Donegreagh Connemara Ponies

Height: 141cm  - Bone Mid Cannon: 8 Inches - Bone Measured Just Below Knee: 9 Inches - Class One -C.P.B.S. Reg.  S 1054
It is with great sadness we have to report the loss of our beautiful stallion. He became ill at the end of May and , despite the attention of our vets, had to be put to sleep on June 26th. He was still bright and looking for 'his girls' even in the last few days, despite having become weaker. Just at a time when the smaller pony was beginning once again to be appreciated, our loss is a loss also to the breed. He is very much missed. His great-grand dam, Carla (Carol Bluebell), much loved by the Crooks family of Aghalee, died only last year ( 2007 ).
Donegreagh Applejack was a homebred pony of genuine traditional type,with bone as strong as many bigger stallions and a superb temperament. Some of his progeny are already showing tremendous jumping potential, a trait which can be traced back through his pedigree on both sides. His sire and dam have both been judged champion Connemaras,and his progeny have also been successful in the show ring. At just under 14 hh he was ideal for breeding ponies within height,  yet maintaining the strength for which the breed is renowned. This stallion had good hard feet, which were never shod, and never needed to have his feet trimmed, showing he had correct well set legs and natural balance in his feet.

• His progeny show lovely correct conformation, presence and movement.
• His half brother, Donegreagh Baritone (by Song of Corlandos), and SJAI registered as 'Jumping Jack High', reached Grade A as a show jumper.
• His dam Belmore Bluebell won the yearling class at Clifden show in 1985 and was NPS Champion Connemara in 1991 ( pictured below ).

• Many of his progeny have been very sucessful in the show ring over the years, .

D. Applejack as a 2 y-o, with Eleanor, who was then 5, and his younger sister, Chinook.

This was always a favourite photograph of my stallion, then aged two.

Here he was at 6 weeks, out with mum at the NPS, where Bluebell was placed first,

but there was no Connemara Championship that year.

D.Applejack at 5 months.

With James,  and hunting for carrots beside his big brother, Barty, Applejack is pictured

here, and below, on April 8th,1995 - the day before his first birthday.