NEWS from the Diamond family of the passing of their prolific Connemara performance show jumping stallion Ice and Fire d’Albran was met with much sadness throughout the Connemara Pony world. He passed at home at the Connemara Pony National Stud in his 28th year, on Sunday, March 3rd.

The French-bred Grand Prix show jumping stallion, whose paternal ancestral line came from Leam in Oughterard, was bred by Emmanuelle DeMonleon and born in France in 1996. His sire, Dexter Leam Pondi, was a French supreme champion show jumping stallion and his dam, the French-bred champion mare Underline of Laps, was by the Clifden 1981 supreme champion Fort Doolin, who was exported to France thereafter.

Ice and Fire competed at 1.35m GP level in show jumping across Europe under Norwegian, Swedish and Danish riders, he was pre-selected for the European Championships team and won an Individual Silver medal at the Nordic Championships, which were among his many accomplishments before being bought by the Diamond family in 2015 and retiring to stud.

Prolific Connemara performance show jumping stallion Ice and Fire d'Albran passed away last week in what was his 28th year

His progeny are renowned for their sweet temperament and jumping ability and are regular sales toppers at sales throughout Ireland. The Clifden February 2024 Sales topper was an Ice and Fire gelding that was exported to Scandinavia.

Owner Priscilla Diamond said: “Although we’re absolutely brokenhearted, we look forward to seeing all the eagerly awaited new arrivals from Ice this year, and though he’s gone from his stable he will forever live on in his progeny.

“Ice will be forever missed, forever remembered, by us the Diamond family, the DeMonleon family, our yard family, and so so many of you, who thought so highly of him, we were so blessed to have this beautiful boy as part of our lives and will forever hold him in our hearts.”