THE final Connemara Pony Sales fixture for 2025 was a well-supported affair taking place over three days last weekend.

The top lot this year made €10,500, up on the November 2024 sale where the top price was €9,600. With 521 of the 647 catalogued entries going through the ring, 391 were sold, giving a clearance rate of 75%, also up on 2024 when it was 73%.

The online presence was strong, with 88 lots purchased by online bidders. As usual, the UK represented the majority of the overseas sales, with 88 ponies on their way across the ditch. Eleven will go to Benelux countries, 10 to France, four to Sweden, three to Germany and one to Finland.

Commenting on the sale, Connemara Pony Sales’ manager Ann de Courcey said: “It was our second time ever having a three-day sale in November and we were very pleased. We were worried that Friday might be a bit sticky, but there were some very nice riding ponies with work put into them and they are always in great demand.

“The younger stock was harder to sell on Saturday, but there were good prices for the good ponies and foals. There was exceptional demand for the half-breds, cobs and Draught crosses we had through later on Saturday, that really is a phenomenal trade, and most of those are bound for the UK. One seller of cobs said he got far more at Clifden than he would have at Ballinasloe.

“On Sunday, we had a full entry of foals. Trade was consistent there and there was plenty of demand for the nicer foals.

“We had new buyers over from France, who had only bought online before, and one lady over from Finland, her first time to Ireland, with her two daughters. They had been watching online for a while and finally took the plunge so they were delighted to find an early Christmas present at Clifden.”

On the year in general, de Courcey added: “It was a good year. We had very consistent clearance rates and a lot of interest coming from abroad and online. We plan to follow the same format next year with 18 sales days and, with improvements ongoing at the sales complex, who knows, there might be room to explore some new ideas.

“We appreciate all of our customers and all those who entrusted us to sell their ponies in 2025.”

Sale topper

The sale-topping pony was Lot 296, Hillview Kieran, a four-year-old 148cm grey gelding by Kinamara Hillview (Silver Sparrow) out of Hillview Lady II. Broken and riding, this pony was said to have hunting experience. Consigned by Michael Mahony, he was sold to UK-based Darren Walsh of Emerald Irish Horses for €10,500.

“We’d already seen him beforehand on the videos online and we liked him,” Walsh said.

“Hannah Gordon was riding him and she always does a good job on them, so he was already a standout because of that and we had planned to have a good look at him. He’s a blood pony and a nice, big pony, which is what we need for our buyers. Most of what we bring over, we produce a bit and then they go to America, so that’s the plan for him. He’ll spend December and January here hunting and maybe a few unaffiliated events, and then he’ll probably go to America in the spring.

“There is massive demand for those real flashy big Connemaras in the US - they want them very simple and very good looking.”

Walsh continued: “We’ve always gone to Clifden and have had great success over the years with the ponies from there and, of course, you always go to Clifden for the bit of socialising too!”

Lot 192, Shadow Hawk, a 148cm bay half-bred gelding by Black Shadow out of Ravara Fairytale was the next highest-priced pony.

Marketed as having natural athleticism and an excellent temperament along with SJI points, he was consigned by Derek Mahony and sold to Maiju Pakkahen of Finland for €9,800.

Close behind was Lot 199, Penny McGuire, the highest-priced mare and the highest-priced non-Connemara at €9,000. By Rocky McGuire, she was described as broken and riding with cross-country and Pony Club experience. Consigned by Brendan Noone, she was purchased by Patrick O’Gorman and Hannah Taylor who signed for a total of 17 lots across the weekend. Other top buyers included Bryan Dagg, who signed for 11, and Peter Dunne and Tom Vaughan, who signed for 10 each.

Another of the O’Gorman/Taylor purchases was Lot 11, Beaugh Bawn, a dun Connemara gelding by Loughmor MacDara Og out of Trabane Lady Ann. This 148cm five-year-old dun was described as having shown in ridden and working hunter classes including RDS ridden qualifiers. Consigned by Olivia Kealey, he was sold for €8,500.

Christy Pichard went to €8,500 for Lot 53, Millgrange High Society, a 15.2hh grey gelding by Ballyard Prince out of Silver Star 2nd. Sold by Martin Connors, he was described as a super type who was broken as a four-year-old and produced slowly.

O’Gorman and Taylor were the successful bidders once more at €8,300 when it came to Lot 168, Doon John Boy, a black five-year-old pony with no breeding recorded. Consigned by Paddy Hanley, he was described as broken and riding and very quiet.

Lot 211, Dunbeggan Boston, also went the way of this duo. A 158cm grey gelding by Dunbeggan Grey Mist out of Dunbeggan Sasha, this four-year-old was described as having done lots of work, including cub hunting and cross-country schooling. Consigned by Moncul Ltd, he sold for €8,000.

Sale regular Laura Geraghty paid €7,800 for Lot 123, Burrish Owen, a 151cm grey gelding by Moyvoon Star out of Roundpark Dun 2. This four-year-old consigned by Katharina Suhl was described as correct and athletic and schooling to preliminary level dressage.

Lot 169, a grey 15.3hh four-year-old mare consigned by Paddy Hanley was also sold for €7,800 and went to O’Gorman and Taylor.

The striking five-year-old Errisaune Becky, Lot 175, was also bought by O’Gorman and Taylor and went for €7,600. Consigned by Thomas Moffitt she was described as exceptionally quiet, recently broken, and riding well.

Rounding out the top 10 at €7,600 was Lot 387, Max Mcheathcliff, a chesnut gelding by Huntingfield Heathcliff (ID) out of Harrys Beauty. This seven-year-old three-quarter-bred Irish Draught gelding was described as having been well used in carriage driving and broken and riding. Consigned by Joe McNamara, he sold to Sean King.

Lot 446, Monagh Artful Dodger, the full brother to the October 2024 foal sales topper, made €3,200 in the ring on Sunday at the November 2025 Connemara Pony Sales \ Rynes Walker

Foals

Always a popular sale for foals, this year’s cohort generated much interest with the top price of €3,500 just shy of the €3,800 realised in 2024.

That topper was Lot 327, Gweestion Daisy, a filly by Cahir Knight out of Maltilda’s Dawn (Gwennic De Goariva) consigned by John Doyle and sold to Alan Russell.

Owen Ward paid €3,200 for Lot 446, Monagh Artful Dodger, a bay colt by the prolific Gwennic De Goariva out of Glencaugh Gem (Cullane Comet) who was described as having super shoulders with masses of bone. This foal is a full-brother of the October 2024 sale topping foal Moonagh Barnaby Rudge who fetched €4,600.

Lot 579, Tibohine Ricky, a colt by Loughmor Rambler out of Ballinlough Sally was consigned by Liam Mahon and sold to William Cusack for €2,800. The fourth and fifth top priced foals both went for €2,700. These were Lot 353, Active Bay of Dreams a filly by Tempo Active Atlas out of Lydican Beauty and Lot 434, Powers Spirit, a colt by Dooneen Troy Star out of Kildromin Dreamer.

The next Connemara Pony Sales will be in February 2026.