Achnacarry & Craigiebrig Highland Pony Stud
CURRENT NEWS
3rd May 2008
I need to update more of the web but before I continue, our friends Rosabelle and Hamish Porter have a very nice yearling colt by our Rannoch which they are ready to sell now due to the fact that they don't show much these days and they feel he is too good to castrate but no doubt they may decide to do so if he were to go to a good, showing home. Here are a few photos of him. Anyone who is interested in him can contact Rosabelle and Hamish through us or themselves direct. Details can be found on our For Sales page.
Keiran of Craigiecat
Sire: Rannoch of Achnacarry
Dam: Kirsty of Craigiecat
Keiran
Keiran
24th April 2008
Time for an update....at least I shall start it but probably finish it tomorrow evening as I have been busy updating Tiffany's page first and that has taken me the best part of two hours!! of course if I wouldn't put on so many piccies I would be finished in half the time ...but then I do like piccies!!
My first part of news is that Tim is back in hospital having had a second hip operation which was very successful. He is a little bit sorer this time, but hopefully this is only temporary and he expects to be home on Sunday. I have had some news from owners of other Achnacarry ponies which always pleases me and I love getting pictures of them. I have also just recently heard that Corran of Achnacarry has yet again changed hands and this time is with Sally Murray up in Aberfeldy so I look forward to hearing how he gets on with Sally and hopefully will receive some piccies of him. Elphin, whom I sold when he was almost 1 year old has now been gelded and Nicola his owner just loves him to bits ...so that always makes our day when we hear that kind of news! Here are some piccies that Nicola sent us recently.
Elphin of Achnacarry
Elphin
Next we heard from Norma who owns two Achnacarry ponies, Ericht and Eoin (Johnny). Ericht is six this year and Johnny will be one. Norma had them both to a show recently and here are some piccies of them on the day.
Ericht of Achnacarry
Ericht
Ericht
Eoin of Achnacarry (Johnny)
Johnny
Johnny
I have been up to a few things recently with the ponies. First of all I took Xanthe and Euan to a Western Clinic which was held near Milnathort so it was nice and local. Euan loaded very well and of course, Xanthe is such a good loader and teacher to follow, she would instill confidence in any young pony. There was a good turn out and Kayreen soon had us all going through our paces! I had a rest for a change and gave Karen a chance to ride Xanthe western and she enjoyed it immensly. Euan and I walked round the school and he soon got used to being overtaken by ridden ponies. Kayreen soon came over for him as she loves "playing" with young ponies and soon he was backing up for her and even trying side passes! He was quite happy to walk over coloured poles and I think he really enjoyed himself.
I have now written enough for one night so am about to retire for the night and hopefully will continue tomorrow.Here I am back again!!Here are a few photos from the western day.
Euan of Achnacarry
Leaving for the day
Xanthe of Whitefield
Leaving for the day also.
Euan
Leaving for the day
Euan
WES Training Day
WES Training Day
Just a few more!!!!
Training day
Karen & Xanthe with Kayreen
Karen & Xanthe
Jock the Deerhound
2nd April 2008
Time for an update on what we have been up to!
First of all we were very pleased to hear about Rannoch's first foal of the season. Anne Mitchell's mare had a filly foal on 1st April..hopefully a yellow dun she thinks and a very strong foal....so Congratulations goes to Anne. Tim is looking forward to having his second hip done as it is becoming very sore now and even his operated leg is sore now, probably compensating for the other one. As a result of this I am kept very busy with the ponies and dogs, house etc. Saying that Tim does all the cooking and even does my ironing now...so how lucky is that?!! Here is a photo of Tim and Tiffany posing at the back door on one of the better days.
Tim & Tiffany
Our friend Karen has been helping us quite a lot and also riding Skye whom she loves dearly and Skye always seems so relaxed when out with Karen. Karen felt that although she will never give up riding Skye, perhaps the time had come for her to have a Highland Pony of her own, so she bought a 3 year old gelding from Willie & Katherine Allan. He is a lovely boy and I shall put a few photos of him on here as well as some of Karen riding Skye.
