THERE were as many children as adults at Goresbridge on Thursday where a very strong sale of jumping ponies opened the three-day renewal on an unprecedented high.
Garnering a top price of €28,500, together with a further 10 five-figure returns, the inaugural sale of show jumping ponies was not only an unqualified success but, at the close of play, proved to be the standout session of the entire three days. Delivering the best averages and turnover it was the clear front runner, while the remaining two days were steady in comparison.
Defying some truly appalling weather, Friday’s marathon day drew buyers from both UK and mainland Europe but in general the stock on offer did not quite fire the imagination and trade was steady rather than spectacular.
Looking at the market overall, the figures turned the tables on those from the equivalent sale 12 months ago and, as a result, the trade for older horses closed at a steady but still satisfactory 66% (79% in 2024) while the four-year-olds - which were by far the strongest sector last year - slipped to 61% from a heady 92% in 2024.
On a more positive note, Saturday’s foal renewal illustrated an improvement when 63% (54% in 2024) of those on offer changed hands, while the three-year-olds maintained their momentum to illustrate an identical clearance of 67% (67%).
Returns aside, the sale reaped a fraction shy of a healthy €900,000 and was an overall satisfactory end to a very strong year.
Looking back over the three days, Ed Donohoe commented: “The pony sale was a huge success. We always felt that there was an opening for an end-of-season sale of jumping ponies and this was clearly evident by the number of kids in the yard, many with their riding hats. The result was a buoyant trade; the sale was well received and bodes well for the future.”
Reflecting on Friday’s market and also the foals, he added: “In general, and for an end-of-year sale, I have to be happy. Last year’s figures were exceptional but, that said, anyone who wanted to sell last week could. Although the foal trade was tricky the figures were up and that is something I have to be happy with.”
Pony buzz
There was a real buzz around the sale yard on Thursday, where a host of children either showcased their own ponies or trialled others in hope of persuading their parents to buy. The catalogue of 94 ponies, half of which featured in the opening show jumping sector, were all ridden over a full course of fences, while potential customers were also encouraged to trial the ponies themselves.
It was deemed a huge success by both vendors and buyers, as successful vendor and former champion jockey Davy Russell explained. “It was all very transparent,” Russell said. “The beauty of it was that you could see the ponies perform before they were sold, while the lead-up to the sale was great because it gave people the opportunity to try the ponies if they wanted.”
Topping the day at €28,500, and indeed the entire sale, was Tosh Widger’s five-year-old gelding Grantstown In To Win (Lot 11). Standing just 128cms and described as a top candidate for the RDS six/seven-year-olds next season, the diminutive performer was a former winner of the 128cms Pony Discovery class at Millstreet, and had already clocked up 100 SJI points.
His sale was a real feather in the cap for his young jockey Tosh Widger who had spotted his potential at Ballinasloe two years ago. Speaking afterwards, his mother Caroline commented: “He saw what his Uncle Johnny (Widger) had achieved at the Go For Gold Sale, so thought he would try to do the same! He broke him in himself, with the help of Matilda Kiviniemi, and has produced him to where he is today - we think he is a superstar in the making.”
The lucky recipient was 10-year-old Tilly Smyth who, with another two years in the age group, is looking forward to competing with him next year. Based in nearby Old Leighlin, Tilly had seen the pony on the circuit with Tosh all season and was delighted when her father Niall made the winning bid.
“The aim is to qualify for the RDS next year,” he said. “We knew the pony, loved his technique and we know he is very genuine. My wife Sam is the driving force behind the ponies - we now have seven in work and she does it all.”
Maybrock Dolly Mixture (Lot 41) was sold for €23,000, pictured with Finn Russell at the Goresbridge December sale \ Sally Parkyn
Memorable day
Completing a memorable day at the office for the Waterford-based Widger family, Caroline proceeded to land a return of €25,000 for Grantstown Dazzle (Lot 42). This time her offering was a seven-year-old 148cms mare by Mermus R (dam a Connemara/thoroughbred) who, with a career record of 220 SJI points had been campaigned in classes up to 1.30m.
A winner of the Boomerang classes and RDS-qualified last year, Dazzle was partnered by her nephew Sam Widger and snapped up by online bidder Robert Lawlor.
Having exchanged the track for the jumping ponies and fulfilling a childhood ambition of selling ponies at Goresbridge, Davy Russell, together with daughter Lily and son Finn, also enjoyed a brilliant first outing to the venue. First up to realise €12,200 was the 10-year-old Clawdock Imperial Fashion (Lot 10), a 128cms mare with 278 SJI points.
Sourced in the UK as a very green youngster, and produced entirely by Lily, the attractive liver chesnut was secured online. The real icing on the cake, however, occurred later in the session when the Finn Russell-piloted Maybrock Dolly Mixture (Lot 41) changed hands at €23,000.
Secured by the family partnership of Silver Fern Equestrian Ltd, this six-year-old was sourced three years ago and, having been initially hunted with the Woodstown Harriers, she turned to show jumping, qualifying for the RDS this year.
“When we started to jump her, she showed great promise, so we progressed from there,” said Russell. “People ask me why I sell the ponies, but it’s all about teaching the kids life skills, to learn how to produce the ponies and hopefully end up selling them well and earning the fruits of their labour. It’s hard work all round but it’s great to be rewarded.”
