History of the Breed
The Connemara region in County Galway in western Ireland, where the breed first became recognized as a distinct type, is a very harsh landscape, thus giving rise to a pony breed of hardy, strong individuals. Some believe that the Connemara developed from Scandinavian ponies that the Vikings first brought to Ireland. Another source was likely the Irish Hobby, a now-extinct breed established prior to the 13th century. Legend, however, says that galleons from the Spanish Armada ran aground in 1588, and the Andalusians on board were set loose. The Spanish horses bred with the native stock, refining the local ponies.
In 1891 the Congested Districts Board was established, with the objective of trying to encourage the people living in the over populated areas of the western seaboard to improve their way of life. As one of these measures the board introduced a variety of different stallions into Connemara to improve the breed. Many of the stallions introduced by the Board were considered to be very unsuitable for crossing with the Connemara pony and the results from crossing with the native mares were very unsatisfactory. The Pony was also crossed with Hackneys and Thoroughbreds and too much crossbreeding began to dilute the Pony’s bloodlines.
In 1900 the Dept of Agriculture commissioned a report on the Connemara Pony. In his study Professor Ewart of Edinburgh University suggested that a more developed breeding plan was needed than sending in high-class sires to the area. There was recognition of the need to have quality broodmares as well as quality sires, located at indigenous stud farms to perpetuate the best characteristics of the Connemara Pony. The primary objectives of these farms was to increase the bone and improve the makeup of the Connemara Pony without destroying the hardiness, vigour, stamina and temperament of the breed. The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society, founded in 1923, worked to preserve this breed type. This was the first serious step that would lead to the preservation and improvement of the Connemara Pony. There were plenty of “old breed” ponies still to be found in Connemara, and the decision was taken to choose up to 100 mares of the right type to be selected as foundation stock, as well as the necessary number of stallions.
In May 1924 the Council purchased their first two stallions, for £20 each: Gold Digger (5), five year old dun standing 13.2 hh and Connemara Dan (3), two year old black standing 13.1hh, both registered at Cashel. The other stallions approved for the 1924 season were:
- Cannon Ball (1), twenty year old grey, 13.3hh registered in Oughterard;
- Rebel (7) two year old grey, 13.2hh registered in Roscahill;
- Mount Gabel (6) seven year old bay, 13.2hh registered in Clonbur.
The Galway County Committee of Agriculture was asked for £100 as was the Department of Agriculture for another £100. The former to enable to the Society to offer free nominations to mare owners, and the latter for purchasing the necessary number of stallions and for the organising and giving of prizes at a local show during 1924. (Incidentally, this was in Roundstone, not Clifden. The first Clifden Show did not take place unitl four years later, and did not happen again until it became the permanent fixture it is today in 1947!) The stud book was established in 1926. The first animal registered in the stud book was Cannon Ball, famous for winning the farmers race at Oughterard for 16 years running.
In 1951 the Royal Dublin Society arranged for classes for Connemara Ponies to be included in their Spring Show for the first time and every year since with increased classes and number of ponies taking part. Volume 1 of the Stud Book was published at a cost of £45 and priced at 1/-. in 1926. It contained details of nine stallions and ninety three mares. The latest figures show the breeding stallion number standing at over a thousand and the breeding mare numbers at almost twelve thousand.
Today, Connemaras are bred worldwide in Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as on the European Continent, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Characteristics
Connemaras are strong and sturdy with a short back and sloped, muscular croup. The hindquarters are powerful. The shoulder is sloped and long. Their legs have short, strong cannons and hard feet and a good stride length. The breed has a fine head with small ears and small eyes and usually a slightly dished profile set on a well-arched neck. The Connemara is considered hardy and agile, with good jumping ability. The Connemara has a lively but eager and trainable temperament, tends to be long-lived and is described as intelligent, suitable for child or adult.
Connemara Breed Standards
Set By The CPBS Of Ireland
If a connemara pony is to be passed as Grade 1 on inspection they must meet the following criteria:
| Height: | The height of the Breeding Connemara Pony is 128cms to 148cms. (12.2 to 14.2 Hands High). |
| Colours: | Grey, black, Bay, Brown, Dun with occasional Roan & Chestnut, Palomino and Dark Eyed Cream. |
| Type: | Compact, well-balanced riding type with good depth and substance and good heart room, standing on short legs, covering a lot of ground. |
| Head: | Well balanced pony head of medium length with good width between large kindly eyes. Pony ears, well defined cheekbone jaw relatively deep but not coarse. |
| Front: | Head well-set onto neck. Crest should not be over developed. Neck not set too low. Good length of rein. Well-defined withers, good sloping shoulders. |
| Body: | Body should be deep, with strong back, some length permissible but should be well-ribbed up and with strong loin. |
| Limbs: | Good length and strength in forearm, well-defined knees and short cannons, with flat bone measuring 18cms to 21cms. Elbows should be free. Pasterns of medium length, feet well shaped, of medium size, hard and level. |
| Hind Quarters: | Strong and Muscular with some length, well-developed second thighs (Gaskin) and strong low-set hocks. |
| Movement: | Movement free easy and true, without undue knee action, but active and covering ground. |
If they do not meet this specification then they will be given a Grade 2 or Grade 3 on inspection. Connemara ponies also can be cremello in colour known as a Blue Eyed Cream.
Connemara Pony Shows
Connemara Pony shows are held worldwide, however the most famous of all being the Annual Clifden Connemara Pony Show which takes place every August at the Showgrounds, Clifden, Co. Galway. There are 22 in-hand classes and 10 ridden classes. The Connemara Pony Show offers breeders and visitors the chance to witness the very best of Connemara Ponies on display.
Uses
The Connemara is best known today as a sports pony. Ridden by both children and adults, it is considered to be a very versatile pony breed, competitive in show jumping, dressage and eventing, but also with the stamina for endurance riding. They are also shown in harness.
