Since our 2001 horse hunting trip to England was a bust due to arriving just as Foot and Mouth Disease broke out, we planned a trip to Ireland in 2002.  We spent two weeks showing Collies, cavorting about Gypsy filled fields, and doing a bit of sightseeing.  Gordon spent most of the dog show time riding his bicycle, his own dream come true.

We saw many beautiful horses and loads that we would have gladly taken home, but it was two little orphan fillies alone in a large yard that stole our hearts.  Deirdre told us their names were Deirdre and Fionnuala.  I looked askance and asked, "After you and your mum?"  She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "We ran out of names."  Typical Deirdre.  When asked which was which, we discovered that was a collective name for the both of them.  Gordon liked the black one, I liked the spotted one.  Not that it mattered, they were both coming home with us.

At Clononeen, we met the young stallion Dubh.  We loved his name, it means black.  I wanted to know what the feminine version of it was.  After checking with her uncle, Deirdre told us it was Derbhla, and so our little black girl got a new name.  We thought Fionnuala was a great name, so we kept it for the little black and white girl.  Our Irish "sisters" were born in March; what else could we do but make their birthday the 17th?  They flew home to us in NH that fall.

Derbhla is a very heavy horse, in both bone and feather.  She is sired by The Filly Horse, so named for his consistent filly producing!  We don't know her dam.  She stands 14.1, a surprise to all because she seems so much bigger than that!  Derbhla is incredibly smart and just a little bit opinionated!

To date she has given us 3 foals.  Her first is a black colt, C Me Fly sired by our Clononeen Romantic Traveler, "Val".  Dharma, the gorgeous black and white filly we had been waiting and hoping for, was her next foal, also sired by Val. In 2008 she sired a stunning black colt with 4 high whites, Eli, sired by Snow.  Derbhla has gone to a friend on a lease and will come back when the foal she is breeding for is weaned.

I always said I would name Derbhla's first filly Dharma - good thing she was born in our D year!  (7/11/07)  She was born out in the field and our grandson Tyler was the very first one to see her. I don't think kids EVER sleep in; he bounced us out of bed to see the new baby.  For Ty, it was love at first sight and she's always been his favorite.

Dharma is sired by our multi show winning Clononeen Romantic Traveler.  She's Derbhla's first black and white, and the only filly so far; she was destined to be a keeper from day one.

When I shattered my leg 2/7/09, my good friend Tracy Helget offered to take a few of our horses to help out.  Dharma and Laura went to Kansas where they are being well loved and trained by Tracy and her daughter Ashley.  I can't thank them enough for being such good friends during a very difficult time. 

Dharma will have a foal for them by their wonderful stallion Flynn, and will come home to us in foal to him. 

Our Lovely Laura was born in Ireland 1/1/04.

She's as sweet and gentle as can be and every bit the lady. She just loves people and is one of the first to come up for attention.

She already stands over 15hh and we suspect she'll finish out at least 16hh. Laura moves like a warmblood and dressage is definitely in her future!

AF Fionnuala was the first Junior Champion Mare in the country.

AF Clononeen Dana is our best using horse and thinks nothing of wandering around the farm with kids on her back and foal afoot. She's an Irish import and was rated 1st Premiere in Ireland by the Irish Cob Society.

We are proud to be able to promote the versatility of the Gypsy horse. Dana rides English and Western, drives, jumps, jousts, and swims. She's an unflappable parade, demo, show, and exposition horse, and a fabulous brood mare as well!