PRICES at the August running of the Connemara Pony Sales last weekend were down on last year but there was still a lively market and a number of five-figure sales among the four and five-year-olds. The sale topper this year went for €11,000 whereas last year a determined Laura Geraghty bought Rathkeery Melvin for €14,000.

Overall, there were 662 entries with 546 through the ring and 387 sold giving a 71% clearance rate. Online bidders accounted for 91 of the sales with the majority of overseas-bound ponies going to the UK (56). 25 lots are bound for Benelux countries, eight go to Germany, four to France, two to Sweden and one to Poland.