We began the year with five foals hitting the ground: three colts and two fillies. A small but carefully selected crop, with the hope of retaining a filly to continue our breeding programme and preserve our bloodlines. We were truly blessed to keep two fillies, while the three colts head across the pond to fantastic homes.

This year we showed three ponies, two of which have won several championships in their day. But the real joy came from showing our 138cm mare for the first time, who demonstrated what can only be described as a true-to-type Connemara, complete with just the right hint of attitude.

Our success at the Clifden Show was particularly special, with Copperbeech Harriet winning the 138cm class and her dam Ember Grey placing 2nd in the 10-15 year old Mare class. Sadly, that same week we also faced one of the hardest moments any breeder can endure, making the heartbreaking decision to put our mare Copperbeech Star to sleep due to colic. Breeding is never for the faint-hearted – with the good always comes the bad.

In September we had the honour and privilege of judging at the French National Show. It is always an honour to be invited to judge abroad, but being asked back to the venue where we judged the 50th Anniversary Show was particularly special – the Association Française du Poney Connemara French National Show at Haras National de Pompadour. We also had the pleasure of judging alongside the wonderful Lolo Roux.

In October we travelled to HOYS to support Debbie Todd and Copperbeech Encore. To say we were proud is an understatement when he went on to place 2nd in the Connemara class. For his first year out as a novice he was simply unbelievable, and it feels like this boy has only just scratched the surface.

Looking ahead, we have five mares safely back in foal for spring 2026 and face into this with excitement and bated breath, knowing that this time of year can bring many challenges.

As winter sets in, our older girls Lackragh Beauty and Lishin Star remain with us, now rising 26 and 24. They are slower these days and beginning to show their years, but they continue to give us memories that any breeder could only ever wish for.

We would like to wish you all a very happy New Year, and here’s to another season – more dreams, more challenges, and more unforgettable moments with the ponies we love.

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✨🐴 The 100th Connemara Pony Show Clifden  was truly celebrated in style! The town was alive with atmosphere, music, and community spirit — such a special milestone for the breed we all love. 💚

We had a fantastic day showing Ember Grey and her daughter Copperbeech Harriet, along with An Cheathrú Chaol Bláthnaid.
⭐ Harriet won her 13.2h class, shining as a wonderful example of the Connemara pony.
🥈 Ember, her dam, proudly took 2nd place in the 10–15 year old mare class.
👏 And a huge well done to James, who stepped forward to show An Cheathrú Chaol Bláthnaid — he did a fantastic job!

On a personal note, I was shocked (but delighted!) to be awarded “Most Appropriately Turned Out Lady”, so generously sponsored by Dubarry’s via Millars of Clifden. 🥰👒

The week finished beautifully with the parade of winners, a fitting finale to such a historic 100th show. 🎉

💐 Congratulations to all the winners, exhibitors, visitors, the new show committee, and the incredible volunteers who made this milestone event such a success. Photo Credit: Foto-ob and Bláthnaid Grimes

 

 

 

 

 

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One of the biggest highlights was Ember placing 2nd and being awarded Reserve All Ireland Broodmare in an absolutely outstanding class of 19 mares — a real testament to her quality.

The celebrations didn’t stop there — Ember and Kooper went on to win the 60/40 class, and to top it all off, Harriet took 1st place in the 13.2hh class!

There’s something so special about showing both a mother and daughter — even if it meant clocking up over 25,000 steps with all the walking! Every step was worth it.

A huge well done to the Midlands Show committee for such a well-run, welcoming, and impressive event.

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It was also a special day for Ember’s 3-year-old daughter, Harriet Ember Grey x Bunowen Paddy), who made her show debut—she behaved beautifully and won the 13.2hh class!

We didn’t exactly set out to breed a smaller one, but if Carlsberg made small Connemaras, Harriet would be the one . We couldn’t be more delighted to have her in our breeding program.

Finally, huge congratulations to James and Conor, who stepped into the ring to judge the Young Handlers and Mini Young Handlers classes. They did a wonderful job!!

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Ember later returned to the ring and placed 2nd again in the 7–12 Year Old Mare Class.

