Connemara Champion

From the Publisher
In this, the thrilling and satisfying conclusion to Hennings’ adventure trilogy, Cuaifeach, the ‘Connemara Whirlwind’, is taken to Dublin with 15-year-old Dominic to try his luck as a performance pony before returning to Connemara where he gives his prize-winning performance in a championship class at the renowned Ballinalee Show. Connemara, one of Ireland’s most beautiful regions, is the setting for Henning’s popular tales about the famous ponies. In each story, she includes a portrait of the area and of the people who live there.

School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-There seem to be fewer and fewer Connemara ponies in economically depressed Connemara, Ireland, and Julia Reilly, a 32-year-old Englishwoman, hopes to change this situation. At first she encounters considerable resistance from the local breeders. As she persists, however, they begin to give more credence to her idea of selling their horses to English buyers willing to pay good prices, thus encouraging them to keep their best stock and produce more. Unfortunately, a few owners continue to resent her plan and even try to sabotage it through threats and thievery. Julia has an ally in Doreen Joyce, 15, whose mischievous, strong-willed, and talented stallion, Cuaifeach, is boarded at Julia’s farm. As Cuaifeach begins to make a name for himself in the show world, the breeders’ fortunes also begin to improve, thanks to Julia’s efforts. Those who have read and enjoyed the three earlier titles about Cuaifeach will enjoy this one. However, neither the stallion nor the human characters are particularly dynamic or interesting. Even Doreen’s relationship with Cuaifeach never seems to have the passion that readers usually identify with horse stories. Those looking for a good tale in which the horse/human bond is the focal point might prefer C.S. Adler’s That Horse, Whiskey! (Clarion, 1994) -Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA