Kathleen’s championship title earned Mari Talvio of Coneridge Stud the title of the breeder of the year 2012. Kate passed away some years ago, but recently Woolpacks Sweetie Pie (by Janus out of Bolle Cornett, by Lukas) became the newest addition to the Coneridge Stud. Sweetie Pie was the Finnish Connemara Show Supreme Champion 2010. Another mare, Coneridge Catriona, added to the Coneridge breeder points by winning classes in 2012. Second in the breeders’ Championship was Tuula Pyöriä’s Caragh Stud with the excellent show results and inspection scores of her three broodmares Emer, Ernine and Grian.
photo above: Caragh Emer was the winner of the large four to ten year old mare class at the National Pony Show. She is lined up first with owner and breeder Tuula Pyöriä. Emer is out of Caragh Enya (Ard Ri Cunga) who passed away this year. She is lined up with her three half sisters by Innellan Kestrel: Coneridge Kathleen, Hagelunds Vanillah and Doyher Dragonfly. photographer: Satu Pitkänen
In total, 19 mares were inspected this year, most of them achieved class 1 and all of them passed the inspection. Two mares were only rewarded with the 3rd premium, which means even though they would otherwise met the criteria for Class 1, their poor inspection score (conformation & movement) only earned them Class 2 status.
Stallion inspection was a bit of a disaster in 2013. All pony breeds’ inspections were to take place during one weekend in mid April, which is in every case a little too late in the breeding season. But this year the inspection premises had been contaminated by equine herpes virus, and as a precaution the inspections were postponed till late May.
Of the six Connemara colts originally entered for the April inspections, only three turned up for the later date. One of them didn’t clear the vet check and was said to be lame. We hope to see this stallion, seven year old Vanity Padraigh (by Janus out of Tempelisa Lady Calista, by Ard Ri Cunga), again next year, as he was now to renew his earlier limited period breeding licence into a lifetime one, in accordance to the new rules. His earlier offspring has proven to be first class and has done well in both in hand shows and youngstock assessments. 24 • An Capaillín 2014
In total, 19 mares were inspected this year, most of them achieved class 1 and all of them passed the inspection.