Festival of the Connemara Pony

Tuesday 18th Of August 2026 - Loose Jumping Competition

Showgrounds Arena | 2pm

• Class Lj1: All-Ireland Connemara Pony Three-year-old Loose Jumping Final 2026
• This Championship Class is open exclusively to three-year-old registered Connemara ponies that have qualified at previous shows, with the aim of identifying performance potential at a young age.
• The pony must be in possession of a CPBS passport in the current owner’s name.
• Ponies must be fit and adequately trained to participate, jumping ability is expected.
• No boots or bandages permitted. No plaiting of mane or tails. Ponies should wear a simple snaffle bridle.
• Fences will not exceed 1.10m x 1.10m.
• Accommodations will be made for ponies 138cm and under. Reduced distances and fence dimensions will be used for these ponies.
• Exhibitors will lead their pony into the sand arena and stand it on to the judge for conformation assessment, followed by in hand movement (walk away/ trot back in a direct fashion towards the judges). The judge will then advise you when to release your pony and the trained arena party will take over, guiding your pony forward – the arena party will not touch or chase the pony. When the judges advise you must catch your pony and leave the arena.
• Jumping lane – Ponies will be marked out of a maximum of 20 points per round over 4 rounds. There will be also one practice round (80 marks).
• Conformation will also be marked out of a maximum of 20 points.
• Overall maximum score 100 points
• The Judge’s decision is final. No owner or exhibitor should approach the judge.
• See Show Rules and Regulations.

Wednesday 19th Of August 2026 - Connemara Pony In-Hand Classes

Showgrounds Arena | 08:30 AM

See more detais on the Clifden Connemara Pony Show (Festival of the Connemara Pony) page.

Thursday 20th Of August 2026 - Ridden And Working Hunter Classes

Showgrounds Arena | RING ONE AND RING TWO | 7:30am APPROXIMATELY | PLEASE NOTE ORDER OF CLASSES BELOW

• Prize Fund for Classes 24 ,25 ,26 ,27 ,28 ,29 ,30, 32: 1st €200, 2nd €100, 3rd €80, 4th €60, 5th €40, 6th €20.
• Prizes in Kind for Class 31 and 34 | Prize for Class 33: Champion Ridden Pony €300 and Reserve €200
• Class 35 Irish Green Hunter: 1st €800, 2nd €500, 3rd €250, 4th 200, 5th €150, 6th €100.
• Class 35 Breeders Prize: 1st €400, 2nd €250, 3rd €125, 4th €100, 5th €75, 6th €50.
• Class 35 Highest Place Mare Prizes: 1st €400, 2nd €250, 3rd €125, 4th €100, 5th €75, 6th €50.

Please note all Ridden classes have a capacity cap of 28. Entry fee: €40 (unless otherwise stated)

A correctly fitting riding helmet should be worn by riding competitors and must comply with one of the following standards: PAS015 , VG1, (BS)EN 1383 2017, ASTM F11163 04a onwards, SNELL 2001 OR SNELL E2016 AS/NZS 3838 2003 onwards. BSEN 1384 must be over stamped with one of these above. Helmets/Hats must be worn by riders at all times when mounted. Should a helmet/hat fall off a competitor during a class they will be eliminated. If a chin strap has become undone, the rider must fix the chinstrap before continuing without penalty, which may lead to elimination. Parents and guardians of competitors under 18, and all other riders are responsible for the correct fitting and adjustment of their tack, equipment and clothing. A rider who is unable to handle their pony, in an interest of safety will be asked to leave the ring. If entries are deemed to be too high by stewards, in the interest of safety for all, classes may be divided into odd and even numbers. Only watches and/or medical bracelets are permitted. Earrings and body studs must not be worn. If required, proof for age may need to be produced.

Showgrounds Arena | RING ONE | Approximately 7.30am

• Class 24: Four-and-five-year-old Ridden Pony – Rider 10 years and over (at 1st of January 2026)
• Class 25: Six-to-eight-year-old Ridden Pony – Rider 10 years and over (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 28: Four-year-old and over Ridden Pony – Rider 21 years and over (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 29: Stallion four years and over – Rider 14 years and over (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 32: Ladies side saddle Registered Connemara Pony – Rider 14 years and over (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 33: Champion Ridden Pony (1st and 2nd prize winners from Classes 24–30 and 32 are eligible)
• Class 34: Family working hunter - Mares and Geldings Four years and over – rider under 16 years (at 1st of January 2026). Please Note: Qualified combinations for the Irish Green Hunter and rider/pony combinations for high performance final are not eligible for Family Working Hunter class.

