Craigmead Connemara stud

23/12/2021

Wishing all our followers clients and owners a wonder Christmas 🎄

21/12/2021

Fine by me 🥰

24/07/2021

One of my favourite photos of as a yearling such a lovely pony head 💞

24/06/2021

Throwback to Royal Highland Show 2016 where Craigmead Erris Beg was 2nd in the yearling Connemara class

19/04/2021

jumping at in 2014 in the BE90 section this boy loved cross country 🥰

21/12/2020

It’s been a difficult year but we made it 🙌 here’s to the lighter nights

Happy Winter Solstice... Horse Owners ~ lighter evenings are coming!!

Hands up if you’re more excited about this than Xmas 🙋‍♀️

08/07/2020

There are so many owners , buyers & breeders that know nothing about this and need to be educated. I myself have my mares tested before breeding and I insist that any Connemara or part bred Connemara mare are tested and results produced before booking into my stallion

❗️Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD)❗️

This we thought we would talk about HWSD. I’m sure many of you have heard about about it, but what is it and what should you be aware of?

HWSD is a genetic disorder in Connemara ponies affecting the genes that make the hoof wall. The genes in an affected pony have mutated preventing the layers of the hoof wall from ‘glueing’ together resulting in the hoof wall flaking away.

This is an autosomal recessive disease meaning the pony has to have two copies of the affected gene to develop the disorder which is shown as HWSD/HWSD. A pony that carries one copy of the affected gene will be shown as N/HWSD, however these ponies will not be affected and will have perfectly normal hooves. A pony that carries no copies of the affected gene will be shown as N/N.

In 2016 all foals bred in Ireland and registered in their stud book have their test result recorded in the back page of their passport. From 2017 all foals bred in the UK have been tested for HWSD and have the result recorded in their passport.

When buying a connemara you should check for their HWSD status and when breeding both the mare and stallion should have their HWSD status checked to avoid breeding any affected foals.

So where can you get a horse tested?
- You can apply to our BCPS secretary who will send a tamper-proof sample bag to the owner for a sample which MUST be taken by a vet. This is then sent off Weatherbys to be reviewed and costs £30.
- UC Davies, USA and Animal Genetics Incorporated also provide tests for HWSD.

For more information please visit the BCPS website at http://www.britishconnemaras.co.uk/breeding-owning/hwsd/detail/

There is a podcast about HWSD on the Connemara Pony Tales https://www.buzzsprout.com/1072957/3731543-getting-to-the-bottom-of-hwsd-in-connemara-ponies

There is also a group you can join on Facebook called HWSS (Hoof Wall Separation Syndrome) which shares people’s stories about managing ponies with HWSD.

We should point out that this is not a common disorder, with a carrier rate of 14.8%. We would like to keep it this way, if not reduce this percentage, so just want to make people aware and to promote getting their ponies tested before breeding or buying. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

21/12/2019

Horse owners we have made it ... the nights start getting lighter now

Happy Winter Solstice... Horse Owners ~ lighter evenings are coming!!

Hands up if you’re more excited about this than Xmas 🙋‍♀️

20/08/2019

6 year old 14hh class1 registered Connemara mare, by Kirtle Kryptonite out of Copshawholm Clara Beg, full sister to Craigmead Erris Beg. She has a very small cloud on nearside eye which doesn’t affect her at all. She has been left to slowly mature , ready to start backing process now
Pm for more info

04/08/2019

Everyone needs a Connemara in their life ❤️

01/08/2019

Due to our relocation we are now looking for an experienced lightweight rider to help us with our Connemara ponies. Ideally someone who is confident with youngsters and has an interest in showing dressage & jumping as there will be an opportunity to compete for the right person

23/06/2019

That’s royal highland show done for another year ... Craigmead Erris Beg did me proud again behaving impeccably in the Connemara 4 year old & over stallion & gelding class gaining and incredible 3rd place despite being the youngest & smallest in the class .... love my midget so much
Photo by Sinclair Photography

17/06/2019

Craigmead Erris Beg at Nps Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 summer show last week. my midget Connemara at 13hh 😍 this boy is the type that would fit into a range of categories.... m&m junior pony , hunter pony , m&m worker, plaited workers photo by Sinclair Photography

23/05/2019

If you want a stable friendship, get a horse. ~Author Unknown

11/03/2019

I love this head shot of taken by a few years ago .... it really shows his pony characteristics.... he has such a stunning head and I never tire of looking at it ❤️😍

27/02/2019

Changing it up for the stallion KK to stop him getting bored .... first time jumping and he was a good boy

25/01/2019

❤️

12/01/2019

Very hairy , very muddy and not been ridden in years but he enjoyed a ride with his young jockey