Are connemaras worth more than other breeds?

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Bluecat

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I've been looking for an over height connie or connie x for a little while. They seemed to be fairly expensive even at 4 or 5 when they haven't done an awful lot. Is this due to their often sensible attitude and bold jump?most of the ones I have looked at are fairly young have done a little bit and are sane and sensible but have around a 5k price tag.is this the norm?
 
My instructor described this to me as the 'connemara fine' ie:- you can expect to pay £1000 more for a connie than another horse of its experience and potential, simply because it has the word connemara on its passport.

In my experience it's true. Good connie's are highly saught after, and people are willing to pay that bit more just for the breed. I did, and I'm sure many others have.
 
Imo yes they are. Because they combine the typical native qualities, eg sensible, cheap to keep etc but in general are more sporty than other natives with & have a talent for jumping.
 
Thankyou for your reply. I like the idea of having almost a bigger pony rather than a horse which is why I was searching for one but I didn't realise they were quite as expensive as they are yet they are snapped up so quickly.im happy to pay a little more if they have potential yet are safe.i be interested to hear others experiences with them and whether they live up to their reputation
 
Yes they are more expensive but definitely worth it :-)

We've got two, my daughter's old pony who was the most fantastic PC all-rounder, on all the area teams & brilliant hunter but safe enough for me to hack around the village on. He's 21 now & still going strong.

We were smitten with the breed & then bought a 14.3hh 6yr old mare, she is a superstar as well with nice paces & a big jump.

I think that you have to go a long way to beat them if your looking for a 'family' type horse that can turn it's hoof to anything.

Good luck with your search, i hope that you find one soon.
 
I have a KWPN WB x Connie atm on loan to possibly buy next spring & hes fab. Hes a rescue from a slaughterhouse in Ireland. He's 15.3hh & dappled grey & looks like an overgrown pony with very small pony ears & sort compact body, very willing attitude, lovely character & sensible. Hes currently out in a no fill rug until I get him some more then he'll be clipped but hes warm as toast & doesnt seem bothered by the weather.
 
Apparently so, I was told a dealer had advertised something as a connie as it would command a higher price. It was grey and Irish but not connie .....:)
 
Why not look at a New Forest, very much the same look as a Connie, same size as well.. Very versatile, dressage, jumping, showing etc. If I had a pound for every time my New Forest is mistaken for a Connie in the show ring I could probably afford a Connie !! They are good all rounders at half the price.
 
Yes, definitely worth it. Mines connie x tb, & worth her weight in gold. Now 23 but pretty much been there, done that. Competed senior affiliated with me, would hunt all day jumping everything, but has also nannied countless kids with washing line reins round decent courses. Bombproof & safe, but forwards. As safe as a first pony to handle, but also a good little comp pony too. Absolutely perfect. I fully intend buying another connie x tb or full connie youngster to bring on for my daughter to compete in her teens, I doubt I'll even look at other breeds, as I'll be buying unbroken. That's how much I like them. Connies are very determined, which can sometimes come across as stubborn, but I like that, the determination can work for you. Mine did have some horror moments when younger, but the same determination she put in to undesirable behavior, is the same determination she put into clearing jumps bigger than herself, or keeping up with a 17.2.
 
Yes they tend to be, especially if they are showing ones as they are have a history of being very successful (look at the HOYs results in the NF/Connies class all those placed were connies). This has probably had an impact also on the non show quality/overheight ones as well being more expensive than the same equivalent other breeds.

I originally wanted a registered connie within the correct height range but ended up with a New Forest as they were cheaper and as mine is as athletic as a connie and good all rounder but less fashionable breed so better value for money. With regard to New Forests these don't have the same tendancy to go over height so you may find less of them around the 15h mark so harder to find giant foresters.

Are they worth paying the extra for? not sure that they are unless your interest is top level showing.
 
Thankyou for your helpful replies. It would seem they are worth the extra and does confirm I definitely do want a connie.i think I have found one I just wanted to check I wasn't paying way over the odds. Fingers crossed he passes a vetting and turns out to be as good as all yours are :)
 
I have 2 younger friends (sisters) who share a 14.2hh Connie.

He is 6, and quite green, which suits them just now as they are only happy hackers. He can be very stubborn sometimes and take the mick out them and their lack of strength, but I ride him once in a while and iron out any naughtiness, and do a bit of schooling and he can go very sweetly.

They now want to start pony club/ jumping etc so I'm going to teach them a bit, but I've jumped him outside over a few logs and he's got a fabby pop and a nice attitude - locks on and goes without being too strong (for me anyway). He'll gallop and pull up no bother. He DOES get 'Stranger Danger' with people out walking but that can only be a good thing because noone can get near the girls!

