The Connemara
Named after the area of the western wilds of County Galway noted for its exposed mountainous region of stone, bog, and rough coastline, this rugged native Irish pony was able to flourish despite the harsh environment. Its history is very similar to that of the Highland Pony of Scotland. There is evidence of the existence of native horses in Ireland from very early times. The Celts, who originally came to the region from central Europe by way of Spain in the 4th century B.C. are reputed to be skilled horsemen and most likely brought horses with them. Many centuries later Spanish horses were imported by the rich merchants in the area. Spanish Barbs and Andalusians were brought into the country and bred to the native ponies, creating a larger, more elegant, pleasure pony. During the mid-nineteenth century Arab horses were also imported and bred to the ponies; in 1891 Welsh stallions were introduced as well.
In 1900 the old dun type of Connemara was described as being capable of living where all but wild ponies would starve. In fact, they flourished! In 1923 the Connemara Pony Bredder's Society was formed in Ireland and a stud book was established for the preservation and improvement of the breed. The first stallion entered in the studbook was Cannon Ball, grandson of the Welsh Cob Prince Llewellyn. More recent lines include Carna Dun by the Thoroughbred Little Heaven, and Clonkeehan Auratum by the Arabian Naseel. Cutusha's Cashel Rock (Rocky) was a famous show horse in New England in the 1970's. Breyer came out with his likeness in 1990. This year Breyer is featuring Erin Go Bragh, a famous three-day eventer. Other famous Connemaras include The Nugget (world record setter at the age of 22 by clearing a 7'2" jump), Dundrum (one of the finest jumpers Ireland has produced, and whose sire was also Little Heaven, who was grandsire of Rocky), and Diamond O'Gaway (a blind pony, inspiration of C.W. Anderson's book The Blind Connemara).
The Connemara stands between 13 and 14.2 hands and has a regal air. His well-shaped head with straight profile, small ears, large expressive eyes and flared nostrils, sits well on a long neck, well-formed with a full mane. He has pronounced withers, a long straight back, a muscular and slightly sloped croup, and a deep, wide chest. His legs are well-muscled and sturdy, with clean joints, long cannons, clearly defined tendons, and a well-formed tough hoof. The Connemara's action is free and true, making it an excellent jumper, as well as a dressage mount.
Dun was once the predominant color, but is now becoming less common. Grey, black, brown, and bay are the most common colors found today. Many are dun when foaled, but turn grey by the age of seven.
The Irish Draught
The first authenticated mention of the Irish Draught dates from the late 18th century when farmers selected the heavier of their own horses to produce a tillage horse with the ability to work as a roadster or jumper and bred a leaner horse from the Thoroughbred. On of the results was little feathering on the legs compared to the heavier draft horse, whose feathers collected burs and stickers, common in the Irish fields. Development of the Irish Draft continued until 1901 when a stud book was suggested and in 1904 the Department of Agriculture introduced a program for approving stallions and mares.
The Irish Draught stands 15.2 to 17 hands high. It is an active, short-shinned, powerful horse with substance and quality. It has aproud bearing. His well-shaped head has a wide forehead and long, well-set ears. It has a straight profile, average length neck with a high set and carried proudly, and well-defined withers. The chest is not too broad or beefy. It has a deep girth, strong back, powerful quarters, and a long, gently sloping croup. The forearms are long and powerfully muscled; the bones are short. The bone in the cannons is never round or coarse; the legs are clean and hard with a bit of silky hair on the fetlocks. The pasterns are strong and sloped; the hooves are round and hard. Any solid color is found on the Irish Draught. A lot of white markings are not found, and high whites are not allowed.
The Irish Thoroughbred
Bloodstock breeding, with all its related activities like racing and training, is one of Ireland's largest businesses. The Irish Thoroughbred is purchased for racing and breeding by thirty-five countries. The Thoroughbred was first developed in England and spread to other countries including Ireland. Ireland boasts some of the best stud farms, including Airlie Studs, Ardenoe and Ragusa Studs, Ballylinch, Coolmore, and Gilltown, to name a few. Many well-known Thoroughbreds, both from Ireland and the U.S., have either been foaled or stood at stud in both countries. Shahrastani and Cure the Blues are just two current studs that have shared time in both Ireland and the U.S. Bruce Davidson's mount in the 1990 World Equestrian Games, Pirate Lion, was an Irish Thoroughbred.
The Irish Thoroughbred, like any Thoroughbred around the world, come in most solid colors, the most common being bay, dark bay or brown, chestnut, and grey. Roan is rare, palomino rarer. White markings are common, but piebald and skewbald are not allowed in the registry. They do, however, sometimes occur, as does chubari.
The Irish Cob
The Irish Cob is not a true breed as it varies in type, although it has been bred since the 18th century. Irish Cobs are produced by crossing the English and Irish Thoroughbred, Connemara, and Irish Draught breeds, creating a compact and sturdy mount with short legs. It has well-developed musculature, with agile, lively action. This horse was developed to produce energetic animals suitable for a variety of disciplines such as riding and harness. he possesses good stamina, making him an excellent mount for pleasure riding, showing, trekking, and hunting. He stands 15 to 15.5 hands high and comes in the solid colors that occur in Thoroughbreds, Connemaras, and Irish Draughts.
The Irish Hunter
The Irish Hunter, like the Irish Cob, is also not a true breed, but the product of the Irish Thoroughbred and Irish Draught. It is bred for the hunt, as well as for show jumping and eventing. It stands 16 to 17.1 hands high and comes in all colors except piebald and skewbald.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bongianni, Maurizio; Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses & Ponies of the World;
Simon & Schuster Inc., New York, London, Toronto, Tokyo, 1987.
Edwards, Elwyn Hartley; A Standard Guide to Horse & Pony Breeds; McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, St. Louis, San Francisco, Düssel-
dorf, Mexico, Toronto, 1980.
_______, _____ _______; Eyewitness Books-Horses; Dorling Kindersley, London, New York, Stuttgart, 1993.
Hendricks, Bonnie L.; International Enclyclopedia of Horse Breeds; University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, London, 1995.
Lambton, Anne, and Offen, John; Thoroughbred Style; Salem House Publishers, Topsfield, MA, 1987.
Lewis, John E.; Horse Illustrated article "Rough and Ready"; Fancy Publications, Mission Viejo, CA, April 1994, pp. 48-57.
Morris, Tony; Thoroughbred Stallions; The Crowood Press, Wiltshire, England, 1990.
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