Beyond Limits – Elevating the Connemara to the International Dressage Stage

Is the Connemara pony the best-kept secret in international dressage? Join us on Connemara Pony Tales as we sit down with three elite horsewomen to explore whether the breed is truly a modern dressage powerhouse or destined to remain the "underdog."

We look into the technical realities of training and breeding for the FEI arena, the impact of strategic "blood" percentages on movement, and whether scientific advancements like genomic testing risk sacrificing the breed’s legendary heart for the sake of a leaderboard score.

Meet our guests:

• Ronja Kardos: A prominent performance rider and the key voice behind the success of the FEI-level star, Nice One.
• Anna Gotske: A specialist from the Nordic performance circuit, where she brings a family legacy of breeding Connemaras specifically for the dressage arena.
• Margaret Kitts: The founder of ISE Equine Endeavors and a leading advocate for using Western Dressage principles to build a more responsive, balanced partnership.

Tune in as we discuss what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the sport while preserving the magic of the Connemara pony.

Produced by Connemara Pony Tales with part funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support (ETS) Scheme 2025.