Irish Village at WEG 2010: Demonstrations: Spotlight on Demo Rider: Connie Arthur

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Connie Arthur

Demo rider, Connie Arthur, is the main rider and half owner of demo horse Bridon Beale Street. Connie has been eventing for over 35 years. She owns a breeding farm and event facility, Lone Tree Farm, in Waterford, in central California.

She and her friend Shirley Kahlert decided to look for a Registered Irish Draught stallion to stand at Connie's facility. Shirley, who owns and operates Stoneleigh Farm, had taken a short trip to Ireland and had a chance to ride Irish Draught horses and was totally sold on the breed. Connie has done all the training on Liam and is currently competing him in Eventing and Show Jumping.

Connie is an active member of the USEA and a course designer as well. Read more about Connie at www.lonetreefarm.net and look for her in the demo ring at WEG aboard Liam.

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"Draughts" Demystified

"Draught" is pronounced like the modern version of the same word, "Draft." It's an older spelling, with both words meaning" to pull."

In Ireland, breeds like the Clydesdale and Percheron are called "dray" horses. "Draught" is reserved for the smaller, more versatile animals originally used on the Irish farms.

An Irish Draught is a medium sized horse that was originally bred for multiple tasks on Irish farms. They are valued for their wonderful temperament, strong bones, and versatility.

The Irish farmer demanded an all around horse that could multi-task on the farm, plowing in season, pulling both the farm wagon and the carriage, and riding with the hounds.

The Irish Draught Sport Horse is what is traditionally the partbred cross resulting from an Irish Draught mated with a Thoroughbred. In recent times, it has come to include Irish Draughts being crossed with many other breeds, including Hanoverians, Quarter Horses, and Arabians, to name a few.

RID(SH) = Registered Irish Draught (Sport Horse), a horse that has been registered, inspected, and approved by judges from Ireland.

Connemara Standard

Connemaras in North America range from 13 to over 15 hands. Their colors are gray, bay, brown, and dun, with some roans, an occasional black, chestnut, or palomino. Piebalds and skewbalds are not acceptable for registration.

Connemaras are the product of their original environment, the rugged mountain coast of West Ireland. Sure-footed, hardy and agile, they possess powers of great stamina, staying power and adaptability. They are renowned for their versatility and their gentle, tractable, sensible and willing dispositions.

Irish Village at WEG 2010: Demonstrations