That may be a new-er requirement. I registered my now 13 year old Connemara as a 3 year old with the ACPS and chip/DNA was not required. If she is 10-ish…she may not have required to be DNA tested…based on my experience alone. YMMV.
ETA: He is 12, not 13. 
ACPS only started requiring DNA for registration relatively recently. a 10 yo, even if registered, might not have DNA on file.
They require that NOW, but both are relatively recent changes. That might not apply to a 10 year old. Neither of mine (halfbreds) have DNA on file. The ARE chipped, but that is because of USEF (and for identification if stolen), not for ACPS requirements.
Even now, for halfbreds, a DNA test is only required if the purebred parent is a known carrier of Hoof Wall Separation Syndrome.
ETA that the genetic test for HWSS was only developed about 2015, and ACPS did not start to require testing till year or two later, so it is unlikely a 10 yo would have DNA on file.
Another ETA that I am on the ACPS Board of Governors, and have been involved in updating the registration forms.
This is helpful, thanks! So we may not still get a clear answer about who she is, but doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance she is Connemara.
My mom bought me a DNA test kit from etalondx.com for an early holiday gift so this might shed some light on her genetic breed traits. Either way will be fun to learn more about her!
Pony update! We’ve decided to call her Ivy, and she’s been with us for a whole week.
She got her feet done last Thursday, requiring much sedation and the farrier and I had to kind of pin her against the wall to do her back feet. But she is SO much more comfortable. So much love and gratitude to the farriers out there who are willing to get under slightly feral animals for their wellbeing.
We’ve been working on helping her relax when touched and she has been doing much better since Thursday. She let me pick up her back feet yesterday after a lot of licking and chewing and contemplating my demise. She eats everything we put in front of her, and is learning what apples and treats are. She has been doing ground work every day, and is routinely letting us catch her in turnout and in her stall now. She already looks a lot better, but I’m desperate to give her a bath. My trainer’s while business is moving to a new barn in a couple of weeks with hot water wash stalls and heat lamps, so she will be able to get scrubbed once we’re there.
We also confirmed with our vet that she is blind in her right eye. Based on her behaviors this seems like a new development at least since she was last handled regularly. She knows a lot, definitely was trained to longe etc. but will need to relearn how to do it on her blind side.
That’s all for now, but here are some dirty fluffy pony pics for you.
Yay! Go Ivy!
Any chance the vet peaked in her mouth for an age estimate? Just wondering how much her backstory lines up with what you have in front of you (super young, super old, just about right?)
Vet estimated about 12, so a little older than advertised but pretty close.
Within margin of error 
I do hope you keep us updated on her progress. I do love ponies!
And height?
Congrats on a sweet mare.
Awww. She’s adorable, and she has big ol’ mare ears 
Ivy is a wonderful name.
Oh my goodness she looks so much better! And cleaner, even without the steam bath.
Her eye doesn’t look so hopeless. That’s the best change. Life might turn out to be more than a daily scrounge of whatever food there is.
Her feet look better! 
Obviously there is a journey there to get them back into shape. But she definitely looks more comfortable on them now. No knowing how long they were like that. It is so easy to let them go and have them out of shape in a few months. And then it takes twice that long, or more, to get them back in their healthiest shape.
She’s looks like a sweetheart.
12 in Pony Years is like 5 
Says the owner of a 24yo Hackney Pony who could pass for 3 until.you get close enough to see how gray his face has gone 
This photo from last July
We haven’t sticked her, but she honestly looks like she might be brushing 14 hands once she gains weight and builds up her top line. Otherwise I’d guess she’s 13.2 right now.
Thanks! I’ve been grooming her as much as possible, but only so much currying can do on stained grey hair.
Feet are definitely a work in progress, but for a first trim (technically second but not worth rehashing that story), in who knows how long, our farrier wanted to be conservative about the adjustments he was making. And she definitely didn’t make the process easy for him, so I think they look great all things considered. And then he refused to let me pay him 
If anyone in the New England/NY area needs a farrier rec, let me know, ours is incredible! He’s also based in Ocala for the winter but comes back and forth for the horses at home, so Ivy will see him again in January.
Your farrier sounds like a gem!
I know someone, new to ponies, who owns a 12 yo pony. I will pass this on. 
I love the update. Ivy is coming along so nicely. Though I’m sure there will be an adjustment period to the right-eye blindness, it’s not the end of the world. FWIW, racehorses that are blind in one eye often compete and win without it being an issue. (I think there are currently at least 2 currently racing.) The only accommodation is that they race in a hood with a solid cup over the blind eye–during a race there can be lots of kick back and if the horse doesn’t see it coming, he won’t blink to protect the eye.
Onward and upward Ivy!
Very cute! This is kind of out of left field but I had a horse go blind in one eye and the specialist was pretty sure because we didn’t know he had extremely high levels of chronic Lyme. It might be worth running the test it’s pretty cheap and at the very least nice to have a baseline.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
