FEBRUARY 1996 BACK ISSUE
Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 2/1/96; 10:00:00 AM.
The Connemara Pony
When someone speaks of the Connemara Pony a picture of the green rolling hills of Ireland comes to mind, but in fact, the Connemara originated in the wild, rugged west coast Irish county of Galway. It is believed that in the 1500's a Spanish Armada sank off of the coast of Ireland, and Spanish Barb horses on board swam to Irish shores and there bred with the native ponies. This hardy cross then became the only indigenous horse of Ireland. The Irish people recognized the value of the Connemara pony because of its speed, strength, durablility and willing temperment. Efforts were made to preserve and up-grade the ponies by introducing Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Hackneys and even Clydesdales. After a period of trial and error, it was concluded that the best crosses on the native Connemara were the Thoroughbred and the Arabian.In 1923 the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society was formed and the breeding program became standardized. Later the genetics of two famous English Thoroughbred stallions, Little Haven and Winter, were added. The names of these two sires can be found in the pedigrees of such famous American racers as Bold Ruler, Native Dancer, Secretariat and Seattle Slew. Also, the royal bloodlines of the part Arabian stallion, Clonkeehan Auratum, were added to the equation to create the modern Connemara Pony. The off-spring of the resulting foundation Connemara Stallions, Cannon Ball and Revel, went on to prove themselves on the farms and in the show rings. Nugget, standing fifteen hands, held the world record for jumping at 7'2", and Little Squire, standing thirteen hands, won the open jumping championship at Madison Square Garden in 1932. Many purebred Connemaras have also made their names in the worlds of Dressage, Three Day Eventing and Hunter-Jumper classes. Here in the Northwest and Canada we have our own Connemara champions like Custusha's Castle Rock and Lynfield's Cormac MacCarthy.
The Connemaras great reputation led to its being imported to the United States where it thrived on our rich pasture lands. Although the Connemara's height can range from under 13 hands up to 15 hands, American Connemaras tend to grow to the maximum height probably due to the high quality of feed that's available in this country. With the help of a board of traveling judges and examiners from Ireland, the American Connemara Society keeps track of and works to insure the purity of these wonderful pony-horses. Each individual horse is given an inspeciton certificate that qualifies it for registration in the breed registry. The Half-Connemara Registry is also an important aspect of the American Connemara breeding program, continuing to cross successfully with Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Warmbloods. Half-Connemaras have helped to win Olympic Gold Metals in Driving and Endurance and have shown well in Open Shows across the country.
The Connemara's outstanding physical and mental attributes combine to create and ideal English and Western competition mount. Its hard hooves, dense leg bone and flat riding shoulders make it a sound jumping prospect, and because of its willing temperment, a reliable youth horse. As the Connemara increases in popularity in the Northwest, it is making its way into Gaming, Cutting, and Team Penning. The Connemara does it all and is rapidly proving itself to be the sport pony-horse of the future.
For more information on the American Connemara contact: Patty Nelson, Lone Pine Farms, P.O. Box 2026, Deer Park, WA 99006, 509/276-5487
