Are connemaras worth more than other breeds?

I have a connemara x Irish Draught. She is very nice in every way but she is such a worrier and an incredible spooker. I think she needs to read this thread. She generally refuses a jump with a sweeping and dramatic spook at 60 paces. Once she is over it she's got a lovely jump though. Oh and as for those lines on roads...EVIL!
 
we bought a 16yr old connie for daughter earlier this summer, she is a superstar and looks after her slightly nervous nellie rider, she will have a home with us for the rest of her days :)
 
I have a Connie. He's fabulous out hunting and out XC. Incredibly bold, will jump anything from any stride and get us out of trouble. He can be spooky, but that's improving with age and he does despise flat work; but I wouldn't want to be galloping down to a 6ft hedge on anything else out hunting, even though he is only 14.3hh. He's also a diamond on the ground and you can do anything with him without any complaint.

He is never going to set the world alight doing dressage, but he's genuine and does exactly what I want him for and he will never be sold.
 
I have a connie x, his passport just says irish geldings, but he is deff connie. He is worth twice weight in gold, jumps anything for anybody. He can be cheeky and will nip my mum. Because he is so cute everybody loves him:)
 
I would not say that is the case, connies are more fashionable but if you compare the connies that are not overheight or part bred connie to a new forest then the new forests are just as capable. The new forest pony enthusiasts were BRC of the year in 2011 and always do fantastically well in the championships.

I don't think you can compare a Connie x TB or an over height Connie to a New Forest pony as the former are actually horses and the overheight connie often loose a lot of the pony qualities and is often more like a small horse than a large pony. I think also some connies are being deliberately bred to be overheight to cater for the small horse market rather than trying to keep to breed standards.

The dealers/professionals will be interested in investing in breeds that they know sell well and at the moment connies are a safe buy as they are a fashionable breed so easier to sell on even the ones that are tricky or go over height. A lot of the overheight small horse connies come cheap from Ireland and then double in price once they are here.

I think the premium price is partly as they are fashionable, Highlands are also becoming fashionable and their prices are rising too. I am not saying both breeds are not great because they are but you are not just paying for performance but also because they are so popular.

I wanted a connie because I believed the "hype" and that they were much better than anything else and I had had a super connie x arab SHP as a child, but now having a new forest I realise that the cheaper less popular breeds can be just as good, my new forest was £3000 and most of the connies even those not as well bred or sucessful as my pony were £5000 or more. Also my new forest is bay which I think is a big advantage for me less washing, if I had a connie I would like one that was not grey which is quite rare.

If you want a connie and can afford it go for it but don't feel sad if you can't afford one as there are plenty of other nice breeds or part breeds out there that might be just as suitable especially if you are looking for a small horse rather than a M&M show pony.

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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With all of this in mind - how much have you had to pay for your connie Xs?

I have a connie x tb (but 3/4 connie) that I will need to advertise soon - we're just having a bit too much fun hunting at the moment! I have no idea how much she is worth.
 
We have a Connemara 15'2 and a connie x tb - 16'1. Both are honest, fearless and absolute machines across country. I'm always on the look out for connemar as over 15hh or conn x tb. They are hard to find and I'm living in Ireland!!
 
stormox said:
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
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We bought an ISH from a lovely dealer lady who goes over there and ships them back. She said that even at the sales it was impossible to get cheap pure connies.

To me, a connie is the pony version of the ISH/ID. They just have great attitude and love to jump more often than not. I'm not keen on them looks wise, but can't knock them at all. I wouldn't compare a NF to them - perhaps in looks, but not attitude, although I've only known a few NF.
 
