Through Connection German Riding Pony

Spring 2008

March The first foal of the year has arrived. Once again, it is one by FS Daily Hero. This colt is out of a Section B Welsh mare. In the first two photos, the colt is about 8 hours old.

2007

May 2007 New Ponies For Sale and New Foals Arrive. See "Sale Ponies" page for photos and brief descriptions.

German Riding Ponies for sale in Germany: Back from our trip to Germany, we offer a wide selection of German Riding Ponies, including foals, young ponies, breeding stock, and ridden ponies from just started through S Level (double bridle, tempi changes, half pass). Bloodlines include proven performance in dressage and jumping both at the Bundeschampionats and in the show ring. The character and work ethic of these ponies is a pleasure for children and adults, amateurs and professionals. Favorite photos from the trip are shown above. The first photo is of a stallion who is from the damline of Benno's Dream. The second and third photo are of an 8 year old boy riding one of the family's breeding stallions. This family's very specific breeding goals have been developing since 1975 and started with one dark-colored pony mare.

More Foals Arriving From Our Stallions:

Two 2007 Chico fillies:
To the right is a filly out of a Morgan mare:
Below is a filly out of a German Riding Pony mare:

Another Hero colt:

ISR/OldenburgNA Breeders: Through Connection will host another mare and foal inspection on Sunday, August 26 at the Georgia International Horse Park. Please contact me for information and to be added to the mailing list.

April 6-13
A trip to Germany to visit with the breeder who owned Benno's Dream, to visit several other breeders, and to look at German Riding Ponies and small horses for sale. Look for News when we return, for updated photos and for photos and videos of Sale Ponies.

March
Here are the first foals of the season, both by FS Daily Hero. The photos on the left are Hero's Red Baron (a colt) at 12 hours old and the foal on the right is an embryo transfer filly with her surrogate dam.

Schooling:
Benno's Dream:

FS Daily Hero:

Chico:

                       2006
November
Our German Riding Pony stallions participated in a two-day clinic at the farm with Kim Gentry who is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level. This was Chico's first clinic experience. Below are video stills of the stallions beginning with Chico.
Chico at 5 years:


FS Daily Hero:



Benno's Dream:

October
Benno's Dream participated in a dressage clinic in Tennessee with Stephan Kiesewetter who is the Chief Trainer for the Etoile International Equestrian Academy based in Rhede, Germany.

September was a busy month:
Along with Markel Insurance, Collecting Gaits Farm and Applewood Farm, Through Connection Ltd German Riding Ponies was one of the title sponsors for The Good Horseman Foundation's Advanced Trainers Conference with George Williams. This year Applewood Farm was the host site for this annual conference for the area's professional dressage trainers. Jackie rode our German Riding Pony stallions FS Daily Hero and Benno's Dream at this USDF University credit event. The conference started Friday night with a welcoming dinner at the Applewood Farm cabin where Brad and Laura's famous buffet was served. Many sponsors provided goodies for gift bags for the trainers and auditors, Through Connection provided the breakfasts, lunches and programs, and Collecting Gaits Farm provided the blue shirts with sponsor logos shown in the photos below. We were honored to host both George Williams and Ann Genovese, who is the Director of The Good Horseman Foundation, at our farm during the conference.

These photos of our German Riding Pony stallions during the conference are by Jim Doeden:
FS Daily Hero at The Good Horseman Foundation's Advanced Trainers Conference with George Williams:


Benno's Dream at The Good Horseman Foundation Advanced Trainers Conference with George Williams:



These are photos of Benno's Dream by Brad Thatcher:





In between his other duties as host, Brad took a photo of FS Daily Hero:

September
Through Connection Ltd hosted the Oldenburg Registry N.A. and International Sporthorse Registry mare and foal inspection at In Your Dreams Farm. Christian Schacht was the breed inspector. We welcomed 37 mares and foals for inspection. Breeders came from all over the state of Georgia, as well as Tennessee and South Carolina. Pictured below with ribbons are champion foal Rumba by Hilltop's Rousseau and Champion colt Ottis by Opus. An article about this inspection will be in the next ISR/Old NA newsletter.

