tell me about connemaras

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Ibblebibble

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went to look at one in the search for a new pony for daughter and rather liked what we saw.
so be honest and tell me the good things and the bad things about the breed in general, i know what the books say but they never tell the whole story;)
 
Good points
- they are generally quite scopey
- they can have good paces
- they are very cleaver
- they can get you out of trouble
- generally good dooers

bad
- they are extremly stubborn
- they only tend to work for you if you have them on side
- lots have water issues
- they are cleaver (see point above about getting them on side)

They can be the most infuriating things ever but boy when they are good you wouldnt want to be sat on any thing else but do take the time to get them on side or they wont do any thing for you.
 
dafthoss said:
Good points
- they are generally quite scopey
- they can have good paces
- they are very clever
- they can get you out of trouble
- generally good dooers

bad
- they are extremly stubborn
- they only tend to work for you if you have them on side
- lots have water issues
- they are clever (see point above about getting them on side)

They can be the most infuriating things ever but boy when they are good you wouldnt want to be sat on any thing else but do take the time to get them on side or they wont do any thing for you.
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That's pretty much Willy to a t, other than the water thing (surely that's wholly dependent on the horse, not the breed).
 
I would have thought that too but on the last connie thread loads of people said theres was funny with water.
 
well this one walked through the puddles and mud without any fuss so don't think water will be a problem;) her owner did say she felt as safe as houses on her and trusted her implicitly, compared to her other horse who can be unpredictable so that ties in with what you've said:)
Good doer? rather too good at the moment lol, if we go for her she will be in the fatty paddock for a good while bless her:D
daughter really liked her but i've dealt mainly with welshies and just wondered if there were any deep dark connie secrets i should be made aware of;)
 
I have 2 connie x TB's. but defo agree with dafthoss. I have one that likes water and the other just jumps it, but he is only 2 so we need to get him walking through it, but don't have any rivers or fords where we are!

I love this breed, never ridden a fully connie but the dad of my 2yr old was lovely!

I have heard of a few that have been pretty evil but I'm sure its not not the breed, prob just whats happened to them in the past!

I wouldn't want any other breed horse now! they are hardy, live out 24/7 with no issue, have great feet, don't need too much hard feed, great jumpers (2yr old cleared a 5 bar gate from a stand still) very forward going!
 
dafthoss said:
Good points
- they are generally quite scopey
- they can have good paces
- they are very cleaver
- they can get you out of trouble
- generally good dooers

bad
- they are extremly stubborn
- they only tend to work for you if you have them on side
- lots have water issues
- they are cleaver (see point above about getting them on side)

They can be the most infuriating things ever but boy when they are good you wouldnt want to be sat on any thing else but do take the time to get them on side or they wont do any thing for you.
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This made me chuckle..for all the right reasons :) I'm from Connemara and the same could apply to the native bi-peds as well.
They are very hardy and seem to survive well being left out all year in bogs and mountain grazing and in all weathers. Probably why they became hardy in the first place. I don't think I have ever seen one rugged up whatever the weather was doing. Good luck with your search. I may have some contacts which could help if you decide to import one.
 
Trasam :D maybe thats where they get their temprement from.

Just thought it was worth a mention after the ammont of people that said theirs was and the big tantrum mine had about it.

Compared to the welshies I have ridden they are a lot less willing to please on the flat but when they jump they throw their heart and soul in to it. Not that they arnt capable of good flat work they just often arnt that motivated to get it right in the same way a welsh is. I find they spook as a joke mostly rather than being properly scared, see above about brain :cool: but generally very good to handle on the ground where as welshies tend to be a bit hotter here I have found.

I'll try find a picture of mine being good to handle.
 
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We have a conny. They are brilliant ours can jump and turn her hoof to whatever you ask of her, loves my daughter to bits and is her best friend. would never have anything else.:)
 
My sister and I were discussing ponies yesterday, and our conclusion was a connie was your best bet for a solid PC good egg. The ones I know of have been absolute stars with nice, solid attitudes and generally very willing and easy to do. None have had water issues, but they were all seasoned ponies who could pack a toddler round most 2'6 courses without batting an eyelid, lol! Think the water thing depends a lot on the pony- clever ponies who aren't taught well from the off will come up with clever evasions and naughty tricks more than those who have a good grounding from the off IMO :)
 
Mines a muck magnet but loves water, will cross the river up to his neck but he's a very well bred chunky Irish pony and is funny about false surfaces, I put it down to him being a bog pony and has self preservation in mind! Most not keen in doing endless schooling, a bit like a border collie they need stimulation and variety. Lots tend to have fleshy mouths so need careful bitting. I have found that some take time to mature mentally too and mine at 3/4 fell over his poles but most are brave and very capable, as he is now, will jump pretty much anything, far braver than I! Temperament wise I believe that it may be down to ancestry, some with Spanish influence and some with Arab, the Spanish being the heavier/chunkier more sensible type. Some change from early colours quite dramitacally and it's worth researching your pony's breeding to see if she follows type. If she's dun then personally I would only go for one with dark eyes as I've always found that pale eyed ponies can be fizzy.(IMO) But as above says, if you can get them on side then they beat the other breeds hands down. (Not that I'm biased of course!)
 
