Knock Chestnut IRE 1639

The chestnut colour has never been common among the Connemara pony, but in fact the most dominating stallion line of the breed, the one beginning with Cannon Ball, has ints origin in the Welsh Cob Prince Llewellyn, a roan with chestnut base colour. And among all the greys, bays, browns, blacks and duns, every now and then there will be a chestnut or a palomino. One of these chestnuts was Knock Chestnut, born in 1947. She has neither dam nor breeder given in the stud book, but in Gil, great great great great grandson of Prince Llewellyn is listed as her sire. In the Irish stud book there are six progeny of Knock Chestnut: two gelding sons of which Ballinahown Big Boy is listed with a Swedish owner, and four daughters of which Tiernee Judy and Dun Conker have been the most important for carrying on the family.

Tiernee Judy and Knoack Chestnut are listed after each other in the Irish stud book and probably the owner, Seamus O'Conghaile brought the two forward for inspection at the same time. Tiernee Judy was one of only two foals by Cregganna Winter to be born in 1951. Judy too was the dam of six registered progeny and it was with her offspring that the family started spreading outside of Ireland. Tully Judy was exported to the USA carrying a foal and together with her yearling daughter Clonasee, but failed to establish a lasting branch of the family. Tiernee Judy's daughter from 1962 was given the name Guaire. Her oldest daughter, Guaire Guide, found her way to France and the Oursieres stud where she had at least five offspring. The year after Guaire had the daughter Moy Little Judy who ended ut in the Netherlands, but who also have daughters in France.

The same year that Moy Little Judy was born, Guaire was exported to Sweden. The buyer was unaware that she was pregnant with Bridge Boy but the result was the foal Surprise - one of the first brood mares bought by the Brolöten stud in 1971. Surprise can hardly be called a show pony, she achieved a mere 33 points at the local show at Brolöten in 1981, but having been awarded an Elite premium in 1988, the year when the premium was first introduced, and the Swedish Connemara Society mare award in 1993, her value to the breed cannot be denied.

All in all Surprise gave birth to 19 foals of which 14 were by Lambay Inver. Brolötens Tiffany won her class at the breed show as a promising two-year-old filly, but sadly met with an accident on her travel home. Apart from Tiffany Surprise's offspring have had more modest success in the show ring, but they have widely compensated this with their success as performance ponies. Brolötens Camilla has competition points in show jumping and was later exported to Finland. Brolötens Turkos won his performance test as a four-year-old and later went on to compete in both show jumping and eventing and he was the fourth best eventing Connemara in Sweden in 1988. Brolötens Turmalin have competition points in dressage. Brolötens Farouche competed in show jumping, but mainly in dressage. Brolötens Nickelit was among the ten most successful dressage Connemaras in 1994 - 1998 and in 2000 when he also competed in the Swedish dressage championships. In 1997 he also participated in the European dressage championships. Brolötens Stardust was the highest ranked dressage Connemara in 2002 and among the top ten 1999 - 2001. Add to that individual bronze and silver at the Swedish dressage championships and winning the Swedish dressage derby in 2001. Brolötens Kingston rounds up the crowd with competition points in both eventing and show jumping.

Surprise's daughter, Brolötens Spinell, has passed on the performance genes. Her grandson Corleone (out of Corona) finished second in his quality test in 1999 and the year after he took a creditable fourth in the young pony dressage championships. His continued career resulted in competition points in dressage during three years in the 00ies. Corleone's half brother, Midnight Star, was also a successful dressage pony while the half sister Connie instead won her competition points in the show jumping ring. Connie was also the dam of six foals among whom Cherie III is a diploma mare and was gold awarded at the 1997 breed show. Cherie III won her quality test in 1999 and has competed successfully in dressage while her half sister Cornelia IV have competition points in show jumping. Brolötens Spinell is also the dam of Miss Crazy who has her own successful branch of the family. Her son Crazy Boy has competition in show jumping, dressage and eventing while the daughter Sunshine Girl has focused on dressage. The granddaughter Sundance Belle won her quality test in 2000 and the grandson Tycho Boy was second in the young pony dressage championships for six-year-olds two years previously. Tycho Boy has since continued with a successful dressage career and was among the top ten dressage Connemaras in 2003, 2007 and 2008.