A further six ponies made in excess of €10,000, among which was Jo Brennan’s €17,000 purchase of Hannah Wood’s Moelgarnedd Cai (Lot 21), a six-year-old 128cms gelding by Hilin Carnedd. Ridden on the day by Ciara Sarsfield, who was described by Wood ‘as a top pilot for the future’, Cai was originally sent to Wood’s Duncormack yard to break.
“I always loved him and eventually finished up buying him,” she explained “There was a lot of interest in him before the sale, both from here in Ireland and from the UK. This sale is a great concept - and one that I always thought would be a brilliant idea.”
Not all the top prices came from the special sector as Mary Kehoe’s four-year-old Harvest Pumkin (Lot 65) proved when changing hands for €16,000. Bred by Kehoe’s sister Muriel, the well-related 148cms gelding is a sibling to two top class jumping ponies, and is out of Emily 38 (Moleshorns Pasja) a former performer under Bertram Allen. Stephen Murphy was in the saddle to showcase this smart lot who was prepared for sale by Aoife Dooley.
Lot 42 was sold for €25,000 at the Goresbridge December sale \ Sally Parkyn
Older horses, three and four-year-olds
In comparison to some exceptional trade 12 months ago, Friday’s figures steadied. Staged on one of the wettest days of the year, buyers were not overly impressed with the stock on offer, while the absence of one or two notable traders may also have had an impact.
That said, there were numerous well sold lots, including the €10,000 sale of Jackie Lee’s home-bred three-year-old gelding Jake (Lot 288). A sibling to the 1.50m jumper Kashino, he was secured by British buyer Fiona Lintin to go eventing. “He jumped seriously well and, as there were a few people for him, I decided to put him on the market,” commented the Headford, Co Galway based vendor.
At €9,500, Michael Kelly’s well-related four-year-old filly (Lot 241) by Echonix headed her age group. Bred to perform, the dam Waterloo (by Loughoe Guy) is a sibling to the CCI5* event horse OBOS O’Reilly as well as several other notable horses. Lightly produced, she had hunted with the Longford Harriers and was knocked down to James White.
Another standout at €9,000 was Karen McGoldrick’s Shanboley Prince (Lot 140) by Gowla. Hannah Taylor snapped up this six-year-old gelding who had evented under Eventing Ireland rules and was showing the potential to move up the levels.
Demand was at its strongest for the traditional hunter types, and one example was Jane Kinsella’s filly Bannvalley Mandola (Lot 185) who realised €8,000.
A daughter of Greenhall, she was out of the Irish Draught mare Bannvalley Mimosa by Coolcronan Wood.
Broodmares and breeding stock
Following the all too familiar pattern, the foal trade was good in parts and tricky in others. Encouragingly the clearance hiked slightly to 63% (54% in 2024) and buyers were present if vendors wanted to sell.
Overall however, the pinhookers were disappointed with the stock on offer, but realistically this was the final sale of the year and, with many buyers already stocked up, the demand was muted. On a more positive note, the presentation of the foals has really improved, with far more now leading rather than just loose with their dams.
Not for the first time this season, the Connolly family topped the day’s trading at €5,400 with CSF Freddo (Lot 471), a colt foal by CSF Castlelawn Emerald out of SSH Dream of Glory by Cavalier Royale. This was an especially sweet result for the breeders, who also bred the sire.
Only a young stallion and now standing with Gabriel Slattery at the Castlelawn Stud, he was placed third in the four-year-old class at the Irish Breeders Classic, and was runner up in the equivalent at Cavan. The dam meanwhile has already bred a host of graded jumpers, and this colt looked well-bought by Cookstown man Gary McIvor.
“I like the vendors and I liked the foal,” said McIvor, who earlier secured Niall and Anna Barrett’s Let’s Dance (Lot 443) for €5,000. This well-presented colt was by Comthargo VDL and was the second progeny out of the young mare Sundance Anna (Harley VDL). A good model and well related, the dam hails from the close maternal line of Mellisimo (1.60m) ridden by Ben Maher.
As one of a sizable band of pinhookers, Co Clare’s Niall Doherty accounted for Pat Finn’s FHS Rhaenary (Lot 524) for €4,500. A filly, she is by Hardrock Z out of Mirdads Soorat Alrahmaan (Je T’Aime Flamenco) whose own dam Pikachu competed to 1.60m and is sibling to several other top class horses.
Comments and reflections
One often-cited comment was that breeders are relying too much on stallion pedigrees rather than the model and this does not specifically apply to this sale but the foal sales overall. Another comment is that show jumpers will forgive some model discrepancies if the pedigree is stout enough, but for a weaker dam’s line it has to be correct.
Lot 241 was the highest priced four-year-old at €9,500 at the Goresbridge December sale \ Sally Parkyn
“It’s the end of year so perhaps not the nicest selection here today - the models were not good enough to store for me to show back again as a three-year-old.” Niall Doherty.
“It’s an end of season sale, but overall the conformation is not good enough.” Dessie Gibson.
“Sadly very little has improved in 15 years. Breeders are too fond of the paperwork and are not paying enough attention to the mare and the model.” Pat Fenlon.
“Breeders are doing their best but unfortunately, at the moment it’s not good enough.” Ado Moran.
Top returns
Ponies
Older horses, three and four-year-olds
Broodmares and breeding stock