Donegreagh Connemara Ponies

Our philosophy here is to breed primarily for type, as it is felt a Connemara should first and foremost look like a Connemara !  Bone, substance and conformation are all important parts of the whole, with good limbs and movement following on as a natural consequence. We provide seaweed mineral licks all year round, and the ponies live out whenever possible, which for most of them means all the time. The feed of choice is Stamm 30, a low calorie feed balancer blended by Irwin's Bluegrass Horsefeeds, in Stilloga Mills, Dungannon. Not only does it provide all the nutrition required by breeding and youngstock in a small, nutrient dense, and economical measure ( 500g per day for each mare ), but it means fewer trips to the local feed store - so it has excellent 'green' credentials.  Also there is no necessity to feed our lot twice or more in the day, unless specifically required by an individual, such as a part TB in winter time. Thus we support good, healthy growth and development in our youngsters as opposed to growing them as if they were bullocks. I want them to fulfil their natural potential - not try to make them into something they aren’t!

     The other vital aspect of a good Connemara is their temperament.  Allowing the mares to wean the foals in their own time is a method which has always worked for us - so unless a foal is sold and needs to move to a new home, they will run with mum right through, perhaps until she foals again the next year.  I used to think it was just an easy, lazy way to get along with minimum fuss, but horse psychologists tell us nowadays that standard ' early weaning' practice leads to long lasting trauma, which can be the root of problems in later life. Our approach means that the ponies run together in a family group, usually wth their own Dad  around to be involved in rearing his own kids !  This method also allows the temperament to develope in as natural a setting as possible, especially as the age range can be a mix,  just as in a wild herd. This means everyone learns their place, and makes for a more rounded individual, less stressed than by ' conventional' early weaning and segregation by age and sex - though the colts are grazed away from the fillies once they are weaned and away from their mothers.  All this herd life and experience means that when the ponies are ready to start training, they accept their learning readily, and quickly pick up what is required of them.

     We use barefoot trimming. My little stallion, bless him, was never shod, and had such naturally balanced good feet and limbs that he was never even trimmed in all his 14 years, yet he maintained his hooves in the perfect shape which we now know as 'the wild horse' or 'mustang' model.  See Pete Ramey's site at www.hoofrehab.com if you want to learn more about that. It will open your eyes.

Purebred Connemara Ponies

Donegreagh Eowyn
Born: 2008
Details: Eowyn is a Grey Dun Purebred Connemara Filly, She is of a more athletic type, and has a quiet temperament. She should mature at around 14hh.

Sire: Donegreagh Applejack S 1054.
Dam: Croppers Shadowfax ( Earlson x Gortaclassagh Rose )
Full Pedigree: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/donegreagh+eowyn

Donegreagh Nóirín na Mara

Born: 2008

Details: Grey Dun Purebred Connemara Filly, has a quiet temperament.

Sire: Shadows Dun ( Silver Shadow X Miss Muffet by Spring Con S 725 )

Dam: My Choice ( Óisín X Killernan Lady )

Details: This filly has superb movement and would make an excellent competition pony ridden or in hand.

Full Pedigree: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/donegreagh+noirin+na+mara

Below is Óisín, the grandsire of Noirín. ( photo from Lishmar Connemara site ).

He was the son of Silver Fort, a founding mare for the Gorham's of Glenbrickeen Farm near Clifden,

where they breed the Kingstown Connemara Ponies. 

We met Silver Fort when she was in her thirties.

Donegreagh Milky Bar Kid

Born: 2003

Details: Very strong type Purebred Perlino Connemara 145cm Gelding, with excellent bone and conformation. His beautiful natural extension inspired us to start him as a driving pony, a job which he loves and at which he excels !  He has been driven in heavy traffic and on rural roads, and is very steady. After being turned away for a short while, the Kid was then backed.  He has won in-hand and won and been placed in ridden classes. He has good jumping technique over coloured poles, and is already proving himself as a performance pony, having won first place and a trophy in his first ever showjumping competition.  His pedigree demonstrates that a pony can have performance breeding and ability, as well as being true to type. He will never fail to be noticed in the show ring. This Milky Bar Kid is 'strong and tough'  -  and a true all-rounder ! 

Donegreagh Cian Órga

Born: 2004.

Details: Purebred Bay Class One Connemara Gelding, Placed 1st in all three in-hand classes he competed in during 2009. He was only started in the summer of 2009, and within six weeks of begining his training was chosen as Reserve Champion Connemara Pony at Ballyshannon, which was his first ever show since his foal days ! An eye catching pony, with superb movement, he has always been placed under saddle, for which his first outing was at the Show of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust at Gosford, in September '09. That was followed up by the Country Comes to Town shortly after, where he was second to Nicola brown's beautiful Ceide Rose in the senior ridden. He won gelding in hand and Ridden Champion at the RBST Show in 2010. He gave a faultless show at the RDS in 2011, with Grainne McParland as his partner. He has great jumping ability, and will be training at working hunter this winter.

