Foothills MayBee
ACPS Reg. No. M2048 XL
14.2 3/4 h, gray purebred Connemara mare, born 5/2/01

 

Bred and owned by FFC.
Inspected and Approved by the American Connemara Pony Society

Leased to Elaine Meilahn, VA

Click here for PEDIGREE

Elaine M. and Foothills MayBee

11/09

Bea did a nice job yesterday despite soggy footing & rain. I was really pleased with our dressage warm-up but when I took her by herself up the hill to the dressage arena and she went down the center line facing the judges box, flowers etc, she 'lost it' a bit and it was difficult to communicate with her for some of the test. Despite that, she got a score of 37.9 and we took third in our division. It was just elementary level, so expectations were not too high. When we started XC, Bea was not so sure what was happening but she didn't stop or cause me problems and by the end she was clearly enjoying herself. I took much of the course at a trot until the last few jumps just to keep it low key and because of the wet conditions. I think she is the sort of horse that could get so wound up as to stop enjoying her work, so pushing her too much probably is a really bad idea. I think she,
overall, has a good time as she stays keen and has a good work ethic. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and she surpassed my expectations. Eventing will slow down here now and I'll look for some small local indoor dressage shows for her until eventing starts up again late in March. We're still working on stifle strengthening. I have moved Bea about a mile from home to a friend's barn where we can use the footed arena for the winter. That will be a big help. My friend, Colleen, has two Connemara cross mares and the three 'girls' go out together very well. I'm still taking care of her much of the time as Colleen and I share the chores. So...you can be proud of Bea --- I am! cheers, Elaine (Nov 09)
P.S. I've attached a photo from at the event....don't have any 'action' photos....so, you can see that Bea is looking good albeit shaggy. This is before we competed....we were not so clean when we finished!

Vanessa, Hopefully the attachment will get through to you with photos of Foothills MayBee on Sunday at the Region III show. She was a doll and I enjoyed the
whole day (I'm smiling in every pic) and I think she did too. I took her only in flat classes as her stifles are not quite ready for 'showtime jumping' yet, but they are improving with lots of hillwork and some lateral stuff. She won some points and Anne Moe (show secretary) is going to send me the numbers---she did sign the form, so Bea will have some performance points toward year-end awards, as you requested. This is the first time I have shown her, so I kept it low-key. I loved
seeing all the Connemara and other ponies and can't wait for next year. I even bought Bea an 'official' Connemara dressage pad and myself a Connemara hat!! I must be hooked. Bea looks happy in every photo. I think she loves showing off. The only time she 'pulled a face' for the entire day was when another pony was allowed to graze with his bridle on in front of her.....she literally glared at him. Mostly, she was perfectly content to stand beside me between classes just watching all the others. (When you view the photos----- we were in the 'green hack class #7 and 9 and the 'Half-Century Limited' class (which was very fun); you will recognize Bea and I am wearing a dark hacking jacket and grinning like mad.)

AMERICAN CONNEMARA PONY SOCIETY 2009 REGION III ANNUAL SHOW, Glenwood Park, Middleburg, VA

R7, Purebred Green Connemaras Under Saddle
3. Foothills Maybee, Elaine Meilahn

R9, Bright Green Connemara Hack
1. Foothills Maybee, Elaine Meilahn

R15, Half-Century Ltd.
2. Foothills Maybee, Elaine Meilahn

I saw a lovely photo of you in the Newsletter on Bee's sire and I read that you had a clinic with Jimmy Wofford. He may be my favorite
clinician. I leased my event mare to him when I lived in the UK in the mid-90's---I felt that she was in the very best of hands. I bet you had a great time (and were highly challenged!). Hope all is well with you and your family (horses too, of course). All the best, Elaine (July 2009)

Bee is doing fine and seems to be enjoying herself. We've had lots of rain, so lots of grass. She completely destroyed her grazing muzzle so I have to keep her and the
other 'buxom' girl, Mabel, in the 'sacrifice' paddock all day and only let them on pasture at night. So, they lounge around most of the day in the run-in under the fan. A few days ago, I took Bea for a gastroscopy to make sure she isn't developing any ulcers from the big changes in herlife---she has no symptoms of ulcers---I was just checking. She is
fine. I think I told you she had her teeth done. She is wearing a pair of front shoes now. She and I are doing some road work to get her fitter and more used to things so the shoes are useful for that. She has a terrific farrier who passed his certification (after 5 years of training) in England---he is wonderful and he likes Bea.
Today I took a lesson from Wendy Murdoch; you might have heard of her. She is carrying on the legacy of Sally Swift (Centered Riding). She did a great job with helping me to try to stay soft and balanced on Bea and we got some really nice relaxed work. Wendy said that Bea and I make an extremely good team and that I should definitely consider trying to buy her . (She mentioned it first...I didn't bring it up!). I know you don't want to sell her but I want to mention it because I think about it a lot. I have already grown so close to that mare---she is part of the family here.
So, in short, she seems content and I'm continuing to take the best care of her that I know how to do. I'm hoping to show her at the regional Connemara show in July. I don't know anything about showing in hand, so any tips are welcome! They have added a combined test, and she and I will definitely do that although it is very early days in her training;
it will be just for fun. I will keep you posted. Take good care, Elaine (June 09)