I'd very much agree with Dafthoss. Re the water thing, I think its more percentage wise they are less likely to like it compared to other breeds rather than not going in it. Being very determined you can't force them too, but get them onside & they'll do it for you. Mine still doesn't like it, jumps puddles & deep mud in the field instead of going through. But to handle or ride she'll get in it to please you. As lolo said, I have dumped novice kids on her with a neckstrap & washing line reins & she'll nanny them round a course, even if they only use their legs to vaguely give her an idea which fence is next. Younger days she could hold her own competing & hunting, then the next day be led round by a toddler. When my daughter was a toddler everyone said it would be hard to find a first pony that is as safe as her. She's always been the one younger kids learn how to hold, clip, bandage on etc & a good confidence boost for a child who's lost their nerve. Mines xtb but apart from finer coat & mane & tail & slightly longer legs all connie. And I intend my 7yr old to move onto her in 18months when she outgrows her 11.1. Even though she's 14.2 my daughter can ride her now. But she's still fun & forwards just safe. Definitely go for it. I intend getting another when daughters on mine to bring on for daughter when mine retires. As much as they can be determined to do things their way, that works for the positive too. Can't recommend them enough.
 
I have ridden a ConnemaraX(75%) fairly regularly over the past year, and he is very sweet. He does have a bit of an issue with water, but will go through fords/streams if it's insisted on, but prefers to avoid puddles if he can. In general he is very safe (especially to hack out) but he is clever and has a lot of evasions if he doesn't want to work. He can be used for lead rein children no problem, but is also happy carrying a small adult around a course of fences or playing gymkhana games. He is absolutely gorgeous though, and definately "rises to the occasion".

Unlike others on this thread, however, he is not such a good doer, and was actually a little underweight when he came to his current home (not overly but just a little). He has put some weight on now, though and is pretty fit and healthy in general although he does have a habit of losing his shoes. Absolutely fine in the stable to groom/tack up etc.
 
We found our Connie in a dealer's yard in Southend. He's serious jumping pedigree but very sharp. Hates puddles but quite happy with any water XC. A poor doer, feed merchants told me many are cereal intolerant. He has wonderful paces but is very resistant to schooling, he also has the fat tongue/fleshy bars and bitting has been difficult. He is also the most gentle animal in the world and is much loved.
 
I bought a new horse recently - "unknown" breeding but I'd guess at mostly Connemara, maybe with some cob and ISH/ sports pony in there. I know he has a hell of a lot of scope.. because he keeps jumping the 5ft fence out of his field...

So far I'd say he is incredibly quick and clever (also quick to pick up bad habits!), desperate to please, loves to work and get things right. Very over excitable and sharp (but learning to channel that so it could just be baby as just turned 6), very scopey. He's pretty brave and bold though he does like to look at things sometimes. Generally if I tell him something is OK, he occasionally asks "are you sure", I say yes and he says "oh, OK then". From then on, that thing is never a problem again. So far no issues with water! Overall I'm delighted with him, I think he could turn his hoof to anything. Nice paces, quick witted and clever, good jump, well put together and got great feet.

On the other side of that... he can be quite an angry pony when he thinks he should be allowed to do something and has a serious temper in him! Very opinionated but he's always cheeky with it so difficult to get mad at him.

I've never had a connie type before so I don't know if this is typical or just my horse! He couldn't be anymore different to my big horse though (ISH).
 
dafthoss said:
Good points
- they are generally quite scopey
- they can have good paces
- they are very cleaver
- they can get you out of trouble
- generally good dooers

bad
- they are extremly stubborn
- they only tend to work for you if you have them on side
- lots have water issues
- they are cleaver (see point above about getting them on side)

They can be the most infuriating things ever but boy when they are good you wouldnt want to be sat on any thing else but do take the time to get them on side or they wont do any thing for you.
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Yes!

