A gray gelding jumps a ditch in the terrain, lands safely and gallops on calmly as if nothing had happened. Connemaras are ponies with the heart of a hunting horse. Their home is a barren landscape of rock, moor and sea in the west of Ireland.
| Type | Big pony, riding pony |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ireland, Connemara (Galway) region |
| Breeding association in Germany | Branch studbook, for example at the Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch e.V.; Original breeding book at the Connemara Pony Breeders Society in Clifden |
| Stock size according to breeding program | 128 to 148 cm when registered |
| Colors | Grays, black horses, browns, duns, isabelles, white isabelles, roaches and foxes |
| Usage | Riding and driving for teenagers and adults, off-road, hunting, eventing, jumping |
Origin and history
Where exactly the Connemaras come from is still not entirely clear. Mad Barn references Celtic ponies that came to Ireland about 2,500 years ago and a legend that Spanish horses swam ashore after the Armada sank; More likely are trade contacts between Spain and western Ireland. For a long time the ponies were work animals of Irish small farmers.
After hunger and hardship in the 19th century, the breeding was reorganized: in 1923 the Connemara Pony Breeders Society was founded, which still runs the original breed today, with an annual show in Clifden. In Germany, among other things, the Rhenish Horse Stud Book maintains a branch stud book (beginning of 2024: 28 mares, 6 stallions).
Exterior
The breeding program requires a well-shaped pony head of medium length with large, friendly eyes, a neck of good length without excessive crest, a large, sloping shoulder and a rectangular body with good depth. The feet and legs are strong, with short tubes 18 to 21 cm in circumference and hard hooves. Good spatial grip, a lively trot without excessive knee action and good cantering ability are required.
When registered, at the earliest at two years of age, a Connemara measures 128 to 148 cm. So it remains a pony: the international limit is 148 cm without irons (FN). Among others, gray horses, brown horses, black horses, duns and Isabella horses are permitted.
Character (interior)
The breeding goal calls for good temperament, toughness, endurance, intelligence, health, sure-footedness and a good jumping ability. Mad Barn describes Connemaras as gentle, adaptable and eager to learn. According to the breeding goal, the Connemara is suitable for young people and adults alike, and it is considered a very safe cross-country horse.
Keeping and feeding
Connemaras are robust and are suitable for open stables and group keeping. However, on good pasture they can gain weight quickly. Ponies and light-feeding breeds have a higher propensity for equine metabolic syndrome with insulin resistance and laminitis (University of Kentucky); Mad Barn specifically mentions laminitis, insulin resistance and obesity in this breed. Rationed, low-sugar hay, limited grazing in spring, mineral feed instead of concentrated feed and regular work keep them healthy.
Health
The most important hereditary disease typical of the breed is Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD), in which the front hoof wall detaches and tears. It usually appears in the first six months of life and can lead to chronic inflammation, severe lameness and laminitis. It is inherited recessively via a mutation in the gene SERPINB11; approximately 14.8 percent of the Connemaras examined were carriers (Finno et al. 2015). Carriers are themselves healthy, only ponies with two copies can get sick.
A genetic test is now required for all new registrations (Finno 2022). There is no cure, targeted hoof care and special shoes can help. In the large study by McCue et al. (2010), the PSSM1 mutation was not found in Connemaras.
Who is the Connemara pony suitable for?
For young people and light adults who are looking for a versatile, jumping and sure-footed pony for off-road, competition and driving, and for families in which several generations ride.
Who is it not for?
For very small children who need a pony to lead, and for riders who expect a large-framed, warm-blooded horse. If you can only offer a box in a fat pasture, you are exposing the pony to an unnecessary risk of laminitis.
Continuing: Before you commit, go through the checklist for buying a horse and use the Horse Cost Calculator to find out what the stable, feed, farrier and vet cost per month. For the name there is our horse name, for the wall there is a horse portrait from your own photo. You can find more breeds in the overview Horse breeds from A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does a Connemara pony get? When registered, it measures 128 to 148 cm according to the breeding program and therefore remains below the pony limit of 148 cm.
What is HWSD in Connemara? A recessive inherited disease in which the hoof wall cracks and separates. A genetic test shows whether a pony is a carrier.
Is a Connemara suitable for adults? Yes. The breeding goal explicitly mentions young people and adults in all areas of equestrian and driving sports.
What color are Connemaras? According to the breeding program, gray horses, black horses, brown horses, duns, isabellas, white isabelles, roaches and foxes.
Read more
Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch e.V.: Zuchtprogramm Connemara Pony (Stand 02/2025); Mad Barn: Connemara Pony Breed Profile; Finno CJ et al.: SERPINB11 frameshift variant associated with novel hoof specific phenotype in Connemara ponies, PLoS Genetics 2015 (PubMed); Finno CJ: Hoof wall separation disease, A Review, Equine Veterinary Education 2022 (PubMed); McCue ME et al.: Estimated prevalence of the Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy mutation in selected North American and European breeds, Animal Genetics 2010 (Zusammenfassung); FN: FAQ zum FEI-Ponymessen, Stand 2026; University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Is My Horse Just Fat or Is He Sick? (Adams, Camargo, ID-239).
