australia’s connemara stallion lines in 2013

7/27/2019 Australias Connemara Stallion Lines in 2013

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Australias Connemara Stallion Lines in 2013

Introduction

This report follows on from the 2007 Analysis of the Australian Connemara Pony Population by

considering the stallion sub-lines available in Australia in 2013. To make sense of the data and the

commentary it is suggested that readers should first review the 2007 analysis report AND the

Commentary on the 2013 Stallion list for Ireland. The uniqueness of many of Australian lines of

Connemara pony is underestimated by their breeders. It is hoped that this paper will help increase

awareness of the genetic diversity offered by some of these ponies. Individual breeders need to

make wise, well thought out decisions to ensure the continuance of the breed and we hope the

analyisis of this paper will encourage this.

Approximately seventy stallions registered with the Connemara Pony Breeders Society of Australia,

Australian Pony Stud Book or Australian Connemara Pony Registry are included in this latest analysis.

Geographically stallion distribution favours the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales,

Victoria and Tasmania. Just 5 stallions are located in South Australia and 13 in West Australia. As

mentioned by Tom Maclochlainn in his A Report on the Connemara Pony in Australia (2007) the

road trip from Brisbane, on the east coast, to Perth, on the west coast, is further than that from

Clifden, Ireland to Ankara, Turkey. In other words, distance is a significant factor in accessing

stallions; allied to this is the cost of accessing veterinarians or technicians to carry out artificial

insemination. Consequently, the number of progeny left by any particular stallion often has more

relationship to the number of mares owned by the stud, than any other factor.

No effort has been made by the author to confirm whether the stallions listed on the ConnemaraPony Breeders Society of Australia (CPBSA) website are alive, still breeding and available to outside

mares (www.cpbsa.com.au/stallions.htm). Some stallion owners have supplied additional

information which has been gratefully received.

A quick summary of the 2007 report:

Of the 41 stallion sub-lines imported into Australia prior to 2007, only 16 still remained. The

last four stallion imports appear to be Oxenholm Gideon around 1982, Castle Baron in the

late 1990s, Fredericksminde Hazy Cavalier and Gneevebrack Storm in the late 2000s.

The Carna Bobby sire line descendants (Island King, Blandings Bobby, Abbeyleix Finbar,

Shelford Downs Berwick Boy, Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn, their sons and grandsons) sired

43% of foals registered between 1991 and 2007.

Abbeyleix Finbar, his sons and grandson contributed 23% of total foals born over that time. A

genetic bottleneck has occurred as a result of this high usage of this one stallion.

Oxenholm Gideon, Connaught of Millfields, Castle Baron and Cregmore Colm sire lines

appeared to be secure.


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A number of sire sub-lines were described as at risk due to low stallion numbers and low

progeny numbers.

Three quarters of the stallions on the list at May 2007 had no stallion sons.

The first 400 adult registered mares in the CPBSA studbook were born by 1984. The next 400 adult

registered mares occurred 21 years later with a mare born in 2005. The CPBSA Studbook published

in September 2012 lists the 875th adult registered mare.

This 2013 report considers the relationship of the current stallion population with the most

prominent sires in the Connemara population as a whole. In the case of the recently imported

stallions they are compared with the over-represented stallions identified in the Commentary on the

2013 Stallion List in Ireland and the older prominent sires. Both of these lists of sires are significant

contributors to increasing levels of inbreeding in the worldwide population. Some Australian stallion

lines have been identified as unique from a global perspective. These lines represent the means toslow the rate at which inbreeding rises in the Connemara Pony in future.

All of the pedigrees of the listed stallions can be found on www.allbreedpedigree.com

Since the 2007 analysis a few breeders appear to have taken the concerns about inbreeding and the

need to increase genetic diversity seriously. They have acted to widen the diversity of foals born by

searching out rare mare lines, freezing semen, moving stallions across states, and using imported

frozen semen.

However:

There are still too many stallions with useful pedigrees that are not getting a reasonable

opportunity to breed with a variety of mares so as to prove their worth. These stallions

either have not bred, used for cross-breeding or have been bred to the same one or two

mares repeatedly.

A few stallions have spent too long at one stud and are over-used in their locality. This

situation is exacerbated when their sons stay in the same region, or they themselves have

full brothers at stud in the same region, or stand at stud alongside their sires.

Too few stallions have frozen semen available or are made available for chilled shipped

semen.

There has been reliance on waiting for someone else to make the effort of bringing in a new

stallion to a new area (not specifically to Australia as a whole) or preserving genetic material

by means of frozen semen of Australian bred stallions. Frozen semen has been imported and

should make an impact in the next year or two.

Where frozen semen has been used the mares should be of value from a genetic diversity

perspective to produce a foal of value to the Australian population. An example of this is theSpinway Comet colt foal born in 2011 but not listed in the CPBSA Sires Purebred Progeny


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with Dam and not included in the analysis of foals above. His dam is by Domo Cavallo

Praize, out of an Abbeyleix Finbar mare, which from the perspective of increasing genetic

diversity within the Australian population renders him of limited use as a sire in Australia

because he is very closely related to a high proportion of the population.

Table 1: Changes in status of stallion lines from 2007 to 2013:

Stallion Line 2007 Risk Status 2013 Risk Status

Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn High one old stallion (RupariRonan)

Extinct

Dylan Glen Shamrock

(Glenormiston McInnerney

Muskerry)

High one old stallion High one old stallion, fewprogeny

Strickland Park Jos Rebel

(Green Hills Rebel)

High one stallion High one old stallion, fewprogeny

Errislannan Sparkler (Toorigal

Danny Boy & Errislannan

Spartan)

High two old stallions High two old stallions, fewprogeny

Millfields Commodore High one young stallion High one stallion, few progeny

Celtic Miceal McGee

(Cregmore Colm)

Moderate 3 stallions High 2 stallions

Blandings Bobby Moderate 4 stallions High 3 stallions, few progeny

Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier Not present Moderate one young stallion

Gneevebrack Storm Not present Moderate one young stallion

Island King Not present colts on ground Moderate 3 young stallions

Corrib Park Ballymac (Shelford

Downs Berwick Boy)

Not present colts on ground Moderate 3 young stallions

Blandings Poitin (Tulira High two stallions Moderate 4 stallions, few


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Colman) progeny

Connaught of Millfields Low 5 stallions Moderate 4 stallions, 1 aged,few progeny.

