BCPS NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2020

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

It seems a long time since I wrote to you in the last told that the market for Connemara is newsletter. Nothing has happened, yet so much booming at the moment. We are determined to do has happened! As Chairman, I seem to have been all we can to support British breeders. I hope that ridiculously busy and the weeks have flown by. I you will all enjoy the planned Breeders Directory am only too aware that this has not been the case in next year's Connemara Chronicle and enjoy the for many people and I feel very lucky to live in the gorgeous foal pictures contained in this country and to have been fully occupied with newsletter. family, ponies and the BCPS! I very much hope that things continue to improve As you all know, Geth, our Secretary was and that we can all look forward to seeing one furloughed for two 3 week periods with a week another at the AGM in the autumn. In the back at work in the middle. In the main, this meantime, please stay safe and well. worked well and I hope that members were not too inconvenienced. The Society received over Anne Harries - [email protected] £2,200 from the Government's Job Retention Scheme which made it very worthwhile. I found taking the urgent telephone calls and Office emails THE BCPS 200 CLUB very interesting and did my best to give the right By joining the 200 Club you can help raise funds answers. I was greatly helped by some excellent for the Society while giving yourself a chance to and very comprehensive notes left for me by Geth win a cash prize. The BCPS 200 Club is open to and enjoyed having some contact with members members and non-members. old and new. The 200 Club year runs from January to

December, or for 12 months from the date of The Council have been holding meetings on Zoom joining. If the subscription is not renewed, the for the last four months and this has worked well number will be re-allocated. now we have all more or less found out how to Prizes 11 monthly draws make it work. The Council dogs enjoy the meetings too! I have also taken part in a telephone • 1st prize £25.00 conference call with the other members of the • 2nd prize £20.00 ICCPS Executive Board which was interesting. • 3rd prize £15.00 Sadly, with the cancellation of the Clifden Show and so many travel difficulties there will be no Every month all the 200 Club members’ numbers ICCPS AGM this year. The BCPS is Secretary to the are entered in the draw, where an independent Executive Board at the moment so I will be calling scrutineer will pick out the winning numbers. on Geth to help me assist Madeleine Beckman, the For more information and to download a Chairman, with getting information to other membership form, please member societies. visit http://www.britishconnemaras.co.uk/bcps/ memberships/200-club/. It is always good to end on a positive note. I am THE CONNEMARA Having reached a biblically-significant birthday, it occurred GENETIC RESEARCH PROJECT to me that some of the remaining twigs on which we older The BCPS is delighted to assist Sheila Ramsay and her members are sitting were becoming increasingly brittle…….. and that there was no independent, accessible archive of all colleagues in New Zealand looking into the level of the historical literature relating to the UK Connemara Pony genetic variability in the Connemara pony breed. The for use in the future. Society has provided the details of DNA profiles held on our database which have been curated so as to Any books published about the ponies will have, by law, remove the names of the ponies and their owners. been issued with an ISBN (International Standard Book The information gained from the Project has the Number) which means that a copy is held at each of the potential to help limit loss of genetic diversity in the Legal Deposit Libraries; these are: The British Library, Breed. Whilst the results of the Project will not assist London; National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh; Bodleian breeders in the short term, the knowledge gained Library, Oxford; Cambridge University Library; Trinity from this research has the potential to limit any College, Dublin and National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. further loss of diversity in the breed. So copies of such titles as Shrouded in Mist, Out of the Mist etc. are already legally deposited. The same protection does not automatically extend to

privately published periodicals or serials, such as the REGISTERING YOUR FOAL IN 2020 Society stud books etc., which do not qualify for an ISBN; Please remember that DEFRA regulations still instead, these may, on application to the British Library, be currently apply and you should send in your allocated an on-going ISSN (International Standard Serial application to register your foal by whichever date is Number) which uniquely identifies the set of periodicals later: concerned… and the good news is that this service is free * 30th November of the year of birth (there – I told you I wasn’t asking for money!). If we can * within 6 months of birth put together full sets of ECPS and BCPS studbooks, a full set of Irish Stud Books (as far as these go), plus a full set of https://www.gov.uk/horse-passport/apply-for-a- Chronicles, these can all be allocated ISSNs, and lodged for -passport future use with the British Library; on-going copies of the various serials can be sent to the British Library annually