Karen & Millfield Talisker
Karen & Millfield Talisker
Karen & I on Rowan & Skye
Think the next photo is of me on Xanthe and Lisa on Rowan.
Xanthe tacked up.
There hasn't really been a lot going on but last Saturday, Karen, Lisa and myself all attended a NPS Clinic where Richard Telford was teaching. There were a few Highland Pony people there and it was a great day if just a little chilly for me who was standing watching!!
Both Karen and Lisa felt that they learnt a lot from various little obvious things that Richard helped them with but things that seemed so simple when he explained them. I thought the ponies went very well considering both of them weren't as fit as some that were there. Rowan especially worked very hard and was very hot and wet, but seemed none the worse for her day. It is always good to go to these clinics before the showing season starts. Here are a few photos from the day. They are not too good as I was a wee bit away from them.
Richard Telford Clinic
Karen & Skye
Lisa & Rowan
Just some more photos, Lisa, Karen & me on Rowan, Skye & Xanthe.
All of us!!!!
This a photo from Nevada of a friend's pony, Captain Moonlight of Moonshineglen. He is a stallion by Clandon Moriarti out of Heidi of Whitefield, and is owned by Jill Mueller. I think it is a magic photo and I print it courtesy of Jill.
Captain Moonlight of Moonshineglen.
Highland Stallion being ridden western.
That is probably most of our news. I have one or two Western clinics to go to for practise. These are always very sociable and if anyone out there is reading this and wonders about trying Western Riding I would thoroughly recommend it. At the end of this month, Euan is going away to be broken English first of all but the idea was always that he would follow Xanthe in the Western Riding.
The only other thing is that remember all our followers who come to our Annual Grass Sickness ride run in conjunction with the Central Scotland Highland Pony Club that the ride is to be held on Saturday 19th April. This year we have also invited some Members from The Western Equestrian Society so we welcome them also.
I have a few photos for Tiffany's page so that will be my next job.Until the next time...........
20th March 2008
Here I am again. Since my last update, I have been at the Stallion Show with my friend, Ellie just to watch and socialise and relax after poor Fiona was put to sleep. Although I had entered Rannoch for the Stallion parade I couldn't bare to scrub him up and take him so soon after Fiona's death. I thought it would be much nicer to go with Ellie and enjoy the show without any pressure!
The Highland ponies were fairly well represented in numbers but the Stallion Parade was rather disappointing and as I was supposed to be parading I can't say too much! Congratulations must go to R&M Osborne and their daughter, Ginny who showed the Champion, Charlie of Muck a 7 year old stallion by Strathmashie Seumas Mhor and out of Mary of Muck. Reserve went to Charlie & Joan MCQuattie's 6 year old mare, Maggie Rose of Strathmore by Eros of Achnacarry and out of Rose-Bud of Strathmore. Tim and I were obviously pleased with that result as Maggie Rose is by Eros of Achnacarry. We were also very pleased with the winner of the Gelding class, Sheamus of Inverdarroch, bred by Bruce Haliburton and owned by Irene Grant. Sheamus is by our Rannoch of Achnacarry and out of Shonagh of Inverdarroch. The other good result for us was the 1st prize 3 yrd old gelding, Callum of Mendick, bred by John & Kate Dykes and owned by Susan Fairfield. Callum was also by our Rannoch and out of Uist of Mendick. Here are a few photos from the Stallion Show of these three all by Achnacarry stallions as well as Kestrel of Glencree who was parading and who is by MacGregor of Achnacarry.
Maggie Rose of Strathmore
Sheamus of Inverdarroch
Callum of Mendick
Kestrel of Glencree
Jane Dawson who lives on Islay and whom we sold Aigas of Achnacarry to sends us photos of him from time to time and this is one of the earlier ones of him not long after she had him. He looks very contented with life.