Meanwhile, James did a fantastic job showing An Ceathrú Chaol Bláthnaid (Lishín Star x Robe Earl) in the 13 Years and Older Mare Class, taking 1st place.

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A huge congratulations to Debbie, Vikki, and the entire team for turning dreams into reality. As breeders, moments like these are what make the hard times worthwhile. Watching your ponies go on to achieve success and bring joy to their owners—their dreams becoming yours—is the ultimate reward.

We’ll be cheering you on… roll on HOYS! Fiona Grimes Debbie Todd

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When it comes to breeding, many people talk about the stallion—how successful he was, how great and powerful, his achievements in the ring, and so on—but too often, the mare is disregarded and only referred to as “the dam of the foal,” while the stallion’s greatness takes centre stage.

But I often sit back and reflect on what we, as breeders, have been doing over the past 20 years. For me, it has always been about breeding and retaining fillies—holding onto them to see if they follow similar patterns, watching for throwbacks, and identifying traits that continue to reappear in the herd. I now have four generations stemming from two different dam lines, and I find it incredibly rewarding to look back and see who brought what forward.

It all began with three mares: Lishin Star, who is still with us today at 23 years of age; her lifelong companion Lackragh Beauty, now 25; and Clyadagh Marie, a mare my late father owned. Lishin Star and Lackragh Beauty were both inspected at two years old and measured 142 cm, later maturing to stand at 148 cm in their prime. Clyadagh Marie was also inspected at two, measuring 143 cm and standing no more than 146 cm at full height. Together, these three mares painted a beautiful picture of what we believe to be true quality Connemara mares—similar in type, each possessing the traits we value most in the breed.

Unknowingly, over 20 years ago, these mares would come to define our breeding program. Our entire herd of Connemaras today stems from this gene pool. So when people ask, “How important is a foundation mare?”—the answer is simple: she is the most important investment a breeder can make. Choosing her shouldn’t be a rushed job. It’s a decision that must be built on research, patience, and a clear understanding of what you want to preserve or improve. Once you, as a breeder, understand what it is you like in a Connemara, then follow that path with confidence and purpose.

I still remember the day my dad told me about a nice mare for sale. I called the breeder, Joe Cunniffe, arranged a viewing, struck a deal—and never looked back.

When you buy from a breeder, you don’t just purchase a pony—you gain a lifelong connection. These breeders become like family. They wish for your success more than you might realise. Your win becomes their win. And as breeders, when we sell, that’s exactly how we feel.

We can all measure success by the ribbons a mare wins in the ring—but for a breeder, true success is breeding something that reflects your original vision. It’s not always about accolades. Sometimes, it’s the quiet triumph of producing a foal that carries forward the traits and spirit of generations before her.

We all know that Connemara bloodlines are well influenced by other breeds—with influences ranging from Thoroughbred to Irish Draught—especially considering the studbook remained open until the 1960s. Throwbacks are always part of the intrigue. Height, for example, is one trait that can truly surprise you. Our dam lines have produced ponies just over 148 cm, and others as small as 138 cm. Every so often, a foal arrives larger than life; other times, one turns out unexpectedly petite, leaving you wondering where it came from.

Then come the quieter details—a white sock you hadn’t seen in years, a familiar slope of the shoulder, the unmistakable eye or trot—and it hits you: her grandmother had that too. These are the moments that remind you why you do this. It’s not just breeding—it’s legacy.

Breeding isn’t about quick results. It’s about time, observation, and heart.
And it all begins with the mare.

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This little lady is the fifth generation of mares our family has owned, with three generations having lived here on the farm. The very first mare, Clydagh Marie, belonged to my late father, and it’s always deeply emotional when a new foal arrives — a beautiful reminder of the legacy we’re lucky enough to carry on.

We’re blessed to have three grannies and one great-granny still with us in the herd, and it’s an honour to see so much wonderful bloodline passed down.

As breeders, our job is to stay as true to the breed as possible — and fingers crossed, we’ll continue to do just that.

Welcome to the world, little lady — you’ve got big hoofprints to fill !!

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