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 FOOTHILLS FARMS AND PIEDMONT CONNEMARAS
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A couple days ago, I returned from another fun - and long - road trip with Carole to pick up a couple new ponies for our herds. The trip from Athens, TN, and back was just under 1900 miles. Carole and I headed west on Thursday to pick-up a mare for me with Foothills Farms breeding, All Cats are Grey. She is a 10 yr old, 14.3h registered purebred Connemara mare by Balmullo's Beacon, out of Foothills Kelligan; Cat was pastured in Oklahoma and had no job, so I picked her up on Friday morning, to give her offer her a brighter future and purpose in life (she has spent the last decade as a pasture ornament). Cat is a big, beautiful, strapping mare who can become a terrific breeder, eventer, or maybe my my next "do-it-all" packer, to ride/drive me anywhere I want to go (replacing TeaGo). Cat is currently the youngest purebred by Beacon. I am so excited to have her is my FFC herd!
During our big loop 1/2 way across the country, Carole and I stopped in Kansas to pickup another "little red pony", a section A welsh, Dandardell's Maxwell, to make up the 2nd pony in Carole's perfectly matched, future CDE driving pair. After KS, our next stop was MO where we let the ponies rest for a night at Three Creek Farm, before making our final leg back to TN. Our 7-state trip took us from TN, to AK, OK, KS, MO, IL, KY, then back to TN. It was a long drive, but very worthwhile! Carole and I are both thrilled with our new ponies. Below is Cat, her 1st morning in TN (12/13/15)

Hi, Vanessa, Smokey is a grandson of Gun Smoke, out of my Gun Smoke daughter, Misty Mountain Spirit. Spirit was born in 2008, Smokey was born in 2014. He is 3/4 Arabian, 1/4 Connemara. Smokey's full name is Misty Smokey Colorado. Spirit is expecting a full sibling next May (2016). Tracey (Nov 2015) This is Smokey at his first show (in-hand):

Brionna earned the 5th place ribbon in a hotly contested JrBNR division at the 2015 USEA River Glen Fall Horse Trials riding Corner Oak Celtic Star in her first event.

Foothills Field Marshall at Training (Nov 2015), Elliott Blackmon up

W.H. Topgun at Prelim (Nov 2015), Elliott Blackmon up

http://www.acps.org/news-media/187-kynynmont-gunsmoke-s-gideon

Photos by Richard Malmgren

Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon 2015 USDF Region 1 Champion at 4th Level Open

Kynynmont Cooper O'Grady 2015 USDF National Dressage Pony Cup 3rd Level Champion

Congratulations to Anna Matthews-Hamby (NC), on the arrival of her Connemara filly by Tullymor's Mountain Steel out of Tullymor's Lady Leprechaun, born 11/15/15!

Congratulations to Anna Matthews-Hamby (NC), on the arrival of her Connemara filly by Tullymor's Mountain Steel out of Tullymor's Morning Star, born 10/24/15!

Congratulations to Kathy Trum-Searah (MA), on the arrival of her autumn foal! Searah's Irish Claddagh (below), born 10/23/15 - dun Connemara filly by Tullymor's Mountain Steel out of Tullymor's Secret Pearl

American Connemara Pony Society 2015 Connemara of the Year:
WH Topgun (*Gunsmoke x Ballywhim Candace)
2004 14.3 h buckskin stallion. Owned by Jim and Nancy Kilcrease, Elderglen Farm.


Congratulations to the Kilcreases and rider/trainer, Elliott Blackmon!!

The Connemara of the year award recognizes a Purebred or Halfbred Connemara that has done something special to attract attention to the breed, either competitively or non competitively, in the past year. For more information visit: http://acps.org/connemara-awards/awards

I had two wonderful trips this October with my nearest and dearest friends! The first trip was my annual trip to the National Drive with Carole Moss. This year, she took her small pony, Lucas, and I took Tullymor's Tigger to ride and expose to all the great things to see and do at the KY Horse Park. I met a lovely young lady, Anna Tootle (below in orange), there with her mother and younger sister (who is taking up driving). Anna needed her pony-fix, so I let her take Tigger out for a hack and a try at the bank, which was a first for both of them - no problem.

 

2015 National Drive


The next week, Charlie, Lisa and I went camping at Hunny Hill. We took Queen for Lisa and Tigger for me to ride.
Charlie just went to work...or should I say, to relax?!:-)

Trail riding in the Big South Fork

Foothills Faithfilly (Balmullo's Beacon x Foothills Hopefilly)

Cooper is by *Gun Smoke

Fiddler's Gremlin MacDaire - the perfect all-around family horse. He has done everything I ever asked of him: mountain trails, show hunters, eventing, dressage, foxhunting, wagon trains, 4-H, guest and lesson horse. He suddenly and sadly succomed to a stroke at age 28 and was laid to rest on our farm yesterday. He served well and lived well. His passing left a huge hole in my heart but wonderful memories in my thoughts. (VM 9/6/15)

The last of the Tullymor Connemara broodmares have moved on to new homes.
Saturday, the last 4 mares left the Tullymor Farm, heading to NC and TN to their new owners.

