Tell me about connemaras

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Bexx

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I used to loan a young conny and can honestly say he was the best horse I have ever worked with, he was quick to learn, bold to jump, lovely on the ground, easy to do and just so much fun in general. I am now looking to buy one of my own so my question is, is my old loan conny true to type? Or was he a total one off?
 
Connies are the best! The ones I know (I know a lot) are: good jumpers, intelligent, affectionate, and have great personalities. They do seem to me to learn bad habits quickly, because they're so clever, but as long as you don't reinforce naughty behaviour (e.g. hand feeding) they're fine. There's one at my stables who is only seven (six?) but he's super calm and brilliant with the RDA kids. At the same time he's really fun to ride and an enthusiastic jumper. I think they're generally great allrounders!
 
I have 2 conny x tbs, they are the greatest horses alive! my mare is 28 now and still as fit as a fiddle! I don't jump her anymore, but more because I feel guilty coz im 12 stone! but she used to jump anything! would keep going for horse! so brave! my boy is 3, so not started doing much with him, other than ground work! I never had any issues getting him to learn the simple things, and he can jump fences and gates from a stand still, so guess hes going to be a good jumper too!
 
I've just brought a conny x tb and his super. his only 4 but very level headed, like others have said a quick learner, and very affectionate :) always wants to please, pops a nice jump too
 
Connies are wonderful. My daughter's pony is a connemara (a Sydserff, for those that know their connie breeding) and she is a truly wonderful pony. Forward going but sensible, great little jump, sweet nature, ridiculously good doer - she really has it all.
 
I have shared a Connemara who is a total saint, one of the best ponies I have ever known. Then I got my Connemara who is loving, cheeky, safe with a big jump. Love him to bits.
 
I have a Connie x ISH and I bought her last year, sight unseen, on hearing the owner had gone bankrupt and his horses were all going to the sales. She was a 3yo then and unbroken. Without doubt, BEST decision I ever made. She will be with me forever, circumstances permitting. Gentle as a kitten and Brave as a lion, Broke her in by myself, and we jumped our first clear round last week at her first attempt! The only thing is that a good Connie is expensive, because they are so good! that's why I had to buy an unbroken one.
 
My connie put me off them for life! - however, he was definitely a dodgy model :o :rolleyes:

He was beautifully bred and completely gorgeous (always getting randomly photographed - gave him a huge ego), but absolutely impossible to do anything with, he was extremely stubborn and difficult, very grumpy, hated other horses, was absolutely impossible to catch, however small the field! He had an amazing jump (jumped the gate from standstill many times when I was within catching reach of him), but he decided when and where he would jump. He put in the absolute minimum amount of effort, whatever the situation - however could throw the biggest, most dramatic tantrums over absolutely nothing. Very dangerous in traffic, spooked at everything (despite being handy pony winner for years and years as a youngster), reared, napped for england and would regularly plant and stand where he'd stopped for hours at a time. He destroyed everything too - regularly walked through solid post and rail fences when he felt like it, cost an absolute fortune in fencing over the years as he just didn't seem to see them as a barrier! No respect for any kind of electric tape, however powerful. He also didn't "do" water - either in weather form or xc form.

However!! He did have the most impeccable ground manners, was very gentle and would never dream of barging / taking advantage on the ground and was an angel for the vet / farrier / dentist etc, whatever they were doing to him. He travelled beautifully, he was fantastic to pamper as he would stand for hours while I trimmed and bathed him, but an absolute diva - he would always pose for the camera, giving different angles ;). He was extremely intelligent, usually used it against me but handy on the rare occasions we worked as a team! Loved learning "tricks" too and picked them up very fast. I've painted a terrible picture of him, he was a huge character and I loved him to pieces - but couldn't have another!
 
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I bought a "little Irish horse" last year and I'd guess he's mostly Connemara. Looks like Connie with maybe a bit of Irish cob in. About 15hh, reasonably chunky and definitely more of a little horse than pony. Bought him as a 5yo, he's just turned 7.

He is an absolute super star and I can say I am completely converted, if they're all like him. He has plenty of attitude and can be very opinionated. Very spooky, sharp and prone to silliness. But... he is clever, quick to learn (only needs telling/ showing once or twice and always learns from his mistakes - you can see him working things out if he's done it wrong the first time, and he calculates the best way to do it the second time), bold, genuine, loves to work and to please. He has an incredible work ethic, tries his heart out. He's incredible XC, the bigger/scarier the fences are, the more he seems to dare you to do them. Superb hunter - you could put a child on him and he'd take them round safely all day. Loves to SJ - bold, careful and clever, and he is small and pony-like enough that he can make sharp turns if needed. Has lovely paces and plenty of natural impulsion so he does a nice dressage test.

He frustrates the hell out of me sometimes because he can be such an opinionated little git, and once he's learned a bad habit, that's it. But I wouldn't change him. He's such a lovely person - adores fuss, people and cuddles. Sorry for the gushing but in all my years of horses, I have honestly never had such a cracker :)

All that said... I don't know if I was just lucky! I bought him from someone I knew, he knew we would get on. I'd already tried a pure bred Connie and it was horrid. Grossly fat for a start off. It was piggy, backwards, strong and grumbled the entire time I rode. I only rode for 10 or 15 mins, didn't even bother to jump because I could tell it wasn't going be nice. No redeeming features!!
 
Love my 15h Connie (Earl of Castlefrench lines for those who know breeding), had him for 6 years since he was 4. he's so affectionate, clever, can jump extremely big but then again can be a git to catch, jumps when he wants to over walls and gates, a total superstar and extremely stunning. Has a home with me for life as I'm 19, couldn't be without him!
 
I have had a connie - Skye - for well over 7 years. She has been the ideal pony for me, from the ages of 11 - 18. I mainly hunted and did the odd show and she was a machine. She injured herself out hunting last November and so was out of action then was given a thoroughbred to ride, realised I needed something bigger so brought him. Still got Skye at the moment who is now sound and back having fun with a little girl. Can safely say a connie is the best breed out there! Well, from my limited experience with the breed :D
 
I have a 4 yr old Connie out of laerkens cascade dawn, he is broke but on break at mo will be brought back into work September time, he is a very cheeky but lovable character loves people loves attention. he was relatively easy to break loves his work when it suits him he can be very stubborn!
 
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