Diamond's Equine Renvyle - The Connemara Pony National Stud

Condolences to the family and friends of Bartley O’Malley, may he Rest In Peace.

The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bartley O’Malley (Derrartha Beag, Carraroe, Co. Galway), who passed away on 13 July 2026.

Together with his late brother Tomás and late sister Nora, Bartley bred Connemara Ponies under the Derrartha prefix. Over many decades they stood some of the breed’s most influential stallions, including Abbeyleix Owen, Maam Hill, Loobeen Larry, Fort Dara, Seafield Silver Rogue, Cong Admiral, Robe Blue Thunder and his favourite, Moy Johnny’s Pride. Through these stallions and the ponies they bred, Bartley’s influence extends far beyond Connemara, living on in pedigrees throughout Ireland and across the world.

Bartley was also a familiar and respected figure on the Connemara Pony show circuit. He took immense pride in presenting his Connemara Ponies, with many enjoying success over the years, most notably Robe Blue Thunder. Whether at local shows or the Society’s major events such as Annual General Meetings, he was a quiet but constant presence.

Bartley also faithfully served as a trusted custodian of Society stallions on behalf of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society. He carried out this responsibility with quiet pride, great care and an unwavering sense of duty, recognising the importance of preserving the breed’s finest bloodlines. He travelled every road and boreen of Connemara, bringing the Society stallions to breeders throughout the region.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication and exceptional contribution to the Connemara Pony, Bartley was deservedly inducted into the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society Hall of Fame.

He understood that the Connemara Pony was more than a breed—it was part of our culture, our heritage and our identity.

His like will not be seen again. His legacy lives on in every Derrartha-bred pony, in the bloodlines of the great stallions he stood, and in the enduring spirit of the Connemara Pony itself.

On behalf of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society, I extend our sincere sympathies to his sister Mary; his nieces Bridie, Áine, Nora, Mary, Mary-Bridget, Kathleen and Colleen; his nephew John; the extended O’Máille family, his many friends and neighbours, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

May Bartley rest in peace.

Kevin Bolger
President
Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society

https://rip.ie/death-notice/beachlin-o-maille-galway-carraroe-636497
__________________________________

Tá an-bhrón ar Cumann Lucht Capaillíní Chonamara cloisteáil faoi bás Bartley O'Máille {Derrartha Beag, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe} a fuair bás ar an tríú lá déag go Iúil 2026.

In éineacht lena dheartháir Tomás, agus a dheirfiúr Nora atá uilig imithe roimhe, bheir sé Capaillíní Chonamara faoi an réamhtheideal Derrartha. Le blianta fada anuas bhí cuid de na staileanna is cumhachtach den póraíonn acu, ina méasc bhí Abbeyleix Owen, Maam Hill, Loobeen Larry, Fort Dara, Seafield Silver Rogue, Cong Admiral, Robe Blue Thunder, agus Moy Johnny's Pride an capall is fearr leis.

Ba dhuine aitheanta agus measúil é Bartley ar shraith seónna na capaillíní chonamara. Bhain sé an-bhróid as a chuid capaillíní a tháispeáint ag na seónna le roinnt acu ag baint áitheas amach. Cibé ag seónna áitiúla nó ag mórimeachtaí an chumainn, bhí láithreacht ciúin ach leanúnach aige.

Bhí Bartley mar chaomhnóir ar staileanna an cumann. Chomhlíon sé an freagracht seo le bród agus le cúram mór, ag aithint thábhacht na ginealach is fearr den póraíonn a chaomhnú. Thaistil sé gach bóthar I gconamara, ag tabhairt staileanna an cumann chuig póraitheoirí ar fud an réigiúin.

Mar aitheantas ar a dúthracht ar feadh a shaoil do capaillíni chonamara, cuireadh Bartley isteach i Halla na Laochra Chumann Póraitheoirí Capaillíní Chonamara.

Mar Uachtarán Cumann Lucht Capaillíní Chonamara cuirim ár gcomhbhrón ó chroí in iúl da dheirfiúr Máire, dá neachhtanna Bridie, Áine, Nora, Mary, Mary-Bridget, Kathleen agus Colleen, dá nia John, do theaghlach Uí Mháille, dá chairde agus da chomharsana.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Kevin Bolger
Uachtarán.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/beachlin-o-maille-galway-carraroe-636497

Your last chance to register for International Year of the Woman Farmer Series: https://eventbrite.pulse.ly/s0a5tevbzz

Save your free seat for July 23, in the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon.

Come and take part in the discussion on Educational Pathways, Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing.

Join us to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, register now!

🤣🤣🤣

Bute vs. Banamine: What’s the Difference? 🐴💊

One of the most common questions we get is, “Should my horse get Bute or Banamine?” While both medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), they work a little differently and are best suited for different conditions.