Included in this trip were:
Tullymor's Lady Leprechaun 1999 M 2106 XLI (Concord River Roaringwater Bay x Tullymor's Shandora) o: Anna Matthews-Hamby (NC)
Tullymor's Morning Star 2001 M 2109 XLI (Fieldstream's Riley x Tullymor's April Fool) o: Anna Matthews-Hamby (NC)
Tullymor's Kiss of Sun (a.k.a. Sunshine) 2000 M2107 XLI (*Hayselden Perseus x *Bar Bar A's Rebel Doll) o: Linnea Couble (NC)


Tullymor's Tully Rose 1998 M1813 XXXVII (MonTully's Son x Tullymor's Kelly O'Brannigan) o: Sally Reid (above) - in foal to Tullymor's Mountain Steel for 2016

River Plains Driving Derby - First time doing obstacles with the pair: Foothills Hopefilly and Foothills River Queen

Whip - Vanessa Morgan
Gator - Charlie Morgan
Groom - Brionna Harper

River Plains Driving Derby - We figured out the fast route and Foothills Hopefilly was game to go!

Super excited to annound that Marshwood's Summer Keavey is in foal to *Gun Smoke for 2016! Congratulations to Kate Denton:-)
X
Won't this be a lovely foal?!

Foothills Faithfilly over the training level Crossbow at Camelot Equestrian Park. Chance Solus in the irons

Boomer is an 8 yr old Connemara-TB gelding by *Gun Smoke, bred by Bred by Shelly Feldner; ridden and owned by Anna Stein (WA)
Watch this awesome run at Intermediate Cross-Country (May 2015) http://www.rideonvideo.net/watch.php?vid=4b14d8222

Ann Stein and Boomer at Prelim (June 2015)

Congratulations to Ella Eavers on her new 3/4 Connemara colt. He is the first frozen-semen foal by Balmullo's Beacon, out of Ella's mare, Ridgetop Blue Willow.

River Plains Driving Derby - We figured out the fast route and Foothills Hopefilly was game to go!

A Bruiser baby is born in California; congratulations Darian!

Bri on CoStar at the River Glen D&CT - 6/20/15
3rd place BN CT This was CoStar's 1st dressage test and 1st CT

We had a great time at the ACPS Region IV Connemara show this month (June 2015) in Cleveland, TN. Huge thanks to Ashley Jenkins and Matthew ???? for hosting this show, in conjunction with their Smoky Mountain Horse Show Series. Breezy and I took 3 ponies to the show grounds on Friday night to compete on Saturday. After showing in about 20 classes (combined) on Saturday, Bri and I were extremely tired (and happy), but pushed through the exhaustion to haul those 3 ponies home and bring 4 different ones for the in-hand and driving classes on Sunday. Shout out to Charlie and Kate Denton for all their help!

Tullymor's Shady Lady, ridden by yours truly, won the Groundrail Hunter Connemara Champion and she was the 1st place Connemara Walk-Trot Hunter. I also rode her in Intro Test A and B. This was her 2nd show and she was a bit concerned about the table at the end of the ring (under a noisy covered arena) with 3 creatures (2 humans and 1 canine) stearing at her as she trotted down the centerline. Nonetheless, we finished both tests in good order and did not end up last! This was our first show together (Shade's 2nd show) and I had a fun time riding her!

Breezy rode Foothills Caroline to win the 18” Hunter Connemara Champion award; Caroline also won the Connemara Hunter 2’ OF class and was 2nd in the Connemara WTC US class. Bri and Caroline also won the Puddle Jumper CT, after completing a very nice dressage tests and clean jumping round.

Bri also earned the 2’ Hunter Connemara Champion ribbon riding Corner Oak Celtic Star (a.k.a. CoStar); CoStar was 3rd in the Conneara WTC US class and 2nd in the Connemara Hunter 2’6” OF class

On Sunday, Bri handled Seaborne's Maritime in the Halfbred Connemara Mare Class and took home the blue, along with winning the overall Halfbred In-hand Championship.

Reverve Champion Halfbred was our homebred, Piedmont Herman, shown by his rider, Gardner Cook (FL), who also took 1st place in the Beginner Novie CT and 5th in the walk-trot trail class

Sunday was the 1st show ever for Tullymor's Tigger; he earned 2nd in the Purebred Connemara geldings class, behind *Gun Smoke grandon, Providence Mountain Smoke (pictured below), owned and shown by Megan Harris (GA).

Tigger showed his calm, cool manner in the in-hand trail class where he finished in 4th (below); our only problem was backing through the tricky "L". He was perfect in everything else.