These photos of the inspection were taken by Coleen Carey-Mitchell:

July
Video stills from a photo session with Photographer Jerry Sparagowski (some of Jerry's photos will appear on the website and in the 2007 stallion folio):
Benno's Dream:

FS Daily Hero:

Chico:

July
A few photos from a photo session with Jim Doeden (more will be on the website and in the 2007 stallion folio):

July
Junior Clinic with Brigitte Richenhagen: We held another junior clinic with Brigitte at Applewood Farm in July. Please see the June entry for a description of these clinics. Below are photos by Brad Thatcher of several riders at the clinic:

Late June
Breeders kindly sent us photos. First below is an eagerly awaited colt by Benno's Dream out of an FEI Dressage Pony mare:

A wonderful surprise: A filly! ... and possibly a cremello out of a buckskin quarterpony mare:

An elastic, powerful and sweet colt out of a warmblood mare:

Updates of a sport pony cross colt, first playing with his dam and then inviting a Clydesdale colt 3 weeks his junior to play:

Updates of a treasured yearling colt out of a Welsh mare with very old bloodlines used to develop the German Riding Pony breed.

Updates of a yearling gelding out of a paint mare. The owner looks forward to training him for an eventing career.

June
Through Connection Ltd sponsored a junior rider dressage clinic with German trainer Brigitte Richenhagen at beautiful Applewood Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia owned by Brad and Laura Thatcher. Through Connection is committed to supporting junior and pony programs for dedicated and talented riders. Each student had the opportunity to ride with Brigitte in individual lessons throughout the weekend and auditors were able to participate fully thanks to the farm's sound system and Brigitte's willingness to respond to all questions and comments. This will be an ongoing series of clinics with Brigitte to foster the talents and skills of junior riders and develop a support system for them and their trainers throughout their junior years.

May at the farm photographed by Jim Doeden:

April
We are receiving news of the 2006 foals:
Benno's Dream colt out of a 12 H sport pony mare:

Benno's Dream colt out of a 15+ H Swedish warmblood mare:

Benno's Dream colt out of an RPSI registered 12 H Welsh Arabian crossbred mare:

Here is Paris, a Benno's Dream filly, as a yearling:

April
Through Connection presented a sport horse clinic with Anke Boersma, a Dutch trainer, FEI rider and sport horse handler. The topic was "Skills and Techniques for Handling at Breed Shows and Inspections". Demonstrations of handling and free jumping were presented using two stallions, an older dressage mare, young stock and a 3 week old colt with its dam. Below are a variety of photos from the clinic:

March
Through Connection sponsored a clinic with Dr. Christoph Hess, the Director of Training for the German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports (DOKR) presented by The Good Horseman Foundation, a Region 3 GMO (www.goodhorseman.org). Dr. Hess is an FEI "I" judge and Berufsreitlehrer employed by the German Equestrian Federation (FN) since 1978. The clinic was held at fellow sponsor Laura and Brad Thatcher's beautiful Applewood Farm (www.applewood-farm.com). Dr. Hess worked with 8 riders and trainers and presented two lectures focussing on the importance of classical training in the development of the horse and rider. Immediately below are photos of the first riding pair, Richard Cohn and his lovely FEI mare Daylight (Donnerhall).

Next was Grand Prix rider and trainer Karen McGoldrick with her young mare Wasabi. The photos show Dr. Hess' unwavering adherence to the training scale: forward, forward, forward, rhythm and regularity, achieving relaxation and contact with this very talented and "wasabi hot" mare. Dr. Hess' expressive gestures, clear purpose and directives were like watching an orchestra conductor, fascinating to Wasabi.


Below are photos from the second lecture in which Dr. Hess discussed the importance of the training scale and classical training. He showed videos of Anke von Grusven warming up Krack C and discussed the differences in philosophy which Dr. Hess sees as beyond methodological differences.

February
Spring comes to our farm in Georgia. Stallions have been cultured and extenders tested for breeding season.

January
All stallion folios that were requested through January have been mailed. Here is the cover of our photo brochure for this year:

2005

November The 2006 stallion folios are being edited to include updated videos, photographs and accomplishments. Please email nferebee@bellsouth.net or call 770-752-0973 for information about receiving our folios.

September Brigitte Richenhagen began coming to the farm to help with training the ponies. The Richenhagens imported their daughter’s former German Team pony Ping Pong Power C when they moved here from Germany this year. He is currently being ridden at 3^rd level by a 12 year old. Brigitte and her husband Martin Richenhagen, an “I” level dressage judge, have both begun offering clinics in our area.

