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| News & Events Updated On 06 March 2010
First foal of 2010 ? Let us know when yours arrive ! Dawn of Rickamore and her filly foal by Midas Touch, foaled during the early hours of Tuesday March 2nd, and is pictured here only hours old. Dawn was bred by Mr.Gerry O'Reilly of New Ross, Co.Wexford, out of his good Westside Mirah mare, Caperann Cailín. The 5 y-o Dawn is by Carraig Thunder, and is a member of the Donegreagh Herd.
Due to unforeseen circumstances the CPBS seminar scheduled for March 3rd had to be cancelled at short notice. An assurance from the CPBS president, Dermot Power, has been given that they will reschedule in about a month's time, and advertise in the press and on the CPBS website. The Society extended their apologies for any inconvenience caused. Please remember our own AGM, on March 31st. We will give our own Genetics presentation at that time.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW POSTS ON THE HEALTH AND WELFARE PAGE !
All meetings or events organised or held by the N.I. Connemara Pony Breeders Association will always be advertised as such. Thank You N.I.C.P.B.A
NICPBA AGM March 3rd is the date we had intended to hold the NICPBA AGM, but as the CPBS have organised a seminar to take place in Dungannon on that date, ( see news item below ) our AGM will now be held on March 31st. Full details will be posted to all members very shortly.
CPBS Educational Seminars The Connemara Pony Breeders Society is hosting a number of Educational Seminars. The date for the seminar in the North is March 3rd, commencing at 8pm. Topics will include colic, in-breeding, genetics, and showing. All members and breeders are welcome to attend. Admission is free. Wednesday 3/3/10 Bank House Hotel, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone The next CPBS Council meeting is March 4th.
NEW SHOW IN AUGUST TO HOLD CONNEMARA CLASSES. Prior notice has been given to this group about a new show which takes place at the end of August. Organised by the recently formed 'Traditional Farm Livestock Foundation', the show will be held at the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra, Co.Down. The T.F.L.F., as it is to be known, has been constituted to raise the profile of traditional breeds of farm livestock breeds specifically in N.Ireland.
Photographs Older photographs have been removed due to launch of the new NICPBA website (www.nicpba.co.uk) as it was not possible to move them from the old website (www.connemaraponybreeders-nicpba.co.uk) at the time, however most photographs where archived and are still available on request and most will be reposted.
PLEASE NOTE: Photographs published on this website are the property of the original owner and no photograph on this site may be used or reproduced in any form without prior permission from the original owner. Any violation of the copyright laws will not be tolerated.
Make Life Easier for Your Vet ! "Veterinarians work under a great handicap when handling horses--almost everything the veterinarian does to a horse is either frightening or painful," began Robert Miller, DVM. However, that doesn't mean there's no way for a veterinarian to work comfortably with a horse, he says. With a bit of patience, time, and understanding of the horse's flighty nature, veterinarians and horse owners can easily train a horse to work with them rather than against them. Miller discussed equine psychology and its application to veterinary practice at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nev. Beginning with his early equine experiences, Miller discussed the observations and training methods that have led him to become an authority on equine behavior, training, and imprinting. Read the full article on:- http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15855
IPS National M&M 2009 Results Congratulations to Euan McCracken & Annaghdown Cloonahinch Moonlight (Jake) who were placed 2nd in the IPS National M&M points for 2009 and got a beautiful rosette at the IPS National Awards dinner in Athlone in January 2010. Jake was sold to Wiltshire early in the winter, and is having a great time with his new people ! Having spent a while last autumn searching for a taller pony to move on to, a Currachmore Cashel gelding turned up, and the new team have been training for working hunter classes. Seen below competing recently at Connell Hill E.C. in Randalstown are Euan with his new pony, Harry. They are aiming for the 153 W.H. at Balmoral in May, and we wish them the very best of luck !  Kindly supplied by proud Mum, Valerie, is the photo below, showing Euan at the IPS Awards Night where he won: M&M Working Hunter Pony National Award Novice 153cm Working Hunter Pony National Award M&M Ridden National Award IPS Ulster Silver League 2008 - 1st Novice M&M Ridden 3rd M&M Working Hunter Pony
An Audience with Dr Gerd Heuschmann - For the Good of the Horse
Saturday 11th September 2010, from 9am-6pm at Vale View EC. Old Dalby, Leicestershire, LE14 3LX
Application forms and more details can be downloaded from www.horsesinsideout.com/
Following last year's conference at Stow on the Wold we are pleased to announce that Dr Heuschmann is making a return visit to Horses Inside Out. [This will be a different talk to last time].