Aigas of Achnacarry
After the Stallion Show we started to get ready to leave for Crufts. I shall write more about that in Tiffany's page. We had a great time although neither dog won anything this time. However , Tim managed very well with his new hip and as we were staying at the Holiday Inn Hotel they are always very good in that they run a shuttle bus to and from Crufts so we didn't have to worry about driving there and trying to find a parking place. That is all behind us now and we are back to feeding ponies etc. At least the weather has been nice and dry for a bit and the ground is beginning to be less muddy! We look forward to our new foals arriving. The first mare to foal will be Midge, followed by Fhuaran and then, much later...Corrie and Mhairi. Of course in between we will have dog shows to go to and then the Royal Highland Show which I have the priviledge to judge this year. One of the rules is that I cannot judge any other show before the Highland but I could show my ponies but as a matter of principle I won't. It will give me more time and an excuse to show the dogs!! Tim also has to have his 2nd operation for his next hip to be done on the 22nd April so hopefully he will be up and running (literally!) by the time the Highland Show comes round! I will be kept busy as usual by a few mares into Rannoch as well as brushing all the old hair out of the ponies once the winter is well and truly over. That is about all our news at the moment.
Until the next time...........
28th February 2008
Today was a sad day for us all here at Pitmenzie.
Ellie's mare, Fiona of Woodside has been ill and because she was having difficulties grazing, she was in our barn to make life easier for her. Tim and I had become used to her being there as she had been at Pitmenzie for around 4 weeks. Unfortunately Fiona was fighting an infection from perhaps a tumour or something as horrendous and today she was put to sleep. We all felt so sad because she was carrying a foal by Ellie's stallion, Brattach whom we also know well as he and Rannoch ran together as foals then again up to when they were both 2 years old and got their Stallion Licenses. Fiona was also a half sister to our Fhuaran of Orangefield and very similar to Fhuaran. May she and her unborn foalie rest in peace, and our thought are with Ellie at this very sad time. I have put in a photo of Fiona when she was feeling better and watching life through our barn window.
Fiona of Woodside
These are two photos which I received recently, one of Kieran of Craigiecat who is by our Rannoch and out of Kirsty of Craigiecat. He was bred by Rosabelle Porter. The other is of Tearlach (Teddy) of Achnacarry who is by Carlung Feargus and out of Mhairi Bhan of Achnacarry. We sold him last year to Kerry Rushbrooke who lives down south.
Keiran of Craigiecat
Tearlach of Achnacarry
22nd February 2008
Here I am again adding some more photos and news. I have been riding quite a bit with a friend who comes up now and then to help with the ponies and ride Skye, Tim's pony. Now that Rowan is yeld again I am trying to get her fit in the hope that we can do some ridden classes with her this year. I also have to keep Xanthe ticking over and as I enjoy my Western Riding with her we try and attend some of the clinics/training days which are held on a regular basis. Also earlier on our 3 year old Rosanna had had a kick from someone so I put her in the stable for a couple of weeks to give her a rest from all the mud and the pony that had kicked her!
Here are a few photos of Rosie followed by me on Rowan and Karen on Skye and some more of me on Xanthe at my Western Day.
Rosanna of Achnacarry
Me and Rosie
Me on Rowan
Karen & I on Skye & Rowan
Xanthe & I at our WES training day
Xanthe and I
Myself on Xanthe & Kayreen Jones
on Sorrel of Sunnyneuk
Of course some of you may know and some of you may not know that Tim has been in and out of hospital having his hip replaced.
He went in on the 30th January and had his operation that day and it is now 3 weeks past since the op. and he is doing really well. They soon have you up on your feet and after 5 days he was back home. At first he was very careful and was dreading walking up the stairs, but he soon found his confidence and he is walking a little bit more each day. I managed to cook for the first week but Tim soon took over again, for which I was very relieved! It's not that I can't cook but I am so busy with all the ponies just now and with no Tim to give me the occasional hand I am finding that my time just flies past. As soon as I can I will put up a current photo of Tim and his "sticks" and him walking up our road! We are off to Crufts next week leaving on the 5th March and returning on the 7th.....I shall put more about that on Tiffany's page.The Stallion Show is on 1st March and all going well we are taking Rannoch there but only for the parade as we will take in a few mares to him as usual this year. He is rather hairy as I haven't been riding him so far so haven't had a rug on him like I had last year. Although I know Highlands don't really need a rug they do help to keep their coats flat and a little bit shorter and tidier!