Brolötens Camilla wasn't the only one of Surprise's daughters to be exported to Finland. Also the 16 years younger Brolötens Snowflake made the journey east. In Finland she became the dam of the stallion Billy Boy. Among Billy Boy's few progeny we find the 2004 gelding champion at the Finnish Connemara show, Ponnyjoy Hectory.

Guaire's two years younger full sister, Derryowen Judy, staid in Ireland. Her daughter Derryowen Seagull won the class for mares seven years or older at the 1976 Clifden show and was later exported to Australia, but she doesn't seem to have had any progeny there. From the next full sister, Lough Cutra, the tracks lead, through her daughter Guaire Water Lily, towards France, but I haven't been able to find anything about Water Lily or her descendants there.

Tiernee Judy's youngest daughter, Abbey Judy, has made a bigger impression in France. She herself staid in Ireland, but her daughter Ballindive Ballad was exported to France. Among her many descendants you find her daughter Moonlight Martray who is the ancestor of the class 1 premium mare Millrace de Seguret and her son Caiseal Aisling Ledco who won the colt foal class at the 2012 French breed show. You will also find the stallion Baby Boy de Rhonon, sire of among others the class 1 premium mare Querido Vert et Bleu and Joker de Rhonon, one of the top five French dressage ponies in 2004. Klockeen de Rhonon represented France at the European eventing championships in both 2012 and 2015 and has now a new career as a brood mare. Another participant in the European championships can be find among Moonlight Martray's descendants in the shape of her grandson Jazz de Rhonon who represented Belgium in 2007. Jazz later made his way to Denmark and from there to Sweden where he has gathered show jumping points since 2010, unfortunately without being registered as a Connemara.

Knock Chestnut's remaining daughters didn't have the same impact as Tiernee Judy, but Dun Conker deserves a mention, if nothing else for her Swedish connections. In addition the 2002 Champion Ridden Pony at the Clifden show was Ballymoe Ardfry Shadowlands, a great great grandchild of Dun Conker. Shadowlands half sister Ashfield Orchard is currently in Sweden as are two half brothers to Shadowland's and Orchard's dam Colly Hill - Coshla Prince and Coco of Rosscon, the latter of which could bee seen in the working hunter pony class of the 2008 breed show. Ashfield Orchard and Coshla Prince continue the family tradition and compete in show jumping and although they have yet to earn any competition points it wouldn't be a surprise if it only a matter of time before they do.

