Connemara Bloodlines?

Willesdon · August 27, 2020, 7:20am

The current Horse & Hound (19 Nov) has a feature about Connies and their popularity as sport ponies and as a cross, particularly with TB. https://www.facebook.com/GlencarrigDolphin/?fref=ts

One point to remember when breeding is that most of the ‘native’ pony breeds tend to loose ‘type’ when bred away from their home environment. IMHO, the current popularity of the connie is not beneficial for the breed. The Irish bred are becoming larger, up to 15.2, but traditionally were 14.2 max.

This years champion at the Sport Pony Studbook grading was Ardbear Spirit http://www.sportpony.org.uk/grading-results_2015.shtml#stallions

jrscomet · August 27, 2020, 7:20am

[QUOTE=Huntin’ Pony;8413390]
I have one that fits that description perfectly, and she’s pretty too. She’s by Aladdin’s Denver out of a Tre Awain-bred mare, about 15 hands.[/QUOTE]

What do you do with her? Does she jump?

Doctracy · August 27, 2020, 7:21am

I love the looks of Connemaras but no very little about them. Hoping to find a stallion someday that I can breed my 14.1 hand grade pony. Looking for something that would hopefully hunt and drive with a little more bone than my mare.
I prefer the Connemara’s movement to many of the larger Welsh that I’ve seen.

jrscomet · August 27, 2020, 7:24am

What are everyones thoughts on Balmullos Beacon?

Displaced_Yankee · August 27, 2020, 7:24am

I used to compete my friend’s Connemara stallion. His sire is Irish Park’s Caraway Finn (now gelded) out of a Bobby Brown mare. This is the pony that turned me one to Connies. 13.2 hands and schooling 3 foot courses. And smart, smart, smart.

I was fortunate to get a half bred out of him who just turned 4 this summer. He is everything I wanted. I have started him lightly this summer doing flat work (Intro dressage). Time will tell if he has his daddy’s jumping ability.

That being said, I have a personal affinity to Bobby Brown ponies as well as any Irish Park’s Caraway Finn (if you can find anything with his breeding)

Huntin_Pony · August 27, 2020, 7:24am

[QUOTE=jrscomet;8413398]
What do you do with her? Does she jump?[/QUOTE]

You may not be surprised to hear that I fox hunt. Yes, she jumps beautifully both in and out of the ring. She got 72 and 73% scores at Training Level from Sally O’Connor in the one dressage show we did.

She’s just a star all around, honestly.

Winding_Down · August 27, 2020, 7:25am

I have had two Denver offspring, both crossbreds. One I competed through 2* and the other is currently competing with a young rider at prelim with plans for a 1* in the future. I have a friend with a Denver crossbred that just completed his first Intermediate at age 8.

goodpony · August 27, 2020, 7:25am

I owned Eclipse (Glenormiston Flurry Knox x Wildwych Dreamtime) from the time he was weanling till he was 12yo–he is now owned by FEI rider/trainer Barb Crabo for her daughter–they recently finished 4th and 5th at Rebecca and the AECs in some very strong competition (she just turned 12). Despite being smaller (only 14.1) Eclipse was a big strong pony that competed in Eventing, Dressage and Show Jumping-he was quite capable of coursing 3.6 and 4ft wasnt out of the question–very powerful solid all arounder that did it all and is still doing it. His little rider plans to be the youngest to go training level with him next season–and I expect they’ll do it.

I have retained a son of Eclipses out of our good imported mare Glenormiston Amelia. Amelia is sired by Domo Cavallo Praize who competed up to 1star in eventing as well as competing in open show jumping up to 4ft 3in. Praise is widely recognized for having sired several good show jumpers and eventers including Glenormiston Patrick who was a B Grade Show Jumper (this is a designation for ponies competing as horses in AUS and is not the same as Graded Pony Show Jumping) that went over courses as big as 4.9–which is incredible as he was only 14.2HH. Praise is also responsible for the half-bred Feldale Mouse who just this past weekend completed the Australian International 3de 4 Star in 7th I believe it was. Amelia herself obtained the highest marks awarded at her GOV-WE performance tests were she bested 14 full size WB in the free jumping phase to score an 8.7. She also has a daughter but Gunsmoke that was exported to France who is currently competing at open show jumping at 3.7 with plans to move up to 4ft this season.

