New Connie owner, any advice?

[Mikas-mom]

hey Guys, new here so hello ?

just wondering how many of you are owners of Connies? I’ve recently decided to buy myself a lovely Dun Connie mare, never had Connies before.
any advice?
thanks ?

 

[Michen]

Sell it! They are buggers!

I’m on my 3rd and have two now. Wonderful breed but be prepared for some challenges if yours is a sporty model, they can be very sharp.

 

[Wheels]

Me! I'm a relatively recent convert having had big horses mostly up until 3 yrs ago when I went horse shopping and came home with a pony.

Hes awesome, such a dude who seems to just love everything and everyone. I wouldn't call this one sharp but he is very sensitive and in the wrong hands he could be easily upset

 

[willowblack]

Welcome to the club! We have 3! Thankfully for my bank balance two are now out on loan (my daughter would never let me sell them!)

They are extremely clever, can live on fresh air and are hardy ponies but with a terrific amount of scope and ability.
Also, congratulations on getting a dun, all of ours have been grey and are notoriously difficult to keep clean ?

 

[Ceriann]

I have a Connie cross - decided ID’s were too big and went looking for something smaller. She’s an absolute dude.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

This thread is absolutely worthless without pictures of your new Connie! ?


I've been riding one a few days a week recently, and now I want one in the worst way.

 

[Yeomans]

I have one, as in avatar, he has the most lovely nature and turns his hand to anything, however as people have said they can be pretty sharp. Once they learn something they never forget, getting the right saddle can sometimes be a nightmare as they are quite flatbacked. Do good on fresh air and are very friendly towards other horses (mine is). Luckily for me I managed to get a lovely Bay. Have fun with your new horse.

 

[whizzer]

Ive got a 3/4 connie mare,completely converted me to them(previously had Tb types)
Lovely nature,hardy good doer,great feet,great teeth.
Jumps,hacks,works nicely on the flat.
Happily lives in or out.
Very forward going in the school,I hate kick along horse, yet friends kids ride & jump her & she really looks after them.
Only about 15.1hh but she really takes the leg up,I’m not a midget but never look to tall on her.

 

[P.forpony]

Congratulations and welcome to the connie club, be prepared to never leave.
Mine was bought as a project and never left she’s far too wonderful ?
Pictures please!

 

[CMcC]

I have one full Connie Dun
One Connie x Arab, bay and
One Connie x ? probably cob, grey
All mares.
Intelligent, opiniated, versatile, easy to keep.

 

[Marigold4]

I used to ride a 16.3 sports horse, then when she retired I discovered connie ponies. They are really fun and versatile. I have one who was an amazing jumping pony, now 24 and retired, and current one is good at dressage. Agree that saddle fitting can be a long search and yes, they have a very long memory if things go wrong. The old pony had a tough time in a dealer's yard when young and will still to this day run from tall men in caps!

 

[PSD]

I had a Connie x welsh (50/50) and she was the most amazing horse I ever had the pleasure of owning (my avatar) She was sharp, quirky but 10000% safe and fun, though she was a sensitive soul - a diva actually! But I swear she should have been a gelding. She was amazing with my two young children too. She’d jump the moon if I asked her to, the most loving and funny little mare. I absolutely love connies, they are the most wonderful breed and so versatile, she did everything from ridden showing to hunting, totally bomb proof and just an all round wonderful little mare

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Welcome to the connie club! Now you have one you'll never want anything else

Mine lives on fresh air, went rugless last winter no bother and absolutely adores people and dogs (hates horses). She can turn her hoof to anything but as someone said above I wouldn't say she was sharp, just sensitive and thrives under fair but firm riding. If you give her an inch she'll take a mile. Very clever pony, picks things up really quickly (it's just convincing her to do it the first time which can be a struggle!). Recently gone barefoot without a care in the world.

Saddle can be a nightmare, I'm waiting on corona to p off before I hopefully get my hands on an AH native saddle. Would also strongly suggest getting a bit consultant out when you can, connemara's have big fleshy tongues so finding a bit can be a struggle.