when they are printed. This could also extend to any other relevant literature relating to Connemara ponies. This Private HWSD Test would mean that a potentially vital resource would be available to anyone wishing to research the history of the All foals have been tested for HWSD at the time of Connemara pony in the future. registration by the CPBS since 2016 and by the BCPS So…. I already have quite a lot of material kindly offered by since 2017. However, some older ponies are tested various Members, but I am still short of ECPS stud books, privately, usually when they change hands as part of and ANY copies of the Monthly Circular, which I, as a the pre-sale veterinary examination. The result of a relatively recent “blow-in”, have never set eyes on. test for HWSD carried out by a recognised laboratory I’m therefore asking that you search through your own and where the hair sample has been taken by a vet, archives, attics, outhouses, lofts and sheds (a tall order I may now be stamped in the pony's passport by the know, if you, like us, do not live in a minimalist BCPS provided that the vet has completed the household…) and contact me if you have ANYTHING of Society's Private Test form Please make sure that you interest that you feel you could bear to part with. My send a copy of the test result to the Office with the contact details are: [email protected] Tel: 01588 620314/ 07768 833614 and Facebook PM. I will passport.. To download the form go to:- acknowledge everyone who contacts me, and can arrange http://www.britishconnemaras.co.uk/breeding- for material to be collected. Any copies left over from the owning/hwsd/summary/ British Library sets would be offered for sale through the Newsletter to benefit Society funds or to complete a full set of Chronicles requested by the CPBS. AN APPEAL FROM ANDREW MORREY Thank you, Andrew

Dear Members, IT COSTS THE SOCIETY £150 TO POST THIS NEWSLETTER I hope this finds you well, albeit somewhat frustrated at the OUT TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVENT AGREED TO lack of shows and opportunities to meet. I’m afraid I’m on RECEIVE EMAILS FROM US. IF YOU RECEIVE A HARD COPY, the scrounge, but before there’s a sharp intake of breath, BUT COULD ACCEPT AN EMAIL VERSION, PLEASE LET US that’s not for money, but literature – specifically ECPS - or KNOW BCPS-related literature. BCPS SHOWS 2020-2021 NORTHERN SHOW 2021 BREED SHOW 2021 It was with great regret that the Council decided to The committee of the Northern Show have now cancel the 2020 Breed Show which would have finalised the date and venue for the show in 2021 it been held on 11th July. There was no doubt that it will take place on Sunday 8th August at Warren Farm was the correct decision but a very sad one all the Equestrian Centre , Southport Old Rd, Formby , Nr same. Liverpool L37 0AP

Turning to 2021. Having listened to the PERFORMANCE DAY 2020 membership, most particularly those living in the South and South West, we have booked Moreton This event will now be held with the unaffiliated Morell for 16th and 17th July 2021. The Show ODE at Keysoe Equestrian Centre, Bedford MK44 Committee will be meeting shortly to make plans 2JP on Sunday 4th October, within the limitations and would very much like to receive suggestions allowed by the Government (although hopefully, from members. Some ideas that have been put by October things should be a easier) The forward already include a Championship schedule has 70cms, 80cms, 90cms and 100cms final after the conclusion of the In Show on One Day Event classes which will also be qualifiers the Friday afternoon. We hope that this Dressage for the 2021 BCPS Eventers League finals. Within Championship will be run along the lines of the the venue ODE classes, our Connemaras and Part Championship in so far as we will be breds can compete for awards given by the BCPS holding qualifiers all over the country, not just at for the individual disciplines, to provide a true our Area/Regional Shows so it will be easier to Performance Day. The schedules will be out qualify. We are proposing to have finals for Intro, shortly. We look forward to seeing you all! Prelim and Novice test with the Intro being restricted to combinations never to have compete at BD, along with Open and Restricted sections for the Prelim and Novice. We have also had an EASTERN COUNTIES AREA CONNEMARA SHOW offer from some members to run “Clear Round 2021 Trec” which sounds fun. Do send in your ideas to 4th July 2021 at Frenches Farm, Oxen End, the Office and we will consider them all. Braintree, Essex CM7 4PU.

BCPS BREED SHOW TROPHIES COLT INSPECTION 2020 Following my personal emails to all trophy holders on 22nd May 2020, I would like to remind As members will know, the Colt Inspection due to you that the trophies are due back in the office be held at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morell by 31st July 2020 so that they can be stored in April was postponed due to Covid 19. The new under our insurance. date is 2nd September and we had hoped to be able to give definite news of it in this newsletter. Please advise me via [email protected] However, as we go to print, we have not yet had how you are returning them or whether you the "go ahead" from the authorities at want to hand them to your nearest Council Warwickshire College although things look Member. hopeful. The Secretary will contact those colt Thank you, owners who have actually applied to have their Cherry colts inspected and those who have shown interest as soon as we know what is happening. If there is anyone who has not yet contacted the Secretary about having a colt inspected, could PLEASE SEE REGIONAL NEWS FOR they please get in touch with the Secretary INFORMATION ON FILLY INSPECTIONS immediately. Sadly, if the Inspection does go ahead, it will be held under strict Covid 19 rules and spectators will not be permitted to attend. BOOKS SOLD ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS.

