Horse Illustrated Magazine

A pony has to be versatile to go from the mountains and bogs of western Ireland to success in show rings around the world. Yet that is the legacy of the Connemara Pony, pride of the Emerald Isle.

History of the Connemara Pony

The story of the Connemara begins thousands of years ago, even before Celtic horsemen throughout western Europe battled the ancient Romans. Celtic horses that had escaped from captivity ended up living wild in the rugged Irish countryside, where they became even more hardy and surefooted than their domestic ancestors.

Later in history, when Irish farmers needed horses to till the stony ground for crops, they relied on the wild ponies from the mountains. Poor and with many mouths to feed, farmers typically captured and tamed mares, who could provide them a foal to sell each year. Mares were bred to native stallions and worked during their pregnancies, right up until foaling time.

By the 1920s, the Connemara Pony had become a distinct breed in need of preservation. As mechanized vehicles replaced horses on farms, their jobs became obsolete, but those who loved them did not want to see the breed fade into oblivion.

In 1923, pony breeders in Ireland’s Galway County formed the Connemara Pony Breeders Society and began holding inspections to select the best ponies from the existing population for entry into the first volume of the breed’s studbook.

A year later, the first Connemara Pony Show was held in the town of Clifden in County Galway. Now called the Connemara Pony Festival, it still takes place in Clifden every August.

Over time, horsemen around the world learned about the Connemara Pony, and the breed was exported to various countries. In 1956, the American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) was formed to promote the breed in the U.S.

Show Pony

When you see a Connemara Pony that has been impeccably turned out for the show ring, it can be hard to believe this once was a wild breed. But the same versatile, athletic nature that helped these ponies survive in the wild is what makes them winners in today’s show ring.

Connemaras around the world compete in a wide variety of events, but according to the ACPS, the largest number of competitive Connemaras and half-bred Connemaras are in the eventing world. This is because Connemaras love to jump. Not surprisingly, they also do well in show jumping and the hunters.

Dressage is another popular sport for Connemaras because not only are they athletic, but they are also trainable, sound and easy to work with. And while they may not exhibit the huge gaits seen in warmbloods, a few Connemaras are competing at the FEI (international) levels in dressage.

Connemaras are good all-rounders, and the same pony can be a kid’s mount for Pony Club and trail horse for their parent. The breed’s good temperament also makes these ponies great candidates for therapeutic riding, older adults and beginning riders.

Connemara Ponies in America

Connemara Ponies have been popular in the U.S. for decades. The APCS currently has about 5,000 purebred Connemara Ponies registered, and runs a half-Connemara registry for horses that have at least one registered, purebred Connemara as a parent.

The APCS also recently started a Connemara Sport Horse registry for horses that are no less than one-quarter Connemara; at least one parent must be a registered half-bred Connemara. Including Connemara blood in upper-level sport horses has proven beneficial because the Connemara brings common sense and hardiness to these highly competitive mounts.

Of course, the Connemara Pony is not only about competition. The APCS has created an awards program called Fun with Pony, which rewards non-competitive owners and riders for sharing their stories of fun activities they’ve done through the year with their ponies.

In keeping with Irish tradition, Connemaras in America are inspected to help maintain quality in the breed. A national inspection program provides feedback to breeders and owners about Connemara conformation, temperament and type, with the goal of preserving the most desired traits in the breed.

The Connemara Pony is the only equine native to Ireland and maintains a legacy that is truly unique in the horse world. This ancient breed will continue to win the hearts of all who know them, as it has for centuries.

This article about the Connemara Pony appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!