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Timing and Fees
The beauty of using frozen semen is that it can be ordered at your convenience with a longer delivery date -- to save shipping fees -- and ready when your mare is ready. Gone is the anxiety of ordering a collection and praying that it doesn't arrive too late or too early, according to your mare's needs. Cliff's proven frozen semen has a guaranteed post-thaw minimum of 78 percent total motility and 68 percent progressive motility. Cliff's numbers far exceed the industry standard in which a minimum of 30 percent progressive motility should be present post-thaw for a stallion to be considered a ‘good freezer’. The Colorado State University Equine Reproduction Laboratory (CSU ERL) handles all the collection, processing, storage and shipping of Cliff's frozen semen. This ensures high-quality, reliable production control for all Cliff's mares. Breeding Fees With so few straws remaining: You MUST choose experienced in-clinic repro care (prep, proper insemination timing, and post-insemination follow up to check/treat for any fluid, etc.) for breeding your mare. It is $750 per dose of proven frozen semen, then $750 due at live-foal birth (or the birth of twins, alive or still born). There is no additional stud fee. With this option, I share some of the mare owner's risk since he/she chooses the best veterinary care for breeding success. Max two doses per mare. There is no live foal guarantee with either option. I no longer have enough frozen semen to promise a breed-back if the mare either loses the pregnancy or the foal at birth (which is all a live foal guarantee truly is). Contact us at karen@kingswellconnemaras.com for details. USEF Lifetime Recording now provided by the ACPS when you register your purebred or partbred foal. Connemara mare owners also must return a copy of the mare's HWSD test results with the contract and fees, even though Cliff is HWSD N/N. Cliff WILL breed quality purebred Connemara mares that are N/HWSD and HWSD/HWSD. It is important that all Connemara mare owners know the HWSD status of their mare(s). Part-bred Connemaras also can carry the HWSD gene, so part-bred broodmares should be tested, as well. All shipping costs and container rental fees are the responsibility of the mare owner and will be paid directly to CSU before shipping. Cliff Kids Like Their SireAs a sire, Cliff consistently passes his athletic movement, excellent conformation and kind temperament onto his progeny. Yet never overlook the fact that the quality and temperament of the dam is just as important as the quality and temperament of the sire, so always follow the old axiom: breed the best to the best and hope for the best.
Three-year-old New Song's Let Freedom Ring (*Smaragaid Cliff x Wildwych Lucy)
*Smaragaid Cliff (Munkholm Cobbergate x Shamrock Bright Roxanne)
Three-month-old New Song's Let Freedom Ring (*Smaragaid Cliff x Wildwych Lucy)
*Smaragaid Cliff
Six-year-old Talamh Bound (*Smaragaid Cliff x Tartan, a Trakehner) with Taylor Oxley schooling cross country. Photo courtesy of Taylor
Six-year-old New Song's Let Freedom Ring (*Smaragaid Cliff x Wildwych Lucy) with trainer Kari Crawford-Clay at Arapaho Hunt Pair Pace
Same strength and athletic movement: Cliff's dam Shamrock Bright Roxanne (Power Boy x Bright Pearl), a German Federal Premium Mare. Photo by Martina Fefers
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Plan Ahead
Bred mares that have not produced a live foal within the past two years and mares that have failed to conceive in a full breeding season must have an endometrial culture, a cytology smear and a biopsy. Mares 14-years-old and older that have not been bred in many years need these tests, as well. The written results from these tests must be provided prior to the mare owner ordering semen. Better to know if your mare is reproductively clean and sound before you breed instead of spending all the time, emotion and money of breeding with no foal in the end. And don't keep putting off breeding your beloved mare. It is heartbreaking when tests show that it is too late to breed her, barring great expense. It also is in the best interest of mare owners to use veterinarians with experience in equine reproduction, specifically with equine frozen semen. If your location lacks veterinarians with this experience, the veterinarians at the CSU Equine Reproduction Lab are happy to provide your vet with free consultations since CSU is a teaching university. 
