Connemara Riders!

[Pink Gorilla]

What height and weight are you please (if you're happy to divulge)? I've been saving up for a yearling warmblood, which I plan to buy in a year or so with a view to produce for dressage in the future. However after selling my previous warmblood a couple of years ago and buying a much easier Irish Cob x Connemara to ride for now while I have very small children and less time to keep a horse in the structured routine most young warmbloods require, I have now fallen in love with Connie's! Obviously mine is a Cob type Connie and I am 5'7 and 10 stone. I'm thinking of buying a Connie yearling instead of a warmblood and wondering if I'm too big for a full connie? Although I'm tall, I'm more shorter in the leg and longer in the torso kind of tall, so thinking I may look top heavy?

 

[Timelyattraction]

I had a full green book 15.3hh connie! So if you are lucky/ search hard enough you can get pne that may grow over height ?

 

[AWinter]

I have a 15hh Connie and I’d let you ride him at that height/weight. You can definitely get overheight ones now, they’re very popular, we actually had a 16hh one come through the Irish dealer I worked for.

 

[Wishfilly]

There's a huge amount of variation in pure bred connemaras these days- some are around the 14h mark and quite fine, so would probably be a bit small for you, but equally, as others have said, a lot are being bred "overheight" to 15hh or even taller, and would carry you happily and comfortably.

If buying a yearling, the risk is, obviously, that it wouldn't make the height/size you'd want, but if you research bloodlines, and find a breeder who has a good track record of producing bigger horses, etc- but I'm sure you know that.

Would the aim still be to produce for dressage? If so, it might be worth looking at Welsh Ds as well, for a native breed that can do well in dressage and happily carry an adult.

 

[Abacus]

We have a 15.1 quite fine Connemara (unregistered but he looks absolutely Connemara). I’m 5’5 and a bit under 9 stone. I look absolutely fine on him although I’m used to a big moving 16.1 so he feels small to me. I’m the other way round though; longer legs and shorter torso. My son who is 5’8 (but very light) also looks right on him.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Mine is 14hh. I am 5’1” and 8 st 3. 9 st is her limit.

 

[NinjaPony]

I had a 14.2hh Connemara and I’m 5’9 and was around 9-9.5stone when I rode him. I got him when I was 15 and so had to grow with him! I’m long in the leg so we did sometimes look a little silly but he took up my leg well and I didn’t try to compensate with short stirrups etc. I did use small blunt spurs sometimes just to help me use my leg in the right place rather than drawing my leg up too much. We had a blast, he was the best pony I’ve ever had and will ever had. I’ll be looking for something 15.2hh-16hh next time, but I’ve noticed that I definitely look taller on a 16.2hh TB than a 15.2hh hunter type.

 

[Splashy pony]

I'm just back from the Pony Festival and Connemara sales in Clifden. Lots of overweights but prices are soaring. I'm 5'6" and just over 10st..My Connie is 14.2 but I only hack these days. I gave up jumping before I got him although we used to pop a few poles.

 

[First Frost]

I have a 15.1 and a 14.3 both pure Connie's. They are both beautifully bred Irish ponies and have some chunk about them so take up my leg easily. Both are successful competition 'ponies' and cope fine with me at 5ft 5 and 11 st.

 

[Connemara24]

I have a 14.3 - 15 now retired connemara and he could of easily carried you. I'm 8st and 5ft 4.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Mine’s 15.2, I’m 5ft and 9ish stone.

 

[Skib]

I rode a beloved 15 h RS Connie for years. The same horse can vary in health and stength and fitness, so though I rode her when I was 10 stone including my winter clothes, towards the end of her life I had to keep my weight under nine stone 7.

 

[M1lbie]

Mine is approx 15.1 and a chunky Irish bred, I’m 5ft 6 and about 10.5st, he carries me easily

 

[pistolpete]

The 15.2 legend Smokey! I’m 5’6’’ and 11st. He’s pure Connie and pure gold!

 

[sbloom]

Leg and body length can play a part - long legs and short body can be better, a long body is leverage on a smaller pony and gives you a high centre of gravity, otherwise overall height and weight no problem, but be aware saddle fitting is the key. 16.5 most likely for a 14.2 (brands and models vary in footprint length though) and you'll likely want something for wider horses/natives/cobs.

 

[Puzzled]

I import and sell a large number of Connemara and Connemara x ID. They vary is size from 14.2hh to 15.2hh (on average). Some are very blood type and others much stockier models. Nearly all my clients are adults and most are 9 1/2 stone plus. I never struggle to find Connemaras to suit them. Just be warned…..one Connemara will never be enough…they are addictive!!!

 

[DabDab]

I have a 14.1hh old fashioned chunk of a Connemara and I'm 5'8 and 64kg