PLEASE NOTE: Combinations that incur more than -20 penalties (e.g. one knock -10, one refusal -15) penalties will not proceed to Phase Two. Only clear rounds and combinations incurring -20 penalties or less will progress to the Ridden Phase.

• Class 35: Irish Connemara Green Hunter Final – Stallions/Geldings/Mares- Four-year Olds Only. Qualified combinations for the Irish Green Hunter are not eligible for Family Working Hunter class.

Friday 21st Of August 2026 - Working Hunter Classes And Puissance

Showgrounds Arena | RING TWO | Approximately 7.30am

• Class 31: Lead Rein Registered Connemara Pony – Rider between 3 and 10 years old (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 30: Four-year-old and over Ridden Pony – Rider under 14 years (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 26: Four-year-old and over Ridden Pony – Rider 10 to 16 years old (at 1st January 2026)
• Class 27: Four-year-old and over Ridden Pony – Rider over 16 and under 21 years (at 1st January 2026)

Showgrounds Arena| RING ONE/TWO | 8am

• Prize fund for Classes 36, 37, 38, 40: 1st €200, 2nd €100, 3rd €80, 4th €60, 5th €40, 6th €20.
• Class 39 Champion Working Hunter: Champion €300, Reserve €200
• Class 41 High Performance Final: 1st €750, 2nd €400, 3rd €300, 4th €200, 5th €150, 6th €100.
• CAP OF 40 PONIES IN CLASS 38
• ENTRY FEE: €40

A correctly fitting riding helmet should be worn by riding competitors and must comply with one of the following standards: PAS015 , VG1, (BS)EN 1383 2017, ASTM F11163 04a onwards, SNELL 2001 OR SNELL E2016 AS/NZS 3838 2003 onwards. BSEN 1384 must be over stamped with one of these above. Helmets/Hats must be worn by riders at all times when mounted. Should a helmet/hat fall off a competitor during a class they will be eliminated. If a chin strap has become undone, the rider must fix the chinstrap before continuing without penalty, which may lead to elimination. Only watches and/or medical bracelets are permitted. Earrings and body studs must not be worn. Parents and guardians of competitors under 18, and all other riders are responsible for the correct fitting and adjustment of their tack, equipment and clothing. Riders who have not reached their 16th birthday on or before 1st January 2026 must wear a body protector. A rider who is unable to handle their pony, in an interest of safety will be asked to leave the ring. If entries are deemed to be too high by stewards, in the interest of safety for all, classes may be divided into odd and even numbers. If required, proof for age may need to be produced.

PLEASE NOTE: Combinations that incur more than -20 penalties (e.g. one knock -10, one refusal -15) penalties will not proceed to Phase Two. Only clear rounds and combinations incurring -20 penalties or less will progress to the Ridden Phase.

• Class 36: Four-to-Six-year-old Working Hunter – Rider any age. Ponies aged four will jump a course of working hunter fences no higher than 75cm. Ponies aged 5 to 6 will jump a course no higher than 85cm. Ponies that compete in this class are not eligible for any other working hunter class.
• Class 37: Four-year-old and over Working Hunter Pony – Rider Under 16 years (at 1st January 2026) Ponies will be required to jump a course of working hunter fences no higher than 85cm.
• Class 38: Four-year-old and over Working Hunter Pony – Rider 16 years and over (at 1st January 2026) Ponies will be required to jump a course of working hunter fences no higher than 95cm. This class is open to Mares, Geldings and Stallions. CAP of 40 Ponies in this class.
• Class 39: Champion Working Hunter Pony - Open to 1st and 2nd prize winners in classes 36 to 38. Please note – if a pony wins more than one working hunter class the rider/pony combination that had the first initial win is the only combination that may compete in the working hunter championship.
• Class 40: New for 2026 –Young Rider Derby – Riders aged 16 to 25 years (at 1st January 2026). Open to mares, stallions and geldings. Ponies will jump a timed course of fences no higher than 1m. Placings will be determined by the fastest round, with penalties added for faults incurred.
• Class 41: Clifden High Performance Final – Please Note: Rider/Pony Combinations for high performance final are not eligible for Family Working Hunter Class. Open to registered Connemara ponies in possession of a CPBS passport, aged 5 years old and over.
• Class 42: Puissance Competition Open to registered Connemara ponies, aged four years and over. Pre-entry and also on the day up to 2pm. Entry fee €50.