National Geographic: Ballad of the Irish Horse Page #2

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of wild horses

the ability to forage,

the strength

to survive on their own

in an untamed wilderness.

But now, in spring,

it is time to reunite

the gray stallion with the mares.

Come on, boy.

Easy, boys...

Easy, good fella.

With a gentleness

and expertise attained

from a lifetime

shared with horses,

John quickly gains

the stallion's confidence.

There is evidence

that spirited spanish horses,

some imported,

some shipwrecked off the coast,

mixed with the native ponies

to create this hardy breed.

Once used as both pack

and plow animals

in a rough

and roadless countryside,

today the intelligent,

docile Connemara ponies

are bred for riding.

Daly will release the stallion

with the herd,

allowing him to mate with any

of the mares that are in season.

Mares come into season

only nine days after foaling...

but are quick to

let a stallion know

if his advances are unwelcome.

Her posture and stillness indicate

this mare's receptiveness.

So the blood of

native Irish horses,

strengthened by the demands

of wild coast,

tempered by centuries of work

with the Irish people,

is passed into the future.

And if all goes well,

in 11 months

there will be a new foal

in the daily herd.

At Tulira Castle in County Galway,

Lady Anne Hemphill began breeding

Connemara ponies

some 25 years ago.

An avid rider

from the age of three,

Lady Hemphill wanted her children

to share her lifelong enthusiasm.

Her husband encouraged her

to organize classes

in horsemanship

for the local children.

Two decades later,

she is still teaching

the County Galway

Hunt Branch of Pony Club.

"Now if the pony's at grass,

what should he have in the fields?"

Water.

Yes, fine.

What's another reason, David?

Shade.

Shade is most important, isn't it?

Are you looking at his teeth?

Yes.

If he has a full set of teeth,

he's over seven years.

Well done. Good Girl.

There are pony Club branches

all over Ireland

providing an opportunity

for both country and city children

to learn not only riding,

but sportsmanship

and proper care of the animals.

I think it's a very good

foundation for them

because it's getting away

from this usual thing of

being in the cinemas,

the discos, and what have you.

Can you manage, Mark?

No, no... it's a long way up.

I don't know if you'll be

able to hold him, will you?

Keep away, keep away from that.

Go out here

in the middle of the field

so that other people can

get through and get mounted.

Now, come on.

I'll give you a leg.

Ups-a-daisy. Hold on. Good boy.

I find it very rewarding,

and it's more rewarding in that

when some of the children

that were

members of this branch

when I first started.

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