     There are lots of pictures of Cian on www.nicpba.co.uk in the 'Shows and Events' and CCtTown and RBST pages.

  Monaghanstown Peggy, the dam of Cian, is also the dam of Knockmore Merrel Prince. Foaled in 2000 and by Glencarraig Prince, he won the large breeds M&M at Hoys in 2008.

Full Pedigree: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/donegreagh+cian+orga

 Horses / Cobs / Partbred Connemaras For Sale

Benvarden Medicine Woman

Born: 2008

Details: Dun  Spotted Appaloosa X Filly
Sire:  Few Spot ( Homozygous ) Appaloosa, by Apache Chief ( IHB registered ). Both stallions stand with Arthur Megarry, at Burnbrae Appaloosa Stud, near Ballymena

Dam: Abbeyleix Golden Girl - Grade A Showjumper, retired (ISH) formerly owned by Jim Priestly and competed by Lisa Priestly. 

     From close up, her spots are like those of a leopard - dark around the edges and honey-dun in the centre ! These most uncommon markings, and her superb step make her a most attractive filly. Currently around 14.1 hh, she is a very correct filly.

 BENVARDEN JAMES was sold August 2011.
Born: 2008 To make 15.2 .   NIHB Registered.

Details: Partbred Connemara Grey - Dun gelding. He has a lot of presence, which was evident from foalhood, and an excellent, willing disposition.  He is now with the Lappin family in Donegal, and proving himself to be easy to train and work around.
Sire: Donegreagh Applejack (CPBS reg. S 1054 )

Dam: Rollinginit (TB) Chestnut mare by Ian Duncan's acclaimed sire, Jamesmead. This well related mare had her first ever foal to Spring Con S 725, the sire of Donegreagh Applejack.  Known at home as 'Pebbles', through her mare line she was related to horses with track wins in the U.S.

     http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/rollinginit

Benvarden Rach Two
Born: 2008

Details: Bay Partbred Connemara Gelding. Full brother to Benvarden Rachmaninov, and very much like him. He has the lovely temperament of his sire.   Expected to make 14.2 -14.3. He is a stunning pony with the conformation of a horse. He will make a first class small hunter and ridden prospect.

Sire: Donegreagh Applejack (CPBS reg. S 1054 )

Dam: Benvarden Jewel ISH

At home with his herdmates.

At his first show, Country Comes to Town, September 2011.

Rach Two won the Part-bred Youngstock, and was second, with his full brother,

 in the Progeny Class, which  was for teams of two related ponies.

Rach senior then won the Part-bred Ridden, so they had a good day !

   Since September, Rach 2 has been started under saddle, and proving his intelligence in his ability to learn anything that is required of him in just a couple of tries. He also has a great jump, and would make a terrific Working Hunter Pony. He has excellent movement and conformation. He is beginning to hack out alone, having come on initially in company. In the right hands, Rach 2 has a great future  in just about any equestrian discipline. Watch him in action at the link below :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G0a4nsDscU&list=UUqVI_gn9_I1ul5NUCtKfVpg&index=1&feature=plcp

Benvarden Shades Of Gold
Born: June 2007

Details: Partbred Palomino Connemara Filly, Golden has inherited the superb movement of her sire. Should make about 14.2 hh. Registered with the NIHB. She has now started her ridden work. She has a sweet disposition, and will be a lovely child's pony !

Benvarden Polka
Born: 2007

Details: Red & White Cob X mare.   Polka has a filly foal at foot, born in late May 2011 to our 3 y-o Connemara stallion, Donegreagh Úillín Óir  by Donegreagh Applejack  ( Spring Con x Belmore Bluebell by Skryne Bight Cloud ) ex Bullaun Lady ( Tulira Finn McCool x Dawn Beauty ). 

Polka's Sire: Young Coloured Cob Jumping Stallion
Polka's Dam: Abbeyleix Golden Girl, a.k.a. Polly, formerly owned by Jim Priestly and competed by Lisa Priestly - ISH and ISJA registered part Connemara who attained Grade A.

Benvarden Grianán
Born: 2007

Details: Partbred Dun Connemara Filly, Exceptionally good looking, athletic filly. Ideal performance prospect.  NIHB registered and micro-chipped. Grey - Dun filly with lovely breeding and superb movement, Grianán will make  a super ride and competiton prospect ! To make 15hh. NIHB registered. Leading, loads onto the lorry and travels well, and is ready to be started any time.

           http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/dawn+rising

Benvarden Muskie
Born: Nov. 2007 

Details: Very strong dark brown  Cob Gelding, with great bone and some feather. His dam was a great strong mare. He has been professionally broken to harness. 

Sire: Donegreagh Applejack (CPBS S 1054 )
Dam: Benvarden Rosanna ( Irish Cob.)