THERE was plenty of extras going on away from the show ring in Clifden last week during the 101st Connemara Pony Show. One new initiative was a live podcast recording of Connemara Pony Tales, facilitated by usual host Lucinda Kelly and breeder Joe Burke.

The recording took place after the usual International Societies Reception in the Station House Theatre where there was a special tribute to Pat Lyne – a renowned author, breeder and international judge.

The theatre was then packed to capacity for the podcast recording which welcomed three panels before going around the room. Lucinda was joined onstage by one of Wednesday’s in-hand judges Sean Dunne and Thursday’s ridden judge Vanessa Clark. Then is was the turn of ridden champion Grace Maxwell Murphy and reserve champion Chloe Lacy (who is a Customer Servie manager with the Irish Farmers Journal). It was then the turn of international guests Tuula Pyöriä from Finland, Linda Haines from the USA Connemara Council and Kerrie Wainwright from the UK.

To bring the evening to a suitably grand finale, the owners and breeders of this year’s Supreme Champion Gurteen Jennifer, Brian and Cathal Mullen arrived with the Cup in tow, sharing the story behind the dam line their winner.

Lucinda thanked the Connemara Pony Show - Clifden Committee and the Irish Horse Board for collaborating with us on this initiative. A recording will be available in due course.

MEPs in town

While the equestrian world is well used to Nina Carberry who was in Clifden with her family, a more unfamiliar face is former RTÉ journalist and now MEP Ciaran Mullooly who also paid a visit and even picked up the gaval at the Connemara Pony Sales!

Mullooly said: “The Connemara Pony Show - Clifden is such an important part of the summer season agenda in Galway but it’s also a major economic player in that region so I was pleased to be invited to meet the show organisers and patrons at the horse sale in the town of Clifden this week. Buyers from all over Ireland and the UK were either there or online to invest in the equine industry and I was pleased to see such an interest in the trade.

“I was asked up into the auctioneer’s and spoke to the attendance in the ring about importance of a vibrant live export trade for our horses - as well as our calves and weanlings - and the work I am doing in the Agriculture committee of the European Parliament. I was impressed by the knowledge of the buyers and sellers about current events and the appreciation of the hard work done by Michael Fitzmaurice TD and myself in recent weeks. Connemara needs this trade - and we will do everything to maintain it.”