The Connemara

The Connemara, although bred extensively in Europe and America, belongs to Ireland and takes it's name from the rugged Connemara country on the western seaboard.

For centuries, the ponies of Connemara were an essential element on this harsh and inhospitable area, being used as farm and pack ponies in every possible circumstance and subsisting on minimal feed. Against this background of bog and moor studded with rocky outcrops, the Connemara pony developed remarkable qualities of hardiness, sagacity and ability.

Its history goes back to the 6th Century, when the Celts were raiding and trading actively on the west coast of Ireland. They introduced horses of Oriental type that would have been crossed with the indigenous stock, the latter then being similar to the ponies of Norway, Iceland and the Shetlands.

During the 19th Century, Welsh Cobs were introduced with the object of improving the breed and a little later, and less successfully, Hackneys and Clydesdales and some Thoroughbred blood. It was not until 1923 that the Connemara Pony Breeder's Society was formed, and three years later, it published the first stud book, restricting registration to seventy-five mares and six stallions that were considered to be of suitable type. The two most successful stallions were probably Rebel, foaled in 1922, and Golden Gleam, who was born a decade later.

Of all the native ponies, the Connemara is probably the most versatile. Standing around 13 to 14 hands, it is small enough to be ridden by a child and is well able to carry a small adult. A real riding pony, the Connemara is intelligent, very sure-footed and tractable. It excels as a hunting pony and is a natural, athletic jumper.

The American Connemara Pony Society was founded in 1956 because of the increasing numbers of the breed in this country. Today only about 15 percent of the ACPS registrations are of imported stock, in contrast to the nearly 70 percent which were imported at the time of the Society's founding.

Connemara ponies are generally gray, black, brown and dun in color.

Look for an update of this article.

For more information on Connemara Ponies, visit:

• American Connemara Pony Society
• The Connemara Bundesvereinigung of Germany
• Connemara.org
• Irish Park Connemaras
• Oklahoma State University
• Bibliography

© Copyright 1992-2002 NorthWest Breyer Horse Club.
Published October 1992 in NorthWest Breyer Horse Club Newsletter. (ma)

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