We have chosen the popular Leicestershire purpose built Equestrian Centre for this event. It is centrally placed for the whole country with excellent road, rail and air links for those coming from further afield. [It is only 1 1/2 hrs from Gloucestershire]. With brand new facilities and a large cafeteria, the day will be comfortable and inspirational.
During the morning Dr Heuschmann will be delivering 2 seminars. Then during the afternoon he will be 'working his magic' on a selection of horses. The day will end with a question and answer session.
If you would like to apply to be a rider, please send a brief resumé [about 100 words] and a photo of yourself riding your horse.
This seminar represents excellent value for money with an Early Bird offer [see the application form for more details]. and certificates of participation.
The day will be of interest to both riders and therapists. Looking forward to hearing from you,
Best Wishes,
Gillian
Tragic Loss Of In-foal Mare Due To Yew Poisoning 12th Feb 2010 When bringing a haylage bale to his ponies earlier this week, one of our members discovered that his in-foal mare was not just basking in the sun, but, in fact, had died. Since the ponies are seen daily, and had shown no signs of ill health, the owner called out his vet in order to find out what could possibly have happened. Veterinary analysis of blood samples revealed that yew tree poisoning was the cause of death. The toxin from Taxus baccata ( the Irish Yew ) is called taxin, and is so potent it kills very rapidly - within 4 to 6 hours, according to the vet. Animals have been found dead with the distinctive dark green leaves still in their mouths. The seeds and wood are also toxic. Knowing that no such tree bordered the field, the owner, upon searching, then discovered that a neighbouring home owner had thrown cuttings over the fence to 'give the ponies a bit of greenery'. With two other mares and two young fillies in the field, there could have been an even greater disaster. That the neighbour was not aware of the extreme toxicity of yew is hard to fathom - any gardener should know it. Yew is just as poisonous to humans as to other animals. We are advising anyone with ponies to make sure any neighbours are well warned not to throw cuttings of any kind to their ponies. It is the only way to prevent accidental poisoning, or even colic ( caused by grass cuttings ) by well meaning but ill-informed neighbours. For ponies who graze roadside fields, the dangers from fly-tipping are frightening.
Make Your Own 'Parelli' Halter Instructions at http://www.all-natural-horse-care.com/natural-horsemanship-halter.html Link supplied by Lesley Harvey.   
Registered Connemara Pony Stallions At Stud In Northern Ireland 2010 For anyone standing Connemara Stallions in Northern Ireland for the 2010 season please send us any updates such as change of contact details, change of address or change in stallion grade to finola.mulholland@btopenworld.com Any updated information for the forthcoming 2010 season would be much appreciated. Please note we also can post photos Free For Members for the first stallion, and at £10 per additional stallion. Basic Information about Stallions will be placed on the website free of charge for the benefit of mare owners. Membership for the NICPBA is only £15 per annum!
Horse Tax Meets with Widespread Opposition There is a lot of publicity about the UK government's proposed levy on all livestock, including equines, with points of view from all sectors of the horse world, whether commercial or pleasure riders. A website has been set up where interested parties can learn more about the proposals, and register their support of the British Horse Industry Confederation campaign against the DEFRA plans.