New Song's Courageous Son
(*Smaragaid Cliff x *Glenormiston Rossleague by Castle Baron)
*Smaragaid Cliff
Yearling New Song's Raining Miracles (*Smaragaid Cliff x *Sillbridge Miranda by Thunderbolt)
*Smaragaid Cliff
Three-year-old New Song's Raining Miracles out of *Smaragaid Cliff x *Sillbridge Miranda by Thunderbolt
*Smaragaid Cliff
Talamh Bound by *Smaragaid Cliff out of the Trakehner mare Tartan. Photo by Derith Vogt
Two-year-old Cobblestone Sandpiper (*Smaragaid Cliff x Four Loch's Perfect Storm). Photo by Pat Ashworth
Consummate Connemara Award, Breed Supreme Champion, Reserve Champion High Point Dressage: Congratulations to Cobblestone Sandpiper, *Smaragaid Cliff's purebred daughter out of Four Loch's Perfect Storm and her breeder Pat Ashworth and trainer/rider Leslie Hagberg at the 2019 West Coast Connemara Pony Show! Such great honors! Photo of Pat Ashworth, Photo courtesy of Pat Ashworth.
*Smaragaid Cliff, Champion In-Hand and Performance Stallion at USDF and USEF recognized dressage competitions.
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More About *Smaragaid Cliff
Cliff is brown, negative for the creme gene and negative for the grey gene. He is an ACPS Premium Stallion as well as a USEF Leading Dressage Sire, USEF Leading Dressage Breeding Sire and USEF Leading Eventing Sire. According to the Connemara Pony Breeders Society in Ireland, Cliff's pedigree makes him an important outcross for mare owners to consider. Read more here Cliff also has tested N/N for Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and the Connemara Pony Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD). He is normal and is not a carrier of either one of these recessive genetic diseases. Cliff WILL breed quality purebred Connemara mares that are N/HWSD and HWSD/HWSD. Why? Isn't that being an irresponsible stallion owner? No. Based on the advice of the international Connemara Pony Research Group: "If genetic diversity is not encouraged in the here and now, then the future for the breed is grim and increasingly at risk. Exclusion of carrier ponies and affected females from the breeding herd will spell doomsday." The results of all Cliff's genetic tests -- performed by UC Davis -- are available upon request. The results of Cliff's HWDS testing also are on file with the ACPS and the Connemara Pony Research Group. Learn More About Breeding Mares Visit the Colorado State University Equine Reproduction Lab Web site for a wealth of information. Just Click here. Contact Information To discuss breeding your mare(s) to *Smaragaid Cliff, contact Karen Laden at karen@kingswellconnemaras.com 
New Song's Courageous Son (*Smaragaid Cliff x *Glenormiston Rossleague by Castle Baron)
*Smaragaid Cliff
Three-month-old Cobblestone Bryce (*Smaragaid Cliff x Cobblestone Roxanne). Photo by Pat Ashworth
Three-year-old New Song's Raining Miracles (*Smaragaid Cliff x *Sillbridge Miranda by Thunderbolt)
*Smaragaid Cliff
Yearling New Song's Courageous Son (*Smaragaid Cliff x *Glenormiston Rossleague by Castle Baron)
Three-week-old Haven Hills Will O'Wisp (*Smaragaid Cliff x New Song's Raining Blessings). Photo by Megan Beyer
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Quotes Worth Noting
". . . Connemaras are so undervalued. They’re hardy, agile, sensitive, sensible, sane and built to withstand work. . . Great strong body, good legs and a super brain — the perfect little package!” Jessica Jo (JJ) Tate, Jan 6, 2016, Sidelines Magazine
"Does Size Matter?" by William Micklem: "The Connemara Pony/TB cross has long proved to be a wonderful mix. . . Ponies are different genetically and navicular, tendonitis and warts are less prevalent. A good dollop of pony blood has much to offer sport horse breeding. They live longer, are generally sounder, have more pound per pound dynamic strength, and in my opinion, are more intelligent overall." The Irish Field, March 31, 2017
A quote from Horsedaily.com 3/29/17: "During a renowned career as a 5* FEI judge, Axel Steiner has always been a fan not only of ponies, but also of riders making good choices regarding mounts which will best help them succeed in their dressage goals. “I believe there are a great number of smaller stature riders who would be much happier on a shorter mount but can feel pressured to ride horses that are simply too large or big-moving for them to be comfortable on, because they believe it’s the only way they will get good scores and succeed,” said Steiner. “Because of this, I always felt that the small horses/oversized ponies had little purpose and also little value in this country, which is a tremendous shame because there is a lot of talent out there with smaller horses. So I applaud the NDPC for taking the first step in promoting this division and providing separate awards, and I hope that other national organizations will follow. Then small horses will have a competitive mission and increase in value to owner and breeder, and smaller-stature riders will be much happier, safer, and successful.”
