Have you heard of Erin Go Bragh, the talented pony stallion who was a top eventer during his prime? Erin Go Bragh competed at the Advanced level with Carol Kozlowski in 1998 and 1999, and Breyer Animal Creations made a model of the bay stallion in 1998. Holding his own against the larger eventing horses, Erin Go Bragh, a Connemara Pony, is just one example of the incredible talents of this hardy and athletic breed.

History

In the wild, horses must adapt to their environments or the breed won’t survive. Such was the case with the Connemara Pony. Originating from the Connemara region of western Ireland, the Connemara Pony faced a harsh landscape of poor quality vegetation, rocky and steep terrain, and wet climate.

It’s hypothesized that the Vikings brought the Connemara to Ireland as riding horses. According to legend the Connemaras were on board the Spanish Armada ships when the fleet was wrecked off of Ireland’s coast in 1588. The legend states that after the wreck the Connemaras swam to shore and survived in the Connemara region’s wilderness.

Irish farmers captured and tamed wild Connemara Ponies for use on their farms. Mares were popular, since they could be bred and the foals could be sold. Connemaras pulled plows and carts, completing whatever work needed to be done. The breed’s strength and hardiness came into play, allowing it to excel under heavy work that many other breeds would have struggled with.

The Connemara was bred with Arabians, Hackneys, and Thoroughbreds to give the horses additional stamina and height. As the blood of outside breeds was increasingly introduced, breed enthusiasts became concerned about the breed’s lasting integrity. In 1923 the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society was created to preserve the breed.

Characteristics

The Connemara is the largest of the pony breeds, standing between 13 to 15 hands high. It is typically found in gray, bay, brown, and dun coat colors. On occasion, other rarer coat colors can occur, such as palomino and black. The Connemara is a sturdy, surefooted, and strong pony. It has excellent endurance, is gentle, and is highly athletic.

The Breed Today

Since its origination in Ireland, the Connemara has proven itself to be an excellent riding pony and it now makes a popular mount for children, young riders, and adults. Connemaras are frequently talented harness horses, and many have natural jumping talent. They make popular show horses and are competitive in jumping, hunter, eventing, endurance, driving, and even western events. Today Connemaras can be found worldwide and breeding programs exist throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.

To learn more about the Connemara, visit the American Connemara Pony Society’s website.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/18091975@N00/2524960410

Original Source: The Connemara Pony


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