 

[clairefeekerry1]

I’ve got 2 of the buggers!
love them, they have massive personalities though and they are sharp, but safe I think and great fun. Congratulations

 

[Chippers1]

I've got one too! In my avatar

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Congratulations! I love connies. I started with a connie x arab and now have a full 'sporty type' connie (in my profile pic). Very intelligent, hard working, tolerant and loyal. Mine likes to investigate everything (especially poo) and has the art of attention seeking down to a fine art. I love the fact he is easy to handle and a very easy pony to ride - there are absolutely no dramas and he really doesn't get phased by much. Sadly he suffers from melanomas, sarcoids and weak stifles (and a bone chip in his fetlock) so is a walking vet's bill. However he is very much loved and to have him in my life is quite simply awesome. If a tad expensive lol.

 

[windand rain]

Had one from a foal as that is how we get our ponies. Stunningly beautiful and boy does she know it. Sold her to the lass that came to school her and she absolutely adores her nonsense

the day she arrived
at three

 

[Ambers Echo]

We have one who is an angel-pony in every way. Clever, kind, brave, friendly, willing and totally genuine. Jumps like a stag and never says no. Very much an old head on young shoulders too. She was babysiting the stressy 12 yo warmbloods out hacking when she was 4

She does cover herself head to toe in poo every day though.

 

[Mikas-mom]

Sell it! They are buggers!

? sounds like my usual type so nothing new then

I too am used to bigger horses, but saw her and fell in love ?
she is an overheight, 5 year Old, 15.1/2 ish, I guess sportier model.
she’s not home yet due to this bloody virus, but counting down the days.
i heard they are a breed like no other (can be opinionated, can be sweet, can be monsters ?) so im trying to do as much research now before she gets home.

but I’m sure there will be many bumps along the way, but i‘m act really excited and can’t wait.

photos below (not me riding, it’s the girl I got her from)

 

[IrishMilo]

I have one - my avatar. He's either an angel or a complete nightmare, depending which way the wind blows.

 

[FinnBobs]

I have a registered Connemara - he's over height but isn't really a sporty type. The number one things I have found with him are that he is much happier and more level headed when he's kept in regular varied work and that he can't be fed anything too rich including grass because he balloons and is prone to Laminitis. You also can't switch off because he can be a bit of a tinker if you aren't on the ball, particularly in company at speed! he's a great pony though

 

[MiniMilton]

I have a 15.2 sporty Connie, and he's very sensitive. Straightforward and calm 90% of the time but can put on an almighty strop when he wants to, and if I don't have endless patience when he puts on said strop it can result in a very ugly situation which can take many months to resolve. (obviously I learnt my lesson the hard way!)

Do watch weight gain. Like all natives they can pile it on very quickly on good grass.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Mine eats butterflies.

 

[Michen]

Both full connies. Both v different!!!

 

[Mikas-mom]

Mine eats butterflies.

something I will certainly watch out for ??

Michen, they are both beautiful ?

 

[Michen]

something I will certainly watch out for ??

Michen, they are both beautiful ?

your new one is super yummy! Love a dun- v jealous!

 

[IrishMilo]

This is mine.

 

[Wheels]

Your ew pony is lovely OP. Just to say that at 5yrs she may grow a little more and may grow outwards too lol

My boy looked like the sporty type at 4 and 5 but erm... blossomed into something a bit more substantial at 6. Hes 7 now and may still fill out a bit until hes 8.

He grew 2-3 inches between 4 and 6 yrs

This is he

 

[PSD]

She is lovely OP. Such a kind, sweet looking mare

 

[alexomahony]

OP she is lovely - love a Dun! Mine is grey, but i think sometimes he tries his hardest to be dun!

I have one and he is lovely, but is very tricky to bring back down to earth if he gets anxious about something! I was tacking up once, and he could hear motorbikes in the distance (he isn't actually that scared of them!) but he was convinced something terrible was about to happen... gets nervy quickly, but on a good day he is the greatest!

Photo below of me on said connie and his fancy friends haha