Tell me about your connemaras!!! (And other natives!!)

atlantis

atlantis

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As title really.

I'm looking to get my own again in the new year after a 7 year break from horse ownership (so long - still riding lots though). I'm looking for a native that can hopefully live out all year. I'd like to do a bit of everything but concentrating on dressage for me (lower levels) but want to do a bit of everything and would ideally like a 14.2 so that if (a big IF) my daughter (3) gets into riding then she'd have a nice 14.2 to ride when she's bigger.

I know that's very idealistic, dreamer lol!! But I'd just like a nice family friend. I'm looking for a big Labrador type personality really, in horse form lol.

I like the look of connemaras mostly, although I'm very open to other types. Would love peoples opinions on these and other bigger native ponies. I'm 5'4" so don't really want anything much smaller than 14hh. I'd go over height quite happily if everything else was right. 14.2 is just a starting point really.

Thanks to you lovely HHO lot who are all knowing!!!

Jo x
 
Connies are lovely versatile ponies, but for me it would have to be a highland every time. Great characters, very hardy, very good doers and mine does a very decent prelim test and is working at novice at home. Love them.
 
I have a Connemara and he is a treasure. I'm so lucky to own him, he does novice BD dressage and works higher at home, he was a hoys standard worker in his former life and is a brilliant jumper. However, the best bit about him is his temperament; he is so easy and kind, such a joy to ride and handle and never has a grumpy moment. Safe to hack, easy to jump and really good on the ground for everyone. He's a full up 14.2hh and I'm 5'8 and don't look stupid on him, and tbh I've met and ridden several connemaras and have loved all of them, that's why I decided to get my own! My boy is Irish bred and Ireland does produce really cracking Connies if you can get one (English are lovely too!)
 
My connie was amazing, he did medium level dressage with ease, won a lot in the show ring, jumped (when he felt like it only) and taught begginers to ride.

If you go for a true old fashioned leg in each corner connie at 5ft4 you could look as small as 13.2hh
I'm 5ft4 and this was my connie who stood at just under 14hh.
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Check out fjords! I know they're chunky like the highlands but they have wonderful personalities. My lad is very much like a big lab, a livery remarked that she had gone to check on my field and my pony just wandered up to her to say hello, which surprised her as her horse doesn't care less! Our non-horsey handyman loves him as he was adjusting the electric fencing and my pony followed him all the way round! He's proven to be very brave, honest and not in the least bit spooky. I can't wait to back him! :)
 
Had my Connemara 3 days..and i'm absolutely in love already.
He's a huge character and has scope to burn!

If I had the money, i'd defo get another one..or two..or 5..they're defo my favourite breed by miles :D
 
I love connies but I now own a Highland. I grew up riding them so have come full circle and I also occasionally ride a friend’s too. What I would say is do not be deceived by their size! I set out thinking I needed a 14.2hh but good God I was like a pea on a mountain on a full up 14.2hh highland pony, I am also 5ft4 and slight. My pony is 14hh but he is way bigger to ride and hold together than even the 15.2hh sports horse I used to own, Highlands can be long striding too! He is actually on the verge of being big for me and I am quite comfortable and look in proportion on a 13.1hh/13.2hh which I would never have believed.

ETA “labrador type” my highland IS a labrador in pony form and he is the type i remember riding as a kid, however be warned, I had to look long and hard to find one like him, Highland’s can be sharp, tricky little bu&&ers too :p
 
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I have 2 connie x tb, they are the most amazing breed, even with tb in them they are very hardy, live out all year, come rain or shine! they are both very warm so don't need wrapping up in loads of rugs! until my mare was about 24, she didn't even need a hard feed in the winter! now she is 29 she has 2 feeds during the winter but cheap as chips fast fibre

if I wanted something about 14.2 id defo look at a pure connie
 
Connemaras are amazing. Mine is half TB, and she's far from easy however she's the sort that once you get her on side, she will do absolutely anything for you. She is worth her weight in gold and is so capable and scopey. She is honestly the best thing that ever happened to me, she's my other half, my best friend. I love riding her, but even if I couldn't ride her, I'd love to just have her around to brighten my day.
 
We have a 15hh Connie. He's a star, lovely nature and lives on fresh air!! He's a little character and loved by everyone. If I could I would have more!!
 
We have a 14.3hh connie, and I wouldn't swop him for the world. He is the kindest, most gentle pony, with the most amazing manners, he can be a bit of a one person pony when ridden but he has been everything and more I could've hoped for. We bought him for my daughters 12th birthday and he has taught her so much, he does a little bit of prelim dressage, loves sponsored rides, can jump really well but like someone else said on here more about how he feels about it. He lives on fresh air and loves to be out in his field no matter what the weather.
 
Awesome replies thanks guys!!! It makes me think I'm on the right track looking at connies!!! And other natives!!! Love the idea of an exmore too!!!

My friends mums highland is 13.3hh and I look just about right on him so will look at smaller too as well as slightly overheight!!!

Thanks guys!!!

I'm thinking about an unbroken youngster and maybe buying from stud. Anyone got any recommendations?
 
