In her touching memoir Reflections Through the Mist, British author Pat Lyne thus describes her first encounter with a Connemara filly named Arctic Moon: “Her near-perfect make and shape, her beautiful head and full eyes were underpinned by a quiet charm.”

Much like ourselves, the Connemara has many strings to its lineage – Celtic Hobby, Scandinavian, Arab, Thoroughbred and perhaps some Spanish Andalusian from the foundering Armada galleons of 1588.

On their wild Atlantic headlands they have blended those bloods into the wonderfully unique Irish pony that is prized around the world today. Gentle – but with just a touch of the wild – they are an Irish breed apart.

I have seen their flowing manes and tails add extra beauty to their native craggy wild Atlantic habitat and also on the White Mountain foothills of New Hampshire, US. I have witnessed them take winning laps of honour at Britain’s Horse of the Year Show and watched them proudly represent Ireland at the great Essen Equitana in Germany.

The Connemara pony quadrille

My most poignant memory of the Connemara is of its magnificent quadrille performance in the main arena at Dublin Horse Show in the early 1990s.

Gathered together by their local trainer at the McEvilly family’s Cashel House Hotel on the Atlantic coast between Roundstone and Carna, 14 superb greys and their riders had begun work on a quadrille done to traditional Irish music in the spring of 1991.

Sponsors of the Dublin Horse Show, Kerrygold, had heard tell of them and proposed to give them a slot in the main arena prior to the Aga Khan. It was conditioned on their performance being perfected.

At weekly sessions they strove to do just that, but it was soon decided that extra help was needed. None other than the great lady show jumping heroin Iris Kellett was asked to lend a hand. Without hesitation, she made several trips out to Connemara and worked the most extraordinary of miracles which brought new found riding class and form to the group.

Top Irish designer Pat Crowley was asked to create a flowing Irish uniform for the group. Castle Freight of Co Clare funded its creation. By early June, to live music by members of the Kilfenora Céilí Band, the quadrille had its first public outing at Galway County Show. More practice followed and finally the group passed muster for Dublin.

I vividly remember shedding copious tears as this magnificent line of 14 greys entered the arena to live music from Farnkie Gavin of De Danann and they began their beautifully choreographed routine before the president’s box. Only the Connemara and those who love them so well could have risen to that occasion!