Reflections in the Mist By Pat Lyne. £12.50 +£3.50 p & p

Artic Moon by Pat Lyne. £10.00+£3.50 p & p

The Welsh Pony by Wynn Davies. £10.0 + £3.50 p & p

The Galway Show by Niamh O’Dochartaigh £7.50 + £2.80 p & p

A way with by. £7.50 + £2.80 p & p Niamh O’Dochartaigh.

Connemara Seaboard of the Horses By Ursula Bruns. £5.50 + £2.80 p & p

Thunderbolt by Pat Lyne SmallMark on top right hand corner. £2.50 + 65p p & p

South East Area cook book with Recipes, hints and potions. £2.50 + 2.48 p & p

Please order from [email protected]

Cheque made payable to BCPS and sent to: Mrs G Tillin 24 Mount Pleasant Road Alton, Hants GU34 1NN or by BACS British Connemara Pony Society Account No 44434006 Sort Code 60-14-30

EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 Oh dear, what a year! With the washout of our finals due to be held at Broadway in October 2019 which was then rearranged for the end of March 2020, just as lockdown was imposed which meant that yet again we thwarted. We clung on to the hope that we would perhaps be able to do something in the Autumn of 2020 but sadly the reality is that this is now looking impossible.

As you are aware the BCPS is a small registered charity which has been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in that we have continued expenses and not being able to generate any income from activities and our membership is hugely down. We really want to run our 2020 championship in the autumn but it is very expensive for us to put on, in excess of £1,400 once we have paid for prizes, rosettes etc. If these championships were to go ahead they would not be “normal” they will have to be run under the strict Government protocols: • There will be strict arrival and departure times. • Your times for your dressage, and xc must be strictly adhered to. • You will not be allowed to remain at the venue once you have completed. • There will be no scoreboards it will be live scoring only • No secretary tent or gathering area • There will be no staying over facilities • There will be no prize giving – your prizes will be sent to you after the event.

With all of these considerations and having canvassed people’s opinions on social media we have concluded that it would not have the feel of a championships, it would be impossible for anyone living more than a couple of hours away to attend and consequently there would not be enough support to risk the Society’s money. Therefore have decided, very sadly, to cancel 2020 Eventing Series and we will be going full steam ahead for 2021.

Having listened to all your helpful comments we are working with HorseEvents to make the 2021 Eventing Championships a truly memorable Connemara event. We are hoping that there will be on site stabling and camping for the weekend of the competition. There will be a 70cm course added to the existing 80, 90 and 100cm courses. We hope this will become the one championship every Connemara eventing enthusiast wants to qualify for.

To compete at the Championships you will need to be a member of the British Connemara Pony Society for 2020 (our discounted Performance Memberships is £25). Your pony needs to be a registered Connemara or part bred Connemara and if it has an Irish Passport and was imported after 2016 it must be registered with the British Connemara Pony Society, this is a DEFRA law, which we are duty bound to enforce.

BCPS/HorseEvents Virtual Showing Series

Round 1 – Mrs Angela Cookson and Mrs Serena De Boinville

In hand – Purebred not exceeding 148cm

1st Amanda Butler – Manor Winnie’s Storm https://youtu.be/NWsL26ASeUQ

2nd Debbie Wilson – Glenrevagh Heather 3rd Holly Ross – Tubbervale Declan 4th Ashlea Jennings – Kindesella Lilly (best member) 5th Josie Summers – Painswick Pixie Dust 6th Jade England – Gloster Boy

Inhand – Partbred and overheight

1st Allegra Cowley – Missey https://photos.app.goo.gl/TkpoMfdS3KXnwBHn6

2nd Ian Harding - Summerfield Fred 3rd Pippa Reid – Tuckmill Gallon Myke 4th Kimberley Carson – Innishnee Blondie 5th Louise Hickman – Heavenly Star 6th Nichola Weynberg – Mickey Finn