As I mentioned I have retained a son of Eclipse x Amelia–he is 2.5 this year and probably one of the kindest easiest colts I have ever raised. He is presently 14.2 hh at 2years and will likely go over height–he is also black and not grey. Just yesterday we took him on an fun outing to gain some exposure in the real world and I have to say we were delighted with him. He never batted an eye at the water or took one look at any of the little fences we led him over. He’s been sat on but that is all–he will get started under saddle next season. We bred two mares last season and both of those are sold–plan to breed some more this spring. He is a very special pony.

Lots of photos in this album of Blues Adventure

MuskokaLakesConnemaras · August 27, 2020, 7:29am

To the OP,
It’s pretty hard to find good mares that are older with excellent performance lines that are of a price that is less than importation You might have to look at weanlings or at least under 2 to find something a bit more affordable.
I’m unaware of what your budget is, but a good weanling with broodmare potential is in the 4-6k range.
I’ve got a few lines here for my mares including Moxley Duncan, Irish Park Sebastian, Skyviews Triton, Grange Finn Sparrow with other lovely performers further back in the mix and on the dams side. I find it to be a fairly individual thing for athleticism but the GFS line has many proven performers in the upper levels, but they can be a tad quirky.
I have a filly whose got a mix of GFS and Hideaway Sebastian and she’s as lovely and free a mover as you could want with a steady and sweet temperament.

dr_j · August 27, 2020, 7:34am

Since jump is at the top of your list… if you could find a filly by *Ardceltic Art, I bet you will have jump. He didn’t sire very many purebred fillies though… our purebred gelding by him is showing lots of upward potential.

I would also look around for something by *Kilfenora Windy Isles. We have a mare by him who is a brave, fabulous jumper… I wish we had a better pony jumper culture in this country.

Moxley Duncan has sired consistently good minded, athletic, talented offspring for over 20 years. He has produced lost of fox hunters, hunters etc. You don’t see a lot of his daughters available though…

One thing to keep in mind, the large majority of Connemaras “have jump” so you can roll the dice a bit and most likely it will be “in there” if you are buying a youngster. I would look for the desired movement you want and go from there.

My facebook page has lots of pics and videos of our ponies jumping… most of the time with pedigrees mentioned… and I have quite a few. You could get idea…

I wish I could promote a filly out of our stallion to you ( Blue Ridge Monroe) but we seem to be allergic to fillies! No purebred fillies yet!!! (fingers crossed for this year’s crop!)

My facebook page is in my signature.

MuskokaLakesConnemaras · August 27, 2020, 7:35am

Agree Dr J, MD daughters are pretty rare. I’ve a waiting list a mile long for mine should I ever decide to sell her.
Fingers crossed for some fillies for you!!

Dan · August 27, 2020, 7:35am

We have a Moxley Duncan granddaughter.

She has produced two dressage horses that have competed at the USEF National Young Horse Championships. Her lastest offspring looks like it will be a good eventing horse.

Dan

goodpony · August 27, 2020, 7:37am

I’ll second Art for raw jumping talent as well as movement–I have Arts oldest purebred daughter who is not only a fabulous jumper she is a wonderful producer (she is Art x Amelia though so gets it from both sides). I’ve watched her jump the paddock fence like a stick on the ground (Its over five feet). I also have an Art grandson from her who is not only fabulous minded (like seriously one of the easiest colts Ive ever raised) but also shows incredible jumping talent as well as fabulous gaits (he is a WB cross though). Im looking forwards to breeding her again this spring. We also may breed her mother Amelia but if we do that foal has already been spoken for.

I also agree that most Connemaras are talented jumpers the trick is to find one that combines both excellent gait quality and jumping ability as well as breed type and correct conformation. The good ones don’t tend to ever come on the open market and when they do you better be ready to buy as they don’t last very long.