13th February 2008
The start of the year was so wet and muddy that it was a nice change to see some snow and it lay for a couple of days giving us time to play with our new Christmas present! Here are a few photos of the ponies in the snow.
Fionnalaigh & Euan both aged 4 years.
Xanthe & Skye
Corrie aged 19 years.
10th February 2008
Here I am with some more 2007 news to add on. After Islay we had two of our other colt foals to deliver to their new home in Aberfeldy. They were Fionnlagh (Findlay) and Ruairidh and we managed to box them relatively easily considering we had had problems earlier on in the month. We quickly phoned a surprised Donna (Pringle) to inform her we were leaving and would be in Aberfeldy in an hour or so. They travelled very well and here are a few photos of them on arrival. For company they were to have Donna's foal as well as a supposedly sensible Connemara!!
The Arrival
Fionnlagh has found a friend!
Ruairidh has found his friend!
Ruairidh, Cameron & the Connemara
Hey....wait for us!!!!
After they had gone, we had Christmas to enjoy before the next two left us.The two that were left were Eoin (Johnny) and Timothy, and we thought we had nothing better to do than box the two of them when their new owners arrived to collect them!
The Thorburn family arrived after New Year with their trailer and we duly caught the foals and tried to box them. Johnny went in without too much trouble, but Timothy had other ideas! Try as we might he just wouldn't stay in the box! He would go in then just as we relaxed he would back out very quickly eventually upsetting Johnny too.
The weather couldn't have been worse as it was blowing a gale and also was snowing heavily at times. After hours of coxing etc we took an executive decision to put both the foals back into their stable and leave them alone. By this time it was 3.00pm and the Thorburns had to travel to Manchester that day, so they left their trailer and it was decided that if we could get them boxed we would take them as far as Gretna Green and hand over the trailer! This is eventually what we did and I must say a big Thank You to all our friends who came up and gave us a hand with loading both of them. At the end of the day, once Timothy relaxed, he travelled very well indeed. Here are a few photos of them both and one of Timothy trying to box himself!
Johnny & Timothy December 07
Timothy thinking about loading!
Norma persuading Timothy to box!
7th February 2008
As I said below we sold Aigas, Rowan's first foal, to Jane Dawson on the Island of Islay and although she was going to arrange for his collection, Tim and I decided that since we have never visited Islay that we would take him there ourselves.
We set off around 7.00am and it took us 5 1/2 hours to reach Kennacraig where we had to catch the ferry to Islay. The ponies travelled very well. We tied Rowan up but left Aigas loose. The 2nd Officer on the ferry was very good and kept his eye on the ponies and reported on them every now and then. The crossing took 2 1/2 hours and was actually fine..a wee bit rough but nothing bad and we had some lunch whilst on board. Once we reached Islay we had another hour approximately until we reached Ellister Farmhouse where Jane and Gilbert were waiting for us. On our way over we passed the Island of Jura and here is a piccie of the Paps of Jura.
We unloaded the ponies and led them into very comfortable quarters for the next two evenings. Jane had very carefully thought out where to put the ponies and they were in a small paddock with lots of shelter in the shape of two very large open stable blocks filled with fresh straw and lots of hay. Rowan and Aigas probably thought they had died and gone to heaven!! The other two ponies that were going to keep Aigas company once we left with Rowan were just over the fence in the rest of the paddock, thus making things very safe but the ponies were able to speak to each other without any chance of anybody being hurt. We left them tucking into their hay.
Aigas with his new friend
(Photo courtesy of Jane Dawson)
Aigas and his new friend
(Photo courtesy of Jane Dawson)
Tim and I had a lovely time on Islay looking at all Jane's Highland Ponies and her Stallion, Whitefield King Duncan. We also know one or two pubs and hotels! However all too soon it was time to leave and we had decided the best plan was to very quickly take Rowan out of the paddock on our day of departure and Aigas would be so taken up with his new friends he wouldn't mind his mother going away.
