Connemara Pony Tales
Podcast series celebrating all things related to the Connemara Pony — its heritage, breeding, and global community. 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.
Episodes
For the very first time, Connemara Pony Tales went LIVE, recorded in front of a full house at the Station House Theatre during Connemara Pony Show week in Clifden.
Co-hosted by Lucinda Kelly and breeder Joe Burke, the night brought the conversations from the show ring onto the stage with some of the biggest names from an extraordinary week:
On the panel
- Judges: Sean Dunne and Vanessa Compton
- Ridden champions: Grace ...
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 mig...
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, Compan...
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 advanceme...
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 Brook...
In this thought-provoking episode of Connemara Pony Tales, host Lucinda Kelly tackles one of the most polarising debates in the native pony world today. As the Connemara pony gains unprecedented global popularity, is its rugged, versatile heritage being sacrificed at the altar of "show ring" aesthetics?
We are joined by an esteemed panel of experts to dissect the shift toward the "designer" show pony:
Vanessa Compton:...
In the final episode of this Connemara Pony Tales season, host Lucinda Kelly sits down with one of the most talked-about duos in the UK pony world — Harlow White and her mum Chelsea White.
At just 14, Harlow has taken the showing circuit by storm with her Connemara pony King Bunowen Castle Ali (“Panda”), claiming major wins including Mountain & Moorland Ridden Connemara Pony of the Year at HOYS,...
What does the future hold for the Connemara pony market in 2025? In this episode, we sit down with two very respected voices in the industry: Padraic Heanue, renowned breeder, judge, and lifelong advocate of the Connemara pony, and Emma Bevan, equestrian professional with extensive experience in pony sales and sport.
Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of Connemara pony breeding, buying, and selling —...
Episode Description:
Join us at the 2025 Connemara Pony World Search for a Star Novice Championships for a special vox pop edition of Connemara Pony Tales.
In this episode, we bring you the atmosphere of the show with on-the-ground conversations from riders, judges, and supporters, sharing their experiences, highlights, and reflections on this exciting championship. From the competition atmosphere (and lots...
Welcome to a very special episode of Connemara Pony Tales. We’re here in Clifden, the heart of Connemara, celebrating the 100th Connemara Pony Show – a true milestone in the history of our breed. Over the course of this episode, we’ll be chatting with exhibitors, judges, breeders, and riders to hear how they’re enjoying this historic gathering and what it means to them to be part of such a mo...
Next up on Connemara Pony Tales...we’re bringing you a feel-good mash-up episode featuring the riders and ponies who’ve qualified for the 2025 Dublin Horse Show in the Ridden and Performance Connemara classes.
From breeding lines to pre-show rituals, top tips for the ring, and the sweet relief of a class well-ridden — this is a mix of our top riders from Ireland!
🎙️ Whether you're a competitor, a po...
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, we’re honoured to welcome a truly iconic figure in the world of the Connemara Pony — historian, author, and former President of the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society, Tom MacLochlainn.
In a conversation full of insight and storytelling, Tom takes us back to 1800s Ireland to uncover the lesser-known origins of the breed, the ponies exported to Liverpool, and the...
Laminitis in Connemara Ponies: A Deep Dive with Dr. Kieran O’Brien
Hosted by Lucinda Kelly | Connemara Pony World Podcast
At this time of year, the risk of laminitis in Connemara ponies is at its highest — but how much do we really understand about this complex condition?
In this episode, host Lucinda Kelly is joined by leading equine vet and Connemara breeder Dr. Kieran O’Brien to take a deep di...
Working Hunter is having a moment — and native ponies like the Connemara are leading the charge. In this special episode of Connemara Pony Tales, host Lucinda Kelly is joined by three top experts — Jacqui Webb, Mathew Lawrence, and Jane Somerset — to unpack what it really takes to shine in the Working Hunter ring.
From what judges are really looking for, to the evolution of style, turnout tips, cour...
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, we chat to Bridget and Peter Lee of Clover Hill Connemara Ponies, the breeders behind some of the top ponies in recent years. From their base in Ballyconneely, Co. Galway, the Lees have built an internationally respected breeding programme since founding the Clover Hill prefix in 2007.
We explore their journey from beginnings to producing champions like Clover Hill Magic, the ...
We hit the road to the heart of Ireland for the Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders Group Annual Stallion Parade and Yearling Show. In this Voxpop episode, we capture the voices, insights, and passion of breeders, handlers, and spectators who make this event such a highlight in the pony calendar.
https://www.facebook.com/ConnemaraPonyWorld
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, we’re turning up the heat and putting three international experts in the hot seat to tackle some of the biggest questions facing the Connemara Pony breed today.
Joining us are:
🇸🇪 Madeleine Beckmann – Chair, Swedish Connemara Pony Society / ICPPS
🇬🇧 Kate Walters – Holnest Connemaras, former Council member of the BCPS
🇫🇮 Tuula Pyoria &nd...
Ever wondered what really happens behind the judge’s table? We’re cutting through the noise and getting straight to the truth.
We’ve brought together three of the most experienced and straight-talking judges in the game—people who’ve judged at the biggest shows across Ireland and the UK, including Clifden, RDS, and HOYS. They’re here to answer the tough questions, tackle the contro...
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, host Lucinda Kelly explores the exciting world of ridden Connemara ponies in the show ring. Joined by three top riders and producers—Rebecca Penny, Harrison Taylor, and Ailsa Vines—we explore the journey to the London International Horse Show taking place at the Excel in London.
Discover what it takes to prepare a Connemara pony for the big shows, insights into the...
In this episode of Connemara Pony Tales, host Lucinda Kelly dives into the heart of the U.S. Connemara pony community with three passionate advocates for the breed. Joining her are Caroline Nesbitt, Carol Kozlowski, and Marynell Eyles—breeders, judges, and riders who have dedicated decades to promoting and preserving Connemaras in America.
Together, they explore the evolution of the breed in the U.S., challenge...
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