Hollymead Farm Connemara Pony Mares

Our pony mares are selected for their kind temperaments and sweet natures. This is of greatest importance to us since they will be handled and ridden by our grandchildren.  The Connemara breed is known for their user friendly personalities. They are originally from Ireland, but are found all over the world today. To learn more about Connemaras visit the American Connemara Pony Society website at http://www.acps.org  

Gately's Red Robin

Robin is a chestnut, 14:1 hand 1991 purebred Connemara pony. She was bred by Kathy Lucas of Gately Connemara Farm in California. To see pictures of Robin's sire and dam please visit Kathy's website.  http://gatelyconnemaras.com  Robin is sired by Balius Rhyddspence, a fourth level dressage champion and a multi national winner in eventing, out of Gralyn's Gypsy Rover,  an eventing and show pony. For more information on Connemaras visit www.acps.org

At age 8, Aubrie has learned to ride on Robin. Robin was 16 years old when we bought her and at age 18 she and Aubrie learned to jump together. Robin will be 19 this year and she seems to just get better and better!

Aubrie and Robin went on their first fox hunt this March. We were amazed that they were asked to move up to first field. What an honor for an 8 year old rider. Robin was proclaimed a "packer" by the hunt staff. What a complement.

Although Robin will always have her broodmare shape, she is an athletic and game pony. She has always tried to please Aubrie and willingly does all that we ask of her.

We have to brag a little because Aubrie and Robin worked really hard to earn this ribbon.

Aubrie is using Robin as her pony club mount this year. In this picture they are taking a lesson at a pony club clinic.

Elphin Chickadee , a 2001, 13:3 hand Connemara pony mare, is by Maplehurst Michael Macdaire  out of Scottsway Lullaby. She was bred by Heather Sherratt of Elphin Mountain Connemaras  in Canada. Chick's sire and Dam can be seen on Heather's website at http://www.elphinfarms.com  . We purchased Chickadee from Vanessa Morgan of Foothills Farms in TN.  Chick delivered a buckskin colt on April 29, 2008 sired by Gunsmoke,a Connemara stallion that has recently been exported back to Ireland. Pictures of Gunsmoke can be seen on Vanessa's website. http://www.connemaras.com  

Chick joined the Hollymead Farm herd in March of 2008. When I saw her cute face on the Foothills Farms website I couldn't resist taking the drive to TN to see her in person. Robin was the pony who turned me into a Connemara person, and Chick is everything that I believe a Connemara pony should be. In this photo Chick is chasing her 2009 filly, Hollymead Meadow Lark. She has slimmed down quite a bit since giving birth 5 days before this picture was taken.

Chick and Sophie were introduced to Fox Hunting together this March. Chick was well behaved even with whips cracking and hounds running all around. Connemara ponies are perfect for this sport!

Chick is a lovely riding pony. In this picture, Sophie Andersen, our foreign exchange student/daughter from Denmark, is jumping Chick over some fallen trees in our woods.

We enjoyed a hunter pace recently with the Yadkin Valley Hounds. Sophie and Chick had the opportunity to school over new fences and just have time to play. What a surprise to hear at the end of the day that Sophie and Aubrie's team won first place! Yay!!

I just had to include this picture of Chick with her blue ribbon. Actually, this is the second blue ribbon she has won on a hunterpace. Her previous owner, Rai Pullin, had a winning hunter pace ride on Chick too.

Grey Haven Collin O'Patrick is the sire of Chick's 2009 filly, Hollymead Meadow Lark. He will also be the sire of Shandora's foal that will be born in 2010. Collin is a 13:2 hand, black, elegant and athletic Connemara stallion that is standing at Blackberry Ridge Farm in Greeneville, TN. I took this picture of Collin at the Upperville, VA 2008 show. Please visit the Blackberry Ridge website to see more pictures of Collin. http://www.blackberryridgefarm.com

Shandora, a black, 13 hand Connemara pony, came to Hollymead Farm in November from Donna Duckworth's Balmullo Farm in Alachua, Florida. Shandora was bred by May Medley of Tullymor Farm in Georgia. She is by Fieldstream Riley out of Tullymor's Twinkle Too. Aubrie and Culver have made her their own pony.

Shandora has been confirmed in foal to Grey Haven's Collin O'Patrick.

Shandora is a lovely mover. She has been approved by the ACPS at her inspection. Donna told me that the inspectors loved her pony type. She is only 13 hands tall so she is easy for the grand children to brush and lead. Shandora has produced several beautiful foals for Donna over the years. She is a really special pony. Thank you, Donna! Visit Donna's website at http://www.connemaras.com/balmullo/index.html

Shandora is making great progress with her under saddle training. Aubrie rode her for the first time by herself on June 29th. We hope to do lots of riding this summer both on the trails and in the arena.