Hello Everybody. Welcome to my Blog. This is the cover of my book about owning and caring for Connemara ponies. Find out more at my website at www.marne.ie You can view monthly posts starting in July ‘08 and containing Show Reports, Sales info. or short profiles of younger ponies and ponies in the news. The Pages now being organised, (see on right above Blogroll) will try to categorise things in a more ordered way, starting with Older Ponies, Summer Pony Shows. Hope you can find your way around this blog. Best wishes Niamh ArdcruBooks
July 4, 2008
Welcome
July 5, 2009
Connemara Summertime
Under ‘Pages’, See a report on Connemara Classes at Claremorris and at Dartfield. 29 May and at Galway 20,21 June 09. Also Roundstone Show 12 July 09 Ω Ballyconneelly Show this Sat and Sunday 18th and 19th July. Ridden ponies and geldings in-hand starting Sat 2 pm. All in-hand Classes on Sunday
Summertime in Connemara The reassurance felt when scampering foals appear in the Spring each year is a hopeful feeling that despite recession at home and third world poverty and conflict abroad, at least nature is continuing as normal in Connemara.
Muilrea Mountain across the Killary
Near Ballyconneely
It’s a mare and foal’s paradise; the sun is on their backs, the fresh green grass and the long balmy days build strong bone. There are fresh windy days too with scudding clouds and cleansing rain.
Foxglove
Wild flowers fill the roadside hedgerows, fuchsia abounds
Haycocks
and the purple foxglove lift their tall spires; bog cotton blows and the common orchid hides in the tall grasses. The blooming Connemara landscape conspires to lift the spirits of humans and animals alike.
too.
At Cleggan harbour
Dawn Mist and 10th foal. 4 day old colt by smokey Idea
Dawn Mist by Ballydonagh Cassanova is out of Sea Mist; Aged 21 and not looking her age, this is her 10th foal; Dawn Mist is prizewinner in both Clifden and Dublin and her 4 day old filly foal is by Smokey Idea. Lots of Show winners in this pedigree, including grandam Gleann Rua Sea Mist, Supreme at Roundstone and many times a Champion. She belongs to Grace Murphy
- Common Orchid
Gurteen Misty and foal
The six yr old mare Gurteen Misty 2nd pictured at Roundstone is by Coral Dun and is a daughter of Gurteen Misty. (Gurteen Misty is also the dam of former Clifden Supreme Champion, Coral Misty). She is owned by Pat Mullen of Gurteen Bay. The filly foal is by Killyreagh Shadow, a son of Silver Shadow the international showjumper bred in Connemara, who has recently found a new home in Italy. Maybe a big future for this baby too?
By Ballinakill lake
This little gem (if you’ve ever served a stint as a Show Secretary you may enjoy this) came from the pen of Christopher Curtis almost thirty years ago. It was passed on to this blog by a friend. ”The Eventful Day” (short edition)Christopher Curtis.
While you’re driving back home from our local event, Perhaps you’ll be saying “How well it all went!”
But you’d say something else if, like me, you had spent From dawn until dusk in the Secretary’s Tent.
The ground’s in its usual terrible state, And the very first horsebox gets stuck in the gate,
At last, here’s the Doctor, but where is the Vet ? And one of the Fence Judges isn’t here yet;
That silly young girl has forgotten to bring The watches we need for the show-jumping ring;
If I’m any judge of this Judge’s demeanour, He’s late and he can’t find the dressage arena;
The barman’s complaining he can’t find the booze; There’s another complaint on the state of the loo’s;
The fence mender’s wanted at three different fences; The man in the car park’s demanding expenses;
The man on the commentary hiccoughs and swears With the microphone on – and so everyone hears;
A parent’s insisting we’ve got the wrong score And behind her are bound to be quite a few more;
A very small child, a pink purse and some keys Have been found (one in tears).
