Connemara stallion *Texas Hope, an import from Ireland, was the most popular Connemara sire in the United States from the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s. He sired 99 foals, according to Tephra.se, including two of Kerrymor Farm’s shining stars, Lynfields Kiltuck and Kerrymor’s Autumn Hope.

He also did well in the show ring. *Texas Hope took home the titles Champion Stallion and Grand Champion Connemara at the first horse show ever in the United States to hold conformation and performance classes for Connemara ponies — the Eastern Pony Congress Show, held in June 1958 in Rising Sun, Maryland.

The McKennas visited *Texas Hope at Lynfields Farm in Vermont in 1975, when he was 25 and just as handsome as ever. The accompanying photos were taken on that trip.

In 1994, *Texas Hope held the record for most registered foals of any Connemara stallion in America, according to the January/February 1994 issue of “American Connemara” magazine, the official magazine of the American Connemara Pony Society.

*Texas Hope was honored in the magazine for winning the *Tooreen Laddie Trophy, offered by the Harris family for outstanding foundation Connemara stallion, past or present.

The 14-1-hand dark brown stallion was out of Knock Molly, a Connemara mare, by Little Heaven, a Thoroughbred.

*Texas Hope’s history

*Texas Hope (1950-1977) was bred by Colman (sometimes spelled Coleman) Keane in the town of Maam in Connemara, Ireland. This was during the time when the Irish Connemara Pony Breeders Society allowed the use of Little Heaven to infuse new blood in the native ponies.

*Texas Hope was imported to the United States as a 2-year-old by the Murchison family in Texas, then purchased by William Dolph of Fox Ridge Farm in Virginia, and then, at age 14, by Jim and Mary Bailey of Lynfields Farm, where he stood for the rest of his life.

He was the fourth stallion ever registered with the American Connemara Pony Society.

The stallion was a half brother to Dundrum, Ireland’s legendary jumper and arguably the most famous Connemara of them all.

*Texas Hope’s offspring had various looks, but they were uniform in ability, intelligence and spirit. Kerrymor’s Morning Mist appears to have been *Texas Hope’s last foal.

Kiltuck and Autumn Hope came closest to their sire in appearance.

Kerrymor’s Autumn Hope

Kerrymor’s Autumn Hope and Terry McKenna in 1984 at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show.

Lynfields Kiltuck

Lynfields Kiltuck in 1981 at the St Louis National Charity Horse Show.