“IT’S been a dream year,” said Maeve Kennedy, describing the 2024 her daughter Evie has had with their two Connemara ponies. With sales prices remaining buoyant and incredible performances by our native breed pony at high profile events such as the European Pony Championships, these successes are direct results of the passionate dedication of individual breeders, owners, riders and producers all over the world.

As ever, there are too many good news stories to detail each individually and this is a small selection of some of the joyous moments achieved by Connemaras over the past 12 months.

At only 14 years of age, Evie Kennedy has listed achievements this year that riders twice her age are still dreaming of. The Kennedys purchased the Connemara ponies Little Dromin Phoenix (Lettermuckoo Lad x Ballindoon Dolan Sparrow) and Blackwoodland Breeze (Glencarrig Prince x Blackwoodland Silver Beam) in close succession two years ago. What the ponies have achieved under Evie’s guidance is a true advertisement for the versatility of our native breed. Having already represented Ireland in the UK, 2024 saw Evie, Breeze and Phoenix build on a successful first year together. “When it goes right, it can really go right,” Maeve modestly explained.

Despite her youth, Evie set clear goals for what she would like to achieve with both ponies and her handwritten list detailed the classes she wanted to qualify for. One such goal was to represent Ireland at the UK Pony Club Dressage Home International at Royal Windsor Horse Show with Breeze. “Over the winter, they trained very hard with Vitaliy Halstyan,” Maeve shared.

The hard work paid off, leading to a box ticked off the list, as the pair were selected for the IPC team winning the Elementary section as part of their qualification.

The Glencarrig Prince gelding has excelled between the boards and, at this summer’s Dressage Ireland Youth National Championships, was Reserve Champion in both Novice and Elementary categories. He was also the highest placed Connemara at the Leinster Region summer show. “We have done one Medium test together and I hope we can continue to progress,” Evie explained.

Fast becoming a poster pony for our native breed’s ability in the dressage ring, the Kennedys credit good training and temperament for Breeze’s rise through the levels. “When the work is put in, there really are opportunities in all disciplines with Connemaras,” Maeve says, whose own love of the breed goes back to her grandmother, who was never without a native mare, and she would attend the Annual Connemara Pony Show in Clifden with her father, where he loved to photograph the ponies.

High on the list for their other pony, Phoenix, was to qualify for Horse of the Year Show and, specifically, at the Northern Ireland Festival. True to form, Evie wrote it down and made it happen, winning her golden ticket to compete in the 143cm Working Hunter Pony class.

HOYS would not be the Lettermuckoo Lad gelding’s only trip to the UK, as he collected their qualification for the Royal International at Hickstead after winning at the Irish Pony Society Spring Championships before being awarded Reserve Working Hunter Champion on the same day. The Kennedys’ third of four trips to the UK came mere weeks before the Dublin Horse Show and, despite a pole down, Phoenix was placed sixth after a strong show piece.

Little Dromin Phoenix, winner of the 143 Working Hunter at Horse of The Year Show 2024 \ 1st Class Images

Champions

The most-shared goal by Irish equestrians is to compete at the Dublin Horse Show. The newly implemented process required Working Hunter pony hopefuls to qualify for this year’s classes. Having placed in the top three during their qualifiers, Phoenix and Evie were third last to take on the 143cm Working Hunter course in Ballsbridge. A clear round and a flawless show piece – literally the pair got full marks for their performance on the flat – and the Vera Griffin-bred gelding was called as the class winner.

“Vitaliy got their show piece down, he turned it inside out and had it completely nailed,” Maeve credits the Tipperary-based trainer with being an integral part of Evie’s progress. Sailing back into Ring Two on the high of their win, their Dublin dreams continued to come true as Evie and Phoneix were announced as Champion Working Hunter Pony. Standing in Reserve was Marjorie Hardiman’s home-bred Connemara Creganna Kerfuffle, ridden by daughter Lara Field, making it a native breed sweep of the championship.

With another massive achievement ticked off the list, there was one more for Evie and Phoenix - HOYS. Making the fourth journey of the year across the Irish sea, the pair were last to take on the National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers 143cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year track. A faultless round and a 9/10 show piece, about which Evie says: “I was hoping to come away with a coloured ribbon, so when I got called back I was delighted I was even going to get a rosette”. As competitors were called forward in reverse order, Evie’s wait until the end was rewarded, as the crowd erupted for the Irish pony and rider being called as the class winner. “When you say it out loud, you think it couldn’t have happened like that, but we really do have two very special Connemaras who you couldn’t fault,” Maeve said of their ‘total family ponies’.

“My younger son, Andy, is now riding Breeze doing 80s and 90s, and is hoping to do interschools. They are amazing ponies and we were just so lucky to get them.” True ambassadors of the breed’s abilities when combined with thoughtful training, it is clear the strength of the bond and trust that Evie has developed with her native ponies.