Coomel Kestral (Inis OHara) High two stallions Low 6 stallions

Connemara Park Richard

(Connemara Park Seamus)

High two stallions Low 6 stallions

Ben Dhui Berin (Yarraman Park

George)

Moderate 3 stallions Low 7 stallions

Oxenholm Gideon Secure 7 stallions Low 6 stallions

Castle Baron Secure 4 young stallions Secure 9 young stallions

Abbeyleix Finbar Secure - 10 stallions Secure 10 stallions

Mylerstown Huckleberry Finns photograph appears on page 139 of Out of the Mist. In England,Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn left one stallion, Rosenaharley Rowley, 4 daughters and 7 geldings.

One daughter, Cluggan Drama left the stallion Churchway Daybreak and another Bridmore Meadow

Pipit left the stallion Silver Fox Oisin. Today Rosenaharley Rowley is well known as the sire of

Currachmore Cashel who stands in Ireland who himself has 12 sons on the CPBS Stallion list.

In Australia, Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn left five stallion sons in Australia. Two are shown in

photographs on page 150 of Out of the Mist. His son Barwidgee Samite left the stallion Rupari

Ronan, two mares and four geldings. Lagoonside Barnabas left one registered mare, and the other

three Mylerstown Huuckleberry Finn sons did not have any registered progeny. Rupari Ronan stood

at stud into his 20s yet his registered progeny totals 4 mares and one gelding. An opportunity lost!


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Stallion Lines at Risk

Dylan Glen Shamrock

Heather Bell -> Dun Heath -> Dun Lorenzo -> Macdara -> Atlantic Sentinel -> Glenormiston

McInnerney Muskerry ->Dylan Glen Shamrock.

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Dylan Glen Shamrock

Stallion Carna Dun Macdara ClonkeehanAuratum

Rebel Wind Carna Bobby

Dylan Glen

Shamrock4, 6 3, 4, 5, 6 6 - 4

Dylan Glen Shamrock is now 23 years old and has a small number of purebred progeny. In recent

years efforts have begun to produce a stallion son to continue this line. His pedigree has a lot to

recommend it from a perspective of genetic diversity due to the limited amount of the ubiquitous

Cannonball and as the last remnant of the Atlantic Sentinel line.

Nowhere else in the world are there any male line descendants of Atlantic Sentinel. Widely used in

Great Britain he left 133 progeny from 1970 to 1986, however only Shipton Zenith from his first crop

of foals was retained as a stallion. Macaroon of Calmore was imported with Glenormiston

McInnerney Muskerry in utero. Glenormiston McInnerney Muskerry is shown on page 143 of Out of

the Mist.


Rebel -> Lavalley Rebel -> Inver Rebel -> Rebel Wind -> Atlantic Rebel -> Green Hills Rebel ->


Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Strickland Park Jos Rebel



Strickland

Park Jos

Rebel

5 4 5, 5 3, 4, 4 3, 6

Atlantic Rebel is a rare sub-line of Rebel Wind which is discussed here:

http://connemaraponygenetics.wordpress.com/publications/rare-bloodlines/atlantic-rebel/. Atlantic

Rebel left 6 daughters in Australia and another, Lockinge Leonora, was imported. Cairnhill Fionna, a

good hunting pony, left one foal, the stallion Achill Fiddler. Exmoor Nutmeg1, out of Exmoor Silver

Swallow (by Cregmore Galway out of Silver Mill), left one mare Exmoor Cinnamon, who in turn has

one daughter, Exmoor Molly Malone, born in 2006. The other 5 mares by Atlantic Rebel either have

1 The online CPBSA Studbook Sept 2012 contains a typographical error listing 1985 born ExmoorNutmegs dam as Exmoor Caitlin, born in 1993.


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not had foals or the last foal was born in the early 1980s.

Atlantic Rebel left 8 geldings, of which Cairnhill Partisan and Cairnhill Renegade were initially

registered as stallions. Cairnhill Renegades daughter Templewood Truskmore did not breed on.

Cairnhilll Partisans daughter Wychwood Fairy Wren left four daughters and a stallion son all by

Newlands Gideon from 1999 to 2005. Not one of these four Newlands mares have been bred from

as yet and Newlands Flanagan was gelded but left a stallion son.

The sire line has been carried on by his imported in utero son. Green Hills Rebel, whose son

Strickland Park Jos Rebel is at stud now. Born in 1995, Jos Rebel is out of the mare Ballantrae Jaffa

(by Toorigal Danny Boy). A photo of him under saddle is available by clicking on his name on the

http://www.cpbsa.com.au/Stallions.htm page. He carries the most Rebel Wind of any stallion in

Australia, providing an opportunity for welcome diversity.

Strickland Park Jos Rebel is a small pony which may have detracted from his appeal in Australia

where historically there has been a trend to increase the size of the Connemara pony. Theopportunity for Strickland Park Jos Rebel contribution to the pony population would appear to be

greater in countries where there are large numbers of mares over 148cm in height. Perhaps he will

appeal sufficiently for a breeder outside of Australia to make an approach to his owners for frozen

semen?

His registered progeny to date have been from a small group of mares most of which are very closely

related to each other. Perhaps the opportunity of quality mares of different bloodlines would

produce a son of stallion quality to continue this internationally rare line.

Achill Fiddler

Rebel -> Lavalley Rebel -> Inver Rebel -> Wisbridge Golden Rebel -> Wisbridge Erinmore ->Millfields

Commodore -> Connemara Park Andrew ->Achill Fiddler

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Achill Fiddler



Achill Fiddler 5, 6 4 5 3, 5 4, 4, 5

Millfields Commodore is shown on page 142 of Out of the Mist, he had two stallion sons in

Australia, the imported Millfield Cabin Boy who left no registered progeny and Connemara Park

Andrew who left Achill Fiddler. Born in 2001, Achill Fiddler is out of the Atlantic Rebel mare, Cairnhill

Fionna. His pedigree has Island King twice in generation 3. Achill Fiddler has one foal recorded with

CPBSA to date.

Achill Fiddler is the last of the Millfields Commodore line in the world. Sire line descendants of

Wisbridge Erinmore are also rare with only three left in England.


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Errislannan Sparkler

Rebel -> Lavalley Rebel -> Inver Rebel -> Rebel Wind ->Errislannan Sparkler

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Errislannan Sparkler



Kemill Hill

Halligan4 - - 3 2

Ballantrae

Granite3 - 4 3 2

Errislannan Sparkler had three sons and three daughters come to Australia. The three stallions were

Millfields March Wind, Errislannan Spartan and Toorigal Danny Boy (see p155 of Out of the Mist).

