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

Got to put a vote in for the welshies! Saf 'does' dressage, but will turn a hoof to anything, great allrounder and rather purty too IMO:

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We had a 14hh connie by Templebready Fear Bui, she was fantastic and did everything including polocrosse, not a huge fan of dressage but would jump anything and was lovely to hunt. Fab forward going mare without a bad bone in her body. Also had a 14.2 Connie/TB gelding who took my daughter to the PC senior eventing champs, won classes at scope and did FEI trials for 3 years. He also won pretty much everything locally at dressage and competed at medium. although a bit feisty as a 5-6 year old, he matured into a lovely willing pony and went on to be a real schoolmaster for a succession of children. Sadly no longer with us but I wish I'd got another just like him. I absolutely love connies but as a previous post said, some of them can be a bit sharp but so that's true of any breed.
 
I like connies, went to the Northern Connemara Society show at Osbaldeston the other month and there is a fantastic range of 'types' of connies, they were doing everything from showing and wh to dressage!!

I have a section d and hes like a rather large dog rather than a horse ha ha ha!!
 
Get a New forest fantastic ponies and very hardy. Just as nice as a Connemara and can probably get them a good bit cheaper. I own a NF x Appaloosa and she was fantastic did a bit of everything and was bold as brass.
 
Barbie said:
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.
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You are not alone, my NF is very similar in his personality & outlook! I love him dearly, but I'm not sure I'd rush out to buy another one ...! :D
 
I was also thinking a New Forest - Connemaras do seem to be the breed of the moment and the prices have gone up a lot, whereas NFs can be bought for very little, especially at the sales.
If you can get a Forest-bred pony you will at least know it will be used to traffic :)
 
Wow!!! I've just been driving back from my mums and soooo many replies thanks so much. Love this forum!!!

Lots of food for thought. I think I want a leg at each corner type as I've met a few finer competition type connies and whilst they're lovely they're not what I'm after at this time I think. I think I'll have a look at Connies first but I'm very very open minded about breed I think. Anything native and around 14hh will be a good place to start.

The pony just needs to have the X factor (I know sorry, groan at that phrase) and although I'm not totally sure what that is I think I'll know when I see it.

For reference I've had 1 horse before. Was looking for a bay warm blood type to dressage with, ended up with the coloured <<<<< who got me placed BE. I bought him for his jump!!! I didn't want a coloured cob that could jump lol. He did also get 70% at Novice dressage too, but his jump was the thing that made me (and him)smile. Bought him as a thug (found his old owner dissing him on here once) sold him as an angel (with a couple of quirks, but was honest on selling and picked his home well. They still have him 7 years later). I can cope with a bit of character!!

Ooh getting excited. Must not get ahead of myself lol!!!
 
I adore my Connie, and he's lovely to have around. Very polite and easy mannered on the ground. And doesn't really have a bad bone in his body.

Would I have another - I'm not sure. It's taken him 11 years to grow up and he still finds life terrifying. He's spooky and utterly distracted by life. Can take him out to do two dresage tests, the first can be very sweet, the second a washout. Same show jumping. All the scope in the world if he chooses to pick his bl**dy legs up. He's very bold XC, which is a little terrifying as he 'knows best'. Hacking is fine, but we don't go near roads. He has a healthy fear of cows, birds, leaves, bags, kerb stones, bins and absolutely no fear of traffic. After he reversed over a car bonnet at speed to avoid going near some cattle we avoid roads ;)

He's not nappy, will jump anything asked of him and is a star out hunting, although we avoid ditches, post and rail and stone walls - see above about picking his legs up ;) hedges though are fair game and I can happily point him at any hedge and know he will get me safely to the otherwise.

He's very opinionated and let's me know when anything is wrong. His feet are dreadful, and we have to keep him on all sorts of supplements to stop them falling apart. We also have melanoma issues, being grey, and at some point they will cause an issue. We also have issues keeping weight off him and had a lami scare last spring, he has to be worked hard as if we limited his diet sufficiently to limit his weight he wouldn't be being fed.

