THE bumper October edition of the Connemara Pony Sales in Clifden last weekend was a whopper, offering over 1,300 catalogued lots with a topper of €14,500 - the highest price paid for a lot at Clifden so far this year. This price was a huge increase on the September one-day sale-topping price of €9,500 (Valentino), as well as the October sale of 2023, where the topper Rathvaldron Golden Jack netted €11,500.

The clearance rate from the 1,128 through the ring was 77%. In total, 179 sales were sealed by online bidders, with 47 lots going to Benelux countries, 13 going to France, seven to Germany, one to America, four to Spain, two to Italy, two to Austria and a whopping 96 off to the UK.

This was the third year in a row that the October sales were increased to a five-day spectacular, due to buoyant demand.

Sales manager Ann DeCourcey said the team was very pleased with the event.

“We got off to a flying start on Thursday which augured well for the weekend. We were a little anxious as there was an expectation the foal market would be back but that wasn’t the case - there was a bid for every foal and, as always, the ponies with a bit done, well turned out and well handled, attracted the most interest.

“The clearance was particularly heartening for such a big catalogue but there was huge online interest and plenty of UK visitors who were buying well.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Clifden on November 30th for our final sale of the year, a three-day event.”

Lot 52, Hay Scoby, becomes the highest priced pony of the day, and also of the year so far, on Thursday at the Connemara Pony Sales Clifden Selling in the ring for €14,500 \ Rynes Walker

Sale topper

The top price was paid for Lot 52, Hay Scoby, a four-year-old 161cm grey gelding by Dunally Lad out of Shannon Misty (Shannon Prince). Marketed as an ideal mother-daughter share, Laura Geraghty and Kieran Egan were the happy buyers on this occasion.

Geraghty and Egan were also the successful bidders on the second highest priced pony, Lot 75, John Gaynor’s Glandys Cracking Jagger, who went for €12,200.

This four-year-old 148cm bay gelding by Woodfield Cracking Jack out of Glandys Misty Cáit was imported from Germany as a foal and came to the sales broken and having cross-country schooling under his belt.

Speaking of the sale topper, Geraghty said: “We’re very happy, as soon as I saw him walking in, I followed the owner! His presence and his conformation caught my eye, he is flawless and very well put together and to get that with his height is unusual. His whole manner stood out to me, as the vendor described him - he is a police horse. We will hold on to him and my sister Michelle will ride him in the Connemara Performance classes next year.

“Overall, the prices were back a bit, but as I always say, anything nice is making it’s price and quality is holding.

"The top quality won’t drop, but the middle of the road ones are well back. To have them well-produced, turned out and well fed are all really important elements. If there is a pony there looking good and doing a job, those ones will always get good numbers.

“We do look at the catalogue, but I like to see them on the day and see if I like them in person, you need to see them move and ride before you can put a price on it and I always talk to the buyers and ask what he needs, a lunge etc, to know what we are getting up on. You won’t get the selection and quality anywhere else but Clifden,” Geraghty added.

The strong market for broken four-year-olds continued with Lot 264, Muckrim Niall, a 15.3hh gelding by Rusheen Boy out of Classiebawn Rose (Jacks Peomise). This pony came endorsed by having qualified for this year’s Connemara Pony Show Green Hunter final. Consigned by Seamus Biesty, he was sold to Gransha Equestrian’s Adrienne Stuart for €11,500.

Lot 158, Penny McClean’s Inbhear Reuben, another overheight four-year-old gelding, was next in line going to sales regular Patrick O’Gorman for €10,200. By Coosheen Stormboy out of Knockferry Joy, he boasted a win at Balmoral this year among other successes, as well as having experience being ridden side-saddle.

An eye-catching strawberry roan five-year-old gelding, The Diamond Daler (Lot 484) was the last of the five-figure lots going for €10,000 to Bob Sweeney. By Dunsandle Diamond (ID) out of Golden Eye Clover (ISH), this 15.3hh Irish Sport Horse was marketed as having been jumped, hunted and done flexi-eventing.

The top priced mare of the five-day event was Lot 220, the 148cm dun Rosshill Daisy. This six-year-old by Caherlistrane Bay out of Knockillaree Pride was billed as a top show pony, with wins and placings in ridden and working hunter classes, who would suit someone aspiring to compete in Dublin or HOYS. She was sold by Martin Long and also went to Adrienne Stuart for €9,500.

Martin Curran’s Lot 168, Ballylinn Lad, went for €9,000 to US buyer Claire Glynn. By Doonard Lad out of Corclough Lily, this 15.3hh bay was described as a very placid horse that would suit any discipline.

Another €9,000 was paid by Ciaran O’Neill for Lot 310, Corhas Comet, a 159cm grey gelding by Dunally Lad out of Lady Hill. Consigned by Frank Buckley, this pony was described as schooling well in the arena and over fences and cross-country, as well as riding out on the beach and farm.

Lot 369, Rathvaldron Silver Lad, a 150cm grey four-year-old gelding by Moonlight Silver Shadow fetched the strong price of €8,200, which was paid by William Calder of the UK. This pony is out of Clifden winner Gentle Annie II and was described by consigner Mark Condron as having been schooled cross-country, jumping a course of fences and hacking out on country roads.

Rounding out the top 10 was Lot 487, Springwell Justin, a six-year-old 151cm bay, whose breeding was not disclosed in the catalogue. Consigned by Trevor O’Riordan and sold to Padraig Quinn for €8,200, this lot was described as having hunted, competed in hunter trials and done show jumping, pony club and inter-schools activities.

Lot 668, Monagh Barnaby Rudge, after making the top price of €4,600 Saturday in the Clifden Sales ring \ Rynes Walker

Foal market

The foal market was a more mixed affair, but there was no questioning the quality of the top priced foals. The early leader among the foals was Lot 962, Carnane Bobby (Rogaire Na Locha), who ignited some energetic bidding bringing the price up to €4,100, which was paid by delighted local Bryan O’Halloran, who has plans to show the colt.

That price was later beaten after a tense standoff between telephone bids brought Lot 668, Monagh Barnaby Rudge (Gwennic De Goariva) up to €4,600, making him the sale topping foal. He was purchased by Seamus and Edwina O’Connor. Lot 536, Cong Phoenix (Rogaire Na Locha), supreme foal at Oughterard Show, went for €3,900.