No, not the Mediterranean, but Lough Maal in Oughterard.

It is, of course, Jim Dudley Walsh on Cregg Lassie, with her colt foal by Carna Dun. The foal became Little Joe and had a hugely successful career with Seán Stagg – winning in Clifden, Oughterard, and on many racetracks.

Cregg Lassie herself was a regular winner in the show ring, and her collection of rosettes are on display in Pat Lyne’s museum in Clifden.

All by way of letting you know that Oughterard Show Society is planning BIG THINGS for 2012, their fiftieth anniversary – having started in 1962, the year before this beautiful photo was taken (by Martin Mannion). Mary Nee will be delighted to hear from anyone with photos or memorabilia from the early years of the show. Our thanks to Nora Welsh, Jim’s sister, for the above photo.

Cregg Lassie with a load of turf.

Some Man for One Man

Nice n'Curly

Connemara ponies at the European Championship 2011

The European Championship was held in Poland in the end of July. In total 53 ponies competed in showjumping, 48 in eventing and 51 in dressage. I was able to identify a total of 16 purebred Connemara Ponies and 10 partbreds. Of the purebreds 7 participated in showjumping, 8 in eventing and 1 in dressage. The ponies were bred mostly in Ireland or France with 7 ponies each. One was bred in Belgium and one in Denmark. Most of the partbreds are from France. Unfortunately Connemara ponies did not win that many medals this year, even though the number of participants was high.

The best result was achieved by the 25% Connemara pony Mon Nantano de Florys (grand dam Ever de Garenne), who won both individual and team gold in eventing. Also on the French gold team was 50% Connemara Plume de Virey (by Thunder du Blin). Best purebred Connemara in eventing was Killacoran Blue placing 14th.

In showjumping the best Connemara result was achieved by Ballyowen Maybell Molly (by Monaghanstown Fred) finishing 14th. In dressage only one purebred competed. This has been the case for many years, and in recent years this single pony has been the French stallion Italic des Landes. He scored in the middle of the group.

The breeding of the ponies include the jumping “classics” such as Thunder du Blin (3 progeny), Ashfield Bobby Sparrow (2), Westside Mirah (1), Dexter Leam Pondi (1) and Banagher Magee (1). All top showjumping ponies themselves.

Here is a list of the ponies was able to identify. I have taken great care to make this information as accurate as possible. It is based on thorough online research and official databases. However I cannot guarantee it is free of errors or that I have not missed a pony, especially the list of partbred ponies is probably incomplete. Some countries just don‘t have official databases with free access available online – or I have been unable to find them as I do not know the language… I apologize for not mentioning the name of any rider. They are not included in my original data. As for pictures, I was not in Poland so I don’t have any. I have included my pictures of the two Swedish showjumping ponies. They are from an international showjumping competition held in Denmark in August. If you have anything to correct or ponies to add, please let me know!

European Championship 2011

 
The Nordic Championships 2011

Hesteklewa Wendy

The championship in showjumping and dressage was held in Denmark in the beginning of July. This was a major success for Connemara ponies. 3 Connemara ponies competed in showjumping and they won three gold and one silver medal! The individual showjumping championship was won by Ix de L’Aulne (by Dexter Leam Pondi). Team gold went to Sweden with Ix de L’Aulne and Some Man for One Man (by Ashfield Bobby Sparrow) on the team. Team silver went to Norway with Ice and Fire D’Albran (by Dexter Leam Pondi) on the team. In dressage there was only one partbred connemara in the 140 cm and under competition. This was Poetic Poetry (by Poetic Justice) who placed 5th individually and was on the Swedish team winning silver. Again all the ponies are from the “classic” jumping lines including the dressage pony!

The championship in Eventing was held the following weekend in Denmark. 2 Connemara ponies participated: the highly experienced 19 year old Swedish stallion Nice n’Curly and the Danish mare Hesteklewa Wendy. Unfortunately the rules were change in the last second, and Wendy’s rider was forced to make a choice between her 2 ponies. Only one was allowed to compete and the other was allowed to participate for practice only. Wendy ended up not being part of the competition. A completely new and impressive cross country track had been built for this competition. It did however prove too much for most of the ponies and only 4 out of 15 completed the course. This included the 2 Connemara ponies who both had a clear round on the fences! The bronze medal was won by Nice n’Curly. The best result was achieved by Hesteklewa Wendy, but unfortunately it did not count. Her rider won gold with her other pony, so not that much of a loss… In September, Hesteklewa Wendy won the Danish Championship. Included are my pictures from the cross country phase at the championship.

