The Kerry Bog Pony Co-Operative Society Ireland

2008 Herd Numbers

At the AGM Pat Byrne stated that the Kerry Bog Pony population now numbered:
127 Class 1 mares, (47 derogation), 2 Class 2 mares, 7 Class 3 mares, 31 filly foals and 8 colt foals (2007)
There are 23 Class 1 stallions representing 10 different lines.
There is a need for more stallion lines.
It is likely that a further 50 animals will be classified in 2008. Very few 2 yr old fillies are being brought forward for inspection and there are a lot of derogation mares.

Herd Numbers

2005: 53 Black Passports, 18 Derogation, 26 Foals
2006: 4 Black Passports, 28 Derogation, 22 Foals
2007: 25 Registrations, 15 Derogation, 40 Foals

Progress is being made regarding herd numbers. In the first year, 2005, most of the ponies inspected were in possession of the black identification documents known as "black passports". Every effort was made to ensure that these ponies were incorporated into the official register.

The Department of Agriculture granted a Derogation to the Kerry Bog Pony Society until 2009 to accept ponies into the studbook based on type. This continues the process begun by John Mulvihill and Tim Clifford in 1992 by which the foundation stock of the breed were selected. In the first year 18 derogation ponies were accepted. This process will gradually reduce as registrations increase from within the registered herd.

In 2006 only 4 "black passport" ponies came forward. There were 28 derogation ponies. The Management Committee of the KBPS had talks with the Department of Agriculture regarding the Derogation. It was decided, on balance, to keep the Derogation as it was a benefit to the Society granted by the DAF in conjunction with the EU authorities, but to ask the Inspectors to be stricter regarding type in future years.

In 2007 there were 25 registrations from within the existing herd and fifteen derogation ponies were approved.

The most heartening part of our progress is the number of foals being registered. 26 in 2005, 22 in 2006 and 40 in 2007. It is to be hoped that next year there will be even more registrations from within the herd and more foals registered. If this progress continues it will not be long before the Kerry Bog Pony herd reaches sustainable numbers.

One slightly disturbing fact is the lack of registration of geldings. Breeders seem to think that it is a waste of money to register geldings as there is not a great demand for these ponies. The geldings should be our best advertisement. They can be sold abroad without depleting the gene pool and their presence in the competition ring will publicise the breed in a very positive way. The Society proposes to address this problem by organising a seminar which will give guidelines to owners and breeders to increase the value of their ponies by appropriate training.

For further information please contact Pat Byrne on 045 485354 or email info@kerrybogpony.ie

If you would like to view further photographs of the Inspections, please go to Photo Gallery.