Breed history of Connemara ponies:

Connemara ponies are the only native Irish breeds. People believe that the breeding started around the time of the ancient Celts. The Celts were skilled horsemen and they developed Connemara ponies from the Scandinavian ponies that first came to Ireland with the Vikings. Although in 1588 a ship of Andalusian horses sank and the horses and ponies on board were let loose and they swam to shore and they then interbred with the wild native ponies. In the 1700's Arabian horses blood was also added for strength and stamina. Too much cross breeding began to happen and as a result it started to dilute the ponies bloodlines, as a result of this the Connemara pony breeders society was founded in 1932, the purpose was to lead to the preservation and improvement of the Connemara pony. The ponies stud book also know as passport was established in 1926. Early Irish farmers often had large families to feed and could only afford one good pony. This pony would have come from a wild heard and the family would have to tame it themselves. Many families owned a mare so they could sell her foals for income for the family. Even while the pony was in foal she was still required to pull a plow or cart filled with rocks, turf or people. Any pony that couldn't preform these tasks on a daily basis were replaced. The Connemara pony breeders society was formed by the 30 most local Connemara men who were concerned about the population of Connemara ponies. The purpose of this society was to improve the Connemara breed. The Connemara breeders society selected the best stallions from the area and persuaded local farmers to only use these stallions. Today Connemara ponies are gaining popularity throughout the world, they are used as both children and adults ponies. The good temperament of the Connemara pony makes it suitable for all disciplines. Today Connemara ponies are bred worldwide.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Connemara_pony.jpg

source: http://www.theconnemarapony.ie/?page_id=28                        

Breed Description:

 The Connemara pony is famous for being hardy, strong and tough. It goes with no surprise as the breed began in the rocky coast of western Ireland.  The ponies developed an ability to move quickly across rough hard rocky ground in unpleasant, harsh Irish weather. Western Irish landscape helped to create this supple and flexible Connemara ponies are admired and valued for all of these qualities.           

 https://www.bol.com/nl/p/connemara-hengst/1004004004911926/

The average Height of a Connemara is 13 to 15 hands, but some can be bigger or smaller than this. The main most common  colour of a Connemara is grey.  The next most common colour is bay. Dark bay, Dun, Roan, Black and Cremello are slightly less common colours of the Connemara pony. Piebald and skewbald are not accepted by the Connemara registry this means that the pony will not get a green stud book or passport and are not accepted for registration.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/winterbald/2483079920

Source: http://www.theconnemarapony.ie/?page_id=28

Introduction:


Hi my name is Pippa Durham. I will be blogging to you about the geography of Connemara ponies.