"Does Size Matter?" by William Micklem: "The Connemara Pony/TB cross has long proved to be a wonderful mix. . . Ponies are different genetically and navicular, tendonitis and warts are less prevalent. A good dollop of pony blood has much to offer sport horse breeding. They live longer, are generally sounder, have more pound per pound dynamic strength, and in my opinion, are more intelligent overall." The Irish Field, March 31, 2017
A quote from Horsedaily.com 3/29/17: "During a renowned career as a 5* FEI judge, Axel Steiner has always been a fan not only of ponies, but also of riders making good choices regarding mounts which will best help them succeed in their dressage goals. “I believe there are a great number of smaller stature riders who would be much happier on a shorter mount but can feel pressured to ride horses that are simply too large or big-moving for them to be comfortable on, because they believe it’s the only way they will get good scores and succeed,” said Steiner. “Because of this, I always felt that the small horses/oversized ponies had little purpose and also little value in this country, which is a tremendous shame because there is a lot of talent out there with smaller horses. So I applaud the NDPC for taking the first step in promoting this division and providing separate awards, and I hope that other national organizations will follow. Then small horses will have a competitive mission and increase in value to owner and breeder, and smaller-stature riders will be much happier, safer, and successful.”
Expert Advice for Breeding Equine Athletes
In the article "Forecast: 2016 Sport-Horse Breeding" by Judy Wardrope, published in the 2016 USDF Online Stallion Guide, a description of equine athletes' most desirable traits aptly fits *Smaragaid Cliff. The following is some expert advice from the article worth noting by those who are considering breeding:
"German Olympic gold medalist Monicia Theodorescu, whose international-competition heyday was in the 1980s and 1990s and who now coaches the German dressage team, said, 'I think the conformation is very, very important to make it easier for horses to sit, to pick up, to become light in the front, to take the weight on the hind legs and the quarters, to have a strong-enough back without being stiff. This is not only a point of training, but of conformation. If the conformation is right and correct, then it is easier for the horses and easier to train them. They come into a nice, uphill balance.' "
"Regardless of type, the basic qualities of soundness, conformation, and temperament cannot be forgotten. These are the qualities sought by both professionals and amateurs," said Mary Alice Malone, owner of Iron Spring Farm.
"Jill Giese, co-founder with John Dingle of Dreamcatcher Meadows Ventures Ltd, . . . cites breeding for extravagant front-end movement without correspondingly good movement behind as an example of a current fad that she finds 'foolish.' "
"Theodorescu, too, thinks that judges and trainers must take care not to reward exaggerated movement at the possible expense of a horse's soundness and longevity. . . 'Ask for a normal trot. They have a lot of health problems with too-big movements. . . The trainers are now looking for a not-too-big trot, not exaggerated, because of the soundness issue.' "
"One trend worth noting: As the demand for smaller mounts has increased, many Warmblood registries are now inspecting ponies (13.2 to 14.2 hands) and including a section for them in their studbooks."
Malone also said: "Both trainers and amateurs are looking for performance and ridability. Meeting these needs by producing exceptional individuals that are a pleasure to ride should be a breeder's ultimate goal."
"German Olympic gold medalist Monicia Theodorescu, whose international-competition heyday was in the 1980s and 1990s and who now coaches the German dressage team, said, 'I think the conformation is very, very important to make it easier for horses to sit, to pick up, to become light in the front, to take the weight on the hind legs and the quarters, to have a strong-enough back without being stiff. This is not only a point of training, but of conformation. If the conformation is right and correct, then it is easier for the horses and easier to train them. They come into a nice, uphill balance.' "
"Regardless of type, the basic qualities of soundness, conformation, and temperament cannot be forgotten. These are the qualities sought by both professionals and amateurs," said Mary Alice Malone, owner of Iron Spring Farm.
"Jill Giese, co-founder with John Dingle of Dreamcatcher Meadows Ventures Ltd, . . . cites breeding for extravagant front-end movement without correspondingly good movement behind as an example of a current fad that she finds 'foolish.' "
"Theodorescu, too, thinks that judges and trainers must take care not to reward exaggerated movement at the possible expense of a horse's soundness and longevity. . . 'Ask for a normal trot. They have a lot of health problems with too-big movements. . . The trainers are now looking for a not-too-big trot, not exaggerated, because of the soundness issue.' "
"One trend worth noting: As the demand for smaller mounts has increased, many Warmblood registries are now inspecting ponies (13.2 to 14.2 hands) and including a section for them in their studbooks."
Malone also said: "Both trainers and amateurs are looking for performance and ridability. Meeting these needs by producing exceptional individuals that are a pleasure to ride should be a breeder's ultimate goal."
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4