Pony staying power shows in recession

THE sturdy Connemara Pony has coped with difficult terrain and the vagaries of the Irish weather along the western seaboard for thousands of years.

Now in great demand for the equestrian and leisure sectors worldwide, it proved at the celebrated Clifden Show in its traditional Co Galway heartland yesterday that it is also showing resilience in the current economic downturn.

Buyers kept a sharp lookout for the breed’s quality traits of good temperament, athleticism, staying power, jumping ability and conformation as 600 entries competed in 23 in-hand and 10 ridden classes at the show.

And they will be back at Clifden Mart tomorrow and Sunday for a two-day sale, with quality breeding mares likely to fetch around €7,000 and geldings for riding expected to realise around €4,500.

Mart manager Padraig Heanue said he is delighted a total of 480 Connemara ponies have been registered for sale.

“We’re in difficult times but it is heartening to see such a lively interest in the sale,” he said.

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cúiv, who officially opened the show, praised the hard work and dedication of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society in preserving one of Ireland’s rare native breeds of farm animal.

From humble beginnings of just six stallions and 75 mares, the society now has in excess of 450 stallions and 2,500 breeding mares in the studbook in Ireland.

“The preservation of our rare and native breeds of farm animal is vitally important to both our farming and cultural future,” he said.

Mr O Cúiv said the Connemara Pony has become a national symbol.

The unique inherent qualities of the breed are recognised and in demand at home and abroad.

Seventeen “sister” Connemara Pony societies are now located around the world. Many of them were represented at yesterday’s show.

All share in the rich heritage of the iconic ponies which moved rocks in creels to build many of the dry-stone walls in the West of Ireland and who dragged seaweed from the shore to fertilise the barren fields and to carry the turf cut from the bogs to heat houses.

But over the years their role changed from that of a general-purpose working animal on small farms to one capable of excellence in a wide variety of sporting disciplines.

Horse Sport Ireland, Galway Irish Crystal and the Station House Hotel, Clifden, were the main sponsors of the show.