Vanessa, just an update so you know that MayBee is doing fine. She got new front shoes last Thursday and seems fine with them. The farrier is fabulous---did 5 years of training in the UK and is certified. Has worked at Rood & Riddle in Kentucky and now is here because his wife is a vet at the hospital. Lucky to get him. He has Bea very balanced. She is wearing bell boots for 2 weeks just as a precaution. We went on a 2 hour trail ride on sunday and went through lots of water including a wide rocky river. She was suspicious at times --- lots of other riders & so forth, but went when I asked. Had a really good time. Our second
jumping lesson is next Monday--very fun. Her new jumping saddle fits her beautifully. No worries about Bea, she seems content. (and she loads into the trailer like a charm now!) Hope all is well with you and your family, best regards, Elaine (May 09)

Full sister to Foothills Lorenzo, Foothills Chai, and Foothills August

Bee's produce:

2008 Foothills Field Marshall by *Gun Smoke

2006 Arbor Lane's Bailey by *Gun Smoke

 

SIRE & DAM

Balmullo's Beacon X Blue Hills Erin

X

 Our Florida-born winter foal has arrived  (1/08)

Last night, Donna Duckworth called me to let me know that our January foal has arrived.  Donna has had Foothills MayBee in residence at Balmullo's Farm to foal for me in order to avoid the inclimate Tennessee weather.  Donna reported that this foal by *Gun Smoke  is a big bay colt with huge legs and that the mare and foal are both in great shape.  Thanks, Donna!!

Bee delivered a big bay colt, by *Gun Smoke, on January 21, 2008!

Full brother to  Arbor Lane's Bailey

 

  

 

ACPS Region IV show, Canterbury, FL, 2007:

Foothills MayBee ( Balmullo's Beacon x Blue Hills Erin ) was 2nd in the large purebred mares class behind *Belle Dawn (Laerken’s Cascade Dawn X Lizabelle [by Loobeen Larry]), owned by Donna Duckworth,  who was the also the Reserve Champion in hand.

Bee delivered a beautiful dun filly, by *Gun Smoke, on July 24, 2006!
click here for more photos of Arbor Lane's Bailey

 

 

 

Busy Bee (11/05)

We took 4 yr old Foothillls MayBee to the ACPS Inspections at Balmullo's Farm this month and she passed her inspections with all "very good" and "excellent" marks. After the inspections, I rode her on the trails through the "Temple of the Universe" with Carole Moss, Donna Duckworth and friends, Barbie and Stephanie. It was a fabulous ride and we even practiced a little impromptu 'Quadrille + one'. Bee is leased to Marion Caldwell who picked her up last night to head back to Kentucky where Marion will await her 2006 summer foal (Bee's first) by *Gun Smoke.


2005 ACPS Region IV - 1st place Purebred Mare 4 and over - Foothills Maybee, shown by Marion Caldwell (below)

She is cantering now and doing lots of hacking. Laura rode her yesterday and commented that she rides like Fiddler. Nice and cushy. She is naturally balanced, which makes training so much easier.
Bea is such a sweetie. She is super intelligent and very brave. She is trotting with changes of direction staying very consistent and soft. We went for a little trail ride around the yard this morning after our arena work and she was very relaxed. I think I will do some of that with her for a while to build up her strength. She would make a great cart pony. I hope I have the time to do some of that with her. (6/04)

Below: L-R: Khaki Lacy on Foothills Juniper and Laura Burns on Foothills MayBee (Sept 04)

The youngest member of the FFC Broodmare band! She could be the last filly out of our foundation mare (the 3rd to join our herd) and is the first filly by Beacon to join the FFC Broodmare band. May's Sire and Dam have both been Inspected and Approved by the American Connemara Pony Society. She is a very typy, correct filly with a lot of substance who displays both the fabulous front of her dam's long-reaching, free-moving shoulder and her sire's trademark hip, well underneath with power and balance. The timing of May's birth was perfect for us, since we now have a suitable stallion (*Gun Smoke) to justify keeping her for ourselves!

She is a real sweetheart

 

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