Connemara Pony Festival 2024
Annual Connemara Ponies Show in Clifden 🐎
Premier show for Connemara Ponies in Ireland for breeders and owners from home and overseas. The annual Connemara Pony Festival & Show in Clifden, Co Galway attracts visitors from all over the world. The highlight of the festival is on Thursday and Friday, when the biggest showcase of Connemara Ponies in the world takes place. Ponies compete in in-hand classes, ridden classes, working hunter classes, and a puissance (or high jump) competition. For non-pony enthusiasts, there is a dog show, a domestic arts show and Irish Dancing. There are a range of craft stalls along the edge of the showgrounds, where regional Irish Countrywomen’s Association members run their own competitions for prize winning eggs, jams, baked goods, arts and crafts.
Learn about the Connemara Pony 🐴
History of the Connemara Pony
The Connemara Pony, a beloved breed in County Galway, boasts a heritage shrouded in fascinating tales and diverse origins. Legend whispers of Scandinavian ponies, initially introduced to Ireland by Vikings, contributing to the Connemara’s genetic tapestry. Another strand weaves through the Irish Hobby, an extinct breed dating back to the pre-13th century.
Intriguingly, the Spanish Armada’s misfortune in 1588 plays a role in this equine saga. Galleons ran aground, releasing Andalusian horses into the Irish landscape. These elegant Spanish breeds intermingled with the local stock, imparting refinement to the native ponies.
Whether from Viking ponies, the Irish Hobby, or the Andalusians of the Spanish Armada, the Connemara Pony stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of international influences. Today, these hardy ponies grace the sometimes harsh lands of west County Galway, their presence a living legacy of a rich and storied past.