Irish Kerry Bog Pony History

The Irish Kerry Bog Pony very nearly became extinct halfway into the 20th Century. The breed even got to the point where there were less than 50 in existence. The ponies were used in the 19th and early 20th Century to haul peat from the bog in the Ring of Kerry region of Ireland. The ponies were excellent at this job as they were so tremendously sure-footed and hardy. The pony doubled up as a small work horse, plus the families’ cart pony and main form of transport. Their decline was exasperated by war, famine and the introduction of the donkey into Ireland, plus the advances of modern mechanization.

The breed was re-discovered by a man from the Ring of Kerry named John Mulvihill who was determined to help re-establish the breed. He publicised the plight of these ponies and was helped enormously by John Flynn from Weatherbys, (Ireland’s official thoroughbred registry) DNA laboratory. Weatherbys confirmed that John Mulvihill's stunning golden chestnut stallion, ‘Flashy Fox’ possessed unique genetic breed markers.

The other surviving Kerry Bog ponies were then DNA tested and their DNA stored. These important survivors formed the original foundation stock List that all purebred Kerry Bog ponies are directly descended from.

With this identification of living foundation stock, the Kerry Bog pony was officially declared a breed and they were saved from extinction.

The very first Kerry Bog pony to ever leave Ireland was “Dempsey Bog”, (also known as Young Man of The Bog), purchased from John Mulvihill in 1996 and on the original official foundation stock list. He returned to Ireland briefly in 1997 where he won the title Supreme Champion Kerry Bog Pony at the All Ireland Championship Show. Amazingly nearly 40 ponies competed for the title, including “Flashy Fox” who won a section. ‘Cute Fox’ went on to win the Overall Supreme Championship of the whole show beating ALL breeds, and gained the title Supreme Champion Pony of All Ireland 1997.

‘Cute Fox’ now stands at the only Kerry Bog Pony Stud in Great Britain, Ponies have now been exported to Spain and also America, where an excellent breeding programmes is in place with some of the best old bloodlines.