CAITLIN Lee, daughter of Bridget and Peter Lee of Clover Hill Connemara Ponies, recently enjoyed the experience of judging at the Aonach Connemara Pony show in Australia.

“I landed in Australia in January 2025, it has always been a dream of mine to come here,”Caitlin told The Irish Field.

“Over the past few years at our stud, Clover Hill Connemaras, we have built a great bond and friendships with people all over the world, including people in Australia. One of these people, Dianne Collins, sent me a message welcoming me to Australia and asked if I was up for judging at Aonach in Wagga Wagga, this is where I got talking to Madeline Oldakar, who organised everything for me.

“I had judged the German Connemara pony national show in 2023 with my mom and dad and I enjoyed it so much, I jumped at the chance of judging again.

“On Saturday, March 15th, I judged the working hunter conformation section, where I graded ponies from 1-10 on their conformation.

“On the Sunday, I judged the in-hand classes, where I placed the ponies in order, not a score sheet this time. I really enjoyed the weekend, even though it was 37 degrees.

“The quality of Connemara ponies and the love for them here in Australia is amazing to see. Aonach is a fabulous, fun show, organised by an amazing bunch of people, with a great remembrance of Madeline’s late mother, Zeta Denholm.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to judge here in Australia, I will never forget that show weekend and the people and ponies involved.”