Connemara Pony Breed Portrait – Horse Illustrated

A pony needs to be versatile to go from the mountains and bogs of western Eire to success in present rings world wide. But that’s the legacy of the Connemara Pony, pleasure of the Emerald Isle.

Historical past of the Connemara Pony

The story of the Connemara begins 1000’s of years in the past, even earlier than Celtic horsemen all through western Europe battled the traditional Romans. Celtic horses that had escaped from captivity ended up dwelling wild within the rugged Irish countryside, the place they turned much more hardy and surefooted than their home ancestors.

Later in historical past, when Irish farmers wanted horses to until the stony floor for crops, they relied on the wild ponies from the mountains. Poor and with many mouths to feed, farmers sometimes captured and tamed mares, who might present them a foal to promote every year. Mares had been bred to native stallions and labored throughout their pregnancies, proper up till foaling time.

By the Nineteen Twenties, the Connemara Pony had turn out to be a definite breed in want of preservation. As mechanized autos changed horses on farms, their jobs turned out of date, however those that cherished them didn’t wish to see the breed fade into oblivion.

In 1923, pony breeders in Eire’s Galway County shaped the Connemara Pony Breeders Society and commenced holding inspections to pick the perfect ponies from the present inhabitants for entry into the primary quantity of the breed’s studbook.

A yr later, the primary Connemara Pony Present was held within the city of Clifden in County Galway. Now referred to as the Connemara Pony Competition, it nonetheless takes place in Clifden each August.

Over time, horsemen world wide discovered concerning the Connemara Pony, and the breed was exported to varied international locations. In 1956, the American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) was shaped to advertise the breed within the U.S.

Present Pony

While you see a Connemara Pony that has been impeccably turned out for the present ring, it may be arduous to imagine this as soon as was a wild breed. However the identical versatile, athletic nature that helped these ponies survive within the wild is what makes them winners in at this time’s present ring.

Connemaras world wide compete in all kinds of occasions, however in response to the ACPS, the most important variety of aggressive Connemaras and half-bred Connemaras are within the eventing world. It’s because Connemaras love to leap. Not surprisingly, in addition they do nicely in present leaping and the hunters.

Dressage is one other common sport for Connemaras as a result of not solely are they athletic, however they’re additionally trainable, sound and simple to work with. And whereas they might not exhibit the large gaits seen in warmbloods, a number of Connemaras are competing on the FEI (worldwide) ranges in dressage.

Connemaras are good all-rounders, and the identical pony is usually a child’s mount for Pony Membership and path horse for his or her father or mother. The breed’s good temperament additionally makes these ponies nice candidates for therapeutic driving, older adults and starting riders.

Connemara Ponies in America

Connemara Ponies have been common within the U.S. for many years. The APCS at present has about 5,000 purebred Connemara Ponies registered, and runs a half-Connemara registry for horses which have not less than one registered, purebred Connemara as a father or mother.

The APCS additionally not too long ago began a Connemara Sport Horse registry for horses which might be a minimum of one-quarter Connemara; not less than one father or mother have to be a registered half-bred Connemara. Together with Connemara blood in upper-level sport horses has confirmed helpful as a result of the Connemara brings frequent sense and hardiness to those extremely aggressive mounts.

After all, the Connemara Pony is just not solely about competitors. The APCS has created an awards program referred to as Enjoyable with Pony, which rewards non-competitive homeowners and riders for sharing their tales of enjoyable actions they’ve finished by the yr with their ponies.

In step with Irish custom, Connemaras in America are inspected to assist preserve high quality within the breed. A nationwide inspection program gives suggestions to breeders and homeowners about Connemara conformation, temperament and sort, with the aim of preserving essentially the most desired traits within the breed.

The Connemara Pony is the one equine native to Eire and maintains a legacy that’s actually distinctive within the horse world. This historical breed will proceed to win the hearts of all who know them, because it has for hundreds of years.

This text concerning the Connemara Pony appeared within the June 2023 challenge of Horse Illustrated journal. Click on right here to subscribe!