We had a lovely Connie -she did sj, xc, whp (plaited and M&M), dressage to elementary, riding club and pony club - most of it with a disabled rider. She was a proper schoolmaster - you had to ride her correctly and she would go beautifully. We lost her this year aged 32, and she left a huge gap
 
At 5'4 you could choose pretty much anything depending on your shape! I would try to decide type first, hairy or clean legged, a nice full up sec B may well ride as rangy as a full up connie (who are often not childrens rides) where as a little fiesty sec C can ride like a fire breathing dragon! Do you want lots of hair to look after? Do you enjoy getting wet as connies are invariably grey, well greenygreyish in my own experience, and money to buy shares in Fairy Liquid should be budgetted for as well!
<<<<<<<<<<My own connie has been worth his weight in gold, will go anywhere and do anything whether he enjoys it or not (dressage), and jump whatever is in front of him. He will gallop for England and hack on the busiest of roads and having had him 11 years now I have owned him the longest of any of my previous horses, even if he wants to be a Poobald!!
 
Thanks Bobbly. Food for thought. I'm not put off by grey at all. I think they're beautiful enough to warrant the washing lol!! I think I'd rather not have too much hair but tbh it's the personality (and paces) of the pony that's more important to me!!
 
I bought my 14.2 connie 7 years ago as a 7 year old. I wouldn't change him for the world :) He's a perfect all rounder. He can do a decent dressage test (lady at my old yard who was very into dressage used to compete on him because she saw his potential). He is fab to jump, hack, long rein. He also has the best temperament you could wish for - he is the friendliest horse I know! There isn't a grumpy bone in his body, and he has a great personality :) In all the 7 years I've had him he has had once instance or illness/lameness and that was an abscess in his hoof.

Bad points with my pony is he can be a right sod to catch, lowest in the pecking order (not a real bad point), and can get strong but he is very had to fault, everyone I know loves him :) I've added a couple of pics:

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There are two types of connemara old showing type and performance type, the later tends to be fiesty and will jump like a stag the showing type tend to be more placid and lab type ! I have one with performance type a mare had her from a foal she has been tricky along the way particualry until she was 2 years. Not nasty temp just strong willed testing boundaries, she is the herd leader now. Wouldn't change her for the world but has been a challenge for me at times !
 
Very jealous if all these people with Connies who have managed to get a good one!! I wanted an all rounder who could do a bit of everything so after some research decided to get a connie and bought one from a field in Ireland. I've had mine for two years, he's 6 now and is only just starting to behave himself. I can't tell you how many hours of tears and worry this pony has put me through and how many times I've considered just giving up on him and getting a goldfish. I think they mature much more slowly than horses. He's very strong willed, opinionated, stubborn and a complete nightmare at times. Having said that he can also be the sweetest and most lovable character and is a real yard favorite. He's a very chunky traditional type and having grown to a gigantic 15.1hh (unfortunately!!) he easily carries my 5'10" other half so they can be a real family all-rounder. It takes a long time for him to trust somebody. He's now bonded with me and is fantastic with near perfect manners but can act like an unhandled bull for anyone else who he decides he doesn't like. He's been away for schooling to various professionals who claimed they could turn him into a working hunter superstar and he's had all of them on the floor within the first few rides. He's never done it to me (touch wood) although I'm not a talented a rider and I often struggle to get any nice work out of him when he's having an uncooperative day but he seems to prefer knowing his rider. In summary you can't judge a horse purely on it's breed (as I did), there are good ones and there are bad ones so go out and try as many as possible before you make a decision.
 
I think you can get good ponies in all the Native breeds, they are beautiful quality ponies.
My choice is Highlands which I love. There are different types within the breed and I think at 5ft4 you would be better with a smaller one. A full up 14.2 Highland is quite a beastie!

My two home bred boys are about 14 hh and would carry most people. I drive my 6 yr old black Highland and he is the most honest genuine pony you could wish for, easy to look after, easy to train, willing, forward, great on the roads. Have fun whatever you choose!
 
I have a native of officially unknown breeding but I'd guess mostly or full Connemara. I got him from someone I know 2 and a bit years ago, as a rising 6yo. He'd hunted a season or two in Ireland, never been schooled and had seen a few coloured poles. He went through the teenage stage and was truly vile as a 6 to 7yo, really horrible. He also grew during that time and is a shade over 15hh now I think. He's 8 now and I can't tell you how proud I am of the horse he has grown up in to. He's filled out and it seems there is nothing he can't turn his hoof to. He has always loved jumping and really comes to life on the XC course. I SJ, XC, have done some BE80s and UA 90s including coming 2nd in his first ever 90. He might roll the odd pole SJ but he is brave, genuine and careful XC. If I point him at it, he goes. He's clever, quick and safe but can be really feisty and sharp too. Now he is stronger and better schooled, he has correct, expressive paces. Rides more like 16hh than 15hh, very bouncy. Does a cracking Prelim test and working Nov at home, though he doesn't love DR and gives it the bare minimum effort. Safe to hack, lovely to handle, like a big puppy dog and loves fuss and attention.

He would never be suitable for a novice as he's too sensitive and sharp. I don't think he'll ever make a schoolmaster because he doesn't suffer fools or mistakes gladly, he can get quite anxious and tense if he's worried or doesn't understand something. I just think he's amazing - I took him team chasing on Sunday, first time out and he was lead horse, skipped around the course, then yesterday he flat schooled beautifully. If all connies are like him then I'm sold, he's super!
 
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