Millfields March Wind was used in the 1980s for a grading-up programme that was in place inAustralia at that time. He did not leave any stallion sons.

Errislannan Spartan left 3 stallions, full brothers out of the Carna Bobby mare, Knock Ina. The

youngest, Kemill Hill Halligan, born in 1989, is the only one still on the stallion list and has left few

progeny, one of whom was registered as a stallion but was later gelded. As one of two remaining

Rebel Wind line stallions in Australia a stallion son would provide additional diversity in the future.

Toorigal Danny Boys son, Ballantrae Granite, is out of the Carna Bobby mare Abbeyleix Grey Pearl.

Born in 1991, his sole progeny registered with CPBSA was a gelding born in 1996.

Errislannan Sparkler does not appear to have any descendants elsewhere in the world.

Celtic Miceal McGee

Clonkeehan Auratum -> Clonjoy -> Tulira Rambler -> Cregmore Colm -> Celtic Miceal McGee

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Celtic Miceal McGee



Celtic Miceal

McGee- - 4, 4, 5 - 3, 4

Boonahburra

Braveheart4 5, 6, 6 5, 5, 6 - 4, 5, 7

Celtic Miceal McGee, born 1994, is the only son of Cregmore Colm in Australia even though his sire

stood at stud from the late 1970s. Celtic Miceal Magee is out of Barwidgee Discus, who was by

Connemara Park Arthur out of Silver Mill, a Carna Bobby mare. Nearly all of the progeny of Celtic

Miceal McGee are out of daughters of Blandings Clancy and Hearnesbrook Mullimbimby.

Celtic Miceal McGee has one son at stud, Boonahburra Braveheart, (born 1999) out of the Blandings


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Clancy mare, Boonahburra Katie.

Boonahburra Braveheart has left few progeny to date. One was inspected as a stallion but no longer

appears on the CPBSA stallion list.

These two stallions are useful as they have a limited influence of the over represented stallions apart

from Clonkeehan Auratum.

Cregmore Colm left a few progeny in Ireland including stallion Tulira Cracker Jack who was exported

to France. Ironically, Cracker Jacks son Gevaudan was imported back to Ireland and stands in

Antrim, Ireland at Sweet Wall Stud http://sweetwall.co.uk/stallions. Gevaudan, Celtic Miceal McGee

and Boonahburra Braveheart appear to be the only other male line descendants of Tulira Rambler in

the world.

Blandings Bobby

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie -> Gil -> Carna Bobby -> Blandings Bobby

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Blandings Bobby



Blandings John - 3 - - 2, 5

Colmaur Kasey 4 3, 5 5 - 2, 4, 5

Capparis

Champagne

Charlie

5, 5, 6, 6 4, 6 5, 6 - 3, 5, 5, 5, 6

Blandings Bobby was out of the Macdara mare, Dangan Lady, who won the Carew Cup at Clifden and

numerous other championships across Ireland. He left three stallion sons; Blandings John, Blandings

Ryan and Colmaur Kasey. Blandings John, born 1989, is out of the Calmore Swagman mare, Eadon

Calypso. He has not left any stallion sons. Colmaur Kasey, born 1992, is out of Truska Pimpernel

mare, Chiltern Martina. He left Capparis Champagne Charlie out of Millfields Commodore mare

Sheldford Downs Rana in 1999, now stands in Tasmania.While Carna Bobby features strongly in the pedigrees of these stallions they do not carry Abbeyleix

Finbar or Castle Baron.


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Stallion Lines Not at Risk

Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier

Mountain Lad -> Tully Lad -> Tully Grey -> Dale Haze -> Hazy Dawn -> Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier



Frederiksmind

e Hazy

Cavalier

4, 5, 5, 6, 7 5, 7 5, 6, 6 4 5, 5, 5, 7

The first progeny of Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier were born in 2011. With his change of ownership

as part of the Glenormiston Stud reduction it is likely will receive a genetically more diverse group of

mares from what he might otherwise have been bred to. If so, this will improve the genetic diversity

of the next generation of foals in Australia.

Hazy Dawn is a prolific sire of stallion sons internationally.

Gneevebrack Storm

Heather Bell -> Dun Heath -> Dun Lorenzo -> Dun Aengus -> Kimble -> Abbeyleix Owen -> Cloonisle

Cashel -> Glencarrig Prince -> Monaghanstown Prince -> Gneevebrack Storm

Importation of Gneevebrack Storm, a son of Monaghanstown Prince, brings the very prolific

Abbeyleix Owen line to Australia. His grand-sire Cloonisle Cashel, is the sire line ancestor for 42 of

the 91 Abbeyleix Owen sire line descendants on the 2013 CPBS Stallion List. Glencarrig Prince, born

in 1997, already has 12 sons and grandsons on the 2013 CPBS Stallion List.

Gneevebrack Storm carries all four over-represented sires from Ireland and 11 separate lines of

Carna Bobby. His oldest progeny are rising yearlings in 2013. His change of ownership will hopefully

result in a more diverse group of mares being mated to him which will result in a better outcome

than might otherwise have been expected had he been solely mated to daughters of the four

Glenormiston based stallions. Even now he should be used with restraint to prevent a future

bottleneck and increased rates of inbreeding. Coefficients of inbreeding (COI) for two of his progenyout of Castle Baron mares have been calculated at 6.84%, a higher COI than that expected for the

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Gneevebrack Storm



Gneevebrack

Storm

5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7,8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9,9

6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8,9, 9

7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9 5, 75, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7,8, 9


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progeny of first cousins!

Island King

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie -> Gil -> Carna Bobby -> Island King

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Island King



Hillview Trojan 5 - 5 4 3, 4

#Glenormiston

Celtic Pride5 5, 5, 6 5, 5 - 4, 4, 5, 6

#Glenormiston

Celtic Prince5 5, 5, 6 5, 5 - 4, 4, 5, 6

Island King is also represented in the mare pedigrees of:

Generation 3: Achill Fiddler (twice), Celtic Miceal McGee, Blandings Beamish.

Generation 4: Boonahburra Braveheart, Roscommon Gabriel, Sheelin Grove Seamus Victor,

Glenormiston Freedom.

