AS we roll into the new year of sales and shows, many breeders, producers, buyers and sellers are organising and looking to the year ahead. This year, for the first time, the Connemara Pony Sales Clifden will kick off the sales season with an extended February sale. Due to unprecedented demand, the sale will run over three days commencing on Friday, February 20th, with over 640 lots on offer.

For those looking to increase their breeding stock, there are several stallions on offer over the weekend, including Clifden Show winners, Lot 8 on Friday, Oldstone Hazy Lad (Cornarone Hazy Lad x Commanding Rose) who was OH Classified 2025, and who won the Yearling Colt Class in Clifden 2023, and Lot 131, the Clifden Junior Champion of 2024, Banrach Cormac (Teach Mór Cormac x Poll An Mhianagh Cashla).

Broodmare stock

Those looking to increase their broodmare stock also have plenty of options including Lot 11 Vanilla (Gwennic De Goariva x Castle Jade - Janus) on Friday morning. This cremello mare has already foaled two dun foals by Caherlistrane Con and Menlo Sparrow, and is in foal again to Menlo Sparrow, due to foal in 2026. Also catalogued is Lot 241 on Saturday, the proven show and broodmare Glencarrig Abbey (Glencarrig Prince x Circular Lady), and on Sunday Lot 515, the well-bred Sea Shadow (Seoigeach x Sea Something - Silver Shadow), in foal to Knightsbridge Prince.

For those looking for well-connected future stars, they could do worse than cast an eye on lot 136, on Friday, Hogan’s Spirit (Ross Fear Bui x Mulbrook Lass), Full-brother to Hogan’s Charm, the Dublin Performance Working Hunter Winner 2025, and Clifden 2024 winner. Sunday also sees the well-connected Lot 525, King Bunowen Castle Hunter (Glencarrig Douvan x Bunowen Castle Ellie), a two-year-old gelding who is the half-brother to the HOYS Ridden Connemara Winner 2025, King Bunowen Castle Ali. Also on Sunday is Lot 574, Gurteen Abbey (Mountain Cascade x Gurteen Niamh - Glencarrig Knight), a promising yearling filly whose dam is a full-sister to the Class 1 stallion Gurteen Otto, and Clifden Show winning mares, Gurteen Annie and Gurteen Jennifer.

Lot 628, Teach Mór Consort (Thorgal De L’Aubier x Clover Hill Princess Jade - Janus) is also a promising yearling colt, and is a full-brother to the Class 1 stallion Teach Mór Cormac.

Plenty of options

For those looking to source overheight ponies, either broken and ridden or ready to produce, there are plenty of options available including Lot 10, Swanview Pumpkins Brady Boy (Pumkins Pondi x Swanview - Templebready Fear Buí) on Friday morning. Lots 106 and 261 Cooga Lad (Black Shadow x Cashelbay Liz - Cashelbay Cruise) and Sligo Delight (Derrada Owen x Cashelbay Liz), half-brothers, go through the ring on Friday and Saturday respectively, and Lot 355 the well-connected Rathcline Spot (Rathcline Melvin’s Boy x Miss Fionnuala) also on Saturday.

For those looking for the smaller type, keep an eye out for Lot 63, Tony’s Lady (Newtown Rebel x Cree’s Star - Lishmar Shadow), who is catalogued at 138cm, and Lot 118, Lough Melvin Misty (Lough Melvin Paddy x Vales Murphy - Murphy Rebel), who is catalogued at 128cm.

As always, there will be a selection of unregistered/ half-bred ponies offered for sale every evening, and for those who have missed out entering for February, the entries for the April 12th Sale are now open, and due to close on March 13th at the latest. For further information and live updates from the sales, keep an eye on the Connemara ponies Sales Website and Facebook Page.