CLIFDEN in Co Galway was thronged over the Bank Holiday weekend as buyers and sellers descended on the five-day Connemara Pony Sales. This was the second year in a row the October sales were increased to a five-day spectacular due to buoyant demand from both vendors and prospective buyers.

Overall there were 1,075 catalogued entries, up from 954 at the same sale last year, and despite 150 being withdrawn, the clearance rate was an impressive 85% with the top lot making €11,500 and the top foal making €6,000.

It is understood a high proportion of the withdrawals were made due to a delay in the processing of passports for foals, something the sales addressed by organising for a dedicated Connemara Pony Breeders Society staff member to be on site to handle questions about.

They also added new sale conditions to alleviate concern over passports including that a positive result for hoofwall disease in any lot sold would warrant a refund and that the money paid for a foal with no passport would be held by the sales until the passport was furnished.

Ann de Courcey, manager of the sales, said: “We are very happy, delighted, the general consensus among vendors was we thought things might have eased a bit but trade held up well for all classes of ponies. The first two days got us off to a flying start and augured well for buyers to come back for the younger stock and foals.

“We also had a lot of international interest, the Spanish were back in for the first time in a couple of years and took a full load home. There were also a lot of online buyers so we think all of our marketing and social media campaigns paid off in that regard.

“We had plenty of new people attend, three ladies from Wales who hadn’t been here before and were very impressed so it’s clear the international market is very buoyant.

“We are very grateful for the assistance from CPBS – each morning of the foal sales they had a staff member there liaising with people about the passport delays. Hopefully that delay will ease next year.

“It was great to see the foals matching last year’s prices and for the top amount to a local breeder, there were great celebrations in Moycullen on Sunday I’m told and those Bohola Mira foals are also doing exceptionally well.”

Lot 25, Maecon King, made €10,800 in the ring at Clifden \ Rynes Walker Photography

Sale topper

The top lot (35), Rathvaldron Golden Jack, went into the ring early in the day on Thursday and set a high bar. This four-year-old dun by Fairyhill Paddy out of Classiebawn Lass was brought for sale by Finola Heslin of Heslin Sport Horses and purchased by UK buyer Cheryl Tadd-Millard who made her bids online.

As it happened, Heslin was the purchaser of last year’s top lot at this sale when she purchased HansFree, a now seven-year-old gelding by the KWPN stallion Hans (Kojak) out of the Connemara mare Brosna Masie (Silver Cloud) for €15,200

Heslin described her pony as having potential to show, show jump or event.

He qualified for the Dublin Horse Show four and five-year-old ridden Connemara class on his first showing outing and was Champion Ridden Connemara at Granard Show on his second outing.

“We didn’t expect him to qualify, it was really just an outing as he had really low mileage but we were delighted, he is a super pony and we were very happy with the price,” she said.

Regular UK visitor Patrick O’Gorman secured 15 lots in total, including the next highest priced pony, lot 25, Maecon King, an over-height four-year-old dun gelding by Bohola Mirah out of Crosskeys Lass. This pony, described as broken and jumping, was secured from owner James P Curley at €10,800.

UK bound

Other lots from the top twenty that went to O’Gorman included lot 131, Partry Mountain Lad, a 15hh grey gelding by Maunturk Oliver knocked down at €9,500; lot 26, Ballynew Thumper, a 15.3hh grey gelding by Bay Shadow who went for €9,000; lot 211, Cre Ard Hazel, a 14.2hh dun mare by Gonzo who reached €7,600; lot 96 Johnny Bobby, a four-year-old roan gelding by Rogaire Na Locha who went for €7,400 and finally, lot 292, Coolodge Binn, a four-year-old grey gelding by Dunally Lad for €7,300.

The third highest priced pony, and the highest priced mare, was lot 205, Coole shadow, a four-year-old 14.2hh grey by Shadows Dun out of Coole Roe Grey (Tulira Roebuck). This mare was consigned by Emily Collins and went to Mai Rath for €10,500. She was described as a super moving pony who won the Clarecastle show ridden Connemara championship earlier this year.

The last of the ponies to reach the €10,000 mark was lot 205, Charlie Kilroy’s Mullaghmor Ash, a 14.2hh four-year-old gelding by Cloonaveigh Cisco out of Priestown Lady who went to Gerty Tynan as one of five lots Tynan secured over the weekend. This pony was described as broken and ridden over cross country and registered with SJI with 20 points to boot.

The highest priced lot without pure Connemara breeding was lot 150, Knockillaree Islands Girl, a five-year-old 148cm grey mare by Connemara stallion Annaghdown Island out of Knockillaree Lady Carnute.

The dam falls under the Leisure Sport Ireland studbook and is described as having Selle Francais and Thoroughbred in her pedigree. She is by Captain Carnute who jumped to 1.30m with his sire Equest Carnute jumping in two consecutive Olympics. This pony was sold to Ciaran O’Connor for €9,300.

Lot 761, Killrainey Champ, was the highest priced foal making €6,000 in the ring. Pictured with seller Caoimhe Feeney and buyer Michael Maloney \ Rynes Walker Photography

Foals

The top priced foal was lot 761, Killrainey Champ, a grey by well known Clifden Champion Glencarrig Knight out of Lissroe Fiona, who was sold by Aisling Feeney to Michael Maloney for €6,000. Another Glencarrig Knight foal who appeared in the top 20 was lot 861, Cornfield Jade, who went for €3,400 to John Hynes.

The second best priced foal was Dooncastle Emily, one of four Bohola Mira foals to appear in the top 20. She was sold by Kieran Irwin to Martin McCauley for €5,600.

The third-highest priced foal was Ryan Monahan’s colt Donaghpatrick Robin by Caherlistrane Bay who went to Montet Nadeage for €4,200.

In total 101 sales were sealed by online bidders, with 38 lots going to Benelux countries, 11 going to France, 47 to Germany, one to America, 25 to Spain, six to Scotland, and a whopping 89 off to the rest of the UK.

Entries are now being taken for the last sales event of the year which will be held on December 2nd and 3rd.