Island King was Australias first Connemara pony. His photograph is on p137 of Out of the Mist by

Pat Lyne. His 15 Australian born stallion sons were Connemara Park Russell (born 1967), Connemara

Park Arthur, Connemara Park James, Connemara Park Billy, Connemara Park Peter, Connemara Park

Mac, Connemara Park Bruce, Connemara Park Paul, Connemara Park Garry, Connemara Park

George, Candlebark Macrigh, Connemara Park Michael (exported to New Zealand), Connemara Park

Guy, Candlebark Beatha, and Blandings Icing (born 1976).

Connemara Park James left Lefroy Ailin Dwane out of the County Clare Mickey mare, Shelford Downs

Michelle. Lefroy Ailin Dwane left Hillview Trojan out of the Errislannan Spartan mare, Kemill Hill

Tinka. Hillview Trojan was born in 1997 and has not left any recorded progeny.

While Hillview Trojan carries two lines of Carna Bobby he does not carry Abbeyleix Finbar or Castle

Baron.

Connemara Park Peters son Domo Cavallo Praize performed at a high level in Australia and left

many progeny. Praize appears on p138 of Out of the Mist. Several sons were retained as stallions

for brief periods but today only two remain - the full brothers Glenormiston Celtic Pride (born 2005)

and Glenormiston Celtic Prince (born 2006). Their dam is by Abbeyleix Finbar. Capparis Casanova

out of an Oxenholm Gideon mare was exported to New Zealand and has four sons currently on the

stallion list there.


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Corrib Park Ballymac

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie -> Gil -> Carna Bobby -> Leam Bobby Finn -> Kirtling Brigadoon -> Shelford

Downs Berwick Boy -> Corrib Park Ballymac

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Corrib Park Ballymac



Garnet Phineas 5, 6, 7 4, 5, 6, 6, 7 6 5, 5, 5

Garnet Phoenix 5, 6, 6, 7 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7 6, 6 5, 5, 7

Clairvale

Padraic6, 6, 7, 8, 8

5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8,8, 8

6, 7, 7, 9 75, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6,7, 7, 7, 7, 8

Corrib Park Ballymac is out of the Abbeyleix Finbar mare, Glenormiston Macroom. Finola of Leamwas the dam of both Leam Bobby Finn and Abbeyleix Finbar. He has two sons and a grandson on the

current stallion list. Ballymacs sire, Shelford Downs Berwick Boy is shown in harness on page 139 of

Out of the Mist.

Garnet Phineas (born 2005) is out of the Glenormiston Mister Macnamee mare, Kilkieran Kirsten

MacNeill. Macnamara, who is a rarity in the southern hemisphere, appears three times in the first 5

generations of Garnet Phineas pedigree, unfortunately Abbeyleix Finbar appears twice in the 3 rd

generation reducing the number of mares that he is suited to. Garnet Phineas has left a few progeny

but as yet no stallion sons.

Garnet Phoenix (born 2005) is out of the Glenormiston Thady mare, Garnet Helena. Garnet Helena is

a daughter of Kilkieran Kirsten MacNeill. Consequently, Garnet Phoenix and Garnet Phineas are

brothers in blood. Garnet Phoenix does not appear to have left any registered progeny as yet.

Clairvale Padraic (born 2011) is by Garnet Quicksilver, a full brother to Garnet Phineas, and out of

the Castle Baron mare, Clairvale Eibhlin. NB: Connemara Pony Breeders Society of Australia

studbook regulations allow 2yo stallions to be inspected.

Blandings Poitin

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie ->Tooreen Laddie -> Tooreen Ross -> Bridge Boy -> Tulira Colman ->

Barwidgee Snowdon ->Home Vale Webster -> Blandings Poitin

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Blandings Poitin and his descendants



Blandings

Poitin4, 4, 5 - 5 - 5, 5

BlandingsBeamish

5, 5, 6, 6 7, 7 6 - 4, 6, 6, 7


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Roscommon

Gabriel6, 6, 7, 7 4, 8, 8 7 - 3, 5, 7, 7, 8

Blueberry Hills

Stormcloud

5, 5, 5, 6, 6,7, 8, 8

6, 7, 8 6, 7 7 5, 6, 6, 8

Blandings Poitin carries two lines of Carna Bobby through the two daughters, Julie and Canrower

Lass, who appear in the 5th generation. Julie was the dam of stallions Tulira Colman, Tulira Highball

(exported to Sweden) and Tulira Snowball. Canrower Lass is the dam of the stallion Marco Polo of

Clonkeehan but is best known as the dam of Pat Lynes Arctic Moon. Tulira Colman and two of his

sons are shown in photographs on page 141 of Out of the Mist.

Blandings Poitin, born 1995, is out of a Laurel mare thus offering very useful diversity, however he

has left very few registered progeny to date.

His son Blandings Beamish is out of a Connemara Park Richard mare and also presents a useful

opportunity for diversification. Beamish is currently located in Tasmania which increases the

logistical difficulty of gaining access to him. Fortunately however, frozen semen is available from his

breeder.

Blueberry Hills Stormcloud, by Blandings Poitin out of Springfield Gemmagh, is a recently approved

stallion. His dam Springfield Gemmagh is by Abbeyleix Finbars son Glenormiston Finnian. Finnians

dam, Kirtling Haze also left prominent stallion Domo Cavallo Praize.

Blandings Beamishs son, Roscommon Gabriel, out a Blandings Bobby mare continues the line on at

present.

Connaught of Millfields

Carna Dun -> Connaught of Millfields

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Connaught of Millfields



Casmatarn BillyJatz Rebel

3, 3, 6, 6 3, 4, 5, 6 - - -

Green Hills

Trooper

Thomas

3, 5 4, 5 5 - 3

Kahean Jimmy

Diamond4, 6, 7 5, 6, 7 6, 7 4 4, 4, 6

#Boonahburra

Apollo

3 4, 5, 5 - - 6

Connaught of Millfields and his son Blandings Clancy are shown on page 145 of Pat Lynes book Out


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of the Mist. He left 8 stallion sons between 1973 and 1980, of which 3 have continued on to the

present even though the numbers of progeny are thin! Barwidgee Erriff was exported to New

Zealand but no stallion descendants remain there.

