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Canadian Connemara Pony Society 2006 Report

By Heather Sherratt

2006 was a banner year for Connemara ponies in Canada. After many years of discussion and organization, we finally formed the Canadian Connemara Pony Society and held our first national annual general meeting in Alberta at the end of September.

Also in September, Team Connemara competed at the Telus Battle of the Breeds at Spruce Meadows for the tenth year, and this year won against 11 other teams of horses, ponies and mules. This was even more of a coup since breeds such as Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and Arabians have thousands of animals from which to choose a team, compared with small number of Connemaras.

In both 2003 and 2004 we made 2nd place, winning some of the individual classes. In 2006, we built on this experience and fielded a strong team including two veteran pony/rider pairs as anchors. The first day was a little disappointing with Chelsea McNeil on the 13.2 hh stallion Bein Mallin Rory O’Sullivan and Brian Morton on the 15 hh mare Hillside Sassafras placing only 5th in Compulsory Skills. In the afternoon they ended up 2nd in the jumping behind only the TB’s. Both attempted and were successful at the 3’6” vertical jeopardy jump.

The next day saw the obstacle driving class. The very experienced driving mare Avenns Arrin Terra went first, going fast and having a good score. Second was Rory who has only been driven for three months. He was also fast and knocked only one obstacle, which placed the team first.

The barrel racing competition always draws a big crowd. It was Elsie Priddy’s first time at the Battle and she flew round in excellent time on her 8-year-old gelding Rills Carrick Fergus. Brian Morton and Sassy had an incredible time of 23 seconds which put Connemaras 2nd behind only the Quarter Horses.

On Saturday Connemaras were in the lead facing a difficult trail class. Elsie and Fergus had an excellent round and were successful in the final jeopardy test of hitting a ball through a gate with a polo mallet. Rory and Chelsea had an exceptionally good round, but we did not let them try the jeopardy, as we had sufficient points to win the whole Battle without risking the 100 jeopardy points.

Winners of the Battle of the Breeds parade into the International Ring to receive their trophy. We lined up in the collecting ring with all the greats of the show jumping world before treading the hallowed ground in front of an enormous audience. What a triumph for a breed relatively new to Canada and with such a small population to pick a team from. And what a way to promote the new Canadian Connemara Pony Society!

This competition is perfect for our Connemaras, showcasing their tremendous athletic ability, their unflappable temperament and their versatility. Connemaras compete very successfully in any discipline from eventing, dressage, hunter to driving and the western disciplines. They are the perfect family pony: quiet enough for the younger kids to ride but athletic enough that mom can do dressage, dad can drive and older kids can do Pony Club, eventing, mounted games or just enjoy trail riding.  Some Connemaras have been used very successfully for ranch work and they excel at endurance and competitive trail.

To complete our 2006 Alberta celebration of Connemaras, we held our first Canadian inspection after our AGM near Edmonton. Our inspection team consisted of our two internationally approved Canadian inspectors and a member of the American Connemara Pony Society inspection team. Eleven ponies, including one stallion, were inspected and passed and one mare was re-inspected to premium mare status. A high proportion of Connemara ponies in  Canada have been inspected to international standards and we intend to hold inspections regularly in different parts of the country to give all breeders the opportunity to have their youngstock inspected into our international stud book.

Connemaras have been bred in Alberta for many years with the stallion Lynfields Cormac MacCarthy from Avilion Gleann Farm representing the breed in many competitions, from western to driving to jumping, with his rider Melanie Jacobi. Many of his offspring are still giving pleasure to riders, drivers and breeders in Alberta, BC and eastern Canada.

It was only about twenty years ago that Connemaras started to spread again to Ontario and Quebec. The ponies are their own best promotion and with up to five stallions competing on the eventing circuit the breed soon became known for its quiet disposition and excellent jumping skills.

Connemaras are hardy ponies and easy keepers who prefer to live out most of the time. With their excellent feet, many compete barefoot and their substantial bone and strong build makes them suitable for small adults as well as young riders. Many older women are finding that a smaller athletic mount that can still compete well is preferable, and when you can train him to drive as well as do dressage, hunt, and trail ride, the Connemara is the perfect answer, as long as you enjoy their sense of humour and intelligence as well.

With our Society well started, we are moving into 2007 with plans to take part in the Irish Extravaganza in British Columbia in March, hold inspections in Ontario and we hope compete successfully at the Battle of the Breeds again this year. We have a lot of work ahead of us with our society and encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our wonderful ponies to contact the society or visit our webpage at www.canadianconnemara.org.

Heather Sherratt
President, Canadian Connemara Pony Society

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