Lexington, KY – Each year at the United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year awards dinner, two Connemara Ponies are honored with special awards from the American Connemara Pony Society for excellence in USEF eventing and hunter competitions.
The McKenna Trophy is awarded in memory of Joan McKenna, and is presented to the high scoring purebred or halfbred Connemara competing in USEF eventing competitions at the Preliminary level or above. This year the McKenna Trophy was presented to ArdCeltic Art owned by Donna Miller of Alpharetta, GA. In 2010, ArdCeltic Art successfully competed at the Preliminary level with his owner, and also won in his debut in Intermediate with Clark Montgomery in the irons.
The Clifden Trophy, donated by D. J. Moore and Laura Balding, is given to the high scoring purebred or halfbred Connemara competing in USEF Pony Hunter divisions. The trophy was awarded again this year to Micaela Kennedy’s First Kiss. First Kiss was shown throughout 2010 with much success by Will Kennedy, Ashley Foster, Brianna Sims, Taylor Curry, Emily Hartley and Matthew Sassmannhausen.
Congratulations to both Connemaras on these outstanding achievements! For more information regarding the Clifden and McKenna trophies, please visit www.acps.org or contact Mary Vance at mvance@usef.org or (859) 225-6951.