The Best Connemara Stallion of All Time
As 2011 gets underway at last, we are pleased to launch our fifth poll – this time to find out which stallion you think was the best in the breed. To ensure no-one is left out, we listed some of those that jump to mind here on the site for a week or so, and invited you all to submit any others you think should also be included. Well, the ‘phone lines are now closed’, as they say, and we have our shortlist!
Select One of these superstars (and what a list it is!) that you think was – or is – simply the best. The poll will run for a month, and close on the 17th February.
So – was it Abbeyleix Owen who dominated the scene at the close of the century? How about Carna Dun who produced – or is in the background of – so many performance ponies? Was it Carna Bobby who produced winners for both the In Hand and Performance circuits? Perhaps Macdara, the epitome of type, a regular inhand winner and sire of winners? Rebel, from whom so many good ponies descend? What about Dun Heath, Sire of Dun Lorenzo and Double Dun (dam of Carna Dun)? Dale Haze founded a dynasty in Sweden and Denmark. Macnamara had a glittering career in England. French Breeders might like to vote for Island Earl. The Americans might look to Tooreen Laddie. Marble will undoubtedly have his own fans, as will Slieve Dara, and as will Templebready Fear Bui – recognised by many as one of the top sires of half-breds in the world. But what do you think?
CARNA BOBBY will be the stallion of my choice, if I have to choose only one…
The hoof prints of Carna Bobby are to be found everywhere in the Connemara Pony world – in the Show rings, Show Jumping and Dressage arenas and in the most successful breeder’s yards… all beauty & working ability – the Hallmarks of the modern Connemara Pony!
Carna Bobby for me too!
Killyreagh Kim for me and he is a son of Carna Bobby. Killyreagh Kim left some beautiful mares.
There were alot of famous stallions in different Times( like Rebel Wind)and
THE BEST was indeed Carna Bobby.but the still living HAZY DAWN is now the best.
I think Western Boy, the dun Connemara stallion, should be included. He’s on facebook as Western Boy Gill check him out
coosheen finn.
Its hard to pick just one but mine is Coosheen Finn. The most attractive stallion of all time, and the forgotten hero, although by carna bobby there was a lot of lavalley rebel in him, his sons maybe under used today with Coosheen Finnegan carry on the looks but he will forever be in the back breeding of ponies though abbeyleix blue bird she passed her sires looks and quality to her son dale haze and founder of the legendary hazy dawn stallion line.
Of the old stallions, I would have to pick Carna Bobby. Of the younger stallions, it would have to be Dale Haze – I stand his halfbrother out of Bluebird who has inherited her looks, just like the Hazy line – all winners in performance and in hand.
Ashfield Festy should be included. Grade A showjumper himself. Only stallion to produce winning foal in the horse arena in the RDS. As well as producing many winners and also Dark Stranger, who has been passed as a Sire in England.
Yep agree with that as my Connemara who was bred in Kilmovee is by Dark Stranger and is the double of Ashfield Festy his grandsire, not only good looking but have the most fabulous temperament.
For me, it has to be Rebel, the great, great [etc], gran daddy of them all! Without him in the very early days we would not have the Connemara Pony we have today. If one goes right back to Carna Bobby, one might as well go the extra few steps back to Rebel. It was Rebel genes that made Carna Bobby so good. If one follows other rebel descendants, with more Rebel blood and less Carna Bobby, they were equally as famous. Every time Rebel genes were increased in the gene pool, better ponies were produced. That is superstar status!
It’s Dun Heath for me this time.Little used, seldom seen, and sold too young, he is still the grandsire of two of the greats: Carna Dun and Macdara (sire of Dun Lorenzo, if you like). After just two years on the list, it’s a truly remarkable contribution.
It’s a tough choice, but it’s Dale Haze for me. He is the sire of Hazy Dawn, who in turn is the sire of a large number of great stallions here in Denmark (and other countries) – amongst those Skousboe Morning Rock, one of the most beautiful ponies ever bred.
By the way, Marble is mentioned, but it is not possible to vote for him.
Oops! Fixed (and I gave hima vote to start him off!)
Niamh says Carna Bobby. but what about the ‘mighty Cannon Ball’ the great grandaddy of them all, reg. and many unregistered at the time.
Red line and Green line are the strains with no outside blood introduced since the Stud book was formed, and as to me type comes before anything else, it has to be MacDara, Dun Aengus, The Fugitive and their descendants. Think of it this way – if you cannot tell a Connemara Pony from three fields away, or from half way up a mountain, is it a proper Connemara ??
Maam Hill.
A bit surprised to find that I äm so mainstream. I have “always” regarded Carna Bobby as my all time favourite stallion. He was the maternal grand sire of my very first connemara, the gelding Apollo, born 1970 and still the best horse I have had ever. Also funny to find our “Swedish” Dale Haze placed second when these lines are written. I äm so happy with my favourite pony of today, Potentilla, born 2005 and a daughter of his:)
What about currachmore cashel and fredrickesmind hazy match??!