Connemara grading

[Silvermiyazawa]

Wow, this seems a bit of a minefield.

Can anyone tell me about it? (I have read the descriptors) Would a class 3 still be a potentially good buy so long as you aren't remotely interested in showing? Why might a vet not grade a horse as class 1 if it was within the height band, had class 1 parents and wasn't an undesirable colour? Is this like a proper vetting, might it have problems in other disciplines or as a general riding horse?

Apologies for the barrage of questions!

 

[doriangrey]

The Connemara Pony Breeders Society

As taken from the Connemara Pony Breeders Society website.
*CPBS Studbook Classification*

*Please note this is for E.U Countries only.*
The Studbook is divided into 3 Classes.

Class 1
Class 1 contains male and female ponies that are a minimum of two years of age. These ponies must meet all of the following 5 criteria to qualify for Class 1:

• Both parents must have been presented for Inspection
• Both parents must have passed a veterinary Inspection
• Measure 128cms to 148cms inclusive
• Pass a visual Inspection
• Pass a veterinary Inspection

Class 2
Class 2 contains male and female ponies that are a minimum of two years of age. Ponies must meet the following criteria to qualify for Class 2:

• Both parents must have been presented for Inspection
• Both parents must have passed a veterinary Inspection
• Pass a veterinary Inspection

In addition Ponies must also meet any one of the following criteria:

• Blue Eyed Creams that have been presented for Inspection and pass a veterinary Inspection.
• Measure under 128cms or over 148cms
• Have failed a visual Inspection

Class 3
All foals when parentage tested are entered in Class 3. In order to move to a higher class ponies must be presented for Inspection at a minimum of two years of age subject to both parents having been presented for Inspection and both parents having passed a veterinary Inspection. Ponies that are not presented for Inspection will remain in Class 3 as will their progeny. Also included in this class is any pony that fails the veterinary Inspection.

Please Note
The Inspection for Classification will take into account the individual merits of the pony on the day of Inspection.
All ponies in the Studbook are permitted to breed.
Ponies from Daughter Connemara Studbooks shall be entered in the Class of the Studbook whose criteria it meets.

Contact:
Connemara Pony Breeders Society
The Showground, Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland

So yes, you could buy a foal which would be Class 3 but could potentially become Class 1

 

[MiniMilton]

It doesn't have to be a foal to be class 3. If the previous owners didn't bother bringing a pony for inspection it would remain class 3. My neighbour had some lovely very well bred mares that were class 3. He simply wasn't bothered with inspections.

The inspections can be quite subjective. I've seen a few lovely class 2 ponies and some poor class 1 ponies. Generally a class 1 pony is a good indicator of quality but I wouldn't get too obsessed with it unless you are buying breeding stock.

I think there are grade A ponies that are class 2. They may not have had sufficient bone or some minor imperfection. Use your own judgement. If the pony is nice and performs well then get it

 

[doriangrey]

It doesn't have to be a foal to be class 3. If the previous owners didn't bother bringing a pony for inspection it would remain class 3. My neighbour had some lovely very well bred mares that were class 3. He simply wasn't bothered with inspections.

True, I was just pointing out that it's worth sometimes buying a class 3, doesn't mean it can't upgrade Well bred foals are going here for next to nothing atm. It's a long while since I went to an inspection and a neighbours mare failed (her movement was incorrect), she was from Murphy Rebel lines. If I remember correctly she wasn't allowed in the studbook at all, she had to be registered as ISH!

 

[MiniMilton]

Yes it's pot luck. I managed to get an over height mare in. A little bit of sweet talking to the nice vet with the measuring stick...

And actually when I think about it I would imagine most geldings are class 3. Why bother with inspections when you're not going to breed from them? I sold a lovely 3yo Connie gelding last year. I never brought him for inspections so he was class 3. He is now on the showing circuit and doing well. If he had been a filly I would of definitely brought it to inspections

 

[honetpot]

Under EU regulations offspring from registered parents have a right to be entered in to a stud book, that is why breed societies have developed ways of ways of grading animals that do not meet their standards. So depending on the markings or colour it will be down graded but can be a perfectly sound animal. There are a few over height Highlands that are frowned on but they make super weight carrying cobs and they are not allowed white blazes if they are to be a stallion, NFPCS does not like palominos but dun is OK. The stud book rules were developed when little was known about colour genetics and because they have always done it this way they are reluctant to change.
When a Connemara goes for inspection it has to be checked by a vet so the fact it has been put forward for grading shows it has reached a certain standard. I have a cremello Connemara colt no matter how nice he is he will be only Graded 2 so if he is special I will put him forward for sports pony grading as well.

 

[Silvermiyazawa]

Thanks. I had though the same about breeding and showing, it doesn't matter as I am not interested in either (although the former would be a tad tricky anyway as he is a gelding!). He's young (not a foal) but the ad omits his age and height. I was just concerned he might have failed a "proper" vetting and may have probs in general. I would have a potential purchase vetted (although just been reading the "vetting" thread) but I'd rather not shell out for this if a major problem has already been picked up by another vet. If a horse failed the vetting on something big when being graded would it then remain ungraded?

 

[doriangrey]

Class 3
All foals when parentage tested are entered in Class 3. In order to move to a higher class ponies must be presented for Inspection at a minimum of two years of age subject to both parents having been presented for Inspection and both parents having passed a veterinary Inspection. Ponies that are not presented for Inspection will remain in Class 3 as will their progeny. Also included in this class is any pony that fails the veterinary Inspection.

There will be people on here better informed than me to advise you.

 

[Silvermiyazawa]

Yes, I read that on the connie site - I just wondered with honetpot saying they had already reached a certain level when they were put forward. Maybe I stop fussing and just go see the blimmin horse!!

 

[doriangrey]

Yes, I read that on the connie site - I just wondered with honetpot saying they had already reached a certain level when they were put forward. Maybe I stop fussing and just go see the blimmin horse!!

Go for it!

 

[Cortez]

Yes, I read that on the connie site - I just wondered with honetpot saying they had already reached a certain level when they were put forward. Maybe I stop fussing and just go see the blimmin horse!!

Exactly!

 

[honetpot]

I only meant that vet has to check them in a basic way, its not a full vetting. Unless you are showing at affiliated classes I can understand why people do not have them graded its just extra outlay for little added value. I have my stock graded because I breed but as always handsome is as handsome does. You could buy two ponies with roughly the same breeding one gets graded class 1, the other class 2 but they could be equally good ponies just one does not fore fill the breed criteria the main things are temperament and trainability. I have yet to see a Connemara with really poor confirmation and most have a pop in them.

 

[ElleandAdair]

Hi all, just a question relating to this thread - I have recently purchased a beautiful 6yo full connie. In her passport it says that she requires a further inspection to be entered into the stud book, however there only seems to be filly inspections? Would she still be able to go to one of those at 6 years old? Also she has a scar on a leg (not sure how long it's been there or if it will ever fully heal), would this lower or prevent her from being graded? Thanks

 

[South belle]

There is only a minimum age requirement of two years, there is no maximum. A scar would not have any detrimental effect on her grading, only if it restricted her movement. They are looking at conformation of limbs and that they move as a Connemara should not blemishes or imperfections. Good luck with her