THE popularity of Connemara Ponies has been well documented over the last year as booming trade – both public and private – has graced the pages of Irish Horse World.

Clifden breeder and sales agent Padraic Heanue was delighted this week to see off two Connemaras to California, USA for a happy client. Heanue, who was manager of Clifden mart and Connemara Pony Sales for 30 years, branched out on his own last year and set up his own agency, Connemara Pony Ireland, sourcing and buying ponies for clients.

“I got an email a month ago from a lady in California looking to buy two or three registered Connemara Ponies over six years old with good experience under saddle for dressage and jumping,” he said of how the overseas sale came about.

“Four of them arrived from California two weeks ago and I showed them four ponies that they had earlier said on paper were much like what they wanted.”

Happily, for the sellers and buyers, the Californians bought the six-year-old gelding Glengowla Ross (Ross Fear Bui x Silver Cloud) from breeder Martin Geoghegan in Oughterard, Co Galway, and the six-year-old Hollywell Rebel (Magherafadda Lad x Murphy Rebel) from Deborah McCann in Co Wicklow.

“Both ponies were vetted and X-rays were taken and they passed with flying colours.

“They leave Ireland on Saturday to Amsterdam with Oliver Cooper Transport and they go from there onto California. They hope to return again in July to purchase more,” said Heanue.