Connemara Pony Inspections 2010 Happily for Northern breeders, travelling to Mullingar will be unnecessary this year as there will be a colt inspection held in the North, at Ecclesville on March 23rd. The same venue serves for the fillies on April 14th. The list makes no mention of Donegal, where in the recent past, inspections have been held at Greenacres Riding School. Please note that geldings no longer require to be inspected by a CPBS panel - veterinary examination to confirm identity and a measurement of height are sufficient. Contact the CPBS office to obtain a gelding form. Date | Venue | Time | Category | 23/3/10 | Ecclesville Riding Centre, Fintona, Co. Tyrone | 11.00am | Colts | 24/3/10 | Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath | 10.00am | Colts | 25/3/10 | Rockmount Equestrian Centre, Claregalway, Co. Galway | 9.30am | Colts | 26/3/10 | The Showgrounds, Clifden. Co. Galway | 9.30am | Colts | 29/3/10 | Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, Claregalway, Co. Galway | 9.30am | Fillies | 06/4/10 | The Showgrounds, Ennis, Co. Clare | 10.00am | Fillies | 07/4/10 | Glen Aire Equestrian Centre, Mallow, Co. Cork | 11.00am | Fillies | 13/4/10 | Mullingar Equestrian Centre, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath | 10.00am | Fillies | 14/4/10 | Ecclesville Riding Centre, Fintona, Co. Tyrone | 11.00am | Fillies | 15/4/10 | Kerins Riding Centre, Tubberbride, Co. Sligo | 10.00am | Fillies | 19/4/10 | Claremorris Riding Centre, Claremorris, Co. Mayo | 9.30am | Fillies | 20/4/10 | Ballinasloe Mart, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway | 10.00am | Fillies | 27/4/10 | Spiddal/Costello/Rosmuc/CillChiaráin/Carna/Cashel | 9.30am | Fillies | 28/4/10 | Maam Cross/Oughterard/Moycullen | 9.30am | Fillies | 29/4/10 | Roundstone/Ballyconneely/Clifden/Renvyle | 9.30am | Fillies |
Connemara Pony Spring Festival Sunday 24th March 2010 The annual stallion parade will take place in the Showgrounds, Clifden, Co. Galway on Sunday 28th March 2010. A huge variety of activities have been arranged to coincide with the stallion parade. On Wednesday 24th March colt inspections will take place in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, followed on Thursday by colt inspections in Claregalway, Co. Galway and in Clifden on Friday 26th. On Thursday evening Nina Gustafson will share with us her collection of photos of Connemara ponies in the Abbeyglen hotel. Nina and her husband have been travelling to Ireland from Sweden and photographing Connemara ponies since 1979. On Friday night the ever popular table quiz will take place in the Station House Hotel. A registered Connemara pony sale will be held in Clifden Mart on Saturday 27th March. Pat Lyne, well known author on Connemara ponies will give a lecture entitled ‘The Arabian influence in the Connemara pony’ on Saturday evening in the Station House Theatre, followed by an auction of a specially commissioned painting. The annual stallion parade will run all day on Sunday. On Monday 29th filly inspections will be held in Claregalway.
Barefoot Trimming Trainer's Visit to Northern Ireland. With more enlightenment nowadays concerning the natural keeping and training systems for equines, there was a good turnout at the meeting organised by local horse owner, Laura Webster, at whose invitation barefoot practitioner and field instructor from the U.S. based Association for the Advancement of Natural Horsecare Practices ( A.A.N.H.C.P. ), Nick Hill, came to speak on the evening of Tuesday, February 2nd. Nick trained with the association's founder, acclaimed barefoot trimmer, Jaime Jackson, and is himself based in Scotland. You are invited to visit his website at www.cloverroseequine.co.uk . His principal engagement was a seminar at the Temple Golf and Country Club, Boardmills ( near Lisburn ) , and all profits from the admission were donated to the excellent cause of The Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, which is currently experiencing an unprecedented demand on it's resources. The following two days were taken up by his attending ponies and horses around the country, when he enthusiastically imparted advice and demonstrated his skills. He will be back again through the year, and interest has already been expressed by some owners wishing to learn the skill of barefoot trimming themselves, and Nick is willing to train a group on a regular basis. Anyone wishing to register their interest in such training should contact Laura on 077 9654 0475.  Above is Nick Hill, explaining aspects of his craft to NICPBA member, Lesley Harvey, whose daughter Jenny recently qualified as a barefoot trimmer. More information on the holistic appoach to horse-keeping and the natural method of hoofcare can be found on www.jaimejackson.com and www.hoofrehab.com , the site of fellow barefoot specialist, Pete Ramey. The philosophy behind natural horsecare systems is to keep domesticated horses in as near as possible the conditions which the horses themselves would choose if they were living in the wild. That means freedom to move over a variety of country, to eat a natural ( grass or hay based ) diet, to have others of their own kind for company, and therefore achieve all the advantages of physical and mental health which a wild life would offer. A major part of this is the relation of structure to function in the horse's foot. Studies conducted in the wild laid the foundation for the barefoot method - with trimming to attain the shape and structure of the 'wild horse model' or mustang foot. Left unshod, the foot is able to flex and function as evolution has fashioned it in the millions of years before man first nailed iron upon it. It only makes sense that something so well designed for species survival is better not interfered with any more than it must be. Since, however, domestic horses are not free to choose to move as far and wide as wild stock, the barefoot trimming method effectively mimics the wear which the foot ought to receive in nature, thus resulting in the best possible foot .  