Submitted by Margo Goldfarb: Registered half Connemara Ridgetop Pirate Blue by Landgate Bluebeard. Bred by my grandparents, Marynell and Walter Eyles. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.
The captivating Connemara! We are celebrating these horses as our May Breed of the Month on #YourDressage!
We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite Connemara or Connemara cross, and tell us a little about them, for a chance to be featured in an upcoming gallery right here! We will be sharing stories from folks who love this breed all month long.
Did you know that dressage riders who choose a Connemara as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the American Connemara Pony Society (https://www.acps.org) is a participating organization?
Registered half Connemara, Thanks for Last Knight based in Lexington, KY. Photo by Sarah Schaaf Photography – Molly F.This is purebred coming 2 year old KE Butterscotch, “Flynn”. He is my first Connemara and the most kind, personable and level headed youngster. I’m so excited for our future partnership. – Lara L.Tullymor’s Clementine Rose. – Bette F.Prairie Dandelion (Blue Ridge Jefferson x Windy Isles Belle Starr), half brother to Prairie Mulligan. – Lisa E.Cooley Caliber best horse that ever lived 🥰 – Deena T.Folklore Tess Gallagher (Wendover Kiltimagh x Folklore Elizabeth McNicolas). Tessie is my first secret baby who I bought at 7 months. She is now 23 and the perfect pony. She is a true Unicorn. I should add that after this class the judge came looking for us to see if Tessie was for sale (not a chance). – Sue A.Connemara sport horse (1/4 Connemara) showing at the I-1. 15.1 hand traditional Irish bred. Dunton’s Irish Magnum. Diana Hadsall photo – Amanda P.My yearling filly Summerhill Primrose “Prim” (by Pattys Etoile de Paris out of Blackwing Cajun Lullaby) bred by Cristi Flynn in Belton, TX. Absolutely the most personable, bravest and most fun young horse I’ve ever been around. I can’t wait to watch her grow up! – Abbie E.Elderglen’s Miss Kitty (*Gunsmoke X Foothills River Queen)… who just turned 20. Kitty is the perfect example of the Connemara motto “Connemaras Do It All”. Such a good girl! – Amy T.Phillipa (JEF Sir Lancelot x Hillside Elizabeth) 22 yr. old mare in foal to Patty’s Etoile de Paris, due any day. – Lisa E.Cedar’s Padraig showing in the Small Tour at Devon. He was a purebred Connemara by Ridgetop O’Rian. He was an amazing horse, sadly taken too soon. Not the most gifted with natural paces, he made up for it with his incredible heart and try. I will miss him forever. ❤️ – Lee T.BDF Top Dun, a 2014 registered halfbred gelding competing at 4th level with his owner, Danielle Bamford Comley. – Beth D.HillCreek CelticBug, purebred Connemara, successfully showing at First Level and schooling competently at Second Level. He is an awesome partner in life and in competition! 🥰 He also won his ACPS Lifetime Achievement Award in Dressage in 2022. – Lori J.Connemara Stallion Wildwych Eclipse at the World Equestrain Games in 2010. Eclipse competed through 3rd Level including all breeds awards program. – Lisa M. Note USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mountedCedars Moira Rua, a 2009 registered purebred mare with her child, Julianna, competing at training level – Jill S.Me on my Connemara Cross, BDF Gold Luck, taking a lesson from Kathy Connelly, with my trainer, Jill Hardt! We call him Connor. He’s my first horse! 🐴 – Emma G.Searah’s Camhaoir A’Herne “Dawn” (Greystone Adirondack A’Herne x Searah’s Celtic Legacy) 2023 USDF ACPS 3 year old Filly of the Year Champion, premium Westfalen mare. Bred by Kathy Trum-Searah and owned by Allison Doares-Sykora and Elhanan Equestrian. – Elhanan EquestrianMy baby, USEF 2023 National Reserve Champion Horse of the Year for Connemara Dressage. Shawnee Go Bragh by Erin Go Bragh o/o Shania Laet by Dobh MacDuff Terri Miller photo – Susan M.Blue Ridge Monroe doing a Connemara breed demo at the Land Rover KY 3-Day! – Jill M.Hard to believe that this wonderful girl will turn 32 in May this year. C.K.C. Katie (Erin Go Bragh x Feather In My Cap) came to me as a 2 yo and has been my ever-ready-pony since. Although Katie is sporting more grey hairs, she is still sound in all 3 gaits, enjoys her trail rides, and is still the boss hoss in the barn. Katie earned 4 Outstanding Achievement awards from the ACPS, earned the ACPS Tre-Awain Halfbred Award, taught countless adults and children, brought Pony Clubbers through their levels, taught 4-Hers their horsemanship skills, and served as a therapeutic riding pony. Most importantly, above all else, she has given me the best rides of my life. I am grateful for every day she is still with me! Éirinn go Brách! – Carolyn M.*MLC The Duke of Sussex 2018 Bay purebred stallion. Showing first level this year. Owned by Kathy Lucas/Gately Farm Connemaras. – Gately Farm ConnemarasBlackwing Holden’s Thunder (Blackwing Connemaras by Wildwych Thunder Snow out of Wildwych Dreamtime) a fancy, adorable much-loved pony! Holden and his girl Liliana competed in Training at Region 8 Championships and earned year-end awards from NEDA, ACPS and the American Dressage Pony Cup 🥰 – Catherine G.Penny Lane by W.H. Topgun- Connemara Stallion and offspring out of Balmullo’s Matilda. Has competed to Third level and competed at USDF Finals at Second. Currently working towards Fourth and PSG. SusanJStickle.com photo – Amy M.
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Lovely seeing all the gorgeous horses and how beloved they are.