Clifden: a pony tale going back 2,500 years

The iconic Connemara Pony was hailed by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney yesterday as a national treasure — a part of Ireland’s heritage and a great source of pride to all involved.

The pony has been exported worldwide and is in much demand, with breeder societies in 17 countries.

Delegates from these societies returned this week to the traditional home of Ireland’s only native pony breed with a history that goes back 2,500 years.

Mr Coveney, who was officially opening the Connemara Pony Show in Clifden, Co Galway, said the breed was renowned for its hardiness, docility and versatility.

Individual ponies have also excelled at top levels in FEI equestrian sport disciplines.

He said the show, now in its 91st year, was an important annual event in the Irish equestrian calendar involving more than 600 ponies competing.

The festival, which has grown around the show, is now a week-long celebration of the Connemara Pony. It is a major tourist attraction with 8,000 visitors attending, bringing significant economic spin-off to the area.

Mr Coveney referred to the Transfer of Ownership Regulations which he introduced earlier this year.

It requires new owners to register a change of ownership with the passport issuing body or the studbook who record the information and transmit it to his department’s central equine database

He noted that members of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society had been recording pedigree when registering their foals since the studbook’s inception in 1923. “Pedigree data is essential for any breeding programme and I would strongly encourage all sport horse breeders to record pedigree when registering their foals,” he said.

Meanwhile, breeders, many of them small farmers in the West of Ireland, will have a particular interest in the two-day sale of 500 Connemara ponies at Clifden Mart tomorrow and Sunday.