In Memorium: Demo Horse O'Leary's Irish Diamond

O'Leary's Irish Diamond, RID Stallion ("Irish"): 1994 - 2010

It was with a heavy heart we learned of the passing of O'Leary's Irish Diamond (aka "Irish") just a few short weeks ago. This brilliant stallion touched many lives in his 16 years, not the least of which was his latest job as an ambassador of the breed, as the model for the 2010 RID Breyer Horse.

From a young horse, he had influenced people to take another look at the Irish Draught Horse, and he helped dispel the myth that a large boned horse could not be athletic or competitive in multiple disciplines by excelling in Dressage, Jumpers and Hunters throughout his sixteen years. Irish was bred by Bill and Anna Kennedy in Ireland. His sire Glidawn Diamond (RID) was a son of the famous King of Diamonds (RID). Glidawn Diamond himself passed earlier this year at a grand old age. His dam, Grey Curragong, through her dam-line goes back to Gortlee.

Irish was imported and promoted initially from Ireland in 1997 by James Leary of NM, who adored his horse and closely planned and orchestrated his early Dressage career, through third level, with Jutta Heinsohn in the saddle. Jutta rode Irish for the Irish Inspectors at his performance test, where he earned stellar marks all the way around and had the distinction of becoming the first Irish Draught to be performance tested in Dressage. From that beginning he went on to earn many regional awards as he advanced through the levels of dressage, culminating in completing his dressage career at Prix St. Georges level under then rider/trainer Stephany Fisch of Florida.

In betwixt his dressage career, he also attained awards in jumpers (under Rob Gage) and later hunters as well. Some of his early career awards included:

USDF Performance Certificates in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Levels.
2000 Champion 3rd Level Dressage Assoc. of Southern California.
2002 Open Jumper Champion
2002 Open Modified Jumper Champion
2004 Qualified USDF Regional Championships at Prix St Georges.
Irish was later sold to Melissa Cason-Kinney of Bigfork, Montana of Kinson Stud who not only loved him dearly, but continued his breeding career, campaigned him in Hunters and Jumpers nationally. It is a devastating loss for Melissa and her family who had become remarkably close to Irish and spent much of the last four years making the sport horse world, not just the Irish Draught community, aware of how special O'Leary's Irish Diamond was.
Irish's legacy is not only as the 2010 RID Breyer Horse Model, but his pure and partbred progeny as well. Irish and Melissa were to perform demonstrations in conjunction with the Irish Village at the World Equestrian Games. We are so sorry the world did not get to see them on this stage.
Rest In Peace Irish, "May you be running free in Heaven"

In Memorium: Demo Horse Parkmore Pride

Parkmore Pride was a 1991 Registered Irish Draught Stallion, standing 16.2 hands, by the Pride of Shaunlara (Milestone ex. Boston Burglar) out of Parkmore Jewel (Atlantic Boy ex. Derryfrench Rose). He was purchased at his first show, when he was 10 weeks old, and he won his class. He also won his class in Dublin that year and beat his mother for the championship in Milstreet before being weaned. Parkmore Pride was approved by the Irish Horse Register in 1996 following performance testing in open competition. He had 28 rounds clear in the 8 weeks. He received excellent scores for his conformation and movement. He competed dressage and mainly Jumping prior to moving to the US in 2002, proving himself to be a very versatile horse. Parkmore Pride was imported to the US from Ireland by owner/rider, Fleur Bryan of Parkmore Stud. Parkmore Pride's first show in the U.S. saw him win the Jumper Championship and slot into the reserve slot in the hunter section at the Annual IDHSNA show. With just 9 inches of bone he was a light, athletic horse with a big elegant jump. Parkmore was conformationally very correct, and was a good straight mover, being light and athletic across the ground. He had an excellent temperament, superb manners on the ground and was an extremely easy horse to ride. He possessed a head-turning presence and an elegance seldom seen in such big horses. Parkmore Pride was the youngest Purebred son of the Pride of Shaunlara, one of the most famous Irish Draught bloodlines. His dam, Parkmore Jewel, was the first Irish Draught mare ever to win the Breeders Championship at the RDS Dublin Horse Show. At 19-years-old he still loved to work, and even though he didn't compete anymore, he still got a buzz when he got on the trailer. Parkmore Pride's 2010 foal crop can be seen at Parkmore Stud in Smithfield, Kentucky, just over an hour from the Horse Park. Parkmore was slotted to perform demonstrations at the World Equestrian Games in conjunction with the Irish Village with owner Fleur Bryan on board, but tragically he was laid to rest on August 10, 2010. It is a huge loss for the Irish Draught Community, Fleur and Debbie, and all of their friends. You will still be able to see his 5-year-old son, gelding Buddy Satterly, performing a demonstration with Fleur.

This was all for you, Pudge! Rest well and look down on us from the other side.

Updated from Demo Rider Glenda Player

I am having so much fun this summer preparing for the World Equestrian Games! While there this September, I will be doing a musical freestyle with two of my Playland Farm homebreds PL Lucky Empress and PL Lucky Tammy. It has been awesome to see how far these girls have come! Empress started competing in Training 1 classes this spring, and just did her first First-level test this past month! As part of our preparation, we rode with Olympic Gold-medalist Nicole Uphoff-Selke during a clinic at Turning Point Farm this past month. Wow! Did Nicole work us! We worked on 10-meter canter circles as well as mastering our walk-canter transitions. Despite the heat, Empress was a trooper, and we were also able to work on our lengthenings. The weekend after the clinic we practiced our musical freestyle at a PVDA Schooling Show at Celebration Farm. I can’t wait to show off our hard work at WEG!
Tammy is also doing great this summer. At the beginning of the year she started work after having more than a year off to be a mom. We’ve been focusing on the Training-level dressage tests this summer, and Tammy has always brought home a ribbon. She also went to Celebration Farm to practice her musical freestyle and rocked it!
The musical freestyles have been a new challenge for me. I still have some little kinks to work out with the timing of the music (which is completely my fault … I refused to take music lessons when I was younger … I was too busy riding!). Luckily, I have two more months to master the freestyles on each horse before we leave for Kentucky. Working with EquiChord on these musical freestyles has truly enhanced my riding. It has been so eye opening to see how much the horses respond to the music. They get energy from the music and work harder at trying new things. I cannot wait to show the world what these Irish horses can do!

Watch for Glenda doing Dressage demonstration on both Tammy and Empress at the World Equestrian Games in conjunction with the Irish Village!