AN exceptionally strong demand for riding horses crowned an electric day’s trading at Cavan on Wednesday and produced the venue’s best figures of the year.

Delivering a consistency of prices not seen since the days of the Celtic Tiger, the one-day edition bettered that of both the recent April sale, as well as the equivalent renewal of 12 months ago.

At the close of play, the figures illustrated a very healthy clearance of 83% (72% in 2024) together with an average of €6,547 (€6,080) and turnover of €608,850.

Such was the competition for the better lots, 14 individuals realised five figure returns, with the majority of these falling to horses with competition form and/or those described as safe and easy rides.

The growing, and at times insatiable, demand for the latter group has strongly influenced the growth in this year’s market, with breeding (or lack of it) appearing to have no bearing at all.

Sale toppers

Two horses with mileage shared the sale topping honours at €20,000 apiece. Selling halfway through the day, first up was Regula Wassmer’s six-year-old gelding Barbossa Vom Weihergut CH (Lot 77), a Swiss-bred son of Baltic VDL out of the 1.60m jumping mare Cancara (Canto).

A catalogue pick on paper, the gelding had been imported as a four-year-old and, under Megan McGettigan and Kenneth Graham, had been campaigned to win 44 SJI points. “He’s only being sold as Regula didn’t initially realise that he wouldn’t be able to jump in the IHB classes,” commented spokesman Willie Lapsley.

“He was beautifully produced on the continent and is a really straightforward horse.”

The latter statement was especially important to succesful British online buyers Will and Debbie Paget, who remarked: “This was one of the reasons we felt comfortable buying unseen. We have been looking in England for a long time, but have been let down by both by vendors and then by unsatisfactory vettings.”

Debbie, a former event rider based near Cardiff, now enjoys show jumping at a competitve amatuer level. “I already have one horse I jump and wanted another to campaign alongside him. I did all the research on this horse, watched the videos and the livestream and decided to have a go. There’s as much of a risk buying from an auction as privately, so we’ll cross fingers and see how we go,” she added.

Realising the same figure later in the day and completing a good day of business for the Altaskin team was Willie Lapsley’s home-bred Altaskin Siochain (Lot 105), a five-year-old gelding by A Quidam M out of the traditionally-bred Altaskin Pearl by Mountain Pearl.

“He’s a lovely horse and I only wish we could breed them all like this,” remarked Lapsley. “We broke him and produced him ourselves with Megan McGettigan quietly educating him in a few training shows and in the hunting field.”

Similarly warranted as their first horse, he looked very well bought by British event rider Nicky Hill on behalf of Will Van Offerd.

Lot 105, Altaskin Siochain, was the joint sale-topper at €20,000 \ Cavan Sales

Notables

While the two top returns went the way of private buyers, the commercial customers were determinedly active throughout. One was Carron Nicol of the Warwickshire-based European Sport Horses who, although not as busy as usual, opened her account by paying €14,500 for GFW Sporthorses’ useful performer Candy Good Guy (Lot 69), by Sligo Candy Boy.

The sixth progeny out of the jumping mare Sterre (Larino), Candy Good Guy was home-bred bred in partnership with Stuart Clarke and had racked up 38 SJI points, as well as enjoying success in working hunter classes.

A well-related sister to two Grade B show jumpers, Cherry Candy Girl and Loreto Quality, she is also a likely broodmare prospect. “She could event or show jump,” commented Glen Walker of GFW Sporthorses. “We also have a very smart four-year-old full-brother called Diamond Candy, who we are looking forward to seeing progress during the year.”

The next four good returns went to horses with partial or no recorded breeding but on paper appeared very safe conveyances. Among these was Conor McMullin’s Oakfield Clooney Lad ((Lot 96) a grey gelding by Cloonee Silver out of Kiltrogue Lisalady (sire not recorded).

Gerald Kyne bred this performer who has competed in the Stepping Stones league this year, as well as unafilliated events. Sussex-based trader Ian Smith secured this one for €14,000 while, at €13,000, another UK-based commercial buyer Charlotte Williams signed for Owen Cloney’s seven-year-old piebald Mottee Chance (Lot 65).

Williams, who was one of many buyers confident to bid on line, also paid €12,000 for Keith Wilson’s well marketed five-year-old Rossmore Fiona (Lot 94) a mare with no recorded breeding.

Lot 72, Emlagh Freddie, was sold to England for €11,400 \ Cavan Sales

Four-year-olds

Heading the four-year-old trade by a distance was Colin Marshall’s Bombay Sapphire (Lot 114), a blue and white filly with no recorded pedigree.

Changing hands for €12,200, she was one of two lots snapped up online by trader Justin Jones, who is based near Gatwick in Sussex.

“We mainly sell ‘happy hackers’ and quiet riding horses,” he explained. “We were struck on her colour and although four-year-olds are not the best of sellers for us, we really liked her and trade is good for anything quiet and without issues.”

At the close of play, eight individuals made in excess of €6,000 with the next best return at €8,500 going to a 155cms Connemara gelding by Caherlistrane Prince out of Belle Lady of Brodella.

Three-year-olds

As one of only three of the age group to realise in excess of €6,000, the day’s top price of €10,500 went to Val Joy’s unnamed (Lot 143) gelding by Killaneen Boy out of Berties Brigade (Clover Brigade).

One of a few duns in the catalogue, this Connemara cross hails from a classic pedigree which not only features Clover Hill but has the thoroughbred Torus on the maternal side.

“We love the Connemara/thoroughbred cross which gives you the speed of the thoroughbred, yet the brains and the cleverness of a pony,” commented Moyglas buyer Tracey Kearney.

“We liked what we saw online, and have bought him for our 16-year-old son Jamie to produce either as as show jumper or an eventer.”

Ponies

Although not attracting some of the spectacular returns of recent sales, the pony trade held up well. Bart Shannon’s Summerdale Saoirse (Lot 13) topped the sector at €9,000 when knocked down to Co Cork buyer Kieran O’Connor.

A seven-year-old standing 148cms, Saoirse was by Barana Dexter Boy and, very versatile, had been show jumping and competing in working hunter classes.

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