Connemara Pony

The Connemara Pony is Ireland's only indigenous breed, originating in the on the west coast. Before the arrival of Celtic raiders and traders in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, these ponies were similar to the ponies that now inhabit Shetland, Norway, and Iceland.

An eastern-type influence was introduced by the Celts, who maintained links with other Celtic tribes in mainland Europe, including the Brigantes tribe in Spain. In the 16th century, when Galway City was an important trading centre, rich merchants reinforced the Spanish element by importing the best horses from Iberia .

HISTORY
The Connemara has long been famous for the "easiness" of its gaits ? "easiness" in this context referring to a pacing or ambling gait. The existence of such a gait underlines the link between the Irish Hobby (the Connemara of the 16th and 17th centuries) and the ambling Spanish Jennet, which was held in high esteem throughout Europe.

"Arab" blood (more likely to have been Barb was brought into Connemara by various landowners during the 19th century. However, by the end of the century the Connemara had deteriorated in quality because of the impoverishment of the farming communities. In an attempt to redress this problem, Welsh Cob stallions were introduced under government horse-breeding schemes, and in 1897 a Royal Commission, headed by Professor J. Cossar Ewart of Edinburgh, was set up to examine horse-breeding in Ireland.
This Commission marked the emergence of the modern Connemara.

The comments of those giving evidence to the Commission, as well as the opinions expressed by Ewart himself, are worthy of note. The latter described the old dun type of Connemara pony as ?strong and hardy as mules .. . fertile and free from disease" and "capable of living where all but wild ponies would starve". Samuel Usher Roberts CB declared in his evidence that the Connemara ponies were "without exception the best animals I ever knew . . . an extremely hardy, wiry class of pony showing a great deal of the Barb or Arab blood".

A leading expert, Lord Arthur Cecil, commented in 1900 on the good riding shoulders and "marked natural proclivity for jumping", which are still the hallmarks of the modern Connemara. Thoroughbred, Roadster, and Hackney blood were introduced and on the advice of the commission. However, the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society was not established until 1923, and a stud book was only set up in 1926. The English Connemara Pony Society was formed in 1947, and now has its own stud book. There are also Connemara Societies in the US, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and France.

FOUNDATION SIRES
Two great influences on the Connemara are acknowledged to be the stallions Rebel and Golden Gleam, foaled in 1922 and 1932 respectively. However, the most memorable and the most colorful influence is probably the grey stallion Cannon Ball, sired by Dynamite out of a native mare and grandson of the Welsh Cob, Prince Llewellyn. Born in 1904, Cannon Ball was the first stallion to be recorded in the 1926 stud book. He won the Farmers' Race at Oughterard 16 years running. A local story has it that he was fed half a barrel of oats the night before the race ? a practice that speaks volumes for his constitution and digestion. He worked in harness throughout his life and was known to trot home from market while his owner, Harry Toole, slept off the effects of a bout of heavy drinking in the bottom of the cart. Cannon Ball's death was marked by a traditional Irish wake that lasted the whole night through, before he was laid to rest in his field at dawn.

RECENT  INFLUENCES
Later, important influences included the stallion Carna Dun (1948-73), who was by the Thoroughbred Little Heaven (the sire of Ireland's famous international show jump the pony Dundrum), and the Irish Draug Mayboy. More Arab blood was introduced through Clonkeehan  Auratum (1954-76) who was by the pure-bred Arab, Naseel, one of the founders of the British Riding Pony. In the 1953 stud book there was another stallion of Welsh origin. named Dynamite (after Cannon Ball's sire another Irish Draught, Skibbereen, and a grey Thoroughbred, Winter, who was by Manna out of Snowstorm. At one time there was a less desirable Clydesdale influence.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS
From this amalgam the Connemara has emerged as a brilliant performance pony. When crossed with Thoroughbeds or Arab it produces the best type of cross-country horse, which retains all the hardiness and constitutional soundness derived from the Connemara's wild environment. Without exception these ponies are all of real riding type and quality, but of course can still be used in harness. They are also suitable for adults, as they stand up to 1.47 m (14.2 hh Many have as much as 17.5-20 cm (7-8 in of bone below the knee, and most of them are excellent jumpers. Colors include grey, black, bay, brown, and a hard, primitive dun, Occasionally roans and chestnuts appear.