We have had ponies by Glenormiston Flurry Knox, Maplehurst Micheal Macdaire, Wildwych Eclipse, Gunsmoke, Glenormiston Billies Bay, Ardceltic Art and Hideaways Hustler. They all have their own strengths and weakness but all good performers. We will have offspring by R. Blue Moon in the spring (both sold).

WindyIsles · August 27, 2020, 7:38am

Bred with or know most of the lines you’ve mentioned very well.

Used Wildwych Eclipse once and got a stunning palomino stallion now standing in Canada. He’s young but has a super jump and excellent type (color just being a bonus). Best thing about him is his temperament. Friend of ours used Eclipse alot and got some VERY VERY nice youngsters - beautiful type and lots of athleticism.

I’d highly recommend the Wildwych lines if you can find some for sale.

Glenormiston too (most of the Wildwych lines descend from Glenormiston ponies imported). Sue Clarke was one of the great ladies of the breed and really knew how to marry type with athleticism. Several very, very successful performance ponies.

Wildwych stallion that is young and just starting his career showing (foals are just going under saddle) that I have been very impressed with is Wildwych Wily Casanova. His sire is a stellar English show stallion Bunowen Castle Ri. From several different mares I’ve seen him improve movement (and I’m talking Clifden winning mares so no slouch in the movement department), better layback of shoulder and reach. Nice consistent type that I intend to follow. Good temperaments too and the breeding to jump is there.

Gunsmoke was performance tested in Ireland before he came to the US and then exported back to Ireland. He’s produced some really nice movers and ponies who have done very well in dressage. Had a mare (full sister to Foothills Field Marshall) and she was a very good dressage mover. Only thing I’d watch is that line can breed narrow - lack of substance and depth.

Maplehurst Michael MacDaire is getting up there in age. I think next year might be his last season at stud. He’s one I always wished I could have used. He was a very good performer and from a strong performance line and he bred some very good performance ponies as well. A daughter of his would be hard to come by but definitely worth considering.

ArdCeltic Art was to me a marriage of two VERY good performance lines. Again a daughter of his will be hard to find and not cheap but something I’d keep an eye out.

Moy Hazy Cove is a line that has produced athleticism and some very good jumpers - there’s several sons of his in the States - Rattle N Snap Laddie Boy, my stallion *The Quietman, Canal Clancy - other Hazy branchs like Fernvale Matchmaker.

*Grange Finch is a 3/4th brother to *Grange Finn Sparrow he hasn’t been used as much and was always kind of in Grange’s shadow but another I’d keep an eye out for a filly for.

lukicloe · August 27, 2020, 7:42am

A thought or two on Connemara breeding/broodmares

I thought I’d chime in here. I’m the one who is selling Scarlet (Wildwych Scarlet O’Haira) for her owner. Scarlet has a cute, cute jump, is very willing, and is dying to have her own human. She’s an older style mare- big boned, lots of substance- a tank of a mare on short legs. She greets new things with curiosity and as yet doesn’t have a spook in her- neither on the farm or off. BUT, she is an older style mare and frankly, if you’re looking for a broodmare to produce stellar ponies by various different stallions, you can and should do better. Scarlet lives in a field with Wildwych Lantana (*Glenormiston Flurry Knox X *Skatholm Rose), *Glenormiston Clemma (Castle Baron X Glenormiston Dulcinea), and *Murvey Inver Lor (Currachmore Cashel X Murvey Cara). Those three mares blow her out of the water- heck, Inver Lor blows the lot of my ponies out of the water.

If you had a stallion and wanted to specifically add substance, bone, and depth while retaining movement, type, and temperament, Scarlet would be your girl. Having said that, Scarlet does have interesting bloodlines and is priced below what you’d pay for a similar pony as a weanling. Still, I believe, if you’re beginning a breeding program, you should purchase the absolute nicest mare you can afford and breed her to the stallion who will best compliment her. If her job will mostly be a broodmare, pick a filly or mare who is likely to breed on consistently. Some individual ponies have great jump or great movement but don’t pass it on. Some ponies as individuals may not seem great, but they consistently produce better than average.