Not only the German Connemara Pony breeder’s world lost one of its doyens, Herbert Imping passed away early on Saturday morning after suffering from severe illness for the last two years. He was 86.

We met Herbert first in 1976 when he was already an experienced Connemara pony breeder who had imported several ponies from the Netherlands and Ireland. I was six years old at that time and my family was invited to his house situated in the mildly mountainous region “Sauerland” in Westfalia. We got a warm hearted welcome from him and his wife Helga, who had loads of tea and food for us while Herbert provided us with pony stories and Irish stories and did so continuing for hours. To me visiting them has been like that ever since then. Last time we visited him about 4 weeks ago, now with my own two year son who was as impressed by his beard like I was more than thirty years before.

He was not only a pony man and a passionate whip, he loved his hunting and fishing, he kept bees and had great skills in all kind of crafts and built his own carriages. He loved travelling the world and it was only two years ago that he came home from a 12 weeks trip to Alaska. He was devoted to the breed and served both German Connemara Pony Societies for many years as president, working for their reuninification.

Herbert’s most renown mare was Ganty Mint (Carna Bobby-Clonkeehan Auratum) that he bought after long time negotiations from Joe MacNamara in Craughwell, Connemara. She was carrying a filly foal by Calla Boy which was called Bigge Calla Mint and left a legacy of daughters for Herbert’s Bigge Stud behind. Ganty Mint was also the dam of the stallion Power Boy who sired no less than 6 states premium mares and the licensed stallion Pollux S.

He will be dearly missed by those who loved him and those who respected him.

Sabine Dröge from Germany

The annual meeting of the CPV was supported by Tom Mac Lochlainn from Ireland. On two days he held an impressive lecture about the Connemara Pony, supported by nicely presented ponies of the Kinzighausen and the Marvellous and Crystal stud. The annual driver’s day of the CPV in May, organized by the Dröge family, attracted a lot of competitors and was an enjoyable outing for everyone attending. In the morning Franz-Josef Dröge (you might remember seeing him in Clifden at the stallion parade) gave instructions about the course of the day. The afternoon was filled with a dressage competition and a pole competition on time. The Equitana Open Air 2008, 16th-18th of May, was the biggest local event in the middle of Germany. The Connemara Pony was well represented for several days. The CPV organized a small exhibition stand. The champion of the breeding competition was a grey mare called Joy of Life (Power Boy x Fort Curran), owner: Anne Langschwager, winner of the gelding class was a dun called Filou S (Flagrant x May Prince), owned by Manuela Rath. For sure the biggest event was the Allover German Connemara Pony Show held in Schönbach in May, about which we already reported. Tom Mac Lochlainn luckily followed the invitation of the Connemara Pony IG to judge the ponies together with Klaus Biedenkopf, a member of the Hessian Breeding Society and a big fan of Connemara Ponies. Champion of this show was a wonderful mare named Crystal Jessie, a 9 year old mare by Bengt (Big Ben), out of Jessica (Caraway). Her breeder and owner, Claudia Quasnitza is also the owner of the best stallion of the show, Marvellous Simon by Grange Surf Sparrow, out of Josy Lady (Smokey Duncan). Reserve Champion was Glaskopf Grey Josephine, an 8 year old daughter of Grange Surf Sparrow out of Glaskopf Grey Joan (Glaskopf Golden Merlin), bred and owned by Dr. Sabine Bachmann. The next local event was a Hessian show in Usingen with almost 19 entries. Marvellous Joy (Groken Gun x Smokey Duncan) won the champion title, first reserve: Crystal Jessie, second reserve and last years champion: Glaskopf Gentle Jill (Glaskopf Golden Merlin x Carna Bobby). Best foal was Crystal Ann (by Marvellous Simon).

A day on the Sunshine Connemara stud was an informative event about the ponies owned by Jan and Sonja Hendricks. It offered the visitors a lot of new perspectives about the wonderful sport and family ponies. We were delighted to be invited. The yearly regional shows and sport events took place and the German Connemara ponies were very well presented. Several very successful ponies appeared in the arenas and gave proof that Connemara Ponies can compete with the warmbloods as well as the German Riding Ponies. It was a very impressive promotion for the breed in Germany.

The Hessian breed show for foals in Alsfeld, held in September, had 24 entries. Best foal was Kinzighausen Hazy Minou (Frederiksminde Hazy Marvel x Kinzighausen Golden Minta v. Glaskopf Golden Malcolm) followed by Kinzighausen Hazy Medley (Frederiksminde Hazy Marvel x Kinzighausen Golden Melody v. Glaskopf Golden Merlin), both bred an owned by the Kinzighausen stud, home of Frederiksminde Hazy Marvel. Beside these events we have had several other local shows in the north and south of Germany. Some new stallions were registered: Rhinstroem Mighty Man (Øxenholm Markbook x Maigaardens Killian) , Hohnhorst Jamiro(Hesselbjerggard Justice x Tootle U) , Springfield Fianaid (Canal Flynn x Rosenaharley Lavelle) , Pattys Veuve Cosmic (Pattys Veuve Cliquot x Rolls Royce), Hohnhorst Jaro (Hesselbjerggard Justice x Tootle U). One stallion got a special prize from the breeding societies: Penancing-Brook Hazy Marschall (Fredriksminde Hazy Marvel x Golden Gori). You will find detailed information about everything that happened, all stallions and also international show events with a lot of pictures, even of the stallions progeny, etc… on the new CPIG homepage and it ́s English version: www.connemara-pony-ig.eu Please also notice, the new homepage of the CPV: www.connemara-pony.de

 

Annette Korbanka