Connemara appreciation thread

[TooManyAnimals94]

Just that really, aren't they just the best?

I am over the moon with my new 6 Yr old who I bought in April but only just started riding because I was pregnant at the time. She is sweet natured and forward going without being silly. We had our first solo hack today and she was just angelic despite all the pigeons dive bombing us and a pig ignorant rider who trotted up behind and then past us with her schooling whip flapping about 🙄

I bought her to replace my other Connie who will be 23 this year. I have had him since he was 8 and he was the most incredible teenager's pony but sharp as anything and INCREDIBLY quirky. He's still sound as a pound (touches a lot of wood) and is enjoying semi retirement happy hacking with my mum.

I think the newbie is shaping up to be almost as talented as him but without his many many complications.

As a breed I just love that there is so much variety and character.

Anyone else have a special Irish friend they want to brag about?

I have a connie cross Irish draft who is amazing, also a fun highland and a Welsh pony. In general I think natives are massively underrated, sounds like your Connie is lovely X

I absolutely love Connemaras op! Good luck with your new mare; she sounds lovely!

I tried to buy one as a mother /daughter share back in 2018 but couldn't find one for love nor money, so I bought a different breed instead.

Overall, although they are generally a lovely breed, I do think you have to be very careful when buying, as some can be very sharp and I am not sure they are as automatically suitable for 2nd ponies as some people think!

@Latticeallure88 funny you should say that, we were in the same boat for years as prices went through the roof!
Also interesting that you mention their suitability for kids as I managed to get my mare very cheap as she had been bought for a novice 13 Yr old by her non horsey dad (poor guy made a very expensive mistake) and she wasn't coping with all the different riders at the dealer yard so they dropped the price dramatically.
Out if interest what did you buy instead?

A heavy horse! He's a beautiful, gentle Ardennes. Quite agile when he wants to be though!

We are not competing or showing though! Just hacking and ground work atm, and a bit of driving training.

My dd does compete at a low level but she borrows a small thoroughbred for that.

Brilliant thread, they're great ponies, such personalities. My current loan boy is an overgrown 23 year old connie, I have never met a horse that has a sense of humour like him, he's a PITA at times, he has all sorts of tricks and jokes he enjoys doing to disconcert the uninitiated into his ways including throwing any tools, tack or buckets left within mouth range around the yard, gobbing mouthfuls of water down your back from his drinker if you turn your back on him in his stable and banging out a tune with his front legs on the metal tie-up posts using his front shoes. My personal favourite was when over lockdown we had loads of small novice children inadequately supervised by non horsey parents 'loaning' the riding school ponies and bimbling around the indoor school more or less with no steering or spacial awareness, he knew I was trying to be extra careful and give them space so when he spotted one he'd lightening quick drop a shoulder and career towards them in a kind of a canter half pass snorting and tail swishing, always stopping right before a crash occurred leaving me sweating, red faced and apologetic with him looking like butter wouldn't melt . Thankfully the children were largely oblivious but I certainly wasn't!

He makes up for the antics though with being super talented, he's meant to be winding down now but in his day took his then teenage owner round BE100s and PC teams eventing and SJ, often quicker than much bigger WB type horses and was apparently a super hunter too and would jump anything although only for a brave person as his brakes aren't the best! He is sharp and not a novice ride esp in his fit hey day, but even now he'll bog off with you if you aren't quick with a half halt (cf the charging towards tots in the school) and equally can turn nappy if you cling onto his front end while nagging with the leg. I love him though because despite the pissing off he's actually safe as houses, isn't afraid of much, has never been known to actually bolt or buck/bronc and even in an open space will always pull up in the end once he's had his fun . He does have terrible crumbly cracking feet though, is a nightmare to keep shoes on, gets fat on thin air and is difficult to fit saddles and rugs too but these are all manageable issues considering he's fundamentally stayed sound in medium work for 20 years plus which is a lot more than the average TB/WB out there!

Aw, he sounds fantastic Maxelly long may he continue!

Indeed, and in general I think the connie/TB or other large native breed/TB cross (e.g. Welsh/TB, New Forest/TB) is a fantastic and underrated one too. When it goes well it produces a super sports pony or small horse type with the agility and speed of the TB tempered with a bit of native hardiness and soundness. I had one just like this as a teenager many, many moons ago and he was the perfect teenagers horse - brave, quick, a scopey, bold jumper and just sharp enough to not bother a brave teen! Of course connies do tend to be a bit on the mad side which can cross badly with the TB sensitivity so maybe that's why people tend to stick to the pure connie or cross with a draught or cob type but if I had money and facilities to breed that's what I'd go for...

Agree with Countrycob that natives are under-rated and as Maxelly says, if a larger native is carefully crossed with a Connie , that often makes a great combination!

@maxelly sounds VERY similar to my old boy. I say a little thank you everytime I turn him out and he does three massive flybucks in a row (usually with a proper corkscrew in the middle) that the thought has never crossed his mind to do that with anyone on board 😆
He's quite capable of taking hold and buggering off but tends to go in a straight line so very rarely puts anyone on the floor.
Absolute MACHINE cross country but our dressage scores used to let us down 😅

Mine is so clever - much cleverer than me. He likes to untie himself and wander round the yard, attention seek by banging his lead rope clip on the side of the stall and has been know to load himself into a lorry if there's one left open (he also once refused to load to come home from a trip out. So I got him a different horsebox. I try not to engage with fights I can't win). I'm very glad he lives out 24/7, which takes the edge off. He'd be a flipping nightmare if he had time to scheme in a stable!

Love this thread....don't have a Connie yet, have a sassy and brilliant Welsh C for my 10 yr old, but we both joke that her second pony when she outgrows this one is likely to be a Connie and will therefore also be likely to be GREY and show the MUD (horror)! Current Welshie is bay roan which is pretty perfect for appearing clean and tidy even when coming in from rolling in the mud. High percentage of greys aside though, Connies are amazing and just really lovely all rounders with a bit of personality. I have no doubt I will be back here appreciating Connies in about 3 years!

@Deliaskis neither of mine are grey so it is possible! I have a bay and a bay roan...would very much like a buckskin one to complete the set 😂
Although I do wonder how many WH judges have thought he was a funny shaped New Forest...

[quote TooManyAnimals94]@Deliaskis neither of mine are grey so it is possible! I have a bay and a bay roan...would very much like a buckskin one to complete the set 😂
Although I do wonder how many WH judges have thought he was a funny shaped New Forest...[/quote]
You hit the jackpot there! I've resigned myself to a grey but it's a couple of years away so we'll see. I have seen one or two ads for non-greys, but it feels like they also attract something similar to what I call the 'palomino premium' as there are not so many of them.

Mine is palomino…he certainly thinks he is very special.

@Squirrel26

Mine is palomino…he certainly thinks he is very special.

Love this! They somehow know don't they? Our Welsh C thinks she is very special indeed just because of how pretty she is.

My 2nd pony was a Connemara.
Gorgeous boy but a bit of a shithead

There appears to be a distinct lack of photos on this thread…!

Good point! Bay is my 23yr old, new girl is the roan

@TooManyAnimals94
Only one to post pics, most disappointed with the rest of you especially Squirrel, how could you keep a palomino to yourself!
@Squirrel26

Beautiful

DDs buckskin 😊

Gorgeous boy but a bit of a shithead sums him up well!
Quirky would be an understatement 😁

I love connies but I’m a highland pony girl

@TheNinthLock

Gorgeous boy but a bit of a shithead sums him up well! Quirky would be an understatement 😁

Aw, he is gorgeous 😍 Thanks for the picture. Too old now for horses, but love to see them.

I love how they're all staring into the distance like calendar shots....as if dreaming of roaming free in actual Connemara.