AN impressive 520 Connemara ponies passed through the ring at the three-day Clifden sales last week with the highest price of €14,000 paid for the winner of the Irish Connemara Green Hunter class earlier in the week at the annual Connemara Pony Show.

The top price at this year’s sales fell short of that fetched at the May sale (€15,800 for Wesley Ryan’s Paddy Maloney), and of the top price recorded at the August 2022 sales (€14,500 for Seamus O’Connor’s Joker’s Lorenzo).

The clearance rate for the lots through the ring was 77%, up from 64% at the May sales and 71% at the August 2022 three-day sale. There were 59 online sales with 79 ponies bound for the UK, nine heading to France, six to Germany, six to Sweden, three to the US and two to Italy.

Regular visitors from the UK, Patrick O’Gorman and Hannah Taylor, picked up 21 lots, 18 went to Gerty Tynan, 13 to Niall Daly, 11 to Bryan Dagg and Sligo’s Tiernan Gray went home with 10. Dutch outfit SDV horses closed on a whopping 30 lots.

John Sweeney of the Connemara Pony Sales said he was extremely pleased with the level of sales. “We went up to a three-day sale for August a couple of years ago and with over 600 catalogue entries there is clearly no shortage of ponies or buyers,” he said.

“Every pony got a bid and there was very strong international interest which is pleasing. The online interest has also increased with people logging in from all over the world.”

Mr Sweeney said he did not believe the slight drop in the top sale price was an indication of a shift in the market.

“Every now and again you get an exceptional pony who reaches the €16-17,000 mark but the vendor of this year’s sale-topper was very pleased with the price and in fact purchased that pony here a couple of years ago and has seen a great return after producing a great pony.”

Sale topper

Sunday’s Lot 347, Rathkeery Melvin, was that €14,000 sale-topper who went to a determined Laura Geraghty. Brought to the sale by Gowran’s Kevin O’Donnell, this 148cm bay four-year-old gelding by Lough Melvin Gorteen out of Sally O’Eirne was the aforementioned winner of the Green Hunter class at the Clifden Pony Show on Thursday. He was described as having been produced to the highest standard and a ‘live contender for next year’s Dublin Horse Show ridden Connemara performance class’, something his new owner agrees with.

Geraghty said she had been following the pony’s performances this year, knew and trusted the owners and came to Clifden specifically to buy him.

“No matter what, I was bringing him home,” she said. “We went in strong with an opening bid of €10,000 and it was clear to everyone there we weren’t going to stop, we only had one online bidder from the UK go against us.

“I’d be friendly with the (former) owner and Christine (O’Donnell) produces ponies to a very high level, she is a one-of-a-kind rider, and they are very honest and straight people. When we come to buy it’s more about the seller than the pony.” Geraghty’s sister Michelle will continue to produce the pony with Oughterard and Ballinasloe shows next to come before aiming him for Dublin Horse Show qualification next year.

“I’ll definitely be holding on to this one,” she said.

Speaking about the quality of the lots at the sale, Geraghty said: “Anything nice is making its price.

“If you put the time into producing a pony properly, you make your money back. We are also very keen on getting clean x-rays now, it helps a lot with selling overseas and can make us go up in price by €5-7,000 so it’s definitely worth it for a vendor to get it done.”

Stunning stallion

Next in the high price line-up was the striking black stallion Northcottage Fionn (Lot 86) who went to American buyer Donald Devine for €13,000. This grandson of I Love You Melody and Doneen Supermatch is by Melody’s Boy out of Knockfin Queenie. He was described by vendor Fintan Cosgrove as having a ‘serious jump’.

Rathvaldron Bay Shadow (Lot 271) a four-year-old gelding by Moonlight Silver Shadow out of Cairnhill Angel was purchased by Kevin Reilly for €12,500 and Ballinamores Sweetwall Lad (lot 76) a nine-year-old mare by Sweetwall Captain Courageous out of Killbannow Lady, went to Tiernan Gray for €11,500.

Niall Daly picked up Lot 362, Blakehill General, for €11,400. This 148cm grey gelding is by Cnocban Casanova out of Gloves Queen and was described by vendor Andrew O’Donnell as a potenial FEI event pony or show jumper.

Daly also won the bidding for Lot 166, Logroe Lass, who was second in the All-Ireland Pony Mare Loose Jumping Championship (four-year-olds) on Tuesday at the Clifden Pony Show, at €10,400. By Robe Earl out of Lough Owel Temple Bailey, the mare was described by vendor Eddie Bourke as having the makings of an excellent show jumper or eventer.

The last of the five-figure ponies was Lot 23, Dipper Rock, a 160cm gelding by Drumbad Fletcher Moss out of Bobby’s Grace who went to Gerty Tynan for €10,000.

The remainder of the top 20 lots went for between €8,600 and €9,800.

Entries are now being taken for the October four/five-day sale and a decision on a one-day September sale is expected within the week.