THE inaugural Equine Auctions Ireland sale attracted a global clientele and returned a top price of €20,000 for the nine-year-old Connemara Pony eventing mare Cillbhrid Pippa.

The auction of 25 Connemara Ponies ran over six days, concluding last Sunday, June 7th, with a clearance rate was 83% with an average price of €5,425. Some 16 of the 23 ponies sold were overseas, including five to Kuwait City.

Donal Bourke’s Grange Finian Sparrow-sired Cillbhrid Pippa (Lot 11) attracted the biggest interest and, after a total of nine bids, was knocked down to Scott Lisitza from Chicago, USA, for €20,000, by far the highest price of the auction.

The underbidders were from Sweden and France. Ridden by Bryan Bourke at national and international level, the pair were named as reserves for last year’s FEI European Eventing championships in Poland.

Kuwait Riding Club, first time buyers of Connemaras, purchased five ponies in total, including Gillian Halley’s five-year-old gelding Illane Fort (Lot 9) for €7,250. By Ardgaineen Rebel, the gelding has been shown under saddle and over fences.

Kuwait Riding Club paid €6,250 for Lot 19, the five-year-old mare Flossy Cloud (Frostie x Heathers Dino), consigned to the sale by Rosemary Nesbit, and €5,250 for Marie Collins’ nine-year-old mare Hazelrock Jill (Lot 7) (Lucky Rebel x Gleann Rua Native) after a total of 10 bids. The hammer also fell at €5,250 for Lot 4, the five-year-old gelding Ballerk Oisin (Creaga Hero x Clonfert Boy), who makes his way to Sweden.

Also attracting plenty of interest was Evan McGrath’s unnamed five-year-old gelding by Rebel Star. After 14 bids, he was sold to Milan Pechoucek from Czech Republic for €6,500.

Speaking about the first online auction, organiser Maria Costello said: “This first auction has shown that both buyers and sellers are adaptable. The sale of Irish horses can continue to thrive. It has been fantastic to showcase Irish ponies globally, many have already begun their journeys to the States, Asia, Europe and the UK.”

Asked how the Kuwait buyers came to the market, Maria said: “I had sold a horse to Kuwait a couple of years ago. I was out there to train the girl for a week and that is how that connection came about. The amateur market out there is massive but they had never bought Connemara’s before. I knew he was looking at one pony but to buy five was brilliant.”

A lot of marketing went into getting the ponies profiles out there. “I am very lucky that the Bourke family trusted me Cillbhrid Pippa in the very first online auction. We had sent her to a number of different people in different countries.”

The next auction, for the amateur and leisure market, takes place on July 18th and 19th. Visit www.eai.auction to see full results.