The worst of the snow seems to be over, at least for those not used to having snow. The ponies all did well, we are very glad to say. In fact, it was noted that they would probably rather have the zero degrees and snow, than the heat and flies of summer. Not so their owners, I don’t think. Below are a variety of ponies enjoying the snowy days.
The ACPS Board of GovernorsLexington, KY The ACPS held its semi-annual Board of Governors meeting on January 15 and 16, in conjunction with the USEF annual meeting. One of the highlights was the Horse of the Year banquet where the USEF Connemara of the year and other national awards are given out. Pictured are all the hard-working officers who attended the meeting, and those who attended the HOTY banquet. Also pictured are Sue Jellum and Rochambeau (Aladdin's Denver x Ms. Hawkeye [TB]), who won the McKenna Award which goes to the highest placing Connemara in USEF eventing at the Preliminary level or above; Alex Dawson and Kynynmont Shenanigans (Kynynmont Dublin X Greystone Adirondack Roseanna), the first recipients of the Seldom Seen Award for the high point Connemara ridden by a Junior at USEF dressage; and Lisa and Randy Reese accepting the award for Sparrows Nio (Grange Finn Sparrow X TB) who won the Advanced Level Eventing award.
Berryville, VA: On March 15, Region III of the ACPS held their St. Patrick’s Day party at Glendale Farm, home of Deb and David Norman. A scrumptious pot luck lunch that left everyone’s breeches popping was served, after which there was a region meeting and a visit to Deb’s two stallions.
American Connemara Magazine is available on-line ...
Minutes are posted for the 2014 Board of Governers meeting...
Read More here...
Originally printed in Eventing Nation
By Beth Davidson on Sep 9, 2014 12:30 pm
You mean I shouldn't stand on mom? Photo Anneke Davidson
Most breeders of horses don’t breed for the event market, as OTTBs are often the mounts of choice for eventers. However, lately more purpose-bred event horses are offered for sale in the U.S. Gone are the days when just about any athletic Thoroughbred from off the track can be made up into a competitive three or four-star horse.
Fate's PatriotThomson, Ga: Connemaras did very well at the Thanksgiving weekend Horse Trials held at Pine Top Farm in northeast Georgia. Leading the winners was Laura Duhamel who won the Training Rider Division on her Connemara/TB, Balmullo’s Patriot, who she shows as Fate’s Patriot aka Patrick. She won the Training Rider Division, finishing on her dressage score of 33.6. Patrick was sired by the now 32-year-old Concord River Roaringwater Bay.
Ocala, FL. Region IV of the ACPS held its annual show on the weekend of November 22 at the Florida Horse Park. Day one of the show was a three phase event, and also individual dressage tests. This was done in conjunction with Partners of the Park who were holding an open horse trial and dressage show at the same time.
(from U.C. Davis website) “Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD) is a genetic defect characterized by a hoof wall that easily breaks and cracks, and a normal appearing coronary band. The breaks and cracks begin to occur in young ponies. In severe cases the pony bears weight entirely on the sole of the foot which can lead to severe lameness. HWSD is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This means that carriers are completely normal and only animals with two copies of the mutation will show clinical signs of the disease. HWSD appears to occur only in the Connemara pony and the carrier frequency has been estimated to be about 14.8%. A DNA test for this specific mutation can determine if ponies are normal or if they carry one or two copies of the mutation. Ponies that carry two copies of the mutation are highly likely to be affected with the disease. Some cases are milder while others are more severe. We have identified at least one case where the pony does not appear to have clinical signs associated with having two copies of the mutation. This indicates that the mutation is not fully penetrant; however it has very high penetrance of 96.8%.
Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce McCamey Kimbler as the winner of the 2014 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. The USEF Youth Sportsman's Award is designed to identify potential future leaders in the equine industry and provides an opportunity for the USEF to recognize outstanding youth members for their achievements. An international endurance rider from Aberdeen, S.D., Kimbler was nominated by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).
Alexandra Lynch wrote a feature story in PSDressage.com about Lee Taylor and his Connemara, Padraig, who compete in the national dressage circuit. Read the full story here: http://www.psdressage.com/viewarticle.php?id=1651