Another *Gun Smoke grandchild, Windy Isles Quiet Kate (The Quietman X Arbor Lane’s Bailey) was the Purebred Connemara Youngstock In-Hand Champion with her owner, Fiona Cheever.

Sunday afternoon, out came the carriages and Breezy hitched Strawberry Shortcake and I drove my fav, Foothills Hopefilly.

After enduring the pleasure classes, Bri and I both stripped off our aprons and had fun in the cones and fun classes, collecting miscellaneous ribbons here and there. The best ribbon was the 1st place in Double Jeopardy which we earned by simply not getting eliminated. Bri did a great job of driving Hope, who was by this time getting a little "gam", so I instructed her to just go easy and clean, which she did quite well. it was super fun to see Rachel Blalock there with her Connemara-TB, Catherim Solas (aka Hilites, aka Loppy). They don't show often, but when they do, they go all-out (below right). Rachel and Loppy were both well up to form, winning the Overall Connemara Driving Championship.

And of course, Carole Moss put in her usually super performances behind her small pony, Lucas, winning the Mountain and Mooreland Driving Championship!

2 Connemaras in the Pony Club Qualdrille at Rolex 2015, including Foothills Juniper.


March 2015

Carole Moss and I took Foothills Hopefilly and Foothills River Queen to Florida for the final week of "The Caravan; a trans-continental horse-drawn journey"

Congratulations to Breezy on her 2nd place ribbon at the 2015 TAG DEA Spring D & CT schooling show at Tri-State Exhibition Center, riding Foothills Caroline at their first show together. They did the Tadpole CT (Intro/2') and this pair had only 1 jumping lesson together, ever!

At this same show, Melissa McKenzie took the blue riding Caroline in First Level Test 3.

January 2015: Anna Stein on Zaboomafoo

Kynynmont Gunsmoke's Gideon 2008, 15.3h gelding (*Gun Smoke x Kynynmont Tara), was the 2014 ACPS HALFBRED CONNEMARA OF THE YEAR!
Congratulations to owner/breeder Pam Liddell of Conestoga, PA

below already on z-arch2014_12

Shade's first show: CDCTA Schooling Show 9/20/14, ridden by Melissa McKenzie
Training Test 1 (68.0%) - 1st place
Training Test 3 (64.4%) - 2nd place


Garnder Cook and Piedmont Herman (Nov 2014)

2014 Indiana Combined Driving Event, Hoosier Horse Park
Foothills Hopefilly: whip, Vanessa Morgan - navigator, Charlie Morgan

Finished in 6th in a highly contested field with only a few time faults in cones; this was our 1st recognized start in the Preliminary Single Pony divison.

Hope earned her Bronze Medallion in Driving from the American Connemara Pony Society

2014 USEA American Eventing Championships, Texas Rose


Below: W.H. Top Gun

Bri competed in the Smokey Mountain Horse show at Stone Gate farm and achevied a lot! She rode Corner Oak Celtic Star (formerly a driving & trail pony) in the crossrails division. The first class with jumps that either of them had ever done. Then, a few short hours later, Bri also competed Balmullo's Beacon in her first class above cross-rails! Bri earned 2nd place in her first-ever jumper class and they did a fabulous job! Bri agrees that jumpers are way more fun than hunters:-) Beacon did double duty at this show and carried Alyssa in her first english horse show class. (8/2/14)

above: Bri on CoStar


above: Bri on Beacon


above: Alyssa on Beacon

I am very please to report that Foothills Hopefilly performed very well at the Middle TN Carriage Club HDT last weekend. This was our first go at Preliminary and we ended up in 2nd place! You can read the full details of our outing at the 2014 MTCC.

Congratulations to Anna Stein on her double-clear run on Zaboomafoo at her first 1-star, CCI*

Congratulations to Donna Duckworth on her purchase of 3 new Tully ponies! She got 2 rising yearling fillies and a beautiful 6 yr old buckskin mare. While we were hauling the ponies from Mr. Sherlin's farm in TN, (where they were gentled and Clementine Rose started some undersaddle work), I learned from Donna, who was inspecting ponies at the ACPS Region 5 show, that Tullymor's Kessie won her 2-4 yr old purebred class. (July 2014)

This was super exciting because Kessie is full sister to one of Donna's new ponies, Tullymor's Gracie Gray. I bought Kessies as a a yearling, did a lot of ground work, etc, with her and sold her to Vicky Castellano a couple months ago. Vicky has done a great job with Kessie and a big Congratulations to her on her win at the Region 5 show! I still have Kessie's older sister, Tullymor's Shady Lady, and older brother, Tullymor's Tigger (both are also for sale).


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We have lost track of the current owners, locations, and status of the following ponies;
any news or updates on their whereabouts would be greatly appreciated.

Piedmont Powers

(2006 photo)  last known address: Sacramento, CA

Foothills Ashford

(2003 photo)  last known address: Hoaenwald, TN

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