“She’s had great help in Vitaliy, Ger O’Brien and Thomas Ryan, who have all been involved with training. It takes a village,” Maeve said. Evie, who will sit her Junior Cert next summer, has yet to write the 2025 list, but hopes to continue to progress in dressage with Breeze, while the Desert Orchid in Grantham might be added under Phoenix’s name.

Sadhbh O'Connor and Teach Mor Sparrow won Class 73 Ridden Connemara Ponies, four and five years old at Dublin Horse Show \ 1st Class Images

Dublin Horse Show

Connemara successes at this year’s Dublin Horse Show included Zoe Price’s Lough Derg Star (Glencarrig Joe x Sellernane Beauty) building on his 2023 success and this year was crowned Champion Ridden Connemara with Ciara Mullen in the tack, while Aoife O’Connor’s four-year-old Teách Mór Sparrow (Blakehill Sparrow x Kelly’s Hero) stood Reserve, ridden by daughter Sadhbh.

The William’s Boy mare Annaveigh Flashback 69, owned by Deborah McCann, took the Junior Equitation Championship with Launa McCann in the saddle. The native breed Performance Hunter classes continue to grow in popularity, as a platform to demonstrate the dynamic abilities of our pony. Champion in the older pony category 8 -15-year-old was the grey gelding Clareville Codiac (Caherlistrane Bay x Tegan), ridden by Katie Wyse for her mother Anna.

Launa McCann and Annaveigh Flashback 69, winners of the Junior Equitation class 89 and Junior Equitation Cup at Dublin Horse Show 2024 \ Enda Daly jumpinaction.net

It was in the younger Championship, where one of the most remarkable stories of the year unfolded. Abbey O’Driscoll showcased what the payoff grit and determination can yield, when piloting a Connemara. Having taken a break from riding for some years, friend Lauren Baker inspired her to get back in the saddle. Seeking something she could have fun on, do a variety of disciplines and that would be easily managed, she was drawn to the Connemara as a pony and purchased Caoranbeg Comanche (Mountain Cascade x Gallowstown Bibi) as a four-year-old.

“To be honest, when I got him, I didn’t even think about doing something like Dublin. It was when Michelle Kenny in River Lodge said he would be ideal for the Connemara classes that she got me thinking,” she said. The pair partook in qualifiers in his five-year-old year for the Connemara Performance Hunter and, despite feeling in hindsight that it was a big ask, Tommy and Abbey just missed qualification his first season out.

In 2023, they secured their golden ticket for Wednesday’s Connemara Performance Hunter, but things did not go their way. “I fell off and left the ring in tears. I was so upset,” Abbey remembers, “but then it was all about getting back there. Dublin, Dublin, Dublin – it was all I could think about.”

Abbey set about doubling down on her efforts. “Tommy has a great jump, but I would get so nervous, I wouldn’t sleep the night before. I realised my mindset had to change,” she said. The pair hunted all last winter in an effort to make them both braver and worked with trainer, Tom Byrne, on getting their confidence jumping. “He has matured so much this year and has come out a better pony. I think he really needed that length of time to come into himself,” she said.

Abbey O'Driscoll and Caoranbeg Comanche, winners of the five to seven-year-old Connemara Performance Hunter at the 2024 Dublin Horse Show \ 1st Class Images

The Performance classes at the Dublin Horse Show remain a fantastic and well-supported competition, with numbers vying for their golden tickets increasing year on year. It is a dynamic class, where successful ponies have to have an expansive array of abilities, being judged for flat, jumping and conformation marks. While qualification is a challenge in itself, the format in which they are run differs significantly to the final class in Ballsbridge. At qualifiers, there is a distinct break between flat and jumping phases, whereas in Dublin combinations are expected to perform the set show piece before heading straight into the jumping phase.

“The ponies have to be good at everything, so we were getting jumping lessons and dressage lessons. The flat work takes a lot of work, because the show piece must be perfect – it really is where placings are won or lost,” Abbey, who also trained with Vitaliy Halstyan for flatwork, advises. As summer qualifiers began, Abbey was clear in her vision and Tommy qualified for both the performance and flat ridden classes.

“I decided the only person I wanted to make proud was myself and Tommy, so I really focused on my own performance. I wouldn’t watch anyone else or look at any other marks. I listened to manifesting guru Roxie Nafousi on repeat all the way to the qualifiers,” she said. Eleventh to go on the day of the final, the gelding bred by Caoilfhinn O’Malley was the only pony of the class to jump clear. Twelve months on, tears flowed again, but this time ones of pride and joy, as Abbey’s manifestation came true.

The full-time doc-control coordinator’s story is one that many juggling a passion for competing and working full-time aspire to.

“There is so much that goes into the performance that it really is something I put all my focus into,’”Abbey shared. “I would advise anyone that wants to go for it to really stay focused on their own progress and pony. Stay in your own lane and don’t be worried about what others are doing.” With a second pony now on her roster, Abbey hopes to aim both Connemaras at the performance qualifiers next year.

