This Photo of Heather Mixture is from the collection of Martha Verschueren. Martha and her husband Leon were two of the first importers of Connemara ponies to the Netherlands in the late 60s and were prominent in promoting the breed there.They were regular visitors to Connemara and knew the breeders well. Martha visited a lot during the 70s and has left a valuable photographic archive. Heather Mixture(2709) was Clifden champion in ’66. By Clonkeehan Auratum(104) out of Calla Brown(922) she was a beautiful dappled dun and her sire was extremely popular. He was a halfbred (by the Arab Nazeel) and with the other halfbred Carna Dun(by the thoroughbred Little Heaven) they had a huge influence in breeding matters. The Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley of the pony world, things were never the same again. They brought scope and style to the pony and yet the breeders tired of Auratum thinking him too light and too short in his quarters. Many considered Heather Mixture too light as well but still a gorgeous pony by any standard.