Above are the hind feet of the bay mare shown in the first picture. The nearer hoof has been trimmed by Nick to the 'wild horse' model, and the middle one is yet to be trimmed. The white hoof belongs to the colt foal. Despite appearances, the actual amount of hoof removed was minimal - the method is completely non-invasive - but emphasis is on balancing the foot and achieving the correct angle of growth ( as is evident just below the coronary band ) and the correct height of the heel, which should be low. All crumbling tissue is removed, ( as it would be naturally worn away if the horse were travelling over varied country ), thus allowing the hoof to flex freely and be the dynamic organ it is meant to be, functioning properly, and is not just like a block of solid wood on the end of a leg ! For a chance to see the contrast between shod and unshod hooves on the horse as it performs, a visit to the website below is highly recommended. Links are provided to video clips which run simultaneously, clearly demonstrating the concussion absorbed by the foot in it's natural state, whereas the shod foot jars the entire leg. Barefoot horses at Performance Barefoot Performance Barefoot takes horses through the process of hoof rehabilitation, removing shoes, transitioning hooves and creating barefoot performance horses ...
www.performancebarefoot.co.uk/ The photos below show a laminitic hoof before and, in the bottom picture, after being trimmed by Nick on Feb. 3rd in the method pioneered by Jaime Jackson. The improvement in the form of the foot gives the owner real hope that the hoof can, in time, be returned to normal. The mare was a little tender for a few days, due to the old material being taken off the sole, but was soon going much better again. As her comfort in movement increases, the healing should increase in pace. On the base of the foot, the sole, frog and separated white line are to be scrubbed daily with a wirebrush and vinegar, to cleanse and gently disinfect the foot.   For further information, another site which will be of interest is www.epauk.org - useful links will take you to the Equine Podiatry Association's websites and forum.
Warning: Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) Received January 25th 2010 Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) has been detected in two horses in Wiltshire following importation from Romania via Belgium , Defra confirmed today( January 19th 2010 ). The premises is currently under restriction and the two infected horses will be humanely destroyed in line with existing regulations. The other horses on the premises will be subject to epidemiological investigation in the coming weeks. A further two horses have also been under investigation and test results have proved negative. The animals arrived in a group of 10 horses, nine of which originated from Romania and one from Belgium . The nine Romanian horses were tested for EIA as part of routine post-import testing. Seven horses all tested negative. The horse that originated in Belgium is due to be tested shortly. Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said: “This is the first case of equine infectious anaemia infected animals being imported into Great Britain since 1976 and shows the success of our post import testing regime. These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain . After considering the risk I have decided to take appropriate action and humanely destroy these two horses that tested positive.” 1. Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is a virus disease of horses causing intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and death. It can be transmitted by the exchange of blood by biting insects and occurs typically in low-lying swampy areas. 2. A notifiable disease is a disease named in section 88 of the Animal Health Act 1981 or an Order made under that Act and must be reported. 3. This disease occurs in horses, mules and donkeys. Animals may be acutely, chronically or subclinically affected. The incubation period is variable, from a matter of days to a few months but generally one to three weeks. Antibodies usually develop seven to 14 days after infection and last for life. 4. For an animal testing positively for EIA, the only course of action is to humanely put it down. This may be for the welfare of the affected horse, but also to protect other horses from infection. Once infected, horses are infected for life and can pose a risk to other horses in close proximity. We have agreed with equine industry veterinary surgeons that destruction is the right response in this particular case. This response is in accordance with both the Infectious Disease of Horses Order 1987 and the Specified Disease (Notification and Slaughter) Order 2006. 5. EIA is not a zoonotic disease and has no human health implications. 6. For further information, please see the below webpage: www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/eia/
Competition Budding young novelists and journalists are invited to submit their creations, either fact or fiction, about the world of horseracing, for competition. Details are available on the website at www.willswritingawards.co.uk , and judging will be in three age groups, up to age 26. In the past number of years, some of the winners have gone on to write professionally, so for those who may wish to enter the world of literature, it could be just the break they are looking for !