🐎 Phenylbutazone (Bute) is our go-to medication for musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. It works exceptionally well for conditions involving the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Horses with arthritis, laminitis, soft tissue injuries, or general orthopedic soreness often respond better to Bute because it provides excellent pain relief for the musculoskeletal system.

🐎 Flunixin Meglumine (Banamine) is generally our first choice for visceral pain—pain originating from the internal organs. This makes it the preferred medication for horses experiencing colic, as it is very effective at controlling intestinal pain. Banamine also has strong anti-endotoxic effects, making it an important part of treating serious infections, pneumonia, pleuropneumonia, colitis, endotoxemia, and severe inflammatory conditions. It can also be helpful for certain eye conditions, such as uveitis.

While there is some overlap between these medications, we typically choose Bute for orthopedic pain and Banamine for colic, fever, and systemic inflammatory disease. They should not be given together unless specifically directed by your veterinarian, as combining NSAIDs significantly increases the risk of stomach ulcers, right dorsal colitis, and kidney injury.

Every horse and every condition is different. Choosing the right medication—and using the correct dose for the appropriate length of time—is an important part of keeping your horse safe while providing the best possible pain relief. As always, consult your veterinarian for medication guidance and instructions!

What’s the cost of a good horse 🐴

How much does a good horse cost?

A good horse will cost you your pride, because they'll show you that you don't know everything, but that you learn the most when you stop pretending you do.

They'll cost you your dreams, because they'll change them without warning, rewriting what you thought you wanted, your ambition and sometimes you're whole perception of what is important.

They'll cost you your comfort, because you'll have to leave that behind to take a chance on them. Other people might overlook them, or not see what you see, but you have to follow that feeling, even if it scares you.

They'll cost you your patience, because progress will not be linear and sometimes you will have to go slower than you ever anticipated in order to go further than you've ever been.

They'll cost you your excuses, because they won't let you hide behind them. They will make you show up and dig deep, and I mean dig deep, even on the days you don't want to.

They'll cost you your time, because the most important things they teach you aren't in the lessons or the competitions, but in the quiet moments in between that you've spend rushing through until now.

A good horse will cost you your heart, because once they have it, you will never get it back in quite the same shape.

A good horse will cost you all the things you didn't know you had, and all the things you didn't know you were willing to give. That's the real price of a good horse, and they are worth every single penny.

It’s a hard old life this Motherhood mullarkey according to these ladies stretched out in the sunshine!

‼️

2 clever ladies taking shelter from the sun today!
No denying who their Daddy is!
Can you guess?

☀️ ‼️

🕊️💔🐴💔🕊️

Today we remember Emma Karlsson, a 25-year-old groom from Sweden who dreamed of becoming a 5* groom.

Emma was a kind and caring person who never got the chance to fulfill that dream. A year has passed since her struggle with mental health became too much to bear.

Today, we ask everyone to take a moment to reflect on how we treat the people around us. Our words and actions can have a lasting impact, and we rarely know what battles someone is fighting behind the scenes. A little kindness, patience, and compassion can mean more than we realize.

Let’s treat others the way we would want to be treated.

Emma, we hope you’ve found the peace you were searching for.

Rest easy 🤍🕊️

🔸🔸Wave Hello Wednesday 🔸🔸

Tell us where you are folks 👋👋👋

Pop a “Hello” and where you’re from in the comments below, and add a picture if you like….
we love to hear from our friends, fans and followers all around the world....
Hoe you have a great day 😊😊😊

Pictured: my gorgeous boy George age 11 (Newfie x lab) love this boy to the moon and back! 🐾💙❤️🐶

🎙️ On the Record: Navigating the Next Chapter for the CPBS 🎙️

We are sitting down this week with CPBS President Kevin Bolger and a member of the Executive Committee for a candid, in-depth look at the future of our breed.

With so much happening in the Connemara world right now, we’re taking the time to sit down with the people at the helm.

This is about getting the facts, understanding the vision, and hearing directly from the leadership on the projects that matter most to our members.

We’re covering a lot of ground, including:

✅ Progress on key society initiatives.
✅ How past goals are evolving to meet today’s needs.
✅ The vision and roadmap for the next 12 months.

We want this conversation to be shaped by you.

This is your opportunity to bring the topics that matter most to the table. Whether it’s a policy, a breeding concern, or a vision for the future, we want to hear it.

Drop your questions and thoughts in the comments below. We are curating the most important points raised by our followers to put directly to the leadership during our recording.

Please share this post and tag a fellow breeder—let’s ensure the entire community’s voice is heard on this! ⬇️



Connemara Pony Breeders' Society
Horse Sport Ireland

This recording is part-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support Scheme.