Watch video clips of Dundrum, famous son of Little Heaven

Two video clips of Dundrum posted below are a treat to watch.

Dundrum was considered a full-bred Connemara, but he was sired by Little Heaven, the fabulous Thoroughbred allowed into the Connemara breed in the 1940s in Ireland.

Dundrum competed at the top levels of show jumping from 1957-1967 with Irish rider Tommy Wade.

Again and again, they did the impossible, including clearing a 7-foot-2 Puissance wall twice.

British Pathe, a comprehensive multimedia archive dating back a century, has released its archive on YouTube, and the footage includes the following clips of Dundrum.

Dundrum’s coverage in the videos is short, but you certainly get the sense of this horse’s athleticism and build.

The ACPS often uses Dundrum’s name in promotional material, as if he represents the breed.

But as you can see in the videos, he is nothing like the Connemara that the society is trying to force breeders to produce today.

• Dundrum had long, athletic legs. The breed society, through its Connemara inspections program, is trying to force breeders to produce short, thick legs. I’ve reported on a study that shows short legs are counterproductive to horse movement.

• Dundrum has a refined structure. The breed society is trying to force “sturdy, rugged” ponies, the type of thick pony that is often dead-sided and won’t get out of park.

• Dundrum is 15-1 1/2 hands. The breed society is trying to force a maximum height of 14-2 hands.

Is there any chance a 14-2 hand pony with a “sturdy” body and short, thick legs gets over a 7-2 Puissance wall? None.

We will never see another Dundrum if the current inspections program continues to bully people into breeding ponies with very limited ability.