Connemara Pony Lines

[ncsuequine]

Hello

I am doing some research on a Connemara mare that one of my students owns. She is quite the awesome little eventer and we are thinking about breeding her next year. Her sire is Haydelsen Perseus (by Haydelsen Bacchus) and her dam is Morning Glory Corsair (by Fiddlers Glory Boy). I found quite a bit of info on her maternal line, but not as much on the paternal line (Haydelsen). I was wondering if anyone could help me out.

I tried to google Haydelsen Stud, Haydelsen Perseus and Haydelsen Bacchus, but really didn’t come up with too much.

Our goals for breeding this mare would be to add some rideability (she’s very hot) and to also add some better dressage movement. She’s an amazing jumper, but her natural ability for dressage is not quite as good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Janet]

There is already a thread on this very pony, with several informative responses

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?458752-calling-all-connemara-breeders

[dr_j]

As mentioned in the other thread by GA Eventer, Perseus was imported with his full sister Hayselden Persephone. Persephone has had quite a few very nice foals including our stallion Blue Ridge Monroe. He has a facebook page. Most of her foals were sired by Moxley Duncan but she does have a very nice daughter by Tre Awain De Valera.

As far as adding the things you want… I would so love to suggest Monroe…as you have just asked for exactly what he can give you… fabulous temperament and lovely movement. He is currently schooling second level and will soon debut at that level. ALas that would be a bit of a tight pedigree.

There are two lovely boys out getting it done right now - both in Florida… Foothills Field Marshall and WH Topgun. They both would be worth a look.

GA Eventer - Fade to Grey farm has two verrryyy nice young boys… just getting started on their riding careers but also worth a look.

[pcwertb]

With regard to temperment, I have a pretty hot purebred mare (Loughin’s Leighseach) and when bred to WH Topgun, she produced a lovely dressage moving pony with an excellent temperment. Annie is forward but not so hot/spicy as her dam Lucy. My half-breds by Topgun are also stellar. I haven’t seen any offspring by Field Marshall yet, but he is a nice stallion. FM is currently eventing at Training, Topgun at Prelim.

Megan has two lovely young boys in GA, I think their first offspring will be born in 2016.

[goodpony]

Our 2 year old stallion is breeding his first mares this season and opening his book next year. Even though he is young and untried Ive ridden his sire and dam and 3 of his siblings and several of his half siblings–all very rideable. His dam is an ACPS Premium Mare with exceptional gaits (not typical pony gaits) and received Special Premium Title with the OLD/WE (GRP Registry) based on her outstanding scores at her performance test. His sire spent two weeks as a breed ambassador at the 2012 WEG-he is now owned as a competition pony for Barb Crabo’s (FEI/Rolex) daughter. Our pony has an exceptional hind leg especially for his breed and I do expect him to be more uphill than average-he is extremely athletic, but sensible and kind.

This is him with my 12yo daughter–his temperament is remarkable. And Bonus–he’s not grey.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205642182346822&set=a.1130269169885.20907.1021903725&type=3&theater

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

I’ve a stallion (Fiontar Mac Tire) that has exceptional movement for the breed and throws a lovely temperament. He’s just 4, but showing extreme trainability.
My other stallion shares the Fiddlers Glory Boy side, so isn’t useful to you.
www.muskokalakesconnemaras.com

[anon6796898]

I would look at Canal Laurinston; however, two stallions that I would use in a second and I wish were for sale are both, Kynynmont Cooper O’ Grady (hind leg action looks stunning) and Ruby King Sparrow. These two youngsters are exactly who I would be looking to, to improve movement. I have no idea on jump. Good luck!

[poltroon]

You’ll want to run this genetic test from UC Davis before breeding:
https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/HoofWallDisease.php
It’s simple to run and just requires pulling some mane hair.

Carriers are normal and have no issues, but if the mare is a carrier, it will inform your stallion choices.

[WindyIsles]

As far as lessening the hotness and improving ridability I would take a hard look at Goodpony’s young colt. Very consistent, athletic line, with good to above-average gaits and really nice temperaments. His pedigree is just packed with top performance ponies. Wildwych Eclipse has been gelded and is now a schoolmaster eventing pony.

*Canal Laurinston I would suggest as well, he’s done it all and his get have done well too.

If he’s still active Maplehurst Michael MacDaire in Canada would be a top choice. Consistently nice ponies. He’s a fantastic sire that I wish would get used more before he gets too old. Really think he’d improve upon what you want to with the mare.

For a first time mare and with where you want to improve on I would look at older more proven stallions who have produced what you are looking for.

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

Honestly, one of the best moving Connemara I have seen in NA so far is Century Hills Aedan Zodiac. www.elodon.ca I believe is the website. If movement is top on your list, plus a proven stallion with lovely progeny… Look that fellow up.

[WindyIsles]

Another thought that came to me was *Sydserff Avalon - he’s doing very well in dressage, excellent jumper and has a very nice temperament. I’m not sure how his foals are doing but he might be one to inquire upon. Another thing you never mentioned is size and I don’t know if you want to stay pony or would be okay going over. Some of the ponies mentioned you would get over height. Kathy Lucas who owns Avalon has had a lot of success in dressage and she might be a good resource for you and give you ideas.

