In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day we bring you what most consider the only native breed of Ireland, the Connemara Pony. Many breeds are described as having a “gentle disposition,” but the exceptionally good-natured Connemara is truly at the top of the list and famous for this outstanding characteristic.

Connemaras are the product of their original environment, the rugged mountain coast of West Ireland. Born out of poverty, the Connemara evolved from an unusual blend of natural selection and human need. Sure-footed, hardy and agile, they possess powers of great stamina, staying power and adaptability. They are renowned for their versatility and their gentle, tractable, sensible and willing dispositions.

These ponies make great sport ponies. They stand between 13 and 15 hands, with short cannons, large eyes, sloping shoulder, ground covering gaits and a rectangular build.

Connemaras have a natural jumping ability and its rectangular build is also very suitable for dressage. They often beat horses 16 hands and over with staying power, intelligence and heart. As a show jumper, working hunter, endurance, driving and western pleasure, Connemaras can do it all, and can be your best friend while at it!

History of the Connemara Pony

The Connemara Pony has a bit of a mythical origin, just like the leprechauns and rainbows and Pot O’ Golds from this Emerald Isle, but general consensus places their arrival with the Celts in Ireland around 2,500 years ago. They were originally used as hardy war ponies drawing chariots for the warring Celts and remained in Ireland, breeding with the local indigenous breeds for sixteen centuries.

The tough climate and hills of West Connaught produced ponies that were hardy, strong and were good workers. Like most breeds, outside influence also shaped them, with legends of Spanish Armada ships wrecking on the coast and loose Andalusian stallions mixing with the local herds. Arabians were also imported in the 18th and 19th centuries further influencing the breed. The people of Connemara depended on these ponies to work the land, haul their goods and transport people – strong enough, some say, to carry two men.

With the great famine of Ireland in 1845 the ponies were in great peril. Lack of food and the poverty and illness that befell the people who bred, raised and cared for them led to a huge decline in their population, including export of many to work in the coal pits. Most breeding came to a halt.

Registries

In 1923 a meeting was held in Galway to bring the plight of the decline of the Connemara Ponies to the people, and thus prompted the formation of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society. As the ponies began to gain strength in numbers and the support of breeders, it was decided, like many other breeds have done in the past, that to keep the gene pool diverse they would allow the infusion of a limited number of Thoroughbreds, Irish Draughts (Ireland’s other pride and joy!) and Arabian stallions and were allowed to do so until 1964 when the studbook closed.

This meant that from 1964 and on only ponies with registered Connemara parents could be entered into the books. Due to the organization of this registry, the strong support of the country and the export market to the U.S. and England even the advent of mechanized farming did not damage the breeding population, which remains, today, strong. Currently there are approximately 2000 foals born in Ireland with 17 countries having Connemara Pony Registries.

Famous Connemaras

There are many Connemaras who have accomplished great things but no mention of them could be complete without mentioning a few:

• Erin Go Bragh – the eventing wonder stallion
• Dundrum – setting a Puissance 7’2” record in the 1960s
• The Nugget – at age 22 jumping 7’2” and winning 300 international prizes
• Little Squire – in 1935 cleared a 7” jump at Madison Square Gardens, he was 13’2 hands
• Custusha’s Cashel Rock – the beautiful dun Stallion and Breyer Connemara breed model who was a multi-talented winning in Hunter, Jumper, Dressage and Combined Training.
• Stroller – at 14’1 in 1968 became the first pony to compete in the Olympics. He competed for Britain, won the Individual Bronze in Show Jumping and was only one of two horses to jump clear
• Seldom Seen – an American favorite, 14.2 hh ridden and trained by Olympic rider
• Lendon Gray and Last Scene – both successful Grand Prix Dressage Connemara crossbreeds. Seldom Seen was an impressive pony loved by a huge fan club because he was an “average” pony that performed spectacularly and was inducted into the USDF Hall of Fame in 2005.

For more complete information visit ACPS.org, Sporthorse-Pony.com, and Connemaras.com.

Besides being famous for the month of love, did you know February is Spunky Old Broads Month? Yep, bet you are as surprised as I am to find out. Not sure I ever thought I would see those three words… celebrated… anywhere. But it got me thinking – I am sure we all have a story about that one spunky old broad of the barn. And, no, I don’t mean the trainer! I am thinking mare here – spunky old mares to be exact.