“Will the owners come, please.” Excitement is rising, we are quite near the end,
Not a moment too soon, or I’ll go round the bend; At last, the results – there are lots of surprises -
Good grief! Where’s the man who’s presenting the prizes?
As you all stream away from the rings and the course, I’m the only one there who has not seen one horse!
Fuchsia and blue gate
Wild Honeysuckle
A corner of John McLoughlin's garden
Well know breeder of Gentle ponies, John McLoughlin not only breeds prize ponies, he also grows a beautiful garden
July night 11.15 pm
The Show Secretary’s Lament:
June 25, 2009
Ballinalee Show Some Results
A shortened version of Ruth rogers’ very comprehensive report on the recent Ballinalee Show in Co.Longford which she kindly sent me.
BALLINALEE CONNEMARA PONY SHOW
By;Ruth Rogers
A highly successful all Connemara Pony show took place at Ballinalee on 14 June with huge entries in all classes. Championship of the show to Padraic and Nicola Heanue’s grey stallion Village Fionn, (Boden Park Finnard-Village Grey) (Abbeyleix Owen-Village Belle) The Reserve Champion of the show was awarded to Padraic Hynes from Canal Stage who exhibited the smart newcomer Currach Court Lady (Clonberne Boy and Clydagh Maria) which he bought at Clifden Mart sales last May. The Junior Champion was another Clifden sales bargain, P.J.Watson’s three year-old filly Be My Star (Monaghanstown Fionn-Gentle Star 2nd), bought by Watson at the Sales in May for €6,000 her delighted owner said “She is a lovely type, when I saw her in the Mart I had to have her, it’s very exciting.”
Village Fionn,Supreme Champion Ballinalee with Padraig Heanue
The Reserve Junior Champion was Pat Rabbitt’s three year- old newcomer Illaunurra Lad (Corncullen Silver Belle-Village Mist). The new Connemara Performance Hunter class has huge potential and attracted thirty entries for the prize fund of €1,000 Clearly this competition is there to stay, and what a course it would be to run a Dublin qualifier. The eventual winner was Orla Smyth Kinane’s Treanlawn Glen Charlie ridden to perfection by Sophie Wentages, ahead of Melanie Young aboard Newtown Westie.
April 18, 2009
Connemara Pony upcoming events from www.marne.ie
Under ‘Pages’, See a report on Connemara Classes at Claremorris and at Dartfield. 29 May and at Galway 20,21 June 09. Also at Roundstone 12 July.
Ω Ballyconneelly Show this Sat and Sunday 18th and 19th July. Ridden ponies and geldings in-hand starting Sat 2 pm. All in-hand Classes on Sunday
CONNEMARA PONY SALES 2009
After the Clifden Show on Thursday August 20th a two day Sale of Connemara Ponies will be run at the Clifden Mart on Sat and Sun 22nd and 23rd.
The 5 Day October Sale will run from Thurs 22nd to the Bank Holiday Monday of October 26th. For Application for Sales, Sales information and Results contact info@connemaraponysales.com or visit www.connemaraponysales.com
AN CAPAILLIN
This year’s An Capaillín, the Society’s Yearbook, is available from the Society Offices in Clifden at a very modest 15 Euro with 3 Euro postage charge. It is a beautiful celebration of the pony in all it’s glory covering many activities of the year and lots of information from home and abroad. The standard of photography is excellent, the production very crisp and professional and the articles well worth a read. www.marne.ie
Ω From the Connemara Pony Performance Association
comes news of their 2009 Championship Show which will be held on Saturday 29 August at the Corribdale Showgrounds at Oughterard Co. Galway. Qualifiers will be held at designated Shows throughout Ireland and the U.K during the Showing Season.
The format of both Ridden and Working Hunter Classes which has proved so successful in the past seven years will remain the same. There will be four Classes, consisting of a Ridden and a Working Hunter Class for Riders under 16 and a Ridden and Working Hunter class for Riders over 16. Each rider may qualify in one or two Classes in each age category. See September Post for last year’s Championship Show pictures.
