Connemara Pony Festival 2010
The annual Connemara Pony festival will run in Clifden from Monday 16th August to Sunday 22nd August. 2010. The Connemara Pony is a distinctive breed with excellent qualities: strong, intelligent and very hard working, perfect for the wild unforgiving landscape of the Connemara region that gave them their name. Their genial disposition makes them excellent pets, while their powerful build makes them good jumpers and great show ponies. The Connemara Pony is Ireland’s only native pony breed and has travelled all around the world. Connemara Ponies can now be found all over Europe, America, Australia and even South Africa.
It is the largest display of Connemara Ponies anywhere in the world and attracts enthusiasts from all over Ireland and overseas. Visitors are treated to the spectacle of seeing the ponies demonstrate their prowess in trials and competitions under the watchful eye of experienced judges and a win is always a source of great pride for the pony's dedicated owner.
Monday 16th August will see the festival commence with an educational seminar in the National Park in Letterfrack. The National park is home to the Connemara Pony Breeders Society’s herd of Connemara Ponies and visitors will be able to view the herd. Tuesday will have an International theme, with the International AGM and International conference taking place during the day. The magnificent Abbeyglen Castle Hotel will host the International reception on Tuesday evening where the overseas breeders will get the opportunity to meet with the Irish breeders.
On Wednesday the annual loose jumping competition will take place at the Showgrounds. Three year old ponies will compete at this national competition to gain the title of Champion Loose Jumping Connemara Pony. Prior to this event qualifiers will be held around Ireland to select the top ponies.
Thursday is the highlight of the festival. Ponies from all over Ireland will travel to Clifden to compete at this internationally renowned show. From 8.30am onwards the showgrounds will be packed with spectators viewing this elegant animal. There will be 24 in-hand classes and 10 ridden classes. For the first time the stallion class will be split in two with one class for 4,5 and 6 year olds and another class for stallions aged seven years and over. To cater for non-pony enthusiasts there will be plenty of other attractions on offer including Irish Dancing, Domestic Arts, and a Dog Show.
The Connemara Pony is recognized worldwide for its unique performance ability. Ponies will have an opportunity to demonstrate this on Friday at the Connemara Performance Show. Following on the success of the Puissance competition last year it is now firmly fixed as an annual event at the Performance show. In addition there will also be working hunter classes, a musical ride and a parade of all the champions of the show from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Connemara Pony sales will take place in Clifden Mart on Saturday and Sunday commencing at 11am each day. There will be a large selection of top quality registered Connemara ponies on offer for those of you interested in buying a pony.