Another thing I do really want you to think about is: would you be perfectly happy if the foal you got from the mare was an exact replica?

So many people go to a stallion wanting to ‘fix’ everything and one of my favorite sayings is a ‘stallion is not a magician’ - the mare gives more than 50% contribution to a foal because she also raises the foal. I had one mare that no matter who you bred her to I couldn’t fix what I wanted with her so I ended up washing her from my program. Did I get improvements from her? Yes. But still not what I wanted.

And especially with temperament I’d be careful selecting a stallion. Known foals from stallions with very good temperaments but their dams were iffy (breeders did the ‘let’s breed to fix it’ thing) and while they were a slight improvement on the dam they were never as easy or well tempered as siblings from dams where the temperament was already there. (And then of course people ‘blame the stallion’ and it’s his fault).

Just some things to mull over

[anon6796898]

I agree on the above. However, from what I’ve seen the hind leg action is slow in the breed. For dressage, this is something I would really look at trying to improve.

[goodpony]

Not just slow but often lacking articulation, sometimes overtrack–which is why its important to pay attention to the walk/canter. There are some stallions that have plenty of reach/suspension at the trot (Big Trotters) but the canter is lacking jump and tends towards flat/downhill-some even tending towards 4beat. Some ponies are simply hard in the back and don’t swing.

Our colt has super articulation behind, super hind-leg and a powerful coiling hip/hock–its one of the reasons he’s been retained for our breeding program–though I expect he’ll be an excellent jumper as well. His half sister is competing in the Pony Grand Prix’s in France. I ride his other half brother and he is schooling 3rd Level-Successfully shown through 2nd.

I’ll add one more stallion to the list if you are willing to go with frozen Ardceltic Art. Both Art and Chip (Canal Laurinston) have been competed successfully through 4th level. Don’t believe any of the other stallions mentioned have demonstrated success above 3rd.

[GAEventer]

[QUOTE=Katis;8152415]
I would look at Canal Laurinston; however, two stallions that I would use in a second and I wish were for sale are both, Kynynmont Cooper O’ Grady (hind leg action looks stunning) and Ruby King Sparrow. These two youngsters are exactly who I would be looking to, to improve movement. I have no idea on jump. Good luck![/QUOTE]

Thank you Katis!

To the OP - It sounds like you’ve gotten the information you were looking for regarding your client’s mare’s pedigree - if either of you wants to talk more about Grange Finn Sparrow, I’m happy to oblige!

I think you’ve got some very good recommendations here for breeding. The ‘hot’ probably comes through GFS - I have owned, and still own, a number of them - they are ridiculously talented but can be difficult especially when it comes to playing in the sandbox. I think most of them had the ability on the flat, but the work did not appeal to many of them. There are a few that even got the E in the dressage ring - jumping phases - a whole other story!

I do have two young colts standing this season, and as katis kindly mentioned Ruby King Sparrow would be the better choice for what you are looking for temperament and movement wise. That being said, I just bred a purebred GFS mare to our TBS Declan Pondi. They are on my website listed below.

Best of luck!

[Janet]

[QUOTE=GAEventer;8157144]
… The ‘hot’ probably comes through GFS - I have owned, and still own, a number of them - they are ridiculously talented but can be difficult especially when it comes to playing in the sandbox. I think most of them had the ability on the flat, but the work did not appeal to many of them. There are a few that even got the E in the dressage ring - jumping phases - a whole other story! [/QUOTE]

Yes, that describes my halfbred daughter of Fiddler’s Glory Boy to a T. At age 19 we are finally coming to some sort of “accomodation” in the sandbox (broke 40 penalty points at our last event), but only becuase she knows she gets to jump next.

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

Can we get links to some of these boys mentioned? I would love to see some of them and their movement…
GAEventer - your RKS is on my list of lads

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

Here are a couple of my 4 year old, just starting his under saddle career…
3 weeks under saddle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QpaPRk8Wv0

2.5 months under saddle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjFMw7umRXE

[anon6796898]

Kynynmont Cooper O’ Grady is now showing 4th:
http://www.centerlinescores.com/Horse/Details/1092582

You are welcome GAEventer; love both of the boys, but Ruby King Sparrow is exactly the horse that I would like to ride (something I consider when looking at stallions). I did see a young Connemara stallion by Declan Pondi’s sire who was a stunning mover and like all Connemara’s, can jump the moon.

Goodpony, what made you want to breed a two year old colt?

[anon6796898]

Wow, talk about a youngster being born broke. Plus the connie jumping genes are truly there.

[goodpony]

[QUOTE=Katis;8160104]

Goodpony, what made you want to breed a two year old colt?[/QUOTE]

Why wouldnt I? He is an exceptional colt, test breeding at two is not anything new especially among pony breeders. I owned and stood his sire for 12 years, his dam has produced six foals for me. Ive started 3 of his siblings under saddle and ridden both his sire and dam. Its a line I know quite well.

He has been shown once on the line as a yearling scoring a 7.9 for his trot and a 7.8 for his walk qualifying for the West Coast Future Event Horse Championships first time off the farm. The mare he has bred belongs to my vet-she is on her 4th generation of homebreds.

This is him he is 2years old: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205641579931762&set=pcb.10205641580531777&type=1&theater