The inaugural Aonach event was held at the CSU Equine Centre on 16 March 2013.
It was planned a relaxed gathering of Connemara ponies and their owners and riders on the Saturday nearest to St Patrick’s Day.
A small committee agreed that an initial effort was worthwhile even if we attracted only the 8 ponies that committee members owned among themselves.
Actually we had 18 entries, 16 of which appeared on the day. This number included three stallions and one mare with foal at foot.
Aonach puts its emphasis on two facets of pony work: education and ridden competition. While there was a Parade at the start of the day, there were no in-hand competitions. We let viewers see what is locally available at stud and for sale and decide their preferences.
A Level 1 Dressage competition attracted 13 entries including two of the stallions. There were two Working Hunter classes, one for smaller ponies, one for larger and, as well as getting good support from the competitors, they were most attractive to the spectators.
It was planned a relaxed gathering of Connemara ponies and their owners and riders on the Saturday nearest to St Patrick’s Day.
A small committee agreed that an initial effort was worthwhile even if we attracted only the 8 ponies that committee members owned among themselves.
Actually we had 18 entries, 16 of which appeared on the day. This number included three stallions and one mare with foal at foot.
Aonach puts its emphasis on two facets of pony work: education and ridden competition. While there was a Parade at the start of the day, there were no in-hand competitions. We let viewers see what is locally available at stud and for sale and decide their preferences.
A Level 1 Dressage competition attracted 13 entries including two of the stallions. There were two Working Hunter classes, one for smaller ponies, one for larger and, as well as getting good support from the competitors, they were most attractive to the spectators.
Visitors at Aonach travelled long distances to attend and to compete – from the South Coast of NSW, from the northern Riverina, from the mountains to the east, from a long way out across the plains to the west and interstate from southern Victoria.
From that inaugural gathering, Aonach has grown to become a two-day event, with a wider range of classes.
We have a group of loyal sponsors who annually have either donated or allowed us to purchase a enormous discount trophies that are both desirable and useful for all of our championship and major classes. We even have beautiful and distinctive rosettes down to fifth place for all of our competitions.
There are now six levels of dressage (Preparatory to Advanced), three Working Hunter classes (45cm, 60cm, and 80cm), showjumping classes from 45cm to 1- metre.
Each year, there has also been The Challenge, an evening event on the first day designed to give riders and their ponies the opportunity to have a bit of competitive fun!
Over the years, it has also included on-line competitions from those Connemara supporters who could not make the trip to Wagga Wagga, various talks from equine professionals, a driving display by Tracy Borg and Glenormiston Turlough, the Puissance, and loose jumping.
From that inaugural gathering, Aonach has grown to become a two-day event, with a wider range of classes.
We have a group of loyal sponsors who annually have either donated or allowed us to purchase a enormous discount trophies that are both desirable and useful for all of our championship and major classes. We even have beautiful and distinctive rosettes down to fifth place for all of our competitions.
There are now six levels of dressage (Preparatory to Advanced), three Working Hunter classes (45cm, 60cm, and 80cm), showjumping classes from 45cm to 1- metre.
Each year, there has also been The Challenge, an evening event on the first day designed to give riders and their ponies the opportunity to have a bit of competitive fun!
Over the years, it has also included on-line competitions from those Connemara supporters who could not make the trip to Wagga Wagga, various talks from equine professionals, a driving display by Tracy Borg and Glenormiston Turlough, the Puissance, and loose jumping.
When the 10th Aonach was held on 19 & 20 March 2022, it attracted 36 entries of ponies and horse from across eastern Australia, with the line-up of breeders' prefixes represented: Argatnel, Asham, Atlantic, Baala, Calveston, Celtic, Clairvale, Dromara Park, Dunmurry, Dylanglen, Garnet, and Glenormiston,
While the program may change slightly from year to year, the intent behind this unique event remains constant, to educate and entertain owners, breeders and the general public, and to provide some competition for ridden Connemara purebred and partbred ponies.
While the program may change slightly from year to year, the intent behind this unique event remains constant, to educate and entertain owners, breeders and the general public, and to provide some competition for ridden Connemara purebred and partbred ponies.