Blandings Biscuit, by Connaught of Millfields, was out of the Macdara mare, Dangan Lady, who won

the Carew Cup at Clifden and other championships across Ireland. He left a bay son, Casmatarn Billy

JatzRebel and 11 registered mares. Casmatarn Billy Jatz Rebel has left a mare and gelding from very

limited opportunities. Daughter, Woodstock clair is performing well under saddle. Casmatarn Billy

Jatz Rebel does not have Carna Bobby or Clonkeehan Auratum in his pedigree and has significantly

lower relationship to the inescapable founding stallion, Cannonball, than most Connemara ponies in

the world. Consequently, this makes him particularly useful to the breed in Australia.

Aran Milano, by Connaught of Millfields, was out of the Whalton Sandune mare, Connemara Park

Rachel. His last registered progeny was born in 2003. Aran Milano left the stallion Green Hills

Trooper Thomas born in 1989, out of the Clonkeehan Archer mare, Green Hills Show Girl. The GreenHills Trooper Thomas stallion son Kahean Jimmy Diamond (2004) is out of an Abbeyleix Finbar mare.

Blandings Clancy, by Connaught of Millfields, was out of the Connemara Park Seamus mare,

Connemara Park Judy. Connemara Park Judy left two other stallion sons Blandings Ryan and

Blandings Icing. Clancy left Boonahburra Magee (1984-2013) and Boonahburra Apollo (born 1999)

from the Hearnesbrook Fastnet mare, Hearnesbrook Mullimbimby. Neither Boonahburra Magee nor

Apollo has a stallion son to continue this line on. Fortunately, Magees owner had the wisdom to

collect frozen semen from him.

Coomel Kestral (6)

Mountain Lad -> Tully Lad -> Thunder -> Thunderbolt -> Inis OHara -> Coomel Kestral

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Coomel Kestral

Stallion Carna Dun Macdara Clonkeehan

Auratum


#Wychwood

Paddy

Maginnis

4, 5 5 4, 5 3 5

#Wychwood

Willy Wagtail4, 5 5 4, 5 3 5

Innisfree

Beaujolais5, 6 6, 6, 7, 7 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 4 5, 6, 6, 7

WychwoodFloodbird

5, 6, 7 5, 6, 6 5, 6, 6 4 4, 6

Wychwood

Snowbird

5, 6, 7 5, 6, 6 5, 6, 6 4 4, 6


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Caralea

Thunderbird6, 7, 8, 8, 8 6, 6, 7, 7, 8

6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8,8

5 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 8

# full brothers full brothers

Inis OHara, is the only descendant of Thunderbolt to be imported to Australia. He left 16 daughters

and two stallion sons. Of his daughters only Coomel Jollity, Binnowie Eileen and Binnowie Cailin have

left daughters that are currently of breeding age. These three daughters represent three different

mare lines that are all thin on the ground in Australia. Inis OHaras son, Coomel Gumption, left one

daughter, Coomel Gannet, who is represented through stallion Shabani Enterprise.

Inis OHaras son, Coomel Kestral left two sons, 26 year old Wychwood Paddy Maginnis and 17 year

old Wychwood Willy Wagtail, which are full brothers. Inis OHara and Coomel Kestral are shown on

page 144 of Out of the Mist.

Wychwood Paddy Maginnis, has had limited opportunities leaving 2 registered mares and 3

geldings.

Wychwood Willy Wagtail has left more progeny including 3 stallion sons Innisfree Beaujolais, W.

Snowbird and W. Floodbird, who all carry Inis OHara twice in their pedigrees. Grandson Caralea

Thunderbird is by Wychwood Snowbird.

Connemara Park Richard (6)

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie ->Tooreen Laddie -> Tooreen Ross -> Bridge Boy -> Connemara Park

Seamus -> Connemara Park Richard

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Connemara Park Richard



Ben Dhui

Diccon4 4 - - 3

Monahan

QuandoQuando 4, 5 5, 5, 6, 6 - - 4, 7

Monahan

Gumnut3, 5, 6, 6 5, 5, 6 - - 4

Garnet Oracle4, 5, 5, 6, 7,7, 7

5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7 6 - 5, 5

Blandings

Seamus6 4, 7, 7 6 5 3


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Itsa Shamrock

Just Shameless

6, 6, 7, 7, 7,7, 8, 9, 9

5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7,8, 8, 8, 9

6, 7, 7, 8 6, 6 4, 7

Connemara Park Richard left two stallion sons, Ben Dhui Diccon out of the Blandings Bobby mare

Blandings Sylvia, and the more interestingly bred Blandings Custard the Dragon, out of the Toorigal

Danny Boy mare Blandings Buttercup.

Ben Dhui Diccon was born in 1982 and appears in Out of the Mist on page 152. His latest Studbook

recorded progeny was born in 2005. He has two stallion sons, the bay Monahan Gumnut and

Monahan Quando Quando. Monahan Gumnut has had no foals recorded from 2006-2011 but has a

stallion son Garnet Oracle at stud. Garnet Oracle has 10 foals recorded.

Blandings Custard the Dragon is represented in Western Australia by grandson, Blandings Seamus,

and great-grandson, Itsa Shamrock Just Shameless.

The stallions of this line have low levels of Carna Bobby, no Abbeyleix Finbar and no Castle Baron in

their pedigrees and deserve to be used more widely.

Ben Dhui Berin

Carna Dun -> Sean of Leam -> Hyndon Prince Finbar -> Hyndon Slipper -> Yarraman Park George ->

Ben Dhui Berin

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Ben Dhui Berin



Newlands

Gideon3, 6, 6, 7 5, 5, 6, 6 6, 6 - 4

Greenlich

Merlin

5, 5, 7, 8, 8,8, 9, 9, 9

6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7,8, 8, 8, 9

6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8,8, 9

5, 65, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8,9

Shabani

Enterprise

4, 4, 5, 5, 5,7, 7

5, 6, 7 4 - -

#Itsa Shamrock

Golden Syrup

5, 5, 5, 5, 6,

6, 6, 8, 8, 8

5, 6, 6, 7, 8 5, 7 - 7, 7

#Itsa Shamrock

Raisin

Expectations

5, 5, 5, 5, 6,6, 6, 8, 8, 8

5, 6, 6, 7, 8 5, 7 - 7, 7

#Itsa Shamrock

Celtic Gold

5, 5, 5, 5, 6,6, 6, 8, 8, 8

5, 6, 6, 7, 8 5, 7 - 7, 7

Clare Downs

Outlaw

5, 6, 6, 6, 6,7, 7, 7, 8, 9,9, 9

6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8,9

5, 6, 6, 8, 9 7 5, 6, 8, 8, 8

# full brothers


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Ben Dhui Berin was born in 1980 and the latest Studbook recorded progeny sired by him was born in

2002. Five of his descendants are in Western Australia, where the Connemara pony population is

relatively small and include three full brothers.

