The Connemara pony is most know for its gentle, but strong nature. They are very versatile and can adapt well to all kinds of environments. They are also renowned jumpers with great intelligence and endurance. With their gentle, trusting, and willing temperament they make great ponies for kids and adults. Connemaras can be used for many different areas of horse play. They excel in eventing, driving, and endurance. Connemaras can also be found as show jumpers, working hunters, western pleasure ponies and dressage ponies.
Conformation
Physically, the Connemara is a very strong and sturdy pony. They are said to "stand on short legs and cover alot of ground". They have short dense cannon bones, with strong forearms, well defined knees and hard, sure feet. The body is deep and compact, well balanced with depth, substance, and good heart room. Their shoulders are sloping and their backs are muscular. A Connemara head is a very handsome pony head with relatively deep jaw, well defined cheekbones and good width between the eyes. The most common colors are grey and dun, but bays, blacks and browns are also seen with occasional chestnuts, palominos, and roans. There are no pinto Connemaras. They are usually between 13 and 15 hands.
History
The Connemara pony originated in Connemara, Ireland, a very rocky, mountainous terrain with tough vegetation and dangerous living conditions. The Connemaras' ancestors were thought to have first arrived in Ireland over 2,000 years ago in the 4th century B.C. Celtic warriors brought them to the island to drive war chariots and carts along the beaches and river plains. Later, local farmers, who had large families to feed and could only afford one horse, used a Connemara pony to do all the difficult work. The ponies were caught in the wild and tamed by the farmers. Once gentled, they were used to pull plows, carry heavy loads, and drag seaweed across the land for fertilization. Many Connemaras were used for racing and kept up with Irish Hunters and Thoroughbreds. In the 1700's Connemaras were crossbred with Arabs and Thourghbreds in order to refine the breed. By the 1900's crossbreeding was overused and purebreds were becoming scarce. A group of breeders started a society to preserve purebred Connemaras. Today crossbreeding is no longer considered a threat to Connemara ponies.
Points of Interest
Connemaras are considered Ireland's only native breed.
There is a legend that says when the Spanish Armada sank off the coast of Ireland in the 16th century, the Spanish horses swam to shore and bred with the native wild ponies, thus creating the Connemara breed.
There are a number of famous Connemara ponies that have been known to clear fences over 7 feet high.
In the 1920's, a group of owners released a dozen Connemaras into the wild to live and rproduce. Those that survived had the excellent qualities found in most Connemara ponies today.
The Connemara was not an official breed until 1926.
