Connemara Pony Tales

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With the 2026 Dublin Horse Show just days away, we hear from the riders, owners and breeders preparing to take part in the Connemara pony classes.
Through voice notes sent directly from yards, stables and jeeps across Ireland and beyond, our contributors introduce their qualified ponies, share the best Dublin advice they have received, reveal what nearly stopped them from getting there and imagine what their pony might say if interviewed on the morning of the class.
We are also joined by Tweetie Nimmo, Kirsty Aird and Madeline Beckmann, all of whom have previously judged the Connemara classes at Dublin. They share their memories, experience and insights into what makes competing at the Dublin Horse Show such a special occasion.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this episode, and the very best of luck to every breeder, owner, rider and pony heading to Dublin.
Part-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support Scheme.
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The Connemara Pony Breeders' Society has just come through the most turbulent chapter in its recent history — six council resignations in February, a rescheduled AGM, and a community at times at war with itself online. In this episode, the people now at the helm sit down to answer your questions, on the record.
Host Lucinda Kelly is joined by Kevin Bolger, the new President of the CPBS; Ann Marie Conroy, Company Secretary and Joint PRO, who served as President herself in 2020 and 2021; and Kathleen Conroy, Joint PRO and Chair of Marketing and Education.
Shaped by questions from listeners across the Connemara community, the conversation looks honestly at the state of the Society, how the new council intends to steady the ship, and where things go from here. Members will make their own minds up — but they can't do that without hearing directly from the people now leading the Society.
Hosted by Lucinda Kelly. Post-production by Pam Clingan.
This recording is part-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support Scheme.
Support the show
https://www.facebook.com/ConnemaraPonyWorld

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
https://www.facebook.com/ConnemaraPonyWorld

Send us Fan Mail
Is the Connemara pony the best-kept secret in international dressage? Join us on Connemara Pony Tales as we sit down with three elite horsewomen to explore whether the breed is truly a modern dressage powerhouse or destined to remain the "underdog."
We look into the technical realities of training and breeding for the FEI arena, the impact of strategic "blood" percentages on movement, and whether scientific advancements like genomic testing risk sacrificing the breed’s legendary heart for the sake of a leaderboard score.
Meet our guests:
Ronja Kardos: A prominent performance rider and the key voice behind the success of the FEI-level star, Nice One.
Anna Gotske: A specialist from the Nordic performance circuit, where she brings a family legacy of breeding Connemaras specifically for the dressage arena.
Margaret Kitts: The founder of ISE Equine Endeavors and a leading advocate for using Western Dressage principles to build a more responsive, balanced partnership.
Tune in as we discuss what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the sport while preserving the magic of the Connemara pony.
Produced by Connemara Pony Tales with part funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support (ETS) Scheme 2025.
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We’ve all heard the legend: 1588, the Spanish Armada wrecked off the coast of Galway, and Andalusian horses swimming ashore to forge the Connemara pony we know today. It’s a beautiful story—but is it fact, or is it just the world's most successful marketing myth?
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, we go "Into the Lab" with one of the world’s leading equine geneticists, Dr. Samantha Brooks from the University of Florida.
We move beyond the folklore to analyse the actual genomic map of the Connemara. We’re putting the breed’s biggest mysteries under the microscope, tackling 500 years of history and the future of the breed in one sitting.
In this episode, we explore:
The Ancestry Audit: Does the DNA actually show Spanish influence, or is the Connemara a "time capsule" of an even older, indigenous Irish pony?
The Pony Paradox: Why does a 14.2hh mare produce a 15.1hh foal? Dr. Brooks breaks down the "growth switches" that are changing the size of our breed.
The "Easy Keeper" Trap: Is the legendary hardiness that allowed our ponies to survive on the bogs now making them prone to modern metabolic crises?
The Future of the Breed: Beyond HWSD—what is the next frontier of testing, and how do we protect the Connemara’s famous temperament in a world demanding "Sport Horse" performance?
Whether you are a traditionalist breeder or a modern performance enthusiast, this episode is a must-listen. The legends are beautiful, but the DNA tells the real story.
This episode was made possible with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
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