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Knock Chestnut IRE 1639 (Ire)
Tiernee Judy IRE 1640 (Ire)
Sorrel IRE 2045 (Ire)
Caramel IRE 5514 (Ire)
Tully Judy IRE 2496, USAM 333 (Ire, USA)
Clonasee IRE 2808, USAM 564 (Ire, USA)
Burren Dote IRE 9325 (Ire)
Lurga IRE G 1965 (Ire)
Lurga Lad IRE.3 4176 (Ire)
Spring Ledge Guaire Bobby USAS 263 (USA)
Guaire IRE 3181, RC 25 (Ire, Swe)
Guaire Guide IRE 3394 (Ire)
Guaire Tulip IRE 4966 (Ire)
Guaire Flora IRE 6686 (Ire)
Guaire Orchid IRE 7453 (Ire)
Boy Scout IRE G 576 (Ire)
Hetti d'Oursieres (Fra)
Isolde d'Oursieres (Fra)
Oursiere (Fra)
Ucello II (Fra)
Darling de la Moneri (Fra)
Arta du Bois (Fra)
Jumbo d'Oursieres (Fra)
Lucky d'Oursieres (Fra)
Moy Little Judy IRE 3751, NED I 187 (Ire, Ned)
Brave Judy IRE 4652 (Ire, Fra)
Jessy N (Fra)
Kluciol (Fra)
Ardhazel IRE 5582 (Ire, Fra)
Klifa (Fra)
Lardazel (Fra)
Minette III (Fra)
Saltimbanque V (Fra)
Surprise RC 123 (Swe)
Brolötens Safir (Swe)
Brolötens Camilla 74 C (Swe, Fin)
Casper III (Swe, Fin)
Brolötens Spinell RC 336 (Swe)
Corona RC 677 (Swe)
Midnight Star (Swe)
Connie RC 796 (Swe)
Cherie III RC 951 (Swe)
Cornelia IV RC 1062 (Swe)
Cornetto (Swe)
Corillo (Swe)
Cinzano (Swe)
Touchwood Rebel (Swe)
Cortina RC 1536 (Swe)
Ekslätt af Chapman (Swe)
Corleone (Swe)
Hang (Swe)
Miss Crazy RC 502 (Swe)
Crazy Boy (Swe)
Crazy Girl (Swe)
Miss Sunshine RC 789 (Swe)
Sundance Belle (Swe)
Sunshine Girl RC 705 (Swe)
Tycho Boy (Swe)
Brolötens Turkos (Swe)
Brolötens Jade (Swe)
Brolötens Turmalin (Swe)
Brolötens Clair RC 632 (Swe)
Zessan (Swe)
Zappa (Swe)
Brolötens Salmiak (Swe)
Brolötens Tiffany (Swe)
Brolötens Farouche (Swe)
Brolötens Opium (Swe)
Brolötens Blasé (Swe)
Brolötens Nickelit (Swe)
Brolötens Maybe (Swe)
Brolötens Stardust RC 726 (Swe)
Tequila (Swe)
Brolötens Snowflake 136 C (Swe, Fin)
Billy Boy 10 C (Fin)
Snowstar (Fin)
Candy Brown (Fin)
Ponnyjoy Silwer (Fin)
Ponnyjoy Silkke (Fin)
Brolötens Kingstone (Swe)
Brolötens Cullinan (Swe)
Tiffany Grey (Swe)
Brolötens Coco (Swe)
Vincent (Swe)
Björn (Swe)
Derryowen Judy IRE 2809 (Ire)
Derryowen Dun IRE 3542 (Ire)
Derryowen Rebel IRE G 771 (Ire)
Derryowen Seagull IRE 4050, AUS 1145 (Ire, Aus)
Tulira Silver Gull AUS 1193 (Ire, Aus)
Mary Paulina IRE 5275 (Ire)
Suzy (Ire, Ned)
Stardust (Ned)
Burren Gentian IRE 9326 (Ire)
Randi Lady IRE 17171 (Ire)
Boynton IRE S3 4184 (Ire)
Lurga Lass IRE M3 16928 (Ire)
Lurga Pride IRE S3 4093 (Ire)
Lough Cutra IRE 3391 (Ire)
Guaire Water Lily IRE 4967 (Ire, Fra)
Nenuphare (Fra)
Passe Temps (Fra)
Sans Souci II (Fra)
Ussy des Bruyeres (Fra)
Colorado II (Fra)
Dakota du Breuil II (Fra)
Horizon du Sud (Fra)