Ridden – Purebred not exceeding 148cm

1st Amanda Butler – Manor Winnie’s Storm https://youtu.be/I78l3zfpJEQ

2nd Ashlea Jennings – Kindesella Lilly (best member) 3rd Debbie Wilson – Glenrevagh Heather 4th Fliss Martin – Kilmurray Fionn 5th Elizabeth Horn – Cillbhrid Kate 6th Tom Barnes – Kirtle Medusa

Ridden – Partbred and overheight

1st Maddie Loweth - Brookhill Monksland https://youtu.be/oWpnFo866s4 2nd Lauren Mathieson – Lock Key Flight 3rd Allegra Cowley – Missey 4th Brooke England – The Lucky Deal 5th Louise Hickman – Heavenly Star 6th Nichola Weynberg – Lacka Rambler

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REGIONAL NEWS

News from South East Connemaras

South East Connemaras are holding two Filly Inspections this year.

Wednesday 6th August 2020 at Poplar Grove Farm, Sandpit Hall Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8HA by kind permission of Mr and Mrs P Fitzsimons

Thursday 8th October at Coldharbour Park, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough,Kent TN11 9JX by kind permission of Mr and Mrs H Somerset. Both inspections will be from 11 am onwards.

If you wish to have your filly inspected at either venue, please contact Cherry Caddy on [email protected]

Fun/ Pleasure Ride on Saturday 26th September 2020 from Coldharbour Park, Coldharbour Lane, Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9JX by kind permission of Mr and Mrs H Somerset. The Ride will commence at 11 am and last approximately an hour and a half to two hours. The cost is £10 per pony and the proceeds will be used to sponsor classes at the BCPS Breed show on the 16/17th July 2021 at Moreton Morrell Agricultural College, Warwickshire Please bring a picnic and join us for a socially distanced picnic in the field afterwards. Dog walkers welcome.

M&M WHP Show at Felbridge Show Centre, Nr East Grinstead, W. Sussex. We are hoping to go ahead with this show but are currently waiting for the venue to give us a date. South East members will be informed by email and also please keep an eye on the BCPS website and FB page.

News from the Eastern Region

Annual Show 2020 – Fri 28th August Dressage, Sat 29th August WHP, Sun 30th August In Hand and Ridden. All to be held at Fenning Farm near Soham. Schedule and entry:- http://www.ecacs.lite.events/ Filly Inspections on 12th August and at the Eastern Area show on Sunday 30th August - Fenning Farm CB7 8UL. Please let us know if you want your filly inspected.

News from Midlands Region

Emma James, Regional Representative has written

There is no Filly Inspection planned just yet.

We have been busy organising clinic events for our members which have been very well received, the last event was on 18th July with Jo Bates then we have one with Leon King on Sat 8th August and a provisional date with instructor TBC on September 5th. For more information contact:- [email protected]

News from North West Region

A Filly Inspection has been organised at Lockgate Farm, Adlington, Macclesfield SK10 4PH 8th September 2020 at 10am. Please contact Helen Horsfall on 07957 632116.

New from North East Region

Ann Escritt - Regional Representative has written

We are happy to discuss Filly Inspections in the North East region and how we can fit them in for any owners wishing to have a filly inspected.

For more information contact:- [email protected]

News from Wales and Borders

There will be a Filly Inspection at Dinarth Hall Farm, Dinarth Hall Road, Rhoss-on-Sea, Colwyn , North Wales LL28 4PX (by kind permission of Mrs J G Parry). If you would like to have a filly inspected here, please contact Andrew Morrey - [email protected] or Tel:- 01588 620314

There may be other Filly Inspections organised on the Gower Peninsular or near Chepstow. If anyone would like to bring a filly to an inspection in South Wales, please contact Andrew Morrey as above.

BRITISH CONNEMARA PONY SOCIETY

CHRONICLE 2021

For the 2021 Chronicle we are promoting British Studs. This will include studs standing stallions and those who have mares and youngstock. We want to make the 2021 Chronicle the definitive guide to stallions standing in Britain, that are available to the public, and the breeders who have stock for sale. You can also promote your mares who have played their important role in producing stock for you.

The usual list of stallions registered in the BCPS Stud Book will appear in the Chronicle. It will be printed in Regions as we hope this will make it more user friendly. In addition we are also offering the opportunity to advertise your stallion, stud, mares and youngstock as usual (please fill in the advert form and send remittance) which will entitle you to the equivalent size editorial which will be printed with your advert. This will be your opportunity to tell everyone about your ponies, their achievements, progeny etc. Your editorial can perhaps include some humour. Funny things which have happened with your ponies, antics which foals have got up to etc. Additional photos will be £10 each. We are planning to display all adverts in their relevant Regions

Your help and support will be essential if our aim to promote British Connemaras in the 2021 Chronicle is successful.

