Galway Bay Fm newsroom-A strong majority of the members of the newly elected Connemara Pony Breeders Society 20 member Council are from areas of the county outside of the traditional heartland of the native pony.
The resultsof this week’s election – which was organised on a new basis – means that the majority traditionally given to pony breeders from Connemara has gone.
It may not be easy for the traditionalists to accept the new trend in the Connemara Pony Council – only 6 of those elected during the week are resident west of the Corrib. Indeed only three members now come from the area west of Maam Cross.
The remainder of the 20 member ruling Council are from other parts of Galway, Connacht and Ireland.
Each province was allocated a certain amount of seats in the new election process and voting was by post.
There used to be an arrangement which gave Connemara based owners a majority on the Pony Society Council and the election of the members took place at the AGM.
However, there has been a trend in the Society to embrace the Connemara pony owners all over the country and this is also favoured by many people.
The final meeting of the old Council takes place this Monday night.