The old mare Lecarrow passed away this year 2015 in her 36th year.
Lecarrow and the Lor Ruadh Line
Lecarrow, a true old type golden oldie, a descendant of the Lor Ruadh family, is now in her 34th year. She is by Murphy Rebel – Lor Ruadh 2nd. Her breeding can be traced back to Silver Spray, foaled in 1930 and owned by Thomas Keaney of Murvey, Roundstone. Lor Ruadh, whose grand-dam was Silver Spray, came into the ownership of Thomas Keaney’s daughter, Mrs Mary Nee, whose daughter Evelyn, was to continue the breeding tradition which goes back to Cuach na Coille, Molly Conneely, Rebel Wind and Cannon Ball.
Extended family
Many of Lor Ruadh’s descendants have achieved Show ring honours:
The stallion, Ard Conneely, Dublin and Clifden Champion in 1992 with Heather Wright, was a great-great grandson of Lor Ruadh and later distinguished himself in Belgium where he was ridden, driven and was nominated Supreme Connemara of that country in 2005.
Dolan Mick by Cloonisle Cashel X Lor Ruadh 4th and bred by Michael Nee in 1999, was also a Clifden Champion in 2006. Also in later generations successful show ponies can be found.
Glenvalley Grey by Coral Prince X Glen Lady 2nd, was a great grandson of Lor Ruadh 2nd. Among other successes he won the Cannon Ball trophy in Oughterard in 2002 with Mary Duffy for owner Pat Flaherty. Glenvalley Grey died young but left a son Cashelbay Kim who has had a remarkable career in the U.S, having won Bronze medals in Dressage, Eventing and Showjumping. .
Glencroft Amy, a daughter of Glen Lady (X Lor Ruadh 2nd), won her class at Clifden in 1996 and again in 2002 when she was also reserve for the Champion title. Glencroft Amy has shown that she also passes on her beauty. Her son Castleside Glenboy was youngstock champion at the French breed show of 2001). Glencroft Amy also bred a gelding son Glencarrig Duke (Castlestrange Fionn) who was judged Best of Breed at Olympia 2008.
Lor Ruadh 2nd by Killyreagh |Kim, was the youngest daughter of her dam Lor Ruadh and produced Lecarrow by Murphy Rebel for her breeder Evelyn Nee of Foregloss near Ballyconneely. In 1980 Lecarrow was sold as a yearling to Mary Slattery of Lecarrow, Tynagh in East Galway who registered her with the CPBS, hence her name. Lecarrrow changed ownership a few more times and was backed and ridden by a daughter of one owner, Michael Hynes. Following the death of her dam, Lor Ruadh 2nd, Evelyn Nee brought Lecarrow back to take her place as a broodmare and continue the family breeding line in Foregloss. Lecarrow had some unregistered foals during her absence from Foregloss and had reached the age of 18 years when she was bought back to Connemara by her original owner.
Showing. Lecarrow had been shown successfully as a yearling with a 3rd at Clifden and a 1st at Oughterard. She was again lightly shown in her golden years, with successes at Oughterard, Ballyconneely and Cashel. At Clifden she generally stood in the top three and took the Yellow ribbon at Clifden aged 28.
In 2009 she was presented with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at Ballyconneely show, at the age of 30. Since 2002. Lecarrow is now retired back in her birthplace
Breeding
Lecarrow bred 5 foals for Evelyn Nee in her senior years, including three stallions sons, two of which were by Village Boy. The full brothers were Lecarrow King and Killacloran Fuinseog. Lecarrow King remained at Foregloss until Padraig Hynes of Canal Ponies, who had bought him as a foal and sold him on as a yearling, bought him back in 2008 and showed him at the Canal Stud Open Day and the Clifden Stallion Parade in March the following year.
His looks and his presence found a buyer in Henrietta Knight who brought him home to England and produced him with outstanding success as a riding Pony.
His regular rider was Sam Roberts and his stellar showing career was rounded off on a high note when at Olympia 2010 he was crowned Best of Breed and Reserve Ridden Champion. His full brother Killacloran Fuinseoig is now in Sweden where his progeny are show winners also.
Lecarrow’s son Robuck by Tulira Robuck has carved out a place for himself as a performance pony in the American Connemara hall of fame. This grandson of Murphy Rebel has distinguished himself in Dressage and Eventing circles and has received the American Connemara Society’s “Award of Excellence”.
Lecarrow king has sired 18 registered progeny plus since 2009. Among them is Canal Laura out of Canal Linnett, who made her presence felt at shows in Connemara, in 2013.
Tyan First Knight by Mac Cloonisle X Lor Ruadh 4th, another member of the extended family bred and owned by Ann Halfpenny in England, has qualified for Olympia this year, so we will watch out for him.
The up and coming young Golden Pat, another newcomer to watch, can also claim relationship to the Lor Ruadh Line. Thls colt by Streamstown Micky X Lor Ruadh 5th took the Yearling Colt Class at Boswell Connemara Show in 2011 for owner Laura McWeeney. Now in England and recently gelded, he is currently being prepared for U.K Ridden Classes in 2014.
Some more news on English progeny of Lecarrow King.
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