The Connemara is an attractive pony, named after the area of Connaught, in the south west of the Republic of Ireland. Its home is the bleak, rocky moorlands.
Although its history is unclear, several tales explain its origin. One legend has it that the Connemaras ancestors were the surviving horses of the Spanish Armada fleet, which was ship-wrecked off the western coast of Ireland in 1588.
An other theory is that merchants from Galway, who traded with the Spaniards, bought Spanish horses and crossed them with native Irish stock. It has also been suggested that Connemaras are related to the horses used by the Celtic people who settled in the British Isles as long ago as the 4th century.
Connemaras are bred all over Europe, Australia and America, and compete in most equestrian activities: dressage, show jumping, cross-country, long distance riding, hunting and driving.
APPEARANCE
The head is small with dark eyes and small ears. It is set on an arched neck and sloping shoulders. The body is compact and deep through the girth, the legs are short and the hindquarters are strong, with the tail high-set.
HEIGHT
13 to 14.2hh.
COLOUR
Originally Connemaras were dun with black points and a stripe down the middle of the back (dorsel stripe). Nowadays they are most often grey, also dun, brown, bay, black, roan or chestnut.
PERSONALITY
The wild environment of the Connemaras home only provides rough grass for them to live on. They have had to become hardy to survive.
They are intelligent, gentle and strong, making them ideal for both adults and children to ride.
Back to Breeds.
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