Cashelbay Joe, Olympia 09

This is a story of a girl and her Connemara pony Cashelbay Joe.

 It is about the long hours of hard work, dedicated commitment and above all the bond created between pony and rider which enabled this pair to fulfil a dream.

Cashelbay Joe and Emma at Clifden Show

 Emma O’Toole’s dream was to qualify her eleven year old gelding Joe for the summit of Connemara Pony showing. The goal was to qualify for the ’09 London Olympia Christmas Horse Show, to compete in the prestigious Mountain and Moorland Championship there. 

IRISHTOWN BEAUTY

 

Irishtown Beauty Clifden win 1994, Noel Sweeney

IRISHTOWN BEAUTY

by Abbeyleix Fionn – Irishtown Diana (1980 – 2009).

Bred by Emer Fitzpatrick in Irishtown, Westmeath, Irishtown Beauty lived with the Sweeney family in Bunowen, Ballyconneely Co. Galway for sixteen years before she passsed away quietly in her field in February ’09. 

Janus

Janus (Oxenholm Marble Jnr. – Brantshammar Julie.  1989 to Oct 2009

Janus at Dublin RDS 06

Janus (foto-job.com)

With his sweeping long silky mane and forelock – an instantly recognisable trademark –  the Connemara stallion Janus was a Showring favourite in Ireland for the past four years.  Janus was bred by Eva and Anders Wilsonn in Sweden and owned since 1996 by Sweden’s Lotto Sjoberg:   Since 2006 he had been standing for four seasons with Henry O’Toole of Castle Connemara Ponies until his untimely death in the autumn of 2009.