Kirkcarrion Highland Ponies

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The Connemara Pony

The Connemara originated in the western area of Ireland of the same name, fulfilling a dual role as many natives did, of both family workhorse and a means of social conveyance. One of the more refined natives, the Connemara is popular for a whole range of ridden and driving activities.

The Breed Society (Connemara Pony Breeders Society) was formed in 1923 in Ireland, with an English based society carrying out promotional activities in mainland Britain since the 1940s. This can lead to some confusion but both societies have web sites which may be found on the Breed Societies page of this site. Their information speaks for itself.

Breed Standard

Characteristics: good temperament, hardiness and stayiing power, intelligence and soundness, surefootedness and jumping ability, suitable for child and adult.
Height: 133 cms - 148 cms high.
Colour: grey, bay, black, brown, dun, with occasional roan, chestnut, palomino and dark-eyed cream.
Type: compact, well-balanced riding type with depth, substance and good heart room, standing on short legs covering a lot of ground.
Head: well-balanced pony head of medium length with good width between large dark kindly eyes. pony ears, well-defined cheek bones, jaw relatively deep but not coarse.
Front: head well set onto neck. chest not over-loaded and neck not set too low. well defined wither and good sloping shoulder giving a good length of rein.
Body: deep with strong back. some length permissable but should be well ribbed up with strong loins.
Limbs: good length and strength in forearm, well-defined knees and short cannons with flat bone measuring 18-21 cms. elbows should be free, pasterns of medium length, feet well-shaped of medium size, hard and level.
Hindquarters: strong and muscular with some length, well-developed second thigh and strong low-set hocks.
Movement: free and true without undue knee action, but active and covering the ground.

E-mail: a.douglas@dundee.ac.uk
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