Good Earth Victory Go Bragh

Name: Good Earth Victory Go Bragh, “Rye”

Breed: Connemara Pony

Foaled: May 16, 2005

Height: 15 hands

Color: Dark Dun, E/E, A/a, N/Cr, N/W20

HWSD Status: N/N

Sex: Mare

pedigree

"Rye" is a 2005 15H dark dun Connemara Pony mare by Hideaway’s Erin Go Bragh out of Bonnhenry Sandpiper by Grange Finn Sparrow.

Hideaway’s Erin Go Bragh was a 15.2 hand Connemara stallion who competed in the sport of eventing at the highest level. Also known as "The Little Horse that Could", Erin Go Bragh was known not only for his athletic ability, which helped the little horse compete at the international level in the sport of eventing, but also for his great character, gentleness, and heart. Although smaller than most jumpers, he had great confidence, and would reportedly jump anything he was pointed at. Fittingly, a movie was made made about this special Connemara entitled, “The Little Horse that Could” and a Breyer horse was made to commemorate the "The Little Horse that Could.”

Remarkably, Go Bragh began his competitive career not in eventing but in pleasure driving, where he was very successful. After jumping a 5-foot jumper course, the great show jumper Anne Kursinski told his rider that the horse had talent.

Go Bragh began his eventing career, and won four events in a row at the Preliminary level in 1991—including the MCTA Horse Trials with its notorious cross-country—before taking 1st at the Ledyard Three-Day in 1992. By this time, he was also a proficient second-level dressage horse. As an Intermediate horse, the stallion won Fair Hill, before moving up to the Advanced level in 1995. His performance that year won him the AHSA Advanced Horse of the Year award for Zone II, and the USCTA's Connemara of the Year award, that same year.

After his success, Go Bragh was entered in the Radnor Three Day Event the following year. He was at a distinct disadvantage: all horses competing at the international level had to carry a minimum of 165 lb (75 kg) on cross-country (this rule was abolished by the FEI the following year). This meant that Go Braugh would have to carry an additional 40 lb (18 kg) of lead, despite his small size. The extra weight caught up to him. While galloping cross-country, after travelling 14 miles (22.5 km) for phases A & C and jumping a steeplechase course, he stepped in a depression in the ground three fences from home, tearing a suspensory ligament. Although the injury was not career-ending, he needed a year off to recover.

Go Bragh was retired at the age of 16, as the most winning stallion in eventing history in North America. He was officially retired at the Genesee Valley Hunt Race Meet, on October 9, 1999. He continued to breed mares at Hideaway Farm. Go Bragh died at age 30 in October 2013.

The stallion sired nearly 200 foals, and his get have been extremely successful.

Rye’s dam sire, *Grange Finn Sparrow, standing a little over 14.1H was born in 1975 at Grange Stud in Bunclody, Ireland. Bred by Lady Maria Levigne, 'Finn' as he was originally known, was by the stallion, Coosheen Finn and out Dun Sparrow. He won Clifden as a young stallion, and was sold to Willie Leahy as a performance pony and breeding stallion. Willie's children competed the pony in the jumpers and hunted him. 'Grange' (then known as Finn) also spent a short stint in Austria where he left his mark on the fledgling society there, and he is credited with successfully introducing the Connemara to Austria.

In 1985 Willie shipped Grange to Harry DeLeyer in the USA. Grange jumped on the circuit in the states, competing in both the jumper and hunter rings, and would even breed mares back at the barn in between divisions. He hunted with more than 6 hunts in WV, VA and PA. Folks would often be skeptical that being a pony he could keep up with the hunt, but many times at the end of the day, he (and a couple of his offspring) would be the only ones left in the hunt field, still going strong. Grange Finn Sparrow and his offspring are renowned for their easy going kind temperaments. He was ridden into his 20s and would often give small children riding lessons.

He eventually made his way to Jennifer 'Tootie' Jones in West Virginia where he lived the last 15+ years of his life. Tootie did an exceptional job finding superior performance mares to breed to Grange, and she certainly made her mark on sport horse breeding on the East Coast. Two of his offspring made it to the 4* level, contesting Rolex Kentucky, and many, many more competed at the upper levels. Seven offspring, both purebred and halfbred Connemaras, made it to the Advanced level. He has sired individuals that competed in upper level dressage, one of whom was in Lendon Gray's Dressage 4 Kids program; top jumpers, Pony Finals contenders, foxhunters and even a son that competed on Allison Stroud's famous four-in-hand driving team.

He lived to the ripe old age of 35, and was buried in the hills of WV.

- 1978 In-hand Champion at Clifden.

- 2x Top scoring Grade A Pony in Ireland.

- 2nd Place at his one and only 3-day event at the Preliminary level (in Austria).

- 1995 An Tostal Award Winner (An ACPS award given as recognition of a career of outstanding achievement, both competitive and noncompetitive, of a purebred Connemara stallion.)

- 2008 Tooreen Laddie Award (An ACPS award given to an outstanding Connemara stallion which has made a positive influence on the breed through his offspring.

Rye is an elegant, correct, and forward thinking mare.

Located in Hodges SC. Brood mare. Not for sale.