Newlands Gideon, by Ben Dhui Berin, is out of Lagoonside Divinity as are stallions Wychwood

Snowbird and Wychwood Floodbird. He has few progeny recorded and only one in the period 2006-

2011. His grandson Greenlich Merlin, out of Celtic Miceal McGee mare Boonahburra Royal Mascot,

is a recent addition to the CPBSA list.

Shabani Enterprise, a grandson of Ben Dhui Berin born in 1987, stands in Western Australia. He is by

Ben Dhui Galliard out of the Coomel Gumption mare, Coomel Gannet. He has three sons, all out of

Glenormiston Rossmore mare Itsa Shamrock Star Attraction. One or two of the full brothers could be

helpful 3-4000km away on the East coast of Australia where their use would reduce inbreeding

levels because of the low level of Carna Bobby and absence of Castle Baron and Abbeyleix Finbar in

their pedigrees. The eldest of the three, Itsa Shamrock Golden Syrup, has a bay son Clare DownsOutlaw, out of a Castle Baron x Oxenholm Tiffany daughter, Glenormiston Scarlett OHara.

Oxenholm Gideon

Heather Bell -> Dun Heath -> Dun Lorenzo -> Macdara -> Lambay Rebel -> Oxenholm Godot ->

Oxenholm Gideon

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Oxenholm Gideon



Glenormiston

Oliver- 4 5 - 5, 5

Glenormiston

Thady4 4 4 - 5

#Garnet

Kavalier5 4, 5, 5 5 - 5, 6

#Garnet

Ulysses5 4, 5, 5 5 - 5, 6

Garnet Liberty 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8 5, 7 - 5, 6, 6

Itsa Shamrock

Jitterbug7 4, 5, 5, 6, 6 6, 6, 7 5 6, 6, 6

# full brothers

Oxenholm Gideon is shown on page 143 of Out of the Mist, he left four stallion sons:

Glenormiston Oliver, born in 1984, had a recorded partbred foal in 2009. He has been a highly


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regarded sire of performance ponies, but has no descendants on the current stallion list even though

his son Corrib Park Caradoc was on the stallion list in 2007.

Glenormiston Thady is 21 years old in spring 2013. He has left many progeny and has three sons

Garnet Kavalier, Garnet Ulysses and Garnet Liberty on the stallion list.

Glenormiston Rossmore, a full brother to Glenormiston Oliver, died at a relatively young age leaving

one son, Itsa Shamrock Jitterbug. Jitterbug has a useful dam line with Glenormiston McInnerney

Muskerry as his dam-sire has Millfields Commodore twice in generation 3. However he is now 18

years old with few progeny and currently does not have a stallion son to continue the line. 2013

Australia

Castle Baron and Abbeyleix Finbar

Castle Baron

Heather Bell -> Dun Heath -> Dun Lorenzo -> Dun Aengus -> Kimble -> Abbeyleix Owen-> Castle

Baron

The recently deceased Castle Baron has seven sons and two male line grandsons on the CPBSA

Stallion List. Castle Barons sire Abbeyleix Owen and dams sire is Mervyn Kinsgmill are both over-

represented sires in Ireland.

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Castle Baron



Glenormiston

Tipper OToole4, 7 6, 7 4, 5, 8 6 4, 5, 7

Glenormiston

Bartley5, 7 6, 7 5, 5, 8 6 4, 4, 5, 7

GlenormistonBenbaun

7, 7 5, 6, 7 5, 6 6 4, 5, 6, 6, 7

GlenormistonDundrum

7, 7 5, 6, 7 5, 6 6 4, 5, 6, 6, 7

Glenormiston

Turlough5, 6 6, 7, 8 5, 6, 6, 9 7 4, 5, 6, 8

#Glenormiston

Rough

Diamond

7 6, 7 5, 8 3, 6 4, 4, 5, 7

#Glenormiston

Fibber McGee 7 6, 7 5, 8 3, 6 4, 4, 5, 7


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Powderbark

Cavanagh6, 8 6, 6, 7, 7, 8 6, 6, 6, 9 4, 7

5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6,7, 8

Capparis

Roscoe6, 7, 8 5, 6, 6, 7, 7 5, 7, 7, 8 6

4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7,7, 7

# full brothers dams are full sisters

Glenormiston Tipper OToole is out of the Rory Ruadh mare Oxenhom Tiffany; Glenormiston

Bartley is out of Oxenhom Tiffany x Abbeyleix Finbar daughter, Glenormiston Fionnuala.

Full sisters, by Oxenholm Gideon out of Millfields Seaspray, Glenormiston Rosmara and

Glenormiston Rosslea, are the dams of Glenormiston Dundrum and Glenormiston Benbaun

respectively. Their dam-sire Oxenholm Gideon is a half-brother to Oxenholm Tiffany.

The grand-dam of Capparis Roscoe, Glenormiston Rusheen, is a full sister to Gl.Rosmara and Gl.

Rosslea.

Abbeyleix Finbar is the dam-sire of Glenormiston Bartley, Glenormiston Rough Diamond and

Glenormiston Fibber McGee.

Castle Baron is the dam-sire of two additional stallions; Clairvale Padraic and the APSB registered

Clare Downs Outlaw (dam is a full sister to Gl. Tipper OToole). With his large number of daughters

there will be increasing numbers of progeny carrying Abbeyleix Owen throughout the Australian

Connemara Population.

Abbeyleix Finbar

Rebel -> Innishgoill Laddie -> Gil -> Carna Bobby -> Ballydonagh Rob -> Abbeyleix Finbar

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of descendants of Abbeyleix Finbar



Glenormiston

Freedom- 4, 5 4 - 3, 4, 5

Glenormiston

Slipper4 - 4 - 3

Glenormiston

Snow Fox6 6 6 - 3, 5

Sheelin Grove

Seamus Victor5 5 - - 3, 4

#Gracefield

Park Aladdin

5, 6, 7, 8 6, 6, 7, 7, 7 5, 6, 7 - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8


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#Gracefield

Park Mr Ed5, 6, 7, 8 6, 6, 7, 7, 7 5, 6, 7 - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Exmoor Irish

Jack4, 5, 6 5 - 3, 4, 5, 6, 6

Gracefield Park

Atlantic Swirl4, 6 5, 5, 6, 6, 7 6, 6 - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7

Monahan

Mozart4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7

5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7,7

6 - 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7

Celtic Basil 4, 7, 7 5, 7 5, 5, 6, 7 - 4, 4, 6, 7

Abbeyleix Finbars photograph is on page 139 of Out of the Mist, it appears he is the only son of

Ballydonagh Rob that has bred on. He has been more than successful in Australia to the extent that

he appears in the pedigrees of more than 60% of foals recorded with CPBSA from 2006 2011.

