CONNEMARA pony breeder and owner Robbie Fallon had much reason to celebrate at the 2018 Horse of the Year show with two home-bred ponies taking home red ribbons.

The first of those came on Wednesday morning when his nine-year-old stallion Cashelbay Rocket (Cashelbay Cruise x Ashfield Bobby Sparrow) was ridden to victory in the M&M Connemara Ridden Pony of the Year class by his resident home rider, Oranmore native Michael Harty.

Harty’s emotion was plain to see after he was called forward at his first Horse of the Year show, while Fallon punched the air to the loud applause from the crowd around the packed Top Spec arena.

In second place was Sarah Parker and her own Culmore Silver (Currachmore Cashel x Castleside Carrig). The eight-year-old gelding was bred by Jordan Kilgore.

The Curran family’s Glencarrig Prince was named as the leading Connemara sire and that was helped by their two home-breds in the class. The highest placed of those was Glencarrig Rocco in third place under Leon King for owner Emma Jones.