I love him to bits, but he's not easy, he's not perfect and he has more than his fair share of issues. It's not a lack of talent, he has bags of that, it's his attitude to work, and the fact that he really couldn't care less if he's making you happy.

In contrast my welsh d x tb is the easiest, most trainable horse I've come across. A little less easy from the ground, but 100x easier to ride and jut as nice to have around.

I adore my Connie I really do, but I've shed more tears over that horse, for whatever his latest health issue is, the fact he makes you feel so utterly useless at times and the fact that he's so darned talented if he chose to use it.

He's mum's happy hacker now, and he's much more suited to that role and I hunt him, but I do pick and choose my country.

Of the two the welsh dx tb is the one I'd recommend, flashy, full of character and so so easy to have about.
 
GinaGeo said:
I adore my Connie I really do, but I've shed more tears over that horse, for whatever his latest health issue is, the fact he makes you feel so utterly useless at times and the fact that he's so darned talented if he chose to use it.
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So glad I'm not the only one! I thought mine must be some sort of genetic throw back because he's so different to everyone else's Connies but sounds very similar to yours!
 
oldie48 said:
We had a 14hh connie by Templebready Fear Bui, she was fantastic and did everything including polocrosse, not a huge fan of dressage but would jump anything and was lovely to hunt. Fab forward going mare without a bad bone in her body. Also had a 14.2 Connie/TB gelding who took my daughter to the PC senior eventing champs, won classes at scope and did FEI trials for 3 years. He also won pretty much everything locally at dressage and competed at medium. although a bit feisty as a 5-6 year old, he matured into a lovely willing pony and went on to be a real schoolmaster for a succession of children. Sadly no longer with us but I wish I'd got another just like him. I absolutely love connies but as a previous post said, some of them can be a bit sharp but so that's true of any breed.
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My Connemara is by the same sire and he is a delight, seems to produce really lovely Connies.
 
I&#8217;ve known two Connie&#8217;s well and they were/are both like that &#8211; very talented and capable, but in things they enjoy and when they want to enjoy them! The gelding is a lovely pony to be about, though a bit stressy a times, the mare was more difficult. The issue was that she was never motivated by wanting to please her rider.

My Section D is a good mix, he&#8217;s talented and clever, perhaps a bit too clever at times and hot with it &#8211; but he ultimately wants to do well and please his rider (once he decides you&#8217;re his person!).
 
I had a Connie when I was a teenager and she was the biggest madam I've ever met. Of course, I loved her dearly, but gosh she could be hard work. Lol.
She was far too mareish for me and I eventually decided I wanted an easier life. She now lives in Ireland as a broodmare and goes for the occasional gallop on the beach. She's happy because nobody is asking her to do anything she doesn't want to do, like load, or work hard, or behave. ;)
 
I had a 'sportier' bred model - he was stunning to look at, but too ride and handle was a nightmare.....he was so sensitive and could quickly lose the plot if stressed, and would tank off for no reason. He suffered from separation anxiety too which didn't help.

However it didn't put me totally off the breed as now have a connie x cob. He is the complete opposite, he has the common sense and attitude of a cob, but has the scopey jump of a connie, so best of both worlds. I am one lucky lady!
 
The connie I used to own was the most difficult horse I have ever had she is absolutely bombproof 90% of the time but would suddenly take exception to something. Is a Diva of the first order and you cannot do anything about the fact that she chooses what she will or wont tolerate and it varies from day to day. One day she will happily eat a bit of carrot next day you are poisoning her. One day she will stand to be tacked up the next time she will think you are trying to murder her. On the ground she is wonderful and with people she knows she is fine to a point but god help you if she doesn't think you are good enough to be in her presence. I owned her from a foal so know her life history so I am afraid it is nature not nurture in her case she is much loved but very quirky. She would jump the moon on a good day and tell you to *** off on a bad one
I have two highlands mother and daughter mum is a total gem teaches people to ride is a true labrador pony, daughter is a goey pony and like a duracell bunny on the go the whole time but is completely bombproof and afraid of nothing both jump over a meter and do dressage at novice level but have the talent to go further if I can find someone who rides well enough to do it. Basically all my ponies are now pets and do as much as I can get someone else to do with them as I no longer ride so although talented they don;t do enough
I would never ever ever have another Connemara but I might be tempted by a nice dark mouse dun highland foal
 
