Danish Dressage Champion Munkholm Cobbergate by Danish Elite Stallion and Dressage Champion Arndasillagh O'Flaherty (Bridge
Boy x Ardnasillagh Treasure) out of Danish Elite Mare Oxenholm Cora (Carraboun Boy x Strandhill Colleen). Photo taken in Denmark.
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Federal Premium Mare Shamrock Bright Roxanne by Power Boy (Paddy of Caherlistrane x Ganty Mint) out of Federal Premium Mare Bright Pearl (Flagrant x Blossom Honey). Photo courtesy Martina Ferfers
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Sire: Danish-bred Munkholm Cobbergate
(Ardnasillagh O'Flaherty x Oxenholm Cora) was licensed in Denmark and Germany. Inspected in Denmark in 1988 as a four-year-old, he received the following scores on a scale from one to 10 to earn a Karet: Type 8; Body 8; Limbs 8; Movement 9; Overall Impression 8. The inspectors' comments were: "Typical well-balanced Connemara pony stallion. Well put-on but somewhat heavy neck. Good depth, width, ribs and body. Very good movement." Cobbergate was named Best in Show at the end of the '88 inspection. Later that year he passed Denmark's mandatory performance test. Cobbergate's name was suppose to be Coppergate, because of his copper birth color, however, a typo in the Danish registration office changed that forever. Here is a very brief look at Cobbergate's long and successful sports career in Denmark: 1992 Scandinavian and European Dressage Championships, Individual 6th place 1992 Danish Dressage Championships, Individual Silver Medal 1992 Nordic Championships, Team Silver, Individual 4th place In Germany, Cobbergate was a successful, consistent money earner as a child's jumper. Cobbergate has three licensed stallion sons in Europe. *Smaragaid Cliff is his only son standing in the United States, where he is an ACPS approved Premium Stallion and USEF Leading Dressage Sire. 
Cobbergate photo by Ralf Klodt
Munholm Cobbergate in his later years in Germany. He has since moved onto even greener pastures. Photo courtesy Elke Wendel
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Dam: German-bred Shamrock Bright Roxanne
(Power Boy x Bright Pearl) has an extensive, successful in-hand show record. Roxanne won the Elite Mare Show in Aachen as a three year old, earning the designation of German Federal Premium Mare. She was named Champion Connemara Mare at the Aachen Pony Festival again in 1999. Like her progeny, *Smaragaid Cliff and Smaragaid Bright Hanny, Roxanne won the golden medal at the Wickrath Breed Show as a foal. Another son, Hazy Shamrock, earned a silver medal and later his German stallion license. To date, all five of Roxanne's foals have earned the designation of premium foal. All are by different sires, demonstrating Roxanne's unwavering ability to pass her quality onto her foals. Two of Roxanne's daughters and one granddaughter also have earned the designation of German Federal Premium Mare, extending this honor and recognition to the fourth generation of this strong line. In 2014, Shamrock Bright Roxanne placed first in the Family Class at the International Connemara Pony Show in Wickrath Germany, followed by Frederiksminde Hazy Match's children and grandchildren. Roxanne's daughters, as well as other ponies bred by Smaragaid Connemaras, did exceptionally well at the show. More than 50 ponies from four nations as well as international judges attended. Click here for an overview of the multi-day show. Click here for the complete results. Roxanne's '03 colt, *Smaragaid Cliff, has earned his designation as a Premium Stallion from the American Connemara Pony Society and is a USEF Leading Dressage Sire, Leading Dressage Breeding Sire and Leading Eventing Sire as well as a champion performer. 
Shamrock Bright Roxanne, courtesy of Martina Ferfers of Smaragaid Connemaras in Germany
Herbert and Karen. Photo by Mary Stewart Prewitt
In October 2004, the Connemara Pony breeders in Colorado were
blessed by a visit from Herbert Imping, his wife, Helga, and their traveling/fishing companions Berndt and Gerlinde Schneider of Germany. Here are some photos chronicling this wonderful visit. I wish I had audio of all the laughter and singing we enjoyed. |
"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1