OPPOSITION to changes in the way the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society plans to conduct pony inspections remains strong, despite the society making a U-turn on one particular element.

The CPBS published a new version of it’s breeding programme last Friday evening, including two new classes. The ‘OH’ class is for overheight ponies (over 148cm) and includes a tiered system, where ponies must measure in at differing heights at different ages (see table).

If a pony presents as above the new limit for it’s age, starting at two for fillies and three for colts, it is deemed overheight and is placed in that category, until remeasured within the allowed height.

The other new class, E, was created for those breeders who might refuse an overheight result when their pony is of a young age, and this is where that pony would stay until it measured under.

However, following a groundswell of opposition to Class E, the society, on Wednesday of this week, said it would ‘park’ that class for a year, with the other changes remaining in place.

Meeting

Many of the issues of concern were discussed in depth at a meeting of 250 people at the Claregalway Hotel last Sunday.

Ann Marie Conroy, a former president of the CPBS, speaking on behalf of those present, said the changes were made without consultation and would be detrimental to the breed.

“All agreed that these were drastic changes [and] would be detrimental to the breed. There was a proposal and a seconder for a motion of no confidence in the current Council, which carried unanimously. There was a proposal and a seconder for an EGM to remove the current Council and revert the inspection process back to the 2024 rules, and that carried unanimously.

“There was a proposer and a seconder to start a petition to the Minister for Agriculture and the president of the CPBS to reverse the new process and that carried unanimously. There was a proposal by an individual to boycott the upcoming inspections, and that was received very well from the room. Then, 18 people came forward to help put these action plans in place, people came forward from right around the country, so there’s a wide geographical spread involved.”

At time of print, the petition had gathered more than 1,000 signatures online and in print.

Conroy continued: “With regard to Class E, while they have paused it for a year, the current President will no longer be in office next year, so it is just kicking the can down the road for someone else. Breeders and producers will be facing the same challenge next spring.

“There’s uproar from the daughter societies, because they were not informed. There are 19 daughter societies, none of them were informed about the changes that were about to come. This was just all pushed through.”

The CPBS, for the third week running, declined to answer questions about the changes and how they came about from The Irish Field.

Changes

President Daragh Ó Tuairisg did however speak to Galway Bay FM on Wednesday, defending the changes and explaining that regional meetings were held in Ballinasloe, Sligo and Portlaoise last year, in addition to a survey with 123 responses and that this informed the changes. He said the changes were not discussed at the AGM in January.

“We have an overheight pony,” he said. “Our pony is getting bigger and, if we are serious about our breed standard, we have to protect it by bringing in changes in relation to the classification. This maintains the breed standard.

“The market favours the overheight pony, the smaller ponies are being overshadowed.”

With regard to price increases, he said they “came from the floor at the AGM” and that “the society has been haemorrhaging money”.

“Any changes made are submitted and reviewed by the department and, if it meets the criteria, it’s approved. The OH class meets the demands of the market, give them a home of their own. A two-year-old is only at 70% of its development change. A three-year-old pony may measure at 148cm, but it is still going to grow. That’s why SJI and FEI give a lifetime measurement at eight.

“This decision wasn’t made overnight. It was discussed democratically at multiple levels. The inspection committee met several times, they reviewed the concerns and the council of elected members voted on it.”

Ó Tuairisg then posted an audio clip on Facebook, again defending the changes, announcing that Class E would be ‘parked’ for a year. He said abuse toward council members and staff would not be tolerated.

The accompanying Facebook post confirmed class OH remains in place for any pony, of any age, measuring above 148cm and that these ponies are still eligible for ACRES and other relevant schemes. It confirmed Class E will be put on hold in 2025 to be revisited in the future.

In addition, meetings similar to last year will be held for open discussion and Horse Sport Ireland will conduct external surveys at some inspections in 2025.

Measuring heights

Age/ Height allowed

Over five years old: 128cm - 148cm

Four years old: 128cm - 145cm

Three years old: 128cm - 143cm

Two years old: Under 140cm