THE Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society has announced the launch of the CPBS Judges’ Pathway Programme, a major step forward in strengthening judging standards and growing the future panel for the Connemara pony breed.
The initiative forms part of the Society’s ongoing work to modernise its rule book, promote greater consistency in judging, and provide accessible training and development opportunities for both new and existing judges.
The programme is being delivered under the guidance of a voluntary provincial CPBS Judges’ Working Group, chaired by John Noel Mullen (Connacht), with support from Lucinda Kelly (Leinster), Jackie Hockley (Ulster) and Eimear Coleman (Munster).
Speaking about the launch, John Noel Mullen said: “Our aim is to build a structured, transparent and supportive pathway for people who want to judge Connemara ponies, ensuring that our future judges are confident, honest and above all have integrity, and aligned with CPBS values. This programme will help safeguard consistency and excellence in the ring for years to come.”
The CPBS is now inviting expressions of interest from individuals wishing to participate in the first intake of the Judges’ Pathway Programme with a particular emphasis on attracting current IPS and ISA judges who wish to expand their judging experience into the Connemara breed.
Participants who successfully complete the full training and assessment process will be considered for inclusion on the official CPBS judges’ panel.
Applicants do not need to be current CPBS members in order to submit an Expression of Interest; however, those who pass the selection process and are approved to enter the Judges’ Pathway Programme will be required to become members of the Society before formal training commences. A programme fee will apply to cover training and assessment costs.
Expressions of Interest can be submitted through the CPBS website at www.cpbs.ie, by emailing judgescourse@cpbs.ie, or through the CPBS Facebook page. The closing date for applications is January 13th, 2026.