When morning dawned it was very stormy and we weren't too sure if we were going to be allowed on the ferry with Rowan, but because of the time scale we had to box Rowan and drive off . We had hardly driven a mile or two when my mobile went and it was Jane confirming that the Captain wouldn't allow us on board! What to do next? We didn't want to return to Ellister and risk upsettin Aigas or Rowan but it was a long time until the next ferry. We had around six and a half hours to kill. Fortunately Jane and her friends came to the rescue and arranged with the local cattle market for Rowan to go into a small field of theirs until it was time to board. Understandably, Rowan was pretty upset having just lost her baby so we stayed with her for at least half an hour until she put her head down to graze. Tim and I then went off to find a hotel which would give us breakfast at 11.30am! It was a rather expensive breaky but considering the staff were setting up for a lunch party as well as another party in the evening we considered ourselves very lucky. After finding a few gifts for our friends back home who were looking after the rest of the menagerie, we returned to Rowan and awaited Jane's phone call to see whether we were to be allowed on the 3.30pm ferry. Once that was confirmed we boxed Rowan and set off. She is such a good pony, she loaded no problem and even although she was pretty stressed after loosing her foal she travelled very well all the way home. The crossing was a bit choppy to begin with but soon became smoother and once again we were back on the mainland and homeward bound. The journey home wasn't very pleasant as it was dark and the roads were flooded in parts. It didn't help when we took the wrong road after Inverary and ended up in Arrocher! We had to take The A82 to Crianlarich .....not a pleasant road when it is dark and raining! We were so glad to reach home and after unloading Rowan and leading her into a lovely stable which Brenda had prepared for her, Tim and I were soon downing a Gin and Tonic each!! Despite all that we will go back to Islay and visit Jane and Aigas but probably in the better weather! Below are a couple of photos of some of Jane's ponies and also Tim in the Agri-Cat and the morning when we were driving towards the ferry which we didn't catch!!
Kimdene
Summer Thyme
Tim and friends!
Tim again!
Morning on Islay
28th January 2008
This is me just to see if we are really working!! I have put on a piccie below of Rosanna when she was Reserve Champion at the NPS Show early December.
13 January 2008
Are we working now? We think so...!
This is me....Jean...I just couldn't wait to get my hands on the computer just to prove it is working! I shall be busy over the next few weeks....me-thinks!!!!I am going to try a photo!
Hip Hip Hurrah!!!...With the help of a very good friend the web site is up and running. Until I get my hands on it , our readers will just have to content themselves with this shortened version, but at least we are getting there!! Since Perth Show we have been at Kinross Show, winning the Best Mare & Foal Combination with Rowan and Aigas. Aigas also won the Best Foal Salver, a Trophy which we have won six times now! After that we were at Blair Horse Trials where there are always classes for Highland Ponies. We took Fionnalaigh and Rosanna but it wasn't our luckiest day! Enough said!! I shall add a wee bit about the dogs in this part and later on Tiffany's page will be updated. On 25th August we went to the SKC Championship show at Ingliston and imagine my delight to win 1st prize with both Sasha and Tiffany in their indivdual classes. Tiffany went on from there to win her first Reserve Challenge Certificate. Boy was I chuffed! Dogs are not like ponies........ they have to win THREE Challenge Certificates to become a Champion and in the dog world when you are just a "rookie" that is hard work. The following day, we set off bright and early up to the NESPEC show in Aberdeen , this time with the ponies. We took the same two we had at Blair and had a great day. Fionnalaigh was 2nd in her class and because the first prize pony was a gelding we won the Best 3 year old filly Trophy which is a lovely Trophy. Rosanna was 3rd to begin with but ended up 4th in a very large two year old class so we were well pleased and returned home with lovely rosettes and the Trophy. September saw us at my friend's son's wedding which was held on the Banks of Loch Tay. Tim and I stayed overnight in the Killin Hotel which we enjoyed very much. We must return and stay a little bit longer. It was a super day and we drank far too much wine!!! The day after, I judged the CSHPC show near Methevn. It was a lovely day and I had lots of good ponies in front of me. The standard has improved so much and I thoroughly enjoyed judging. My Champion was Martin & Wendy Taylor's lovely mare, Shona of Sunnyneuk who is by Concorde of Whitefield and out of Selina of Caenlochan. She actually went on to be Supreme Champion of Champions in the new class sponsered by Kate Lawson and Willie Sinclair. Later on in the Month, Tim and I trooped down to the Darlington Dog Show staying overnight in a nearby Travel Lodge. We persuaded them to let us take the three dogs although their policy is usually only two dogs to a room! We had a passable show. Tiffany was 3rd and Sasha was 4th.....nothing to write home about! On 29th September I went to the HPS Study Day with friends. Tim stayed at home looking after the dogs and doing what he wanted to do....ie; the garden! It was a very interesting day and we all came away thinking it had been worth while. It also gave us a chance to catch up with old friends. October was a quiet month as far as shows went. I used it to practise with the foals, teaching them to lead etc. I also had a few rides on Xanthe mostly , but sometimes Skye. We are lucky in that I have two friends who come up and ride too which helps me a great deal as Tim cannot ride now due to his hips being very sore. He has been told he has arthritis in both hips and we are actually going to see the specialist tomorrow so hopefully he will have his operation in the New Year and will be free of his pain. On 3rd November, Karen, my friend and I took Rowan, Aigas & Rosanna to the NPS Show at Oatridge. We had a good day. Unfortunately there was only Aigas there in the foal class so he ended up with the red rosette and a very nice Trophy. However he behaved very well and walked and trotted fine for the Judge, Gillian MacMurray. She said she liked him very much .
Aigas of Achnacarry
NPS Show Oatridge
Rosanna was in a class for two and three year olds and she was 2nd. The first pony was a 3yr old gelding owned by Jean & Willie Ralston. He was Champion and Rosanna was Reserve Champion, so we were very pleased.
Rosanna of Achnacarry
Reserve Champion at NPS Show
On 8th November Tim and I were off on our travels again, this time to Northern Yorkshire to stay with Alison Payne and her father who had been poorly, but is now fine.
Alison had entered for a Foal Show and took two of her foals with her and Tim and I
went along too. Guess who we saw away down there? Photo below holds the answer!
Cameron always has an eye for a.......?!!
Our reason apart from visiting them was to go to The Northern Schnauzer Dog Show, which was held at Elsecar, Barnsley . Again we had a good day, Tiffany was 2nd in a large class and Sasha was also 2nd in another good class. We were delighted. Sorry, I can't remember who the Bitch Champion was but the Dog Champion was Tamberg Chayote Kid who won his 2nd Challenge Certificate.
Our next event was the Winter Fair held on 24th November. My friend and I had been practising most days with the two foals which I had entered, Eoin of Achnacarry and Fionnlagh of Achnacarry.
However when the morning came we spent an hour trying to persuade Fionnlagh that he should go in the box but to no avail. We ended up just taking Eoin. He was 3rd in the colt foal class.
Again it was good experience for him.
Next it was Tayside Foal Show on 2nd December which was held at Forfar Market.
The entries were much better than the Winter Fair but we only took Aigas due to the fact that both Rosanna and Euan had abscesses in their feet. Aigas was 3rd and behaved reasonably well considering Rowan was whinnying to him when we were in the ring.
Aigas at Tayside Foal Show 2007
Aigas Tayside Foal Show
That is most of our news since our web site went off the rails. The only other news I have to report is that we have sold Aigas to Jane Dawson who lives on the Island of Islay .
Tim and I decided to take him there with Rowan to save him being stresses!! Well that is another story for when I get the web site back to myself!!!
Until then...............
Site developed by A Douglas 2001
© T&J Connell 2001