Breed Standard and
Stallion lines.
CPBS Stud Book Definition of the Connemara Pony Type
HEIGHT: Normally 128cms to 148 cms at maturity.
COLOURS: Grey, black, bay, brown, dun with occasional roan, chestnut, palomino and dark eyed cream. Ponies outside the standard height at maturity and Blue eyed creams are permitted entry in Class 2 of the Studbook. No broken coloured markings.
TYPE: Compact, well balanced riding type with depth, substance and good heart room. Standing on short legs covering a lot of ground.
HEAD: Well-balanced pony head of medium length with good width between large kindly eyes. Pony ears, well-defined cheekbone, jaw relatively deep but not coarse.
FRONT: Head well set on to neck. Crest should not be over-developed. Neck not set on too low. Well laid-back shoulder giving a good length of rein.
BODY: Body should be deep, with strong back, some length permissible but should be well ribbed up and with strong loins.
LIMBS: Good length and strength in forearm, well-defined knees and short cannons with flat bone measuring 18-21 cms. Elbows should be free. Pasterns of medium length, feet well shaped of medium size, hard and level.
HIND QUARTERS: Strong and muscular with some length, well developed second thighs, (gaskin) and strong, low-set hocks.
MOVEMENT: Movement free, easy and true, without undue knee action but active and covering the ground.
CHARACTERISTICS: Good temperament, hardiness and staying power, intelligence, soundness, surefootedness, jumping ability, suitable for child or adult.
Stallion Lines.
The photographs below are reproduced by the very
kind permission of Miss Pat Lyne, together with some information
taken principally from her 1984 publication 'Shrouded in Mist'
N.B. Murphy Rebel was foaled in 1976.
Clonkeehan Auratum S 104
In 1954 the CPBS purchased a son of the high class Arab sire, Naseel, who had been bred by Miss Lee Norman from her registered Connemara Mare, Western Lily ( M 1522 ).
The choice of an Arab X caused some controversy at that time, but provided a much needed outcross.
The colt, named Clonkeehan Auratum, became the founding sire of the 'Orange line', and those considered to be the best of his eleven registered sons were Ashfield Alex, who was later exported to England, and Clonjoy S 117.
His line continued through stallions such as Joyful Boy, Smokey Duncan, Tulira Rambler, Blue Smokie, Cluanai and presently the French bred sire, Gevaudan.
Thunderbolt S 178.
Representing one of the Connemara lines in which no outcrossing stallions were introduced are the Green line stallions, which sprang from Mountain Lad ( S 32 ) via his son Tully Lad ( S 48 ), and his son, Thunder ( S 113 ). Thunderbolt, shown above, ( S 178 ), was foaled in 1963. Until the Green line was revived by the importation of the Tully Lad / Tully Grey / Dale Haze/ Hazy Dawn line, mostly via the Frederiksminde Stud in Denmark, this line had become quite uncommon, with only a few stallions available. Thunderstorm has spent many years as a teaser at a Thoroughbred stud, so his blood has had less chance to perpetuate than it deserved. Gowna Bay and Robe Thunder are present sires from the 'Thunder' branch of the family. Thunderbolt, who, despite evidence to the contrary, was registered as a 'dark chestnut ', and was considered unpopular by some Irish breeders because he produced a great variety of colours in his offspring.
After his exportation to the UK, he was perhaps better appreciated, and produced sons such as Cocum Camelot, Miss Pat Lyne's own Chiltern Thunderburst, and Spinway Comet. From these have come such sires as Pilgrim's Excalibur, Arrow Javelin, Sydserff Gallant Knight, Innellan Kestrel and Rory Rasputin.
The Hazy Dawn branch needs little introduction, with Moy Hazy Cove, Frederiksminde Hazy Dawn, F. Hazy Match, and F. Hazy Move On being very well used in Ireland.
Yellow Line - Noble Star. Information to be added.