Elphin Celtic Cross is the fourth of Mick and After The Party's (TB) foals. He is a 1998 chestnut colt, and will finish at 16 hh. Cross is so named because all of Party's babies are grumpy at birth, so the 'Cross' part of his name was intended as a pun! However, Cross must have known we were taking the mickey out of him, so he turned the joke back on us by being the friendliest baby possible!
Cross at the 2009 Surefire Horse Trials, Purcellville, VA. He placed 7th in the beginner novice with Courtney.
Cross is now owned by Courtney Pope, a young rider who events him, and he is now known around the barn as "Elf". In 2004 Courtney was the reserve champion for the Black Brook Junior Championship at the ACPS Region 1 show, riding both Elf and another part Connemara.
In early August 2001, Cross was sold to Kathleen Fuller of Rowley, MA. Here's what she has to say about him:
"I wanted you to be one of the first to know that I have just purchased Cross from Bruce Brink and I am so excited! I had Cross vetted a few weeks ago and had not seen him for a while. He was even better than I remembered! It is so clear that he loves people and his movement when free lunging is gorgeous. I can't wait to get him home!
Cross will be living in Rowley, MA at a wonderful barn we call horse heaven (The barn's real name is Grand View Farm). It is located on a hill about 1 mile from the ocean and has fantastic ocean views from the outdoor ring. Cross will live in a large, light stall at the front of the barn so he will have lots to look at. He will enjoy a good deal of turn out and I can't wait to take him on the trails that leave just outside the barn.
I plan to bring him along slowly with the help of my trainer, Anne Bonazoli, and will be sure to include a great deal of variety ( including trips to the beach) to keep him interested. Eventually we will, hopefully, compete at 2nd and 3rd level dressage and perhaps do some eventing. But that is likely to be a few years off."
Just before his third birthday, Cross was sold to Bruce Brink of Vermont. Bruce had just previously purchased Cross's full brother, Elphin Dublin Ball, for a client of his, and was so impressed he decided to get another Conn/TB by Mick. Bruce intends to sell Cross on as an event prospect.