I, for one, have the funniest old girl in my pasture. The mare in eternal heat even though mother nature says she is way past those foal bearing years. The one the geldings try to break the fence down to get to if she lingers near, and that with a flick of her tail can make them all swoon like colts. The one that gladly lets the younger yearlings hang just off her hip, close enough to think they are basking in her glow, but far enough to know they are not part of the royal court. The mare that was oh-too-old to keep riding, but can show a passage trot for a 9 just to let everyone know she’s still got it. And she doesn’t even ever have to actually lift a hoof in warning at feeding time – a queen’s crusty glare does the trick to ensure she eats first. Always. Every meal. It’s not even a question.

I am sure some of you have some precious gems sharing your pasture or barn. Share the story of your Spunky Old Broad in the comments below, and it could land on our blog – a fitting tribute that bossy, spirited, ageless, priceless beauty!

‘Tis the season of Cupid and love, and who doesn’t love their horse? In fact, some of you have told me that you love your horse more than your significant other. (Don’t worry, I won’t tell.) While I have no qualms with you loving your horse more than your significant other, some of you are loving your horses so much that you may be loving them to death. Literally.

Here is a direct quote from a Facebook post from someone who I know is not alone in her affliction.

“I wish I could give up my crazy need to give grain two times a day also, but food is love for me.”

This statement suggests to me that this owner knows that her horse doesn’t need the grain, but she gives it anyway because it makes her feel good.

At the start of a consultation, I am commonly given a list of things that a client feeds his or her horse, which often includes several forms of treats, or a random pound of some feed or another. Often it is clear the person is embarrassed as they give me their laundry lists of foods. When I ask the purpose for the items, the reply is commonly along the lines of, “Well, I just like to give him a treat,” or, “I feel bad if I put him away without giving him something.” Notice that that these responses are about the owner, not the horse.

With that sideways look horses give us, those pricked ears and bright eyes are enough to instill guilt in anyone. I get it! But the problem is that when you give a treat or some feed out of guilt, it likely is not a need for your horse.

A few years ago when I became a parent, I read an article about how to know if you are spoiling your child. The author offered a very simple check. If you are purchasing your child a gift from a place of love, then you are not spoiling the horse with that gift. However, if you purchase the gift from a place of guilt, then you may be spoiling your horse. I have used this reality check multiple times over the years as I’ve reached for an item on the store shelf, and I always ask myself where the urge to purchase comes from. It is interesting to start noticing when it is motivated out of love and when it comes from guilt.

Does it really hurt your horse if you feed him that treat because you feel guilty that he has to spend his days in a stall instead of a pasture, or whatever your guilty reason is? That depends. You may end up with a horse or pony that develops a nasty habit of nipping or mugging you for treats, which becomes a safety issue. When we are driven to treat our horses from a place of guilt it is hard to stand back and be objective about their needs.

Just like with humans, every unnecessary calorie consumed will be stored for later as fat. When you are unable to stand back and objectively assess your horse, you may one day look up and realize that he has gained a whole lot more weight than you realized. This is where the real issue of showing your love to your horse through food can become a life or death situation.

We used to think that body fat was a benign, if not unsightly, thing and yet now we know that it is so much more than that. Body fat is actually a metabolically active organ that can cause inflammation in the body. The inflammatory cytokines that are released by fat tissue interfere with glucose uptake, promoting insulin resistance. Horses with insulin resistance are at greater risk of developing laminitis, a dangerous disease that affects the feet of hooved animals, which can be a death sentence for your horse.

We as horse owners have become accustomed to overweight horses being the norm, so much so that people condemn owners of fit performance horses as being underfed and abused. However, being overweight is far more likely to be a death sentence than being athletically lean and fit. We need to adjust what we see as being an ideal weight and see it for what it often is, overweight and at risk of metabolic disorders.

So this Valentine’s Day, if you love your horse – I know you do – step back and take an objective look at body condition. Pick up a copy of the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System and put your hand on your horse and assess its condition. Then the next time he looks at you with those doughy eyes or you go to put him away after a ride, and you reach for that treat or random pound of senior feed, ask yourself how much you love him and whether you might just be killing him with kindness. If the answer is yes, leave out the feed, give him a good scratch in his favorite tickle spot, a pat, and walk away.

Sometimes tough love is the best kind of love you can give.