Glenormiston Freedom, born in 1987 and out of Oxenholm Dulcinea, has had five foals recorded

between 2006 and 2011. Gracefield Park Aladdin, born 2004, and Gracefield Park Mr Ed, born 2009,

are his sons from Boonahburra Carousel (by Wychwood Paddy Maginnis out of Boonahburra Katie).

Glenormiston Slipper, born 1994, is out of Oxenholm Tiffany. He does not have any stallion sons.

One of his full brothers, Glenormiston Flurry Knox was exported to the USA and another

Glenormiston Fineen to New Zealand.

Glenormiston Snow Fox, born 2006, is out of Domo Cavallo Praize mare, Glenormiston Celebration.

He has no recorded progeny as yet.

Sheelin Grove Seamus Victor, born 1993, out of Connemara Park Arthur mare Chittering Gully

Fantasy. He has no progeny recorded with CPBSA.

Exmoor Irish Jack, the 1996 son of Glenormiston Jasper and Blandings Barbados (by Blandings

Bobby) has left a steady stream of progeny. His sire was a full brother to Glenormiston Freedom.

Exmoor Irish Jack has two young stallion sons Gracefield Park Atlantic Swirl (out of the Aran Milano

daughter Green Hills Final Fling) and Monahan Mozart (out of the Ben Dui Berin daughter Ballina

Melody).

Celtic Basil, the 2005 son of the Cregmore Colm mare Celtic Thyme and Springfield Devereux (by

Abbeyleix Finbar out of Emerald Valley Revelation) has two recorded progeny to date.

In addition to the 10 direct male line descendants, Abbeyleix Finbar is represented on the dam side

of pedigrees of 15 more stallions from generations two to four. These stallions are:

Generation 2: Glenormiston Bartley, Glenormiston Rough Diamond, Glenormiston Fibber McGee,

Kahean Jimmy Diamond, Glenormiston Celtic Pride, Glenormiston Celtic Prince

Generation 3: Powderbark Cavanagh (twice), Garnet Phineas (twice) Garnet Kavalier, Garnet Ulysses,

Garnet Liberty, Caralea Thunderbird, Innisfree Beaujolais.

Generations 3 & 4: Garnet Phoenix


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Generation 4: Clairvale Padraic (twice)

In total, slightly over 36% of the stallions in Australia have Abbeyleix Finbar close-up in their

pedigrees. Given the large number of female descendants of Abbeyleix Finbar in the population it is

progressively becoming more difficult to avoid duplicating and triplicating Abbeyleix Finbar in foal

pedigrees. The consequence of this repetition is to hasten the increase of inbreeding.

Abbeyleix Owen

Heather Bell -> Dun Heath -> Dun Lorenzo -> Dun Aengus -> Kimble -> Abbeyleix Owen

Abbeyleix Owen has been introduced to Australia through the three most recently imported

stallions; of which two were bred in Ireland and one in Denmark. Castle Baron(Ire) and Gneevebrack

Storm (Ire), are sire line descendants of Abbeyleix Owen whilst Frederiksminde Hazy Cavalier (Den)

carries Abbeyleix Owen through mare lines in his pedigree. The relationship of these three importedstallion to the five stallions that are currently over-represented in the Irish population of stallions is

presented below.

Sire influence by generation in pedigree of Recently Imported Stallions

Stallion AbbeyleixOwen

MervynKingsmill

Hazy Dawn AshfieldSparrow

Carna Bobby

Frederiksminde

Hazy Cavalier3, 3 - 1 - 5, 5, 5, 7

Gneevebrack

Storm4, 5 4 3 3, 6

5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6,7, 7, 7, 8, 9

Castle Baron 1 2 - - 3, 4, 6

These three stallions all have a high level of relationship with Carna Bobby, which will intensify the

increasing level of inbreeding in the Australian population, especially on the eastern seaboard. 2013

Discussion:

This report is written from the perspective of population genetics only; issues of conformationstrengths or weaknesses, temperament and trainability, or any other important factors involved in

breeding are not considered in this analysis.

The situation facing breeders in Australia with regards to the reduction of available sire lines has not

improved since the 2007 report. In fact with the loss of the Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn line the

situation has worsened. The ongoing overuse of certain stallions (Table 2) has resulted in a high

proportion of the Australian population becoming too closely related to maintain a healthy level of

genetic diversity in the overall population.

Australias Connemara Pony population is at a turning point. In the recent past the structure of thepopulation developed a hierarchical structure with one stud acting as an elite producer of breeding


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stock for those multiplier studs. Unfortunately, this follow the leader reliance on one entity

reduced the populations genetic diversity leaving it almost painted into a corner with two over

represented sire lines and twelve sire lines that are at moderate to high risk of becoming extinct.

Homogeneity is not desirable; it reduces viability of a population and raises the likelihood of new

and emerging genetic disease (McParlandand Kearney, 2011).

Australias Connemara pony population would be considerably more robust if there was more

diversity in stallion lines and a more even representation amongst foals sired. A concerted effort is

needed to rebuild the rare and unique stallion lines that exist in Australia.

Imported frozen semen offers the best option for further expansion of the gene pool as the number

of progeny by any sire is easily limited through the amount of semen imported which will reduce the

possibility of future genetic bottlenecks. Semen donors selected from proven sires of top class

progeny significantly reduces risks of what quality progeny will result. The cost advantages over

importing an individual stallion are such that for the price of one live stallion, semen from severaltop class and genetically diverse stallions could be imported. Mare selection however is critical to

the usefulness of progeny resulting from the use of frozen semen, which notably are predominantly

colts.

Importing unproven young stallions is risky and extremely costly, with just the transport costs from

Europe being well over Aus$25,000. Owners quite reasonably may attempt to recoup their outlay by

producing as many progeny as possible. In a small population, such as Australias Connemara Pony

population, overuse of a stallion is easily achieved, to the eventual detriment of the whole

population. Progeny quality, particularly in terms of ridden performance, takes a considerable

amount of time to establish, and much damage can be done in a short time by a stallion producing

large numbers of poor quality foals.