Selfie Time: Katie Wyse records the Dublin championship moment after winning aboard Clareville Codiac in the the eight to 15-year-old section of the Connemara performance hunter on Day 1 \ Susan Finnerty

European Pony Championships

Internationally, the FEI European Pony Championships is the pinnacle of pony performance. This year, Connemaras again featured on nations’ teams across all three disciplines of show jumping, eventing and dressage. While six Connemaras lined out for national show jumping teams, one pure breed qualified to compete at this year’s Dressage Championships.

Connemara pony Nice One (Sjödalens Magnet x Shanna) helped Team Sweden to a historic bronze medal finish. The 14-year-old dun gelding, ridden by Ronja Kardos, also finished 10th individually in the Pony Riders’ Freestyle Final. ‘Nisse’ has competed at international level on 10 occasions, most recently winning the Pony Freestyle at the Swedish International Horse Show in November. Bred by Sara Liew, his record includes a Gold medal at the Swedish Championships, was the winner of Falsterbo Horse Show, team silver and individual bronze at the Nordic Championships in 2023 and has been selected for Sweden’s Nations Cup pony teams for two consecutive years. Ronja describes Nisse as “the sweetest pony with the biggest heart. He has taken me to the top in a such short time”. Famed for their surefootedness, combined with the stamina and temperament of the Connemara, these characteristics lend themselves readily to the dressage arena.

“I bought his grandfather as a yearling and wanted him to be a breeding stallion, which he became,” Sara, who breeds Swedish warmbloods professionally, shared. “The only one I kept long-term was Nisse. He is one of a kind!”

Eight of the 44 ponies to compete at the Eventing Championships were Connemara, with combinations representing Germany, Italy and Sweden, as well as being on the silver medal-winning Irish team. 50% of Team Ireland was made up of Connemara combinations. Helping bring home team silver was Woody Sammy (Woodfield Sammy x Westside Princess), ridden by Bonnie O’Neill, and the Jessica O’Ryan-partnered Carhu Melody (I Love You Melody x Lickeen Star), who finished best of the Irish in seventh place individually.

This year’s team gold medal was won by France, whose team included Connemara pony Babylon Night Graves (Midnight du Brana x Courbette de Gere). Representing France for a third time at this level, the 13-year-old gelding finished fourth individually with Tifaniie Villeton, making him the highest placed Connemara of this eventing championship. He was bred by Audrey Dick (Dauge), whose interest in the Connemara began from an early age.

“When I started riding ponies, I was lucky enough to have a very good Connemara pony, who introduced me to the breed,” she said. “I like their versatility; they can be a family pony, as well as a high-level performer. Their physical quality and their mentality make them very dynamic.”

Audrey bought the gelding’s sire Midnight du Brana as a foal, having ridden some of his siblings, who were talented jumpers. “At the end of his career, Midnight evented, he was my favourite horse. His mother Courbette de Gère was a jumping mare, who had a lot of blood. She produced very well, Babylon Night was her last foal.”

Sold as a three-year-old, Audrey describes him as a pony ‘that even as a foal had the energy of his mother and confidence of his father, combined with an extraordinary gallop’. Trained initially by Laura Maisterenna, the pony then went to the Villeton family at age seven, where he has been enjoyed by sisters Océane and Tifaniie. As a breeder, his achievements spark pride and joy for Audrey.

“I am very proud to see him flying the flag for France, but also for Connemaras and Graves breeding. The work of breeders is so long and so difficult that these moments at competition are real victories, and the inspiration to continue.”

Having been awarded best breeders of young eventing ponies in 2021, Audrey continues to breed sport horses under the DK (Haras d’Ick) prefix and keeps three Connemaras, all third generation Graves breeding.

In the UK, Irish-bred Connemaras continued to achieve high profile performances, including Samantha Stanley’s Moorland White River (Moorland Snowy River x Grey Rock Misty), bred by Cathy Snow and Martin Coyne, who has been consistently successful in the Working Hunter arena with her daughter Izzy.

Their achievements include being selected as a member of the British Team for the National Pony Championships and winning his Working Hunter section at the British Show Pony Society Summer Championships to help secure a win for the home nation. He also finished second in the 153cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year final at HOYS and in the 1m BSPS Gold Cup Final at Burghley.

Jessica O'Ryan and Carhu Melody in action at the North Holland Horse Trials, Oudkarspel \ Ashley Claus

Gorgeous George

Moyabbey George (Castlestrange Fionn x Glencarrig Heather) took top honours in the Ridden Connemara Pony of the Year at HOYS. The grey stallion was bred by Tony Walsh and has had an outstanding year with owner/rider Ailsa Vines, who also won the Connemara stallion class in Dublin this summer.

The pair also qualified for December’s London International BSPS Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship.

He is one of three Galway-bred ponies to qualify for this month’s final, alongside King Bunowen Castle Ali (Best Shadow Melody x Bunowen Castle Ellie) bred by Kerry and Feichin King and the Henry O’Toole-bred Castle Kestrel (Glencarraig Knight x Castle Melody).