to carry water!) Stalls were sturdy and safe. The area was well ventilated and well lit. An indoor arena was available for warm-ups on Friday night and through Saturday. The organizers knew exactly where we needed to go and cheerfully directed us to our stalls when we arrived. “Goody bags” magically appeared on our stall doors, filled with a variety of horse treats, a bottle of fly spray, coupons and assorted other goodies. Show committee chairman Martin Fitzgerald cordially greeted us on Saturday morning, handed us a large, bound show program and ascertained that we were all “all right” and happy with the setup thus far – a very nice personal touch delivered by an otherwise very busy man!
“As a side note – apparently the show had been well-advertised (I heard that it had been discussed on local radio stations featuring Irish music), and a large number of spectators turned out, most of them Irish-American families with children. I had finished my hunter courses and was making my pony comfortable back in his stall when I noticed that the streams of people touring the barn was growing larger. Kids wanted to pet horses, and my pony, who likes attention and behaves like a saint, was happy to oblige, so I spent a fair amount of time fielding questions about horses in general and Paddy and his Connemara relatives in particular, and allowing the kids to sit on his back for photos. (You may recall from a recent account in American Connemara magazine that last fall Paddy played ambassador to a handful of Mongolian dignitaries at a civic function in Middletown, Ohio; this year evidently it was his turn to cater to Irish kids – what a great pony!). It is always nice to have a chance to introduce people to our wonderful Connemaras.
“The dinner that followed the show featured Irish Entertainment by three
Irish bands and Irish Dancing performed by World Champion Irish Dancers. All
total about 500 spectators attended the show and festivities, some coming as far as Ireland. During a break in the music, show organizers introduced the spectator who had traveled the farthest – a gentleman from County Clare, Ireland – and the competitor who had traveled the farthest – Marcia Rood, with three ponies, from Blanchester, Ohio; several other presentations were made as well, but the program was short and timely, and we were allowed to get back to the real business of eating, drinking, enjoying the music and good conversation with our friends and fellow pony enthusiasts. Finishing off the evening were the announcements of split-the-pot and raffle prize winners, followed by a bonfire. What could be better?
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Blue Rock Riley, First Place Yearling
Class and Reserve Junior Champion |
“Due to diligent hard work on the part of the show committee, an ample number of sponsors allowed for a competition that offered cash along with ribbons and trophies as prizes, which went a long way toward offsetting our travel expenses and other costs . As I said to my friends during dinner Saturday night, ‘there are so many pictures in my head of this day that I will remember for the rest of my life.’ Even the weather had cooperated, the rainclouds of the week shredding in the cool wind under that huge sky – an Irish day. I am sure Martin Prendergast had something to do with that.
“Ireland is traditionally known as the land of ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’. Certainly the Irish who have come to the states have brought that tradition along with them, and those of us who traveled to Illinois at the end of August will be happy to agree. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who made this lovely show a reality. Clearly the organizers worked extremely hard to bring it all together, and we wholeheartedly urge as many folks as possible to lend their assistance and support next year – this one’s too good to miss!”
Pat Reichle seconded this opinion. Said Pat, “I attended the show with my pony and I must say I have never had so much fun at a show. Everyone was so friendly and I really enjoyed listening to all the Irish people talk. The Irish really know how to put on a great show and have a terrific party. And it was so well run. I never even had a chance to pick out my stall. The stall fairies were always ahead of me, the same with water. Win, lose or place it was all fun and the cash prizes were nice but not necessary. It was so nice seeing all the men with their ponies. I
have never been to a show were there were so many men actively involved. Then afterwards, there was the food and entertainment: Three Irish bands and Irish dancers. Thank you all, Midwest Pony Breeder group! I can just imagine all the hours of work and planning that went into this show, not to mention all the volunteers. You all did a wonderful job and I hope you have it again next year. I'm ready.” ME TOO!! |
 S. Woodstock, VT: Faye Silva has sent this report on the Long Format Training Level Three Day (T3DE) that was held last weekend at the Green Mountain Horse Association. Eliza Farren from Hudson, MA and her six-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred, Bantry Bay's Dublin, won Division B on their dressage score of 26.6%, and they also won Best Conditioned horse of the competition!!!! Dublin is by Bantry Bay's Archie out of Solar Link (TB). Logan Go Bragh, a ten-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred by Erin Go Bragh out of Glamarama (TB) and owned by Brittny Novak from Clinton, NY also was there. What a wonderful experience this was: I can not say enough good things about the long format. I would encourage all Connemara event riders to train for and enter these events.  Eliza arrived Thursday with a "baby" six-year-old and left Sunday with a grown up horse. Next up for Eliza and Dublin is Preliminary at King Oak Horse Trials September 13th in South Hampton, MA. They hope to contest a long format One Star in 2010.”
Photos are of Eliza and Dublin on the Steeplechase course and Eliza & Dublin (center) with Logan (left), and Out of Nowhere (right), a 15 yr old TB owned by Melinda Marston from Pittsfield, NH. They won the award for the best scoring American Thoroughbred.
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