Smokey Finn with Martin in Annaghdown

Coolin America at Clifden

After a dozen years at Martin Conneely’s Annaghdown stud, Smokey Finn has changed hands and is now with John Varley at Coolin Stud. The twenty year old by Tulira Finn MacCool out of Smokey Latecomer possesses some very rare bloodlines including Tooreen Ross and Aura Dun which will be attractive to many. He joins the home-bred Coolin America, a regular winner in the show-ring and sire of several outstanding winning youngsters. Cloughbrack Rory by Rory Rasputin completes John’s trio at Coolin.

Martin has given the Annaghdown mares a year off and will consider his options again next year. His outstanding stallion in the past has been Robin Hood who is to be found in the back-breeding of a great number of performance ponies. Calla Boy and to a lesser extent Billy also had their day at Annaghdown.

Following the sale of two young mares (Annaghdown Storm and Lickeen Colleen) last year, as well as a handfull of geldings, we hadn’t thought about any drastic downsizing this year, but when a buyer (a beginner in Connemaras) came along some weeks ago looking for young geldings to bring on, we parted with the five homebred geldings we had left. So we say goodbye to Ashbrook Raven (Hazy Match X Blue Rose 2011), Ashbrook Woodcock (Blue Smokie X Meelickisland Pearl 2011), Ashbrook Harrington (Hazy Match X Blue Rose 2010), Ashbrook Blue Boy (Blue Smokie X Annaghdown Storm 2010), and Ashbrook Glen (Glencarrig Prince X Meelickisland Pearl 2010).

With the recent arrival of a beautiful filly foal – Ashbrook Ruby (Cashelbay Brook X Coosheen Stormboy), Macdara has entered her equally beautiful full sibling Ashbrook Trush for the May sales. She is a superb yearling and will be ready for the showing season. Also pictured is Ashbrook Heather (Céileog X Tulira Roebuck). With great paces and extraordinary jumping ability, she will hopefully combine successful showing and performance careers in the future.

Click here here for up to date photos of Ruby (’12), Thrush (’11), Heather (’10), and Róisín (’09).

Ashbrook Orga with the red rosette in Cork last Summer

The 2012 ISA yearbook is now available and after the long 6 month break from showing it brings a frisson of excitment to see that the new circuit is just around the corner. The main point of interest this year is that the Clifden Show has been dislodged from its usual third Thursday in August slot to the 8th, 9th and 10th of August. The change is probably good news for the Cashel Show on Sun 5th August and Carraroe Show on Monday 6th August as they will undoubtedly become a focus for early arrivals for Clifden.

It’s also a really big year for Oughterard this year, celebrating its 50th anniversary. One not to miss on August 25th and 26th. Eyrecourt show is also back again this year in September, after its very successful beginning last year. So its something, somewhere, every weekend. If only we could do something about the price of diesel!!

The fun begins on the first weekend in June at Westport while the same weekend sees the 3rd Connemara World Show at Boswell. On the home page you will find the link to the 2012 show calender, taken from the ISA list which will be of interest to Connemara exhibitors everywhere.

For your copy of the ISA yearbook (€6) see www.irishshows.org or email michaelhughesisa@eircom.net and compliments to the ISA on a superb production.

See you in June! And don’t forget Cashel and Carroroe if your an August visitor.

Picture: An Capaillín 2012

When Little Model (by Little heaven out of a Connemara mare) represented Britain in dressage at the Rome Olympics in 1960 he showcased to an international audience the talents and versatility of the Connemara X. Dundrum (also by Little Heaven out of a Connemara mare) of course did it even better in the showjumping arena.
In a thoroughly researched article in the latest edition of An Capaillín, Carol O’Connor traces the rise of Portersize Just a Jiff with Camilla Speirs to Olympic qualification in 3 Day Eventing. The 12y.o. bay gelding is out of a thoroughbred mare Mizen Talent and by the Connemara stallion Crosskeys Rebel(S1.997). The latter traces back to Little Heaven, making it a distant relative of the great stars mentioned above.
All eyes will be on him in London during the Games and fingers will be crossed throughout the Connemara Pony World. Congratulations to Camilla on her acheivments so far and the very best of luck in the challenge ahead. The invaluable exposure for the breed will be welcomed!