You may be interested to know that the IPS Western Area Show at Dartfield (near Loughrea) on Saturday 30th May had all four of the above Performance Qualifiers plus the Powers Quarry Qualifier for riders under 18, the Final of which also takes place at Oughterard Show. See IPS website at www.irishponysociety.com
Ω THE MIDLANDS CONNEMARA PONY BREEDERS SHOW - SUNDAY JULY 26th
The Midlands Show offers a range of In-Hand and Performance classes for registered Connemara ponies. Highlights include the All Ireland Brood Mare Championship & Lady de Vesci Perpetual Cup ( sponsored by Clifden Connemara Pony Sales) The Sarah Miller Future Performance Competition. (Performance classes –prize fund €1,350)
The Sarah Miller Future Performance Pony Competition: The late Sarah Miller devised the Future Performance Connemara Pony Competition for the Midlands show in 2004. The competition aims to promote the production of quality Connemara Performance ponies by evaluating and recognising up and coming talent, hence entries are restricted to registered Connemaras between 4 and 8 and ridersbetween 12 and 18. Competitors are marked on four criteria:
1. a dressage test (preliminary) 2. their pony’s conformation, true to type 3. the effective jumping of a derby course 4. their pony’s way of going, ‘star quality’ and potential. 1st Prize €200, 2nd Prize €100, 3rd Prize €75, 4th Prize €50
New Performance Competition!! This year the Midland Connemara Pony Breeders Group is also launching a new performance competition open to registered connemara ponies 4 years old and over and riders 12 years old or over. Competitors are marked on a dressage test, conformation, jumping and way of going. 1st Prize €100, 2nd Prize €50, 3rd Prize €25 4th Prize €10
The performance classes programme also includes ……
- under and over 16s registered ridden Connemara pony classes* (€185 per class)
- South Mayo Breeder’s ridden Connemara Gelding 5 years and over qualifier
- The Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders registered ridden Connemara pony championship
- under and over16s registered Connemara pony working hunter classes* (€185 per class)
- Powers Quarry All Ireland Performance Championship Qualifier* for Oughterard show 2009
For further information on Performance classes contact: Ursula Fitzpatrick mfb3@eircom.net/ 087-6282725, Anna Camon 087-6280035 atcamon@eircom.net or Katy Miller katy.miller@tin.it In-hand classes, Secretary Mary Rabbitt 044-9226489 / Entry Secretary Eilish Durcan 085-1636843Ruth Rogers P.R.O. rodgersruth@eircom.net
Ω CONNEMARA PERFORMANCE PONIES HAVE TRULY ARRIVED
Now that Dublin, Clifden, Oughterard, the Midland Breeders Show, Ballinalee (where 30 ponies competed in a ridden class last Sunday) and a whole host of other Shows are showcasing the versatility of the performance Connemara, with both qualifiers and championships throughout the country, Performance is the ‘Bling’ word in Connemara Pony circles and mare owners are seeking the elusive performance genes in the stallions they chose to use. The RDS made headlines last year with it’s new and successful Connemara Working Hunter Class and this year are intorducing a 2nd class. Each Class will be based on pony age. One Class will be open to qualified ponies in the five, six and seven year old age group and the second Class will be for eight year olds and upwards. Qualifiers will be held in six venues in July, just before the Dublin Horse Show at the beginning of August. four Wednesdays in July will be qualifying days,: Scarteen on 1 July, Fort Mountain on the 8th, Lambertson on 15 July, Ballyfraffin on the 29th. On Monday 20th Rathbawn is the venue and Tattersalls is Friday 24th. Fence heights for the younger age group will be a minimum of 90cms. and the older ponies will jump a 1metre course, and fences will be a combination of working hunter and cross-country type obstacles. Contact the RDS for further details.
P.S. I am happy to upload any news items you may send me on Connemara ponies or events connected with Connemaras. The omega symbol Ω indicates Shows. Niamh www.marne.ie
