I apologize for multiple posts regarding different crosses, I just want to do as much research as possible before purchasing my next prospect. It seems like this cross is gaining popularity and allows for many of the wonderful Connemara attributes in a bit taller package. Anyone here have much experience with this cross? Where would I go about looking for a prospect in the Mid Atlantic region? Do they tend to ever get over 16hh? Would love some more info!
1 Like
I know it would be a bit of a drive, but if you come to the Warrenton Pony Show this Sunday afternoon, you should see a variety of purebred and halfbred Connemaras, both in hand and under saddle.
Yes, some of them make it over 16h. My 4yo TBx Cn, Tiara, is over 16h, though the cross I will be showing on Sunday, Belle (19 yo), is under 15h2". But I would rather head into a 3’6" fence with Belle than many of the 16h+ horses I have ridden.
Plenty of halfbred breeders all over the Mid Atlantic.
HOWEVER, you should be aware that some of the PERFORMANCE bred TB x Cn can be quite spirited. I would not put a beginner or a timid rider on either of mine.
Agree that these seem to be pretty hot crosses. Actually, my worst bolting experience was on one of these crosses some 30 years ago now.
Thank you for the info and information, I appreciate it.
Janet, the only reason I asked about size is I’m 5’8 and prefer something at least 16hh to feel comfortable. Any suggestions on good places to reach out to in the mid Atlantic? Can’t make it to Warrenton show. 
Megan Buchanan Harris of Fade to Grey Farm in Moreland, GA (she’s on here, on FB and also has a website) raises Connemara crosses, competes at advanced eventing and also foxhunts. She would be a very good and knowledgeable contact.
http://www.fadetogreyfarm.com/
Thanks, email sent!
I would suggest an Irish draft cross, or Irish Sport Horse. You’d get the sturdiness and jumping ability of the Connemara TB cross, with a more tractable temperament and more size/possibly substance.
I’ve owned two Conn TB. Crossed. Both very nice but neither of them suitable for a 5’8" rider, and both were quick little buggers with a spook.
As I’m looking for a purebred Connemara I’ve been checking breeder’s website, facebook etc. For the most part the halfbreds are warmblood or thoroughbred and probably in the 15-16 hand range?
LetItBe
I’d love more info on Irish Sport Horses as well!! I haven’t been able to find many breeders/sellers in the Mid Atlantic region for them either.
There are not that many available as not that many have been bred each year. I like Trak/Con or TB/Con. If the mare is the horse sized parent, you get better height.
Not all are hot/sensitive, it depends on your parents. I sold a 5 year old halfbred to a 12 year old last year. 
So I just saw your prior post about being 5’8" and agree that most of the Conne/TB crosses are 16hds and under. I also agree that for an uncomplicated ammie ride, the lighter draft crosses are hard to beat. I own three Saddlebred/Draft crosses two to Percheron and one to a Clyde/Hackney/TB mare. I know it sounds odd, but they are REALLY nice and lighter horses, not very drafty and with great dispositions and big. All three of mine are 16.3 and 17hds. You can look mine up on the link in my signature line - lots of pics on my FB page. TB/Percheron is a very popular cross and easier to find. F1 crosses can be super nice or sometimes just plain oddly put together but there are definitely some nice ones out there. Dundulk Sporthorses in MD specializes in sporty draft crosses and is where I got my fancy Palomino Pinto guy from. Lori is wonderful!
Also, FWIW, my TB mare is in foal to a Registered Irish Draught for an Irish Sport Horse foal, as I love my draft crosses and since I also event, definitely want to give the cross a go and have heard wonderful things. There are several threads in this section about RIDs and ISHs. Good luck!
15.2 TB mare x 15 Con stallion = 15.1 filly at 5
17.0 Trak mare x 14.3 Con stallion = 15.3 filly at 5, 15.3 gelding at 3, 14.3 gelding as a yearling
14.1 Con mare x 16.3 TB stallion = 14.3 at 3 years
Rest are too young for sizes, but my 6 week old halfbred by a Con pony stallion is the same size as a 3 month old halfbred by a TB stallion out of a 13.3 Con mare!
The Irish draft crosses and Irish sport horses are, in my opinion, much different than a standard draft cross. They are much more “sporty”. I personally would steer away from standard draft crosses because of my own experience with them being generally short of wind and prone to ringbone, which is a serious deal breaker.
A Cleveland bay cross may also be a good option for you.
I wouldn’t be against a TB/Conn cross if they were large enough.
I’ve done a brief search for ISH/ID crosses and have browsed a bit with not much luck but I’ll keep my eyes out for them going forward. I found a great group on FB but they all seem to be located in the UK on there.
Not extensively as I have a limited budget and would probably need to buy something quite young.
As I have gotten “older” I have come to appreciate the calmer disposition of the IDx rather than the Connemara x.
If you are on Facebook there are several Irish Draught groups you can join. There will be a show coming up at Fair Hill in Aug I believe and the National show in NJ in the fall.
See also Irishdraught.com
I have two, both 15.3. One babysits my mother in crossrails, the other is drop dead gorgeous hunter material but VERY hot. At 20 years old she is still quite a handful and I always joked that she should have been an endurance horse instead of a hunter. That said, she had two gorgeous Hannoverian x babies… and if anyone has a Tb/Conn mare who is looking to make babies, let me know!:lol:
I had a Connie/QH cross a few years ago that I evented BN and eventually sold to a fox hunting home. He was not “hot” to ride at all - very willing, good jump, spur/stick ride. He was relaxed in his gaits and easy to jump (always found his own distance). He was a really good dressage mount, I once got a 19 in the dressage phase (!) my best score ever.
However - he DID have a stupid spook in him that was quite annoying. Like, blow up and rip the lead out of my hands if the shed door blew open, or a leaf went by, or on trail he would dirty stop/spin over the stupidest little thing. VERY VERY annoying and if I was not a secure rider I would’ve been getting dumped a lot (only got me once).
He was also a serious grump - hard to catch, pinned his ears at me all the time, etc. But I’m not blaming that on the cross, just part of his personality. An ammy could ride him, but he was not “easy” by any stretch.
William Micklem is now very high on Connemaras and Connemara crosses for eventing. I would think that it would be very hard to estimate the final height of a horse x pony cross when looking for young stock at the top and bottom of the size range.