I can only imagine with them being much lighter than me, that they will really excel and have a lot of fun with him, especially with a bit of work on both parts.
 
I was told this week that my connie was worth his weight in gold! Hmm, 440kg of gold....much as I love him, I would have to consider that if offered :-) And then I'd have to decline!
 
Can I just add that I was the owner of a Connie x TB - she was anything but sensible !! But her jump was fantastic, she was beautiful nimble and very very quick

(That said I wouldn't have changed her for the world, she very sadly had to be put to sleep yesterday after we had been together for over a decade )
 
Definitely my daughter was lucky to get a grade one connie who we would not sell for love nor money. She has the most awesome jump and (touch wood) has never refused anything we have aimed her at from a 3ft show jumping course to BE100 jumps (training) but she really hates flats work, she can do it but really cant see why she should and just gives you two fingers the whole time!

Saying that we love her to bits and loves her humans you get the impression we belong to her rather than the other way round!:p
 
I am debating whether to buy a new hunter and yes Inwould pay a premium for an oversized well mannered hunted connnie .
 
I have just got a connie x Irish sports horse 3 year old. I got quite a good deal for her, swapped my 4 year old exmoor for her.
Her temperament is second to none. I have had her 4 weeks and she was half feral when I got her and I have already sat on her and walked about and she comes over for cuddles and lives attention. Just had the physio and she said was amazed at how far she has come already and was really impressed with her temperament.
Her only fault is that she is a bit sickle hocked but the physio said said she will probably out grow it as she is very undeveloped for her age- physically she looks more like a 2 year old. I am planning on producing her for dressage as she has such powerful and big paces.

I am so impressed with her I am planning on buying another youngster or 2 from the same stud in the spring to produce and sell.
 
I had an oversize connie for over 20 year and absolutely loved it. such an allrounder, clever, just the best
 
Like others posted above I.was looking for a 3 year old Connie 3 years ago but they were all at least £3k! Ended up with a new forest for £650 and she has turned into a cracking event and whp!x
 
Sorry but comparing a NF to a Connie is stupid. Connie's are far better at all discipline's, have a better attitude and are better put together. I have a 20yo Connie x TB who is he best thing since sliced bread!
 
Barney&Buzz said:
Sorry but comparing a NF to a Connie is stupid. Connie's are far better at all discipline's, have a better attitude and are better put together. I have a 20yo Connie x TB who is he best thing since sliced bread!
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That's a bit rude,even if it were true which am sure it isn't.Most newfies I have known have had excellent attitudes BTW,by far the most level headed of most natives when it comes to work and as an allrounder IME.
As for your horse (which as it isn't pure bred is an irrelevant comparison:confused:),well am sure many people on here with various breeds and types would say they are the best thing since sliced bread,not sure that's a title deserved only by connies!!

Friends of mine paid over 4k for a 4 yr old connie that was from a dealer and fresh off the boat from Ireland.Sold on the basis of it's 'potential' rather than what it had actually done (bit of hacking around a farm and hunted a couple of times).

Fast forward 2 years it is only just starting to go nicely after much hard work,problems and money spent on schooling,lessons etc.

I thought they were bonkers at the time and still do.Could have got something far less hassle and just as nice of not better for half the money.

I appreciate their good points as large ponies that are easy to keep but also athletic,but there are many other types and cross breeds that tick those boxes.Paying over the odds just for breed if not showing or breeding is not something I would do,but as others have said many do for connies and if that's what you want then go for it,but think you will have be prepared to pay the 'connie premium'.
 
As Ireland is the home of the connemara why not check out Goresbridge, a lot of the ponies/smaller horses are Part-bred connemara, or even go on Donedeal.ie and buy one privately. I bought 2 4yr olds, a 15.2 grey TBxConn and a 15hh golden dun sports horsexConn from a chap advertising on donedeal. Theyr both fabulous and cost under 3000 for the two. It costs around £250 to ship them to the UK
 
Barney&buzz, I too think connies are the best, & in particular same as when I was 10, I believe mine is best of all. But that doesn't mean people are stupid because they have a different opinion. People are perfectly entitled to think what they like in regards to breed preferences.
 
I have a 14.1 20 yr old connie (21 early next year) she's fab, a proper hardy pony who's still a great allrounder (hunts, jumps, dressage, showing, ect) excels in everything and I wouldn't change her for the world! :D defiantly recommend this breed to anyone!
 
I had a connie cross for 25 years, superb boy did absolutely everything and never refused a jump, but I am now on my second New Forest and rate them just as highly. Its literally horses for courses, but a good New Forest up to height is hard to beat, unfortunately they are still the poor relations in the show ring, but i will persevere and keep trying to change that.!!!
 
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