September FS Daily Hero’s sire, FS Don’t Worry, once again proved his worth as a breeding stallion. At the Bundeschampionat, in the 18 pony classes, Don’t Worry offspring won 4 gold medals, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes.

September Nancy attended Dressage At Devon to visit with several sport pony breeders.

August Benno’s Dream and FS Daily Hero participated in young rider clinics with 14 and 18 year old girls. Both girls were thrilled to have a chance to ride the two stallions. During the dressage portion of the clinics, the girls experienced their first flying changes as well as steps of canter pirouettes. They did grid work and courses for the jumping portion on both ponies, effortlessly jumping 3’7” oxers. One girl said “Benno felt like a dream” and then laughed at the use of his name. “He was right in front of me, taking care of me the whole time.”

August Chico attended the RPSI inspection in Ocala, Florida and was approved as a breeding stallion in Book 1.

July Chico completed his initial ground work, long lining training and under saddle work with Amber Clark. Rachel continued the under saddle work and Chico is now schooling training level figures and movements. Chico shows wonderful suspension, engagement and connection with the trainer.

June Nancy attended the third annual Cornelia Endres clinic put on by Lendon Gray and Dressage 4 Kids. This year it was held at Karen Clark’s lovely farm in southern New Jersey. Many of the riders have attended all three years. Most interesting was the increasing preponderance of German Riding Ponies. This year saw two imported German Riding Pony geldings, a USA bred GRP gelding and two imported German Riding Pony stallions. Most exciting for Nancy was the opportunity to see Benno’s Dream’s oldest licensed stallion son and meet his owner. Through Connection provided everyone with T-shirts commemorating the clinic. This clinic was sponsored by the American Sport Pony Registry (ASPR) and attended by their representative, Saskia de Haan.

June Chico and FS Daily Hero attended a South East Region Cosequin/USDF Sporthorse Breed Show. During the first day of the show, Chico was Reserve Champion Stallion in the Open Stallion class with a score of 83.35% (1.6% below the champion who is the 2005 national second place stallion in USDF Horse of the Year Awards). Chico received a score of 83.90% in an Individual Breed Class, which was the highest score of all 44 entries in the Individual Breed Classes during the show. FS Daily Hero, by competing in the under saddle classes as well as in hand, received the highest average score of all the shows’ qualifiers and took home the Breeders Cup Grand Champion of Show award. The judges commented positively that Hero is a “nice type and well-balanced, showing good engagement from behind in both walk and trot, freedom of his shoulders, and good energy”.

Spring and Summer Benno’s Dream’s first American offspring were born. The mare owners were very happy with these foals. As in Germany, Benno stamped his wonderful topline, movement and character on his American offspring. Throughout the year, some of the foal owners have said the following about Benno’s Dream’s offspring: “Paris is as awesome as awesome comes and truly beautiful! She can move! Yesterday I saw her on her hind legs running backwards.”… “Stormy is an awesome little guy, a little spitfire, and has a very funny personality. His head, shoulder and neck definitely come from Benno. The foal’s head and face shape is very beautiful. The length of the legs is also from the sire. My vet says he is made for jumping. Although I have a very nice mare, we have definitely improved on her.”… “Xandari is very independent and laid back, full of energy and curiosity. He is so smooth, balanced, light on his feet, strong and sure footed, already exhibiting a beautiful canter. The way he moves is majestic.”

Spring 2005 was Through Connection Ltd’s first year using our new state of the art breeding facility. We now have the ability to collect, process and ship semen 7 days a week. Before and midway through the breeding season, we cultured the stallions and tested 12 different extenders several times over the course of 48 hours to determine which extenders for each stallion would provide mare owners with optimum quality of shipped semen. Through Connection is a known shipper with Delta Airlines. Delta’s home base is in Atlanta, giving us the ability to provide same day delivery for mares in the United States and Canada. A major FedEx sort facility is minutes away from the farm and accepts deliveries until 8 PM, thus allowing our FedEx shipments to arrive within 16 hours of collection.

The March 2005 issue of Dressage Today contained an article about the stallion performance test which referenced to FS Daily Hero’s success. “The sport pony stallion, FS Daily Hero, impressed everyone with his overall type, good gaits and a free-jumping ability that rivaled the big horses.” The article is reprinted at:

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/english/dressage/stalliontest_021605/index.html

February In the 2005 edition of the International Sporthorse Registry/Oldenburg NA Breeders’ Guide, Benno’s Dream is listed with the highest index score for all the 2003 and 2004 approved stallions. His index score of 237.5 points is composed of the conformation index score (head, neck, shoulder and saddle position, frame and top line, front legs, hind legs, correctness, and breed and stallion type), the dressage index score (the 3 basic gaits, athletic ability and balance), and the jumping index score (capability, style and technique and natural aptitude and balance).

