Fran Cleland
Connemaras finding their way back into the spotlight
THOSE of us old enough to remember Fred Wiltshire think of him with a smile. A larger-than-life, boisterous and strong-minded Irish veterinarian, he was a go-getter and apart from his drive in creating the Lancefield Horse Festival, one of the biggest shows of its time, and having a hand in the creation of the Barastoc Horse Of the Year Show, his great love of the
Pony is what we remember most.
In 1963, Dr Wiltshire imported the Connemara Pony stallion Island King.
He set about promoting the breed, not just as a purebred, but for cross-breeding as performance horses. The likes of Margaret (M) Kelly, Ann Paterson and Zita Denholm followed, providing a strong basis for one of the world’s great performance ponies.
The first purebred Connemara foal born in Australia was Connemara Park Kenneth, 1966, and with him the first Australian Connemara Stud Prefix.
Dr Wiltshire hoped to add movement, bone and scope to this breed and Island King was in fact registered as an Australian Pony Stallion.
He was very successful, but promotion of the ponies lapsed after he was killed in a tractor accident at his Lancefield property in the late 1970s.
Now, thankfully, with performance pony breeding for dressage and jumping, there is a revised interest in these beautiful ponies.
The inaugural Connemara Pony Gala Day was held at Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre on October 23 and it’s hoped that this will be the first of many showcases.
It was run by Leara Keysers in conjunction with the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society of Australia and attracted 44 entrants from as far away as Lake Cargelligo in NSW.
The ponies competed in in-hand showing classes, saddle classes, event pony challenges and handy mount.
Winners in the purebred in-hand classes
Stallion four years and over: Clairvale Connstellation
Colt, two and three years; Dylanglen Laoch
Colt, yearling; Marglyn Zephyr
Champion Led Purebred Stallion or Colt; Clairvale Constellation
Reserve Champion Led Purebred Stallion or Colt: Marglyn Zephyr
Broodmare: Celtic Miss O’Hara
Foal: Keysla Orpheus
Mare four years and over: Sugargum Richenda
Filly, two and three years: Garnet Cadence
Champion Led Purebred Female: Sugargum Richenda
Reserve Champion Led Purebred Female: Sugargum Purple Rain
Gelding, four years and over: Sugargum Sirocco
Gelding three years and under: Keysla Orpheus
Champion Led Purebred Gelding: Sugargum Sirocco
Reserve Champion Led Purebred Gelding: Keysla Orpheus
Junior Champion Led Purebred: Dylanglen Loach
Reserve Junior Champion Led Purebred: Garnet Cadence
Supreme Champion Led Connemara: Sugargum Richenda
Owners Pair, Sugargum Sirocco and Sugargum Richenda
Sire or dams progeny, Sugargum Sirocco and Sugargum Richenda
Led Partbred Stallion or Colt, Marglyn Chancellor
Led Partbred Gelding: Kiandre Legacy
Led Partbred Mare or Filly: Kahean Galaxy
Champion Led Partbred : Kahean Galaxy
Reserve Champion Led Partbred: Kiandre Legacy
Winners saddle classes
Ridden Purebred Stallion: Exmoor Orion
Ridden Purebred Mare: Sugargum Richenda
Ridden Purebred Gelding: Sugargum Sirocco
Champion Ridden Purebred: Sugargum Sirocco
Reserve Champion Ridden Purebred: Sugargum Richenda
Ridden Partbred Stallion or Gelding: Levale East Wind
Ridden Partbred Mare: Clover First Kiss
Champion Ridden Partbred: LeVale East Wind
Reserve Champion Ridden Partbred: Asham Punch
Ridden Pair of Ponies: Sugargum Sirocco/Sugargum Richenda
Ridden Pleasure Mount: Sugargum Sirocco
Ridden Pony to be ridden by child 14 yrsand under: Monahan Vagabond
Lead rein Pony: Greenlich Rebecca
Winners event pony challenge
Green As Grass Poles: Greenlich Rebecca ridden by Lydia Bouwman
Beginners Crossrails : Sugargum Richenda ridden by Corrine McAuley
45cm: Dun Manus Sean ridden by Kate Tiernan
65cm: LeVale East Wind ridden by Neva Brunning
80cm: Monahan Vagabond ridden by Abbey Fosnaugh
95cm: Asham Punch ridden by Hailey Dawson
Winner handy mount: Sugargum Sirocco
Highpoint champion: Sugargum Richenda
Highpoint reserve champion: Sugargum Sirocco.
GALLERY
(Hover for names)
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