Nordic Championship 2011

Cecilie Springer

www.springerconnemara.dk

The course is to be taught by one of the World’s top equine reproduction experts, and is without doubt, the most comprehensive stud course available. Each day a different section will be covered, the mare, the pregnant mare and foal, and the stallion. The course will include practical sessions, Q&A’s, and a huge amount of practical and money saving advice. Each delegate will receive detailed course notes.

Teaching and practical work will be supported by Jamie Anderson, BA Physiol (Oxon), Lotta Sortoft, and a presenting veterinarian.
The course will commence on 24th February 2012, subject to sufficient bookings.
For more information, contact Kate Murray: 0868169134.

Ashbrook Heather in Áill Fhraoigh

Its Sunday January 1st and, though it was only briefly, the sun shone. A portent maybe. 2011 was an exciting year with most of our energies spent on getting copies of The Moyucullen Ponymen to customers all over the world. A huge thanks to all readers and supporters. Orga was successfully exhibited again this year collecting a few more red rosettes. She has been broken and ridden and will later this year go in foal. Next season we will exhibit the 2yo Ashbrook Heather (CéileogXRobuck) and the yearling Ashbrook Thrush (BrookXStormboy). It was a slow year on the sales front. We sold six in all: Lickeen Hazel, Annaghdown Storm and her foal and the three Geldings Bullaun Warrior, Ashbrook Boy and Ashbrook Shannon. At current prices they left little profit but made room for four new foals. Profit is, of course, not the only important dimension. As the recent Ride and Drive in Moycullen demonstrated there are a lot of owners working and enjoying their ponies and that is what they are for. So in 2012 lets continue to WORK and ENJOY our ponies. In the context of the Michael O’Malley/Olynpia Centenary Celebration lets CELEBRATE our pony. With so many shows being organised lets support them and EXHIBIT our pony. In short lets make 2012 a great year for the Connemara. Happy New Year to all!

Michael Joe with a cart load of turnips

Nóra with a mare and foal

Michael Joe with one of his beloved draught mares

As many of our readers know, the second chapter of The Moycullen Ponymen is devoted to the life and times of the caraeraí, the carters who worked daily with their ponies and carts. Michael Joe Keady, a lifelong caraer from Drimavohane, was a valuable source of knowledge and anecdotes when the Moycullen Ponymen was been written and is extensively quoted.
His only Connemara pony was Mountain Pride (1608). Never bred she was a bad tempered black mare and a terrific working pony, acclaimed for her speed and stamina on the road. Michael Joe worked her for several years before changing to Irish draughts which he worked for the following forty years. He jaunted, posted, carted, tilled and harvested with them. Michael Joe still breeds a Draught foal every year. Maybe he needed the bigger animal to match his own great strength and physique. He remains a consummate horseman. His wife Nóra is equally knowledgeable and passionate about horses. Reflecting on his lifetime working horses on his land in Drimavohane he said “I loved every minute of it, I’d do it all over again.”

Gura fada buan sibh beirt.

Tullykyne Princess

Princess' son Tullykyne Prince by Hazy Match

Princess' daughter Síoda by I Love You Melody

We hear from Myles Feeney in Tullykyne, Moycullen that he is leasing his Ashbrook bred mare Tullykyne Princess (Kestrel 1st X Tulira Robuck) for the coming year. Princess and her foals have had a lot of success in the show-ring but Myles feels that he does not want to breed another foal in the present climate. The leasee will keep next year’s foal and get the mare in foal again before Myles takes her back. It seems an ideal arrangement to suit everyone and maybe an interesting model for other mare owners who are not keen to have foals but would like to keep their mares breeding without cost. Interestingly Kestrel who is California owned is leased to Jocelyn Davies at Devon Ridge Farm in Canada where she is a valued brood mare.