A short musing on the whole Clifden experience. Originally appeared in the second issue of An Capaillín (‘The Pony’) Magazine.
Well, actually, it wasn’t always Clifden. The first Connemara Pony Show was held in Roundstone in 1924 and, as a matter of policy in order to promote the aims of the fledgeling society, it went from one base to another before finally settling in Clifden more than fifty years ago in 1947. It has grown since in strength, in colour, and in atmosphere so that to lovers of the beautiful and tough pony, indigenous to the Maam Turks and the Twelve Bens, it is their Cheltenham, their Aachen, their Longchamps. It is a password for members of the CPBS and its 16 overseas societies. “I’ll see you at Clifden…Are you going to Clifden?…Have you anything for Clifden?” One never specifies the pony show or the date, which is always the third Thursday in August. It is simply Clifden, by which time the turf should be home, the hay saved and the summertime almost over.
The ponies, of course, are the stars. Conditioned, sleek, manicured. The males full-blooded, virile, exuding power. The females sweet, lovely, the epitome of gracefullness. And the old mares. Ah yes, the old mares above all. White, venerable, stunningly beautiful. Everybody’s favourites.
To win the Koelichen Cup for the Champion pony of the show is the ultimate in achievement. Besides which the Breeders Cup or the Melbourne Cup are like medals for an under-tens tournament at the local sports.
C.I.E. don’t carry ponies as before, when lorries and trailers left Galway at daybreak making their first stops at Bushypark and Barna as they moved like giant hoovers mopping up ponies in every village along the two main routes westwards, before depositing them, nerve-wrecked and exhausted, in the street above the grounds in Clifden. Nowadays the ponies travel in the greatest comfort in de-luxe boxes. Indeed there are so many boxes that parking can become a nightmare followed by a two mile walk.
And where did that doyen of the ‘wheel of fortune’ of yesteryear go to? He, who from his vantage point outside the upper gate could be heard all over the showgrounds beguiling the innocent. He is replaced now by a line of stalls reaching from the grounds all the length of the street whose best bet for a quick euro is emergency rain gear or a cheap halter.
First into the grounds will be the overseas breeders, for whom Clifden has been pencilled in since January. Enthusiasts from Virginia, U.S.A.; Pinstrup, Denmark; Temuka, New Zealand; Thaba Tseka, Lesotho and so many other studs dotted in the most unlikely places throughout the globe. Pens poised, cameras clicking, camcorders rolling, raincoats at the ready. Mutual greetings in halting English, their common language. Love of the pony and Connemara their common bond. Only later will the locals come from Tamhnacha, Tamhnach Beag, Tamhnach Mor, Tamhnach Ard, Tamhnach Ban and every tamhnach from Cloigeann to Toin (Na Brocaigh). They wait to see what the day will do. It will rain, but they come anyway. What’s a bit of mist or a downpour when you’re having fun!
Have you anything back?
No, I didn’t bother (I’ve nothing worth bringing)
Did you bring the filly?
No, she has won enough (I’d be afraid she’d be well beaten)
What did you think of the Judging?
The worst I ever saw (They didn’t even call me in)
The best of ponies to be seen. An equine Louvre. From every village in Connemara and from every Stud between Dunlewey, Clohamon and Coosheen. Where else will one get several thousand judges in the same field? A few unfortunate ones caught in the middle of the ring and the really clever ones who actually can judge and know their business on the outside. Talk of bone, substance, type, bloodlines. Arcane knowledge. Esoteric theories. Everyman for himself. And woman too.
It’s a day that every equine enthusiast should experience once.. and get hooked. It’s a day when friendships are renewed, sales are clinched, pubs are busy, stories recalled, folklore embellished, history made. And the legend grows. Winners are noted, addresses exchanged. Phone numbers taken. E-mail addresses, websites! Sophisticated, rural, cosmopolitan, earthy. Magic. See you there.
Share on FacebookBookmark at Delicious Digg this! Tweet this! Stumble this! Furl This! Share on Reddit
I love te colours and lay out of your blog, i really want to get hold of this theme, what are you using?
@ Anika,
Thanks for the compliments! The theme is one I wrote myself for wordpress – I have no problem at all with you using it, but I don’t have a general-usage version as yet. A project for the future perhaps…
Feel free to e-mail me if you want, I can send you on a zip of the theme as is.