A major issue faced by breeders in Australia is geographical isolation; there are stallions which offer

outcrosses to the progeny of the overused stallions, which have not had the opportunity to spread

their genetics into the wider pony population. One way to rectify this situation is the wider adoption

of AI. Expense is often used as a reason for not making more use of this technology, however once

the stallion is trained to collect for AI, there is no reason why this process cannot occur on-farm.

Use of frozen semen is a different situation and requires a high level of veterinary intervention.

Frozen semen, especially expensive imported frozen semen should be used in young mares from lesscommon bloodlines. Whether using fresh chilled or frozen semen the better genetic gains in terms

of diversity for the population will result if this genetic material is used in mares which DO NOT have

any of the overused sire lines in their back breeding.

Where such mares are not available then preference should be afforded to those mares with Domo

Cavallo Praize and Oxenholm Gideon in their pedigrees. Using mares with Abbeyleix Finbar and

Castle Baron in the first three generations of their pedigree is not recommended in any plan to

increase genetic diversity; however, in practice this may be unavoidable. In attempting to strengthen

rare stallion lines, breeders need to consider that an over represented stallion appearing once in a

pedigree is likely to become insignificant in a few generations time. Ensuring mating for the next


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generation keeps away from the over represented stallions will assume greater importance, but first

the next generation of a rare sire line must be secured.

The Australian Connemara pony population is very fortunate that a number of breeders have

consistently chosen to seek out and retain original mare and stallion lines. Without the vision of

these people, the breed would be in a far more parlous state than it already is.

Where to from here?

The good work retaining and rebuilding mare lines needs to continue.

More determination is required to retain globally rare stallion lines of which Australia has

several.

Rare stallion lines need progeny of sufficient quality to be stallions. The mares they are

mated to need to be capable of producing good quality sons. The quality of a mares

progeny is more important than the lines they come from so as to ensure that any colt isacceptable as a sire for the next generation. However, it is preferable that dams of outcross

line sires should not be from over represented stallion lines. When it comes to saving a rare

line any colt is better than no colt. Quality improvement can be a work-in-progress for the

next generation!

If you have a rare sire line colt and you think the colt is satisfactory, use it. Ensure a back-

up colt or colts are available to continue the line should the stallion be lost. Get the breed

society veterinary inspection done at the earliest age possible, dont wait for a visual

inspection to use.

Importation of semen, although it will help increase genetic diversity especially when the

internationally over represented lines are avoided, should not take precedence over

rebuilding the rare lines already in Australia. There is always the danger of thinking

imported is better than the home-bred lines. The danger of this mind-set has been proven

multiple times worldwide in the area of breed conservancy (Sponenburg and Bixby, 2013).

Co-operation between breeders, not following fashionable sire trends, making an effort to

seek out good mares for those rare stallions; all of these are important issues to ensure the

breed remains healthy.

Many mares carry one or more of the over represented stallions in their pedigree and the

question is what is the most constructive route for them?

o Consider the mares pedigree holistically. What are the most valuable features of it?

Is there a stallion pedigree that it would strengthen or add diversity too. Is there a

stallion that complements the mare in other ways?

o Mating to a stallion from the over represented lines. This will exacerbate the existing

reduction in genetic diversity. Male offspring of stallion quality will be closely related

to a very high proportion of mares of breeding age. Thus the saleability of a youngstallion bred along these lines is likely to be limited. This path is not recommended.


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o Mating to an outcross stallion. Male offspring of stallion quality should have wider

usefulness as suitable for a broader range of mares. Such a stallion could carry a rare

stallion line on for another generation, even if only for a short time until more useful

sons are produced from outcross mares. Female progeny of good quality likewise

will have broader appeal as broodmares and it will be easier to find suitable matesfor them.

o Use a range of stallions across the mare to improve the genetic diversity of foals

produced. Aim for a foal that will have its own genetic uniqueness.

Where to for the stallions of Abbeyleix Finbar and Castle Baron lines. The most cautious use

of sons and grandsons is recommended. Yet it is necessary to ensure that these lines

continue into the future. The brief history of the Connemara pony in Australia has

demonstrated that lines that are over represented can rapidly become at risk or extinct lines

such as occurred with Mylerstown Huckleberry Finn, Clonkeehan Archer, Island King,Connaught of Millfields and Tulira Colman. Ensuring the line's continuation may best be

achieved through frozen semen from the best of the stallions from each line.

Conclusion

The genetic bottle-necks predicted in 2007 have come to fruition even though there have been

efforts made to retain the rare mare and stallion lines. Breeders need to plan. It is not sufficient to

look only at the next generation. These plans need to look three to five generations out. It is this

lack of foresight which has created the problem in Australia (and in Ireland even with their much

larger pony population which now in fact endangers the worldwide genetic diversity of the breed).

Australia retains some unique sire lines which are of value to the world population and which do not

exist anywhere else in the world. These lines are identified in this paper and need to be actively

rebuilt.

Larger studs with a higher mare population have a greater impact on the breed as their decisions

quickly change the genetic make-up of the Australian Connemara pony population, for better or

worse. A constructive approach for larger studs would be to change their stallions often to prevent

overloading the population with any one line. Alternatively, they could use other stallions by AI over

a proportion of their best mares even if only to produce their next sire stallion.

The contributions able to be made by smaller breeders must not be discounted in any way as these

breeders are usually not tied to anyone stallion.

Serious efforts need to be made to promote and utilise AI with chilled, shipped semen within

Australia. Other alternatives are the physical relocation of stallions around the country and frozen

imported semen.

References:


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Feely, D., Brophy, P., Quinn, K. (2003) Characterisation of several Connemara Pony populations.

University College Dublin, Department of Animal Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture,

Belfield,Dublin 4, Ireland

Lyne, P., (1990). Out of the Mist. Orphans Press Ltd, Leominster, England.

McParland, S. and Kearney, F. (2011). Pedigree analysis and inbreeding trends of the Connemara

pony population in Ireland. An Capaillin 10 : 72-74 24895 B1 Irish Dairy Industry: To 2015 and

Beyond, Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, 15-Nov-2011, 1-24

Sponenber, D. Phillip., and Bixby, D.D. (2013). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: strategies for

breeders and breed associations. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Pittsboro, North

Carolina.

australia’s connemara stallion lines in 2013

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