January After returning from the 30 day stallion performance test, FS Daily Hero continued his dressage training with Through Connection’s trainer and handler Rachel Ferebee.

The December/January 2005 issue of Equestrian Magazine contained an article by Amber Heintzberger on “Performance Versus Pedigree”. In the article, Nancy’s interview quotes and a photo of Benno’s Dream competing at a USDF dressage show were included.

January 2005 The Through Connection Pony Award for Excellence in Dressage were presented at the Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association (GDCTA) gala Year-End Awards Banquet. The 2004 Jr/YR Champion was Annemarie Tortorigi with John-Paul Parker and the 2004 AA Champion was Teresa Underwood with Ish Kabibble.

January 2005 Stallion folios, including video, photographs, brochure and contract will be mailed to mare owners by January 15.

January 2005 Benno's Dream is featured in Equestrian Magazine in an article about breeding, performance and pedigree.

November 2004 FS Daily Hero completes the 30 day Pony Stallion Performance Testing earning his Lifetime Breeding License with the ISR. Although scored differently and separately from the 30 day and 100 day horse stallions, once again he proved that he holds his own against them. He was tested on all the same criteria (same jumping grid, same cross country and showjumping courses, same dressage demonstration, etc) except that no guest riders provided scoring input. All his USDF wins were bettered yet by a score of 9 on his jumping technique and ability at this test.

September 2004 FS Daily Hero wins Grand Champion of Show at USDF/Cosequin Sporthorse Breed Show, winning all classes leading to the title, both in hand and under saddle.

June 2004 Benno's Dream wins at second and third level dressage. FS Daily Hero wins Cosequin/ USDF Mature Horse Championship and Flamenco Cup.

May 2004 Chronicle of the Horse has an article on German Riding Ponies. The history of Through Connection and a photo of Benno at the ISR stallion inspection are included. We have a new ad in this edition.

April 2004 American Warmblood Registry/American Sportpony Registry inspection results are published. Benno's Dream received the highest score of all horses and ponies. FS Daily Hero tied for 4th place of all horse and pony stallions inspected and was second after Benno for high scoring pony stallion.

January 6 2004
*Stallion videos and information packets will be mailed to mare owners this week
*A current video of German Riding Ponies for sale in Germany is available: yearlings to breeding stock to just started under saddle to Intermediare level dressage ponies - 14.0 hands to 15+ hands. Next escorted trip will be in late February or early March. Contact us if you are interested.

Benno's Dream wins High Point
Alison Faso and Benno’s Dream Have Pony Power

Cornelia Endres’s ‘Pony Only’ Clinic At Gleneden

2003 Dressage at Devon
Julie Warstler and Zippity-Do-Da Dominate Incentive FEI Pony Classes at Devon

FEI Dressage Championhsip of the Americas
Blainville Equestrian Park, Quebec, Canada
FEI Pony Division Class, a First for North America

Dressage Exhibition at Metropolitan National Horse Show In New York City

2003 European Pony Championships
Necarne Castle, Irvinestown, Ireland
July 22 - 27, 2003

August 2003 ... Benno's Dream and FS Daily Hero attend the Cornelia Endres Pony Only Clinic at Lendon Gray's in Bedford New York. Ms. Endres has been the coach of the German FEI Dressage Pony Team which she has taken to 14 European Championship gold medals.

August 2003 ... Ponies prove their power against horses....Benno's Dream overall site champion at International Sporthorse Registry/Oldenburg NA stallion inspection, receiving Lifetime Breeding License. FS Daily Hero is third behind Benno and a German approved Grand Prix showjumper . Benno receives a "90" jumping index and Hero an "80". Hero's next step is to attend 2004 stallion performance testing.

November 2003 ... Benno's Dream overall site champion at American Warmblood Registry and American Sportpony inspection. He becomes the only pony to be entered in the American Warmblood Registry and rates a First Premium Premiere (top 2%), again receiving a 9 on his jumping. FS Daily Hero is reserve champion in the pony registry - First Premium Premiere - and third overall behind a Holsteiner breeding stallion, again receiving an 8 on his jumping.