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Suncat said:
My Section D is a good mix, he&#8217;s talented and clever, perhaps a bit too clever at times and hot with it &#8211; but he ultimately wants to do well and please his rider (once he decides you&#8217;re his person!).
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This ^

My (limited) experience with Sec Ds is that when you're their 'person' they'll do anything for you as long as they're sure it won't get either of you hurt!

I'm enjoying this thread as I was considering buying a 3-4yr old Conn x TB at some point in the next few years but might rethink and get a Sec D x TB instead.
 
Hmmm lots more food for thought here!!! I have to say my friend had a connie x tb who was mega mega spooky (they now have the highlands lol) and my loan NF x TB as a teenager was a nutter (she could jump though!!)

Great thread though. Keep the discussion coming!!!
 
It sounds like a nice little connie would suit you perfectly :)
We currently have a 14.2 9 year old (Coral Prince x Drumcong Sandpiper), who came over from Ireland a couple of years ago, and, although he can be a little nervous of new things/people, he is such a sweetie and doesn't have a nasty bone. I sometimes do wonder what they did to him in Ireland, as its little things like scissors around his head he will just flip at, but he is so amenable in so many other ways. I am yet to meet a connie which won't jump, and (although mine isn't fantastic) I know of many who have excelled in dressage too.
Good luck with your search, I hope you find something suitable :)
 
No that's no use lol. Apart from you have similar taste in ponies lol!!!

Not in the position to buy yet (still saving) so NOT going to ring (especially about the yearling. Could buy him and leave him there on grass livery for a bit to grow up in their herd!!)!!
 
I have a 6 year old Conn x TB gelding and he is utterly wonderful. He came over from Ireland in June, and despite having had a pretty awful time as a baby to 2 year old, he genuinely loves people. He's the friendliest, cuddliest little guy, with the most beautiful face, a really thick, abundant mane and tail and the shiniest coat you've ever seen. He's also worryingly clever with a real sense of humor. His feet are like rock, and he happily schools and hacks over any terrain barefoot. He has one feed a day, but seems to hold his condition well and stays pretty fit without too much work. He's still quite babyish in the school, but he picks things up incredibly quickly and seems to retain everything you teach him from lesson to lesson. On hacks he's happy to go first or last, but hacking alone is still a work in progress, as he was broken and spent the last four years of his life at a trekking centre, only ever going out in groups. When out and about, he tends to stop to investigate things that he's not seen before rather than spooking, which is always nice. Despite his talents being wasted with me, as I prefer to keep all four of his feet on the ground, he'll also jump anything that I point him at without a moment's hesitation. He would jump all day long if you let him, and actually took himself over a 6 ft fence out of the school on the day that he arrived, calmly waiting for me to catch him at the other side. He took a little while to settle, but now that he has he's an absolute gem.
The only issue that I do have with him, and I attribute this to the Connie part of his breeding, is that he's not the easiest when it comes to fitting a saddle. He's currently in an adjustable Wintec with a wide gullet (think this will soon be going up to an extra wide), and can only just take a 17'. My feeling, and that of my saddle fitter, is that with some makes we would probably be restricted to a 16.5'. Also, I was always told that Connies can grow until they're around 7, and my boy has gained at least 2' in height since I bought him, as well as filling out significantly, which is something to bear in mind before you buy.
Would I recommend the breed based on him? Undoubtedly. I'd recommend the cross even more ;)
 
Get a NF! they are awesome and mine actually looks a little big for me at 14hh... Im 5ft2 though lol

He is pretty much bombproof out and about, was forest bred by Farriers Rambler...
he is a handsome sausage too :D If i could put a pic on here I would (but I dont know how)

In the school he can be oppinionated but not dangerous, doesnt spin, can be tremendously stubborn lol