My beautiful boy was a connemara - the most stubborn horse I've ever met! would do everything he could to avoid doing things he didn't want to, though loved his fun rides / jumping and really put his heart into it (when he was in the right mood ;)) . Had an amazing jump on him, could easily pop over the 5 bar gate from standstill when I went in with a headcollar to catch him.
Hated water - couldn't get him out the stable in the rain, he wouldn't step in puddles, panicked when it rained when he was in the field - took me years to get him in a water jump and that only ever happened twice! Never got muddy, didnt really like the outdoors though this may have been due to his showing past rather than being a connie trait as i've seen plenty of muddy ones.

Incredibly clever & good at avoiding things he didn't want to do. Very very opinionated!! He picked things up very quickly (had so many tricks!) but you had to watch him because he used his intelligence against you in a big way! Really agree with the bit about getting them onside, they will not do a thing for you otherwise.

He was extremely greedy, his world revolved around food and he was a very good doer. Ridiculously strong too - he would regularly push down solid post and rail fences just to get to the grass on the other side and would walk through rows of electrified tape without a second thought ;) - cost an absolute fortune in fencing.
They're supposed to be very agile but that was one thing he definitely was not!

He was incredibly spooky but I think 99% of the time he was taking the p***... Very nappy too and could throw huge tantrums over nothing which could last for hours!

He was absolutely beautiful (a dun) and had the most gorgeous eyes, everyone who met him fell in love with him. He always showed off to his audience. Fantastic ground manners too, so polite - you could leave him in the stable with the door wide open and he would stay there for as long as it took for you to return, he would never barge and would never reach for the grass when he was being held.

He was very hard work but an absolute sweetheart and he meant the world to me, I lost him a couple of days ago due to severe colic and I'm completely heartbroken - will never find another like him x
 
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this one is 15 yrs old so i'm hoping there will be no 'youngster' shenanigans, we've got a 5 yr old welshie currently doing his fair share of those:rolleyes:

I'm definitely drawn to her and both daughter and her friend who we dragged along felt happy and safe riding her, friend even took her for a canter in the field where the other horses were turned out and mare was a little gem:)

i think i've pretty much decided haven't I lol:o:D
 
Well, I have a connie x TB and have had him 17 years (he's 21 this year). He is very pony like even though he's 16hh but he's very clever and knows his own mind. I wouldn't say he's stubborn though but he's clever and 'strong-willed' shall I say! :) he turns his hoof to anything and likes to please and loves to be centre of attention. I used to hate dressage but as I have todo it as part of eventing I sort of got in to it a bit more and actually he quite likes it - it goes hand in hand with his show off side!

He has always been a very careful jumper although is a spooky so and so - until he realises he needs to take stuff seriously! Even when I got him as a 4 yo I felt 100% safe on him and still do and my mum has hacked him out since the day we got him and still does now - it's nice to have a horse that you can compete on to a decent enough level yet your mum can take out hacking safely.
 
dafthoss said:
Good points
- they are generally quite scopey
- they can have good paces
- they are very cleaver
- they can get you out of trouble
- generally good dooers

bad
- they are extremly stubborn
- they only tend to work for you if you have them on side
- lots have water issues
- they are cleaver (see point above about getting them on side)

They can be the most infuriating things ever but boy when they are good you wouldnt want to be sat on any thing else but do take the time to get them on side or they wont do any thing for you.
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Almost all of the above. The water thing isn't all of them, mine loves water (he used to be in a field that had cross country fences, found him in the water jump a few times.) They're great fun, the best horses I've ridden have all been Connemaras.

I wouldn't swap mine for the world, and my next horse will almost definitely be connie, or connie x.
 
Dafthoss has pretty much summed mine up except the water mine drags you into a puddle.
As hes only just turned 5 he has some baby traits still,like sharp and spookie but the most willing horse, theres nothing he wont do and tries his hardest in everything. Very tough and a good doer.
Ive always had welsh types but from having a connie i'll never go back.
 
We have a 15.2hh connie cross something, he is brill, better with water now I was just firm with him. He does everything, I do unaffiliated ODE 2'9", working hunter, showing. My 66 year old mum hacks and jumps him, worth his weight in gold to us. Likes to stamp his feet if he is bored,hungry, wanting more attention. i laugh so much with him. Would always have a connie now:)
 
I have a connie x and adore him but he is also extremely stubborn!!!!

You all speak about getting them onside... how do I do this?? I think we have a pretty good relationship, he trusts me when things are scary and he won't leave the field for anyone else, excellent manners on the ground and rarely argues except for going round to the hose area. but would love to know any tricks to get them on side????
 
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