The ponies have new llama companions

We have created a new video about the llamas' first month at Dawn of Promise Farm. If you'd like to see the ponies' new farm companions, click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1i5zkPr-Ak

Conor jumps his first oxer!

We took Conor, the wonder pony, to a schooling show at Foxton Farm in Romney, Indiana on Oct. 5. They were finishing up the classes from the day before so we didn't get to stay long enough to enter any classes (we were heading for the greenie jumpers - cross poles, 2' verticals, etc.), but Becca had ample opportunity to school in the warmup while we were waiting.

Conor was his usual terrific self. He is looking so good in his dressage and he is very willing about his jumping, even with only about 3 schools over fences to this point. Here is a picture of his first oxer with Becca up.

Updates on the happenings at Dawn of Promise

Here's a note I sent in for the Region 5 report at the Annual Meeting of the American Connemara Society. I thought perhaps those of you who subscribe to the blog might also find this of interest.


Dawn of Promise Farm - Updates on activities of 2008


At Dawn of Promise Farm in Battle Ground, Indiana, Vickie Maris is working with Serendipity's Savannah in preparation for the testing to obtain registration through the Delta Society as a pet-partner team. Savannah was featured in a recent edition of the American Connemara magazine after she and Vickie visited the nursing home where Vickie's late father was residing. Savannah quietly walked the hallways of the facility greeting residents and even walking willingly through narrow hallways into the residents' rooms to make visits with people who were bedridden but still wanted to meet a pony visitor!


(Photo is of Vickie and Savannah greeting neighbors, Travis and Jennifer along with Col. Sparks)

Once the pair is registered as a pet-partner team with Delta Society, Savannah and Vickie would receive identification badges, would be covered by Delta Society insurance during their visits and would be on a list of teams available for making hospital, nursing home, therapy center, and school visits. Vickie sees potential in a couple of her other ponies for this role and plans to work with one of her new llamas as a teammate as well. For others interested in animal assisted therapy with dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets, llamas, or ponies, the Delta Society website provides details on the training and application process.


(Photo - Vickie meeting Velvet.)











Lougin's Aragorn "Conor," a 5-year-old gelding at Dawn of Promise Farm bred by Loughin Farm, is being ridden at Dawn of Promise by event rider Becca Perry. Becca found Dawn of Promise in a web search and was excited to find she only lived 1 mile away! She is getting her master's degree at Purdue University while her husband is assistant manager of Prophetstown State Park in Battle Ground. Becca and Vickie are preparing Conor for a couple combined tests or events next season. Conor, with his humor, wonderful talent, and constant desire to please, has very quickly recruited another Connemara enthusiast into the fold!

(Photo - Becca and Conor during their first ride.)

Dawn's Brennainn, Connemara gelding for sale

Here's an ad about Brennainn from his owner, Jodi Melfi . . .

Brenn (Dawn's Brennainn - 2002 ACPS 15.1 Gelding) is officially for sale. Check out his site at Equine.com .
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-691994.aspx?search_id=c8dd6053-7605-42b4-9daf-b2ffc65ed6a9

Brenn was bred by Dawn of Promise Farm and is by the athletic Connemara stallion Kerrymor Madison who excels in dressage and combined training. Madison earned his certificate of achievement in dressage with the American Connemara Pony Society and was also awarded the 2002 An Tostal Hall of Fame Trophy for outstanding Connemara performance stallion in the nation.

Brenn is out of Realta (by Aladdin X Gloves Maire), another versatile Connemara who has numerous outstanding foals and is a favorite mount for young children just learning to ride or just starting over fences. Brenn's grandsires, Lynfields Kiltuck and Aladdin were outstanding competitors in eventing, dressage and jumper arenas. His granddams, Maire and Hideaway Bay, were contenders in jumper arenas, eventing and beloved as foxhunters for many years as well.
I'll be uploading more pics and video as soon as I have them.

I leased him last month to Abbey Postle who is a beautifully talented
14-yr-old, training with Vada Welch. It worked out perfectly. She rode him clean in two rounds at Level 2 Jumpers at Traders Point. Terrific for her first "A" show and his first Level 2! Brenn is a match for a young rider moving up from Ponies and looking to ride "A" Circuit.

Contact: Jodi Melfi
614-805-7873 cell
jodi@absolutearts.com

New photo flyer of Dawn's Molly - For Sale

Dawn's Molly, purebred Connemara filly born in 2007, is for sale at Dawn of Promise Farm. This filly is stunning. She has superb potential for your next eventing partner or dressage horse. She will likely mature to about 15 hands. Contact Vickie Maris for details. Click on this link if you'd like to see this flyer along with other photos of Molly.

Summer grazing

The ponies always enjoy the south pasture in the summer time. Here you see Jeremiah (yearling gelding), Molly (yearling filly), Bitsy (mare) and Conor (gelding) taking in a bug-free evening.

Bitsy in the creek

On Saturday, Scott and I took Bitsy for a walk in the woods at Dawn of Promise Farm. Here are a couple pictures of her at the creek. She got into a pickle when she stepped into a spot where the bottom was silty and soft. It was a VERY scary moment! My heart was pounding when the creek bottom swallowed her to her belly! Thank goodness for the wonderful sense of Connemaras. She stayed calm and listened to me encourage her to pull herself out. She got her front legs out on the bank straight in front of her and pulled her hindquarters out next. We didn't want her to be afraid of water crossing so we found a different spot (rockier bottom) to cross the creek. Smart pony that she is, she tested the footing with her front feet than turned and stomped it twice with her back foot. She decided all was well and stepped out into the water. She continued on the walk with us as if nothing spooky had happened. Three cheers for Connemaras!

Several new photos of Connemara ponies on website

I invite you to visit the Dawn of Promise Farm website. Several new portraits of the DPF ponies have recently been posted. You'll also find updated photos of Dawn's Molly, 2007 filly who is for sale.

Enjoy! Vickie

VJ Maris Photo of Old Carolina's Bitsy

Pony with a new front leg

Here is a link to an interesting story about a pony who survived Katrina and is now bringing hope to people in hospitals and other places. Check out the link.

Young Connemaras for Sale

Dawn of Promise Farm has a lovely purebred Connemara filly for sale. You can see her in the video which is clickable at the bottom of this blog or in Youtube.

Dawn's Molly - 2007 purebred bay filly; sire is Kerrymor Madison and dam is Serendipity's Savannah.

Molly will make a nice partner for dressage or combined training. She is likely to mature to about 15 hands or a little more. Lots of scope. Gorgeous movement and conformation. Contact: Vickie Maris, vickiemaris@gmail.com