An Capaillín 2012 is available from the CPBS (0905 21863). It is packed with interesting material and wonderful photos. Included is a very useful list of all stallions, listed by county, as well as details and photos of the young ones approved in 2011.

2012 marks a special anniversary for the Connemara Pony. It has been one hundred years since Michael J. O’Malley brought the Connemara Pony to the notice of the general public.

Historical Introduction: The Michael J. O’Malley legacy.

“Michael J. O’Malley was born in Rosmuc, Connemara, Co. Galway in 1884. He took great pride in his native Connemara Pony and was among those present at a meeting of the Connemara Pony committee, held in Clifden on 15th November 1911, when a description and definition of the Connemara Pony was drawn up. An attempt to form a Society failed, but Michael O’Malley was passionately determined to promote his beloved, Connemara Pony.

In June 1912, Michael O’Malley, Joe Welsh and two Connemara Ponies (the stallion, Irish Dragoon, and mare, Eileen Alanna) travelled the long journey from Rosmuc, the heart of Connemara, to the National Agricultural Hall (now called Olympia) in Kensington, London to take part in the 1912 World Exhibition of Breeds. His untiring efforts to raise awareness of the breed were well rewarded as his ponies were much admired. The hardships of the long journey had been worthwhile.

On his return from Olympia, Michael J. O’Malley set about trying to revive the breed. He wrote the first of many letters to the Irish Farming World titled “A Plea for the Connemara Pony” in which he deplored the deterioration of the Connemara Pony due to the introduction of unsuitable sires, and urged that steps be taken to revive the breed. He hoped to raise awareness of the Connemara Pony. Between November 1912 and July 1913, a total of twenty letters were published in the Irish Farming World, concerning the Connemara Pony. Thankfully, these letters have been preserved and published by Pat Lyne.

Eleven years later, The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society was formed on 12th December 1923, with Rev. Father C.J. White as President and Michael J. O’Malley as Honorary Secretary. Throughout his life Michael J. O’Malley strived to preserve, promote and improve the Connemara Pony. Michael J. O’Malley is a figure well known to historians of the Connemara breed as the man most responsible for the setting up of the CPBS and the eventual salvation of the pony as a distinct breed.”

(Adapted from ‘Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society 1923 – 1998′ by Elizabeth Petch,
Ashbrookstud.ie and the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society web site)

By Resolution of the Executive Board
of the
International Committee of the Connemara Pony Societies,
at a meeting on 24th March, 2012,
the first recipient of the Michael J. O’Malley Award is:

Sue Clarke,
Glenormiston Connemara Pony Stud, Queensland, Australia.

http://www.glenormistonconnemaras.com/

Sue with Gneevebrack Storm

All of us here at Ashbrook Stud, and we’re certain many many others beside, would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Sue on her achievement – Well Done Sue (and Barton)!

News just reaching us that Cáilín Conneelly’s Letterdyffe Rí Rá, winner of numerous classes as a youngster, has been sold to Amanda Sharman, Lincs.,where he will go under saddle.With the number of coverings bound to fall and a plethora of stallions(many of them redundant) all over the countryit is the perfect oppurtunity for this young pony. He will surely be as successful in his new life as he has been on the inhand circuit.We look forward to seeing him perform in the future.

Staying with the British Performance circuit it’s good to see Banks Vanilla, previously with Sean Dunne and now owned by Noel Noonan, doing so well and winning championships despite coming to it a little later in life than usual.

At last Monday night’s Council meeting the decision to hold the AGM in Athlone was reversed. The AGM will now take place in Galway, and it has also been postponed from its April date to sometime in May. A retrograde step. It was also decided that the members would not vote for the Clifden Judges this year and the new arrangement is that Andy O’Donoghue and Michael Igoe will pick the Clifden Judges. Our last post was an April Fool’s (and we hope you enjoyed it) – this one, most definately, is not.

Photo: A photograph from the recent Photographic Exhibition – Gentle Dancer, Killola Stud collection, photo Edouard Ecary