JUST hours before summertime kicked in, Brexit worries were kicked out last Saturday at Mullingar Equestrian where their first sport horse and pony sale of 2021 saw a record 50% of lots sold going to online British buyers on a day when a new clearance rate of 85% was recorded.

“There was a steady stream of UK, Sweden and Poland-bound transporters lining up in the yard after the sale and through the weekend,” reported Mullingar Equestrian Horse Sales’ office administrator, Declan Fagan. “Of the 74 lots sold, 37 went to mainland UK buyers, four to Sweden and two to Poland.

“One UK purchaser commented that they would usually buy from the sales in Belgium but, since Brexit, the cost of importing from Belgium has become too high so they are now focused on sourcing from Ireland. A bidder from Poland bought two and just missed out on two others. She was bidding remotely from home and we helped her arrange vetting and shipping.

“Online buyers complimented the livestreaming which allowed them to view the horses being jumped over a course live before they entered the sales ring. In addition to the online catalogue of photos, videos and vet certs, it made assessing the horses online possible.”

Sale-topper

The top-priced lot at the sale at €9,700 was Gabriel Slattery’s five-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Lot 80). She was purchased by Co Wexford’s Mary Boland whose daughter Abby will be the new rider for the grey who was partnered in the promotional video (filmed at a training show) by Michael Morrin. “She’s by Cassino out of a Carrabawn View mare and I bought her last October from her breeder, Conor Ryan,” said Slattery.

MC Sporthästar, based in Lekeryd, Sweden, gave €8,700 for the top-priced pony, James Creagan’s Jump For Joy (Lot 27). This five-year-old 147cms Connemara gelding, who has competed at a few training shows and been schooled cross-country, is by Glann’s Owen out of a Carra Cashel mare.

Sweden's MC Sporthästar gave €8,700 for the top priced pony at Mullingar Sales, James Creagan's Jump For Joy (Lot 27), a Connemara gelding by Glann's Owen \ John McCauley

The top-priced four-year-old, Peter Murphy’s Sundance Secret Weapon (Lot 64A), was purchased for €8,000 by Carol Gee’s Fernhill Sport Horses. Described as being very brave across the country and a careful show jumper, the grey ISH gelding by Womanizer is out of the All The Diamonds mare Doon Diamond, dam previously of the 2007 Silvano gelding Ask The Boss (CCI4*-L) among others.

New overseas homes

Among the horses heading to Ballindean Farm near Perth in Scotland is Killian Dunne’s ‘Fuzzy’ (Lot 96) who changed hands for €8,000. Another by Cassino, this unnamed seven-year-old grey ISH gelding is out of a Cavalier Royale mare out of a Master Imp mare.

Killian Dunne's 'Fuzzy' (Lot 96) sold for €8,000 to Scotland's Ballindean Farm \ John McCauley

The more expensive of Argento Equestrian’s two purchases at €7,500 was Holly McGahan’s striking four-year-old ISH mare Seabanks Star Lady (Lot 76). By Dinan Danny out of a Glidawn Diamond mare, the dun was purchased in 2019 by McGahan who has been helped in breaking and producing the mare by her son, 13-year-old Corey.

There were three transactions at €6,800 apiece. Argento Equestrian gave that amount for Jackie Lee’s Lot 73, a four-year-old grey Kannan gelding out of a Courage II mare; Sweden’s MH Horses matched that price for John Everard’s six-year-old palomino mare Moystown Lady (Lot 59) and Hugo Palmer had the final bid at the same price on Sarah Maxwell’s Irish Draught gelding ‘Ozzie’ (Lot 69), a five-year-old grey by WRS Elvis.

Two greys are heading to Poland having been purchased online by Natalia Wlodarczak of the N&F Champion Stud.

The more expensive of the pair at €5,800 was Keith Wilson’s Ruby (Lot 55), a four-year-old gelding by the Connemara Kildromin Major out of an Irish Sport Horse mare by Flagmount King, while Kiera Treacy received €5,600 for Killina Roisin (Lot 50), a five-year-old 15.2hh Connemara mare by Cheeky Bobby Sparrow out of an Ashfield Festy dam. Both had been schooled well on the flat, over show jumps and across the country.

“I coach at a riding centre I own near the city of Poznan and I need these horses for my riders,” Wlodarczak said. “I love Irish horses especially those with Connemara breeding as I think they are the best for children. I worked in Ireland a few years ago (2004-2006) and competed in registered shows on my own horses and those of Susan Malee from Swinford at Claremorris and Cavan. I can’t wait for these horses to arrive with Brophy Transport and I’d like to thank all the team at Mullingar. Hopefully, I can attend their June sale in person.”