I have a Connie x brill bold brave and looks after u unlike , thrives on work jumps anything and never sick or sorry !! Bought as a six year old and paid thousands worth every penny and one which never will be sold xx
 
Just to correct anyone, an over height connie normally sells for more in Ireland than an average normal sized one. The demand outstrips supply, I know that when my next lot arrive (friday if anyone is looking) I have a 15.1hh over height event bred pony/ horse and he will sell without being advertised for good money. Dun's are also premium price whatever the size.
 
natalia said:
Just to correct anyone, an over height connie normally sells for more in Ireland than an average normal sized one. The demand outstrips supply, I know that when my next lot arrive (friday if anyone is looking) I have a 15.1hh over height event bred pony/ horse and he will sell without being advertised for good money. Dun's are also premium price whatever the size.
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No such thing as a dun connemara though :)

I have ridden some lovely connies, and some less than lovely connies. A good one is clever, careful and athletic but the same can be said of any breed. I broke in and schooled on a lovely little connie stallion, and would have bought him if he was any bigger.

I have seen some lovely crosses around recently, like Nikicb's new boy. Simply stunning :D
 
Connies are worth every penny! I have one and as said before they are safe and sensible and good doers yet have a lot of ability to do anything! I do everything with mine and she speeds around the cross country and is very athletic! Go for it and get one!! X
 
I have a connie x tb and she is fab - very hardy, brave and versatile and exceptionally easy to do.

I have also known a couple of unbroken 3yr old full connemaras and they too were really nice horses. If I was shorter and lighter a full Connemara would be on my wish list!
 
Bluecat said:
Are most of your pure bred connies grey?
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I've had connemaras and connemara crosses all of my life and except for one (a buckskin) all the others were grey. Proper victorian rocking horse grey with lovely dapples :) Connemaras are easily worth the extra money you pay for them and they aren't comparable to any of the other natives IMO. They are so much more flexible, incredibly brave and wow can they jump! They've always commanded higher prices, and rightly so.
 
Natalia I can categorically say the opposite. I have bought. 3 Connies in the last 12mths - one yearling to make 14.2hh one 4yo 14.2and a good quality over height 4yo ( two are also buckskin). The over height was cheaper than the other two with the yearling being the most expensive as less common bloodlines and sired by a euro team pony. I have since sold the older two in the UK and the over height one has sold for double what the 14.2hh achieved. Both are athletic sorts but the 14.2hh won't made a competitive team sj pony so therefore would never achieve big bucks. The market for 15-15.2hhs in Ireland is and always has been, very poor even for pure breds. Only the uk dealers and private buyers drive the price up.

I remember as a teenager having a really boring coloured cob on my hands that u couldn't give away for love nor money - until a uk dealer came to view him and offered a fortune (inmy eyes) -£2500 for him. That was almost15years ago when Connies with serious jumping potential were going for <£2000.
 
rhino said:
No such thing as a dun connemara though :)

I have ridden some lovely connies, and some less than lovely connies. A good one is clever, careful and athletic but the same can be said of any breed. I broke in and schooled on a lovely little connie stallion, and would have bought him if he was any bigger.

I have seen some lovely crosses around recently, like Nikicb's new boy. Simply stunning :D
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Thanks R - I've only just seen this. :) Even though I say it myself, he is wonderful and definitely worth every penny I paid. I do think his 1/4 ID helps him though in terms of his paces. I can't believe how much he's changed/matured in the few months I've had him. Posted pics on this thread earlier. :) x

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=568565
 
Over height connies whilist no good for showing in pure bred classes make good SHP,or WHP. They are easier to sell and because of their generally confirmation are better for dessage.
NF are great ponies though but they are very clever especailly if forest bred and sometimes if combined with TB or Arab make a really good competition horse but they can be a bit of a handful. I have apure bred mare and she is the sweetest thing ever.
Connies come in all the solid colours includng chestnut and black its just that the greying gene is dominant and will grey out a solid colour.Pilgrims ponies tend to be chestnut,brown, black.
I have a couple of Connie brood mares and am putting them to larger competition stallions to produce 15 hands plus for dressage and showing.
 
rhino said:
No such thing as a dun connemara though :)

I have ridden some lovely connies, and some less than lovely connies. A good one is clever, careful and athletic but the same can be said of any breed. I broke in and schooled on a lovely little connie stallion, and would have bought him if he was any bigger.

I have seen some lovely crosses around recently, like Nikicb's new boy. Simply stunning :D
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I used to own a golden dun Connemara. Definitely dun. Definitely Connemara. And definitely a little s++t. Pretty, though.
 
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