Jalousie de Pleville (Fra)
Castlelambert Jude IRE G 615 (Ire)
Abbey Judy IRE 3855 (Ire)
Ballindive Ballad IRE 5374 (Ire, Fra)
Ines d'Irlande (Fra)
Pirouette II (Fra)
Daylight (Fra)
Germiny l'Exempt (Fra)
Souris (Fra)
Etiquette (Fra)
Romaine Destmichel (Fra)
Grundy de la Hocq (Fra)
Heurtebise de la Hocq (Fra)
Jupiter de la Hocq (Fra)
Kiwi de la Hocq (Fra)
Moonlight Martray (Fra)
Reine des Pres (Fra)
Vanille de Seguret (Fra)
Fao de Seguret (Fra)
Jalligator Vert Bleu (Fra)
Grafitie de Seguret (Fra)
Kali de Seguret (Fra)
Millrace de Seguret (Fra)
Caiseal Aisling Ledco (Fra)
Neatly de Seguret (Fra)
Happy de Seguret (Fra)
I am de Seguret (Fra)
Kinga de Saulieres (Fra)
Tequila d'Ardenne (Fra)
Riva Bridge Shaday (Bel)
Azzaro de Seguret (Fra)
Damazan de Seguret (Fra)
Idefix de Seguret (Fra)
Jackson III (Fra)
Nuage d'Encens (Fra)
Tolight de Rhonon (Fra)
Jupiter de Preuilly (Fra)
Volstar de Rhonon (Fra)
Darling de Rhonon (Fra)
Feeling de Rhonon (Fra)
Hilgarry de Rhonon (Fra)
Joy de Rhonon (Fra)
Almighty de Rhonon (Fra)
Baby Boy de Rhonon (Fra)
Carry Me de Rhonon (Fra)
Jazz de Rhonon (Fra, Den, Swe)
Rightness de Rhonon (Fra)
Diamond de Rhonon (Fra)
Eleventh de Rhonon (Fra)
Heavenlight Rhonon (Fra)
Joker de Rhonon (Fra)
Lightmoon de Rhonon (Fra)
Salome (Fra)
Junior de Rhonon (Fra)
Klockeen de Rhonon (Fra)
Cosio du Martray (Fra)
Quisaute du Rouget (Fra)
Rouget Star du Rouget (Fra)
Moonlight (Ire)
Prospero IRE G 655 (Ire, Bel)
Ballindive Dun IRE G 772 (Ire)
Ballinahown Big Boy IRE G 327 (Ire, Swe)
Dun Conker IRE 3702 (Ire)
Kilbride Boy (Ire, GBR)
Talt Glen Rover IRE G 684 (Ire)
Talt Sally IRE 5718 (Ire)
Talt Princess IRE 7050 (Ire)
Talt Dorothy IRE 6480 (Ire)
Colly Hill IRE 8908 (Ire)
Ballymoe Silver Hill IRE 9665 (Ire)
Ballymoe Ardfry Shadowlands IRE G 2074 (Ire)
Maumeen Jess IRE 13522 (Ire)
Duntally Lexus IRE S3 7701 (Ire)
Wings of Mist IRE 13912 (Ire)
Misty Melody IRE 16590 (Ire)
Ardra Silver IRE 14281 (Ire)
Ashfield Silver Hill IRE G3 10126 (Ire)
Ashfield Lucinda IRE M2 16991 (Ire)
Ashfield Orchard IRE S3 21892 (Ire, Swe)
Stoneybog Noodle IRE S3 20271 (Ire)
Cranny Star IRE G 1819 (Ire)
Roundpark Dorothy IRE 12244 (Ire)
Charleville Babe (Ire)
Coco of Rosscon IRE G 3050 (Ire, Swe)
The Hasty Earl Ge 1861 (Ire, GBR)
Brown Diamond IRE 14609 (Ire)
Clarin Lady IRE 16378 (Ire)
Blakney Boy IRE G3 4235 (Ire)
Clonfert Hill IRE S2 2669 (Ire)
Coshla Prince IRE S3 16297 (Ire, Swe)
Glenavoo Olive IRE 4091 (Ire)
Glenavoo Master IRE 524 (Ire)
Glenavoo Mist IRE 5720 (Ire)
Glenavoo Frank IRE G 836 (Ire)
Talt Grey IRE 4458 (Ire, Ned, Ger)
Tubber Chestnut IRE G 533 (Ire)