He was a complete bargain though and now we have finally started to gel after 4 months (through no fault of his...
 
jane_dixie said:
It sounds like a nice little connie would suit you perfectly :)
We currently have a 14.2 9 year old (Coral Prince x Drumcong Sandpiper), who came over from Ireland a couple of years ago, and, although he can be a little nervous of new things/people, he is such a sweetie and doesn't have a nasty bone. I sometimes do wonder what they did to him in Ireland, as its little things like scissors around his head he will just flip at, but he is so amenable in so many other ways. I am yet to meet a connie which won't jump, and (although mine isn't fantastic) I know of many who have excelled in dressage too.
Good luck with your search, I hope you find something suitable :)
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I have just got my little Connie last week, and there are few things that I also wonder what they did. Lunge him in a bridle, and he's fine till you ask him to canter, when he just flies off round and round you. Not particularly worried or anything, and not pulling away, but just fast. Lunge him in a cavesson, and he leads like a lamb to the school, until the second you get in there, and then he flies off again in canter, round and round and round. Again, not pulling away, and I actually had the gate to the school open, just like this is what he's been taught to do! But, lunge him in a headcollar and he's fine.
 
I have 4 connies (1 for me and each of my children) and they are all an absolute delight, we bought them as 4 yr olds in Ireland and I haven't regretted for a moment buying barely broken babies for my not especially experienced children. They all hunt, hack & do PC & RC.
My oldest daughter (she is just 16) has one by Currachmore Cashel who is probably the most talented but has occasional "nervous Nellie" moments for no explicable reason and she really has to ride him properly into a fence otherwise he will stop (he never touches a pole and has an incredible pop in him). He has been to the PC SJ Champs as a 6 yr old, & last week was 2nd in his arena at the RC Nat Champs - after a nearly 4 hr trip when he could have been expected to be a little jaded. He is a chunky 15hh. He has been on the PC areas teams & RC teams in all disciplines this year.
Mine is an extremely chunky 15.2 out of the same dam, but by Glencarrig Prince. He is an absolute buffoon and makes me laugh every single day as he is the happiest horse you could wish to meet and his enthusiasm for life is completely infectious. He is always bottom of the list of priorities when it comes to getting out to parties, or being schooled, but it doesn't seem to matter as he will obligingly turn his hoof to anything (and is potentially going to be a v good RC horse as he moves well & will jump anything he is pointed at :) ).
My 13yr old has a much finer, very flashy looking pony by Glanns Owen. Again he has the most super attitude to life and jumps beautifully. He has been quite tricky on the flat as he was inclined to hollow and scuttle and the rider had never before had a pony capable of working in an outline. She has worked really hard (we don't have an arena so all schooling has to be done in a sloping field) and the penny has suddenly dropped for the pair of them. I am very excited about his potential as he is beginning to move really well and is very eyecatching.
My 10 yr old son has a 14.2 also by Glanns Owen (I like the temperament of the other one so much that I was quite happy to buy a baby from the sales without seeing him ridden, or even trotted up). He has had time off this summer a he went v bum high and grew out of his saddle & ended up a bit sore, but I also have very high hopes for him as he also has a very obliging attitude when it comes to jumping.
The quality that all 4 of them share is that they are truly lovely to have around & handle. First and foremost they are family friends, an it is just a bonus that they rarely go out competing with disappointing results.They are a joy to load & take anywhere as they always behave as you would wish, thoroughly enjoy human company, pretty much take life in their stride - we have lots of different kinds of free range poultry running in & out of their stables as well as pigs & alpacas to contend with, are fab to hack out as they stride out & don't spook or nap & will willingly go out on their own, or politely in company. They are v low maintenance as they keep condition well on minimal feed and have the kind of super-strong unshod feet that make flints scream for mercy as they trot over the top of them. Can you tell I am very pro all things Connemara :)

ETA I do agree that fitting saddles can be tricky, but there are saddles that fit their wide flat backs - Barnsby, Thorowgood, Hastilow, Kent & Masters are good starting points!
 
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