The advertisement form, how to send the optional editorial text and advice about payment will need to be sent to Alexandra Summerfield, our wonderful Advertising Editor. Alexandra's details and all this information will be sent out to members in the autumn mailing.

PLEASE support this exciting effort to show what we have on offer with our talented ponies and hard-working breeders. Thank you.

A Selection of Some of the Lovely Foals born in 2020

Fleetwoods Maid Marion (Fleetwoods Secret Liaison x Martinside Plum)

Holnest Miss Chief (Western King TB x Holnest Betty Blue Eyes)

Cadby Douglas Fir (Josie Jump x Sydserff Golden Wych Elm)

Woodbank Campion (Kingstown Charlie/Sydserff Camellia)

Barrowby Emperor (Kiltartan Empress x Killaspic Ross)

Eastlands Scottiebrae (Eastlands Harleybrae x Eastlands Trinket)

OBITUARIES

It is with great sadness we have to report that two stalwarts of the Society have died since the last newsletter. We send our condolences to their friends and family and we will miss them.

PHYLLIDA BUXTON

Phyllida died peacefuly at home on Easter Saturday. She was a Council member for many years and president of the Society 2008 – 2009.

Phyll founded the Hearnesbrook Stud in about 1972 at Kimberely Hall, the lovely house at Wymondham, Norfolk where she lived with her husband, Ron. Phyll’s first Connemara was Rosenaharley Rinnamara, given as a two year old to her son, Peter, by Blanche Miller whose mother was Peter’s godmother. In 1973 ‘Rin’ was covered by Whalton Sandune and produced Hearnesbrook Fastnet who was retained as the stud’s founding sire. In turn, his son, Hearnesbrook Halley, also out of ‘Rin’, shared stud duties with his father.

In 1994, ridden by Julia Woods, Halley was the first Connemara to pass the NASTA Stallion Test which was quite an achievement. Halley sired Hearnesbrook Derby Day out of the TB mare, Historical Fact. Derby Day, ridden by Kelly Aldous and then by Piggy French, had a very successful eventing career. In later years, Halley sired H. New Moon out of Pilgrim’s Mistral and this stallion gave Phyll a great deal of pleasure in her later years. She particularly enjoyed her two trips to the RDS to watch New Moon competing on the British Team in the International Performance Class ridden by Ella Dalton. Hearnesbrook Dunoon by Fastnet out of Kirtling Bonnie Doon was sold to the late Susan McConnell in Virginia and Phyll much enjoyed a trip to America in 2005 to visit Dunoon and attend the ACPS 50th Anniversary Celebrations. As well as these stallions, Phyll bred many lovely ponies who will be remembered as great performers who have given many families a great deal of pleasure competing in every possible equine activity. Phyll took an active interest in the Society until the end of her life and she and Ron, her husband, saved the Society many thousands of pounds by allowing their flat in Victoria to be used for Council meetings.

MARGARET FURNESS

Margaret died on 7th May 2020. She was a very knowledgeable and highly respected figure in the equine world and bred some very famous Dartmoor ponies with the Senruf prefix. It was the Society’s good fortune that Margaret became a fan of the Connemara pony and purchased Shipton Primrose from the late Elizabeth Beckett in 1994. Primrose went on to be Supreme Champion at the Society’s In Hand Show that year and was the Supreme Champion again in 1995.

Margaret served on the Society’s Inspector and Judge’s panels and was a very hard working Council member being Vice Chairman of the Council and Chairman of the Performance Award Scheme Committee. The lovely part bred, Summer Lightning, owned by Margaret and ridden by her daughter Nicola, won the Millfields Commodore Trophy and was a winning individual at the Riding Clubs Horse Trials Championships. Margaret herself competed at dressage at a very high level. Those of us who were fortunate to work with Margaret and knew her will treasure our many happy memories of her.

The Connemara Pony

Compact, deep bodied, shortish back With sloping shoulders - there’s no lack Of bone - well balanced neck and head Round hoofed, upstanding strong, pure-bred

Thirteen hands to fourteen one, In Cream and Grey and Black and Dun Docile, brave, with charm and grace They’ll hunt or or jump or race

By Rupert Lord Revelstoke