Reading Horse Forehead Swirls Thanks to Tandragee member, Liam Flannigan, for letting us know about the video on Youtube featuring Chris Irwin, horse trainer, on the subject of whorls on a horse's head and observations on their relevance to a horse's ability to learn.
Urgent Rehoming Request From I.H.W.T Early in December the Irish Horse Welfare Trust rescued a large number of horses from a Co.Kilkenny Farm, where they were being kept for slaughter. Initially, they had been seized by the Department of Agriculture on welfare grounds because they had been abandoned. The horses are mainly of sport horse breeding and consist largely of young stock and in-foal mares. IHWT staff and volunteers collected the horses over two days and transported them into care. The IHWT is now seeking good homes for these horses – one colt was rescued in a critical condition but with the excellent care of the IHWT staff, and a strong will to survive, he has pulled through. Anyone interested in re-homing please phone ( from outside S.Ireland ) 00 353 404 45720. The welfare officer in charge is Sharon Newsome. Snowy Days Send your photos to us for publication on the website. Hopefully there is time between feeds and thawing water for some great pictures. Here are a few to start the ball rolling.
NICPBA Joins The Equine Council Further to the meeting of the NICPBA committee with representatives of the Equine Council for N.Ireland on December 9th, we are delighted to announce that our group has agreed to become a participating member of the E.C.N.I. Mr.Tony Bell, who will be familiar to many through his work with the National Pony Society, represents the pony groups on the council. He was accompanied by Christine Casey, whose experience as regional chairperson on the B.H.S. and secretarial and business skills are proving invaluable to the provincial organisation, which was constituted on March 10th, 2008. Set up a a charitable company, the E.C.N.I. aims to give a voice via it's association with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Developement ( DARD ) to all sectors of the equine world and ancilliary industries. The following extract from the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the E.C.N.I. outlines the principal purpose of the organisation.
The Company ( i.e. the Equine Council for Northern Ireland ) is established to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the Equine Sport and Industry in Northern Ireland. It will endeavour to promote the advancement of education the improvement of quality and standards in breeding, performance, health and welfare in equines. It will promote improvement in standards of achievement (within the sport and industry) and will encourage increased participation, promotion co-operation, and economic awareness within the Equine Sport and Industry. We look forward to leaning more in the very near future, and introducing the E.C.N.I. to our membership.
Rollover Heading For The Jackpot
November 11th, 2009 Galloon Rollover is featured in the leading U.K. equestrian magazine, Horse & Hound, this week. His breeder, James Naan, still keeps in touch with the bay colt's owner, Katie Bacon, and 'Barney' has been doing very well - most recently in the Championships of the M&M Heritage section of the British Show Pony Society. The photographs shown here are strictly protected by copyright. We are grateful to Katie for allowing their publication on this website. The photographer is Equinational (Colin Nicolas Photography)  
Katie writes " This year he ( Galloon Rollover ) has won 11 times out of 13 classes entered, and has had two seconds. Also 5 Championships and 1 Reserve Championship.
3 wins from 3 at BSPS Heritage Championship (Novice, Restricted and Open Ridden)
Qualified Ponies UK Winter Champs (Confined Novice and Open) N.P.S Spring Festival (Novice and Open) and B.S.P.S Winter Champs (Novice, Restricted and Open)". A record of which to be justly proud !
Katie also has a younger full brother to Barney, who, it is hoped, will follow in the elder's hoof-prints ! Both are by Murphy's Oscar out of Galloon Wind of Change ( Moy Hazy Cove ).
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