Connemaras in Irland Foto: Bachmann
The Connemara Pony Interessengemeinschat e.V. is a union of breeders, owners and friends of the Connemara Ponies.
In 1972 by Elizabeth v. St. Paul founded, the association was developed mainly to maintain the contact between breeders, to spread the breed, and find new friends.
Since the year of its establishment the IG Connemara executes breed and ridden shows, which are held partly on federal level.
In a two-year intervall the national show alternates with the Northern- and Southern German Show at changing locations.
Furthermore we publish circulars four times a year with the most important current information and show results, as well as once a year the Connemara Pony yearbook, which offers much information also for non-members.
Additionally we publish lists of ponies for sale, lists of books and magazines, and have managed the Prefix system for German Connemara breeders introduced some years ago, which is continued now by the FN.
In close co-operation with the FN and the federal societies the IG Connemara has succeeded in establishing the Connemara Pony in Germany.
Average nominal results of over 100 Ponies on our National Show are a further proof for the good development of the breed.
Please email us for further information about us or the Connemara Pony in general.
The Connemara Pony today is the most common and most efficient riding pony for children and adults, which enjoys a constantly growing popularity in Europe as well as in our country.
It originates from the Connemara, a hill and stone landscape to the Atlantic coasr in the west of Ireland.
The Connemara Pony in Ireland is native for centuries. In its early history it was influenced in particular by crossing in horses of the Iberien peninsula. Since 1923 the Irish Connemara Pony Breeders' Society takes care of the breed. At the European mainland the Connemara Pony arrived approximately starting from 1960 with a quickly increasing population finding many friends due to its excellent characteristics.
For centuries this natural breed was stamped by its environment in Ireland. On meager, by rubble scattered and by stone walls lined slopes a hard, agile, step-safe and first of all loving to jump pony developed. The Connemara Pony ranks among the few pony breeds, which do not need to hide behind their taller warmblood cousins in the performance world, even at international level.
At an avarage height of 144 cms the Connemara-Pony is one of the tallest among the pony breeds.
The strong body, a lovely character and a calm temperament ensures, that this breed is suitable for children as well as adults, as a trail or performance pony in all diciplines.
Due to its characteristics it is versatile and successful in all sections of the riding and driving sport as well as a good companion for many people just riding for fun. The breed connects the riding characteristics of a warmblood in an ideal way with the hardiness and soundness of a pony.
The most common colors are grey, bay and dun followed by black with occasional roan, chestnut and palomino.
Today’s breeding aim is trying to bring true type and good performace abilities together with the typical hardiness.
The ponies should be of a compact, well balanced riding type, have ‘a leg at each corner’, covering a lot of ground, combined with a great temperament at a height of 128 to 148 cms with 17.5 to 21 cms bone.
A nice face, a well set neck, clearly defined withers, a good sloping shoulder, a deep body with a strong back and strong limbs with short cannons and low set hocks are typical characteristics.
Due to thier hardiness Connemara Ponies are ideal for a natural way of keeping horses.
If used for breeding or leisure only they can stay outside all year with a run-in-shed and enough hay for the winter time.
Many breeders and riders of these wonderful ponies have chosen them because they are so easy to keep and so great for riding for children as well as for adults which makes them to be the perfect pony for the whole family.