IT is often said that the “grassroots” of the Connemara pony breeders are those who provide the old foundation lines that spread the gospel to many parts of the world.

Since the 1950s, when he won his first red rosette at a local show with a yearling he bought himself, John was hooked. “This gave me the taste of success”, and so it started a long line of ponies with the Gentle prefix, many of which grace the studbook today.

Now aged 88, John McLoughlin lives at Derryherbert, Letterfrack, Co Galway. He is one of the most popular and respected breeders and exhibitors throughout the country and he is looking forward to this year’s showing season.

He commenced breeding ponies so that he could exhibit at the local shows around Connemara, and above all to have a day out. Bearing in mind his motto of “have pony will travel” and at a time horseboxes were unheard of, John travelled by tractor and trailer with the pony in the back.

“In the early days it was an adventure. It took about three and a half hours to get to shows like Oughterard carrying a mare or two with foals and, although it took a while to get to the show, it was wonderful and if you could win a prize, it was even better,” he said.

John had a natural eye for a good pony so when he purchased Milford Wren (M.8067), who was bred in 1982 by Jackie Walsh in Rossmuck, by Sarsfield (Killyreagh Kim x Wise Cuckoo), she was to be his great foundation mare.

Her dam Mervyn Wren (M.4037) (The Admiral x Mervyn Nassim) was raised at Milford Stud by Tom and Elizabeth Ormsby in Tuam. Milford Wren caries Carna Bobby in both sides of her pedigree and also the Arab blood of Clonkeen Auratum.

SPECIAL DAYS

The McLoughlin family always kept a working pony but times were hard and there was no time for breeding foals when a daily round of work was the norm for the resident mare.

John’s father had bought a mare they named Gentle Polly in 1935, so when John later decided to have his own prefix he decided on the ‘Gentle’ title.

John was convinced he had something special so he made a rare visit to the RDS in 1994 with Milford Wren. Not only did she win her mare class but she was judged reserve champion Connemara of the show.

John speaks of the great days when somebody would take a big truck full of Connemaras to Dublin and they all travelled together. The Connemaras were upstairs in the RDS and it was a great party for the week. Milford Wren later produced a number of top-class progeny - her daughter Gentle Wren (by Abbeyleix Owen) won the junior championship at Clifden for John in 1999 and in all, she won five times at Clifden.

Milford Wren won the senior mares class in Clifden in 1993 and she also produced the winning colt foal that day.

The Clifden show in 2009 was another very special day for John. Gentle Kate (I Love you Melody x Gentle Wren), shown by Geoffrey Heanue, won the three-year-old mare class and the coveted Killanin Cup and went on to be judged reserve junior champion.

The strong influence of Carna Bobby is evident in the pedigree of Gentle Kate, who carries some interesting bloodlines through the infusion of her sire I Love you Melody.

John likes to keep around six mares and they graze in areas close to his cottage. “Neighbours are very good around here and there is always a bit of help if and when I need it.” His ponies are all familiar with his whistle which he uses to summon them to the gate.

He has two in foal this year – Gentle Rose (Moorland Snowy River x Gentle Cloud) is in foal to Glencarrig Knight. Kate is dry this year but John is looking out for a suitable stallion in the near future.

He has her half-sister Gentle Sally, by Glencarrig Patrick, who is also due to foal to Glencarrig Knight shortly. Gentle Heather (Coral Misty Bobby x Granard Sunny Day is also dry this year.

He says of Glencarrig Knight: “He is a lovely type of a Connemara stallion and he has a mighty pedigree, which is why I went to him.”

I asked John what was his best highlight showing? He answered: “It was a filthy wet day in Clifden in 1991 and I was showing Milford Wren. We were pulled in by judges Jimmy Canavan and Micheal Higgins but I noticed Padraic Hynes standing beside me with Village Colleen. I was sure we were bunched because Colleen was an outstanding mare. Thankfully the judges gave us the nod and placed us first. It was a great thrill!”

He is convinced that: “If you have something good, keep going and even if you don’t win, it is good to be there.” His advice to new breeders is to stick to the old foundation lines that have been successful and above all to enjoy the privilege of being there.

“Showing has become a very commercial world because there is a lot of money about, and we must not forget that it is a sport.”

John tried for many years and finally succeeded but he puts a lot of this down to Lib Petch and her great knowledge about bloodlines. “I read her book, which is like the bible to pony breeders - her details are simply terrific,” he explains.

Gentle Cloud, by Village Boy out of Catron Pooka, is one of the mares that produced five fillies and three colts for John, including Gentle Carra (by Village Boy), who is owned by Mrs Susan Gillingham. He won at the Royal Show in England. Her colt Gentle Dancer (by Coosheen Tyme) was exported to France as a stallion.

CHANGING TIMES

John has been showing ponies for over half a century and has seen many changes occur.

“Blood typing was the best thing that ever happened,” he said. “Now everything is done right and that is down to Eamon Hannon who was president of the Society when this facility was put in place. Anybody can check the breeding if they are unsure about something and it is great to know that.”

The mart has opened up a new market for foals and geldings and the people running it have done their homework well, getting buyers from all over to attend. In comparison to 20 years ago, when John sold colt foals for £50 and sometimes had to give them away, we now have a platform to sell, so it is worth breeding.

John is not happy about the E.U Directive and Classification, stating firmly: “The E.U. Directive is wrong. There are some mares that produce great progeny because they have the bloodlines and that is the ultimate. I think that too much emphasis is focused on conformation and bone.

“Of course good bone is desirable but we must keep the old genes intact and there are some mares that should be retained at all costs because they keep producing. If they are only grade three it will be hard to sell them or their progeny.”

To finish, John talks about the shows that have provided him with his best moments with the ponies. “Dublin and Clifden have always been to me something that is hard to explain. Winning a rosette gives a feeling of great pride and achievement as a breeder.”

Apart from ponies, John’s garden was always a joy to behold. Over the years a blaze of colour and tranquility awaited the many visitors who travel from many countries to see the ‘Gentle’ ponies and, above all, to meet the man himself.

The peace and serenity that surrounds John McLoughlin’s home is far beyond what money can buy. His ponies are true “matriarchs of the mountain” and while they are around, the true tradition of the Connemara Pony will never die.

It is John’s dedication to breeding and producing show winners that deservedly earned him a place in the Connemara Pony Breeders Society Hall of Fame.