Isabel Hurley

OVERSEAS trade proved buoyant for the first sale of the year of Connemara ponies where the sterling difference proved a significant factor for British buyers.

For the first time, the February sale was extended to two days, attracting 320 entries. Overall, the clearance rate was a healthy 68% and the top priced pony fetched €3,150.

Manager of Connemara Pony Sales, Padraic Heanue, told The Irish Field: “The sterling was the right way for the UK buyers with €1,000 equal to £750stg so consequently, we had a good few British buyers active at the sale. They were buying broken and ridden ponies as well as in-hand show fillies which was good to see.

“We also had a group from Holland and another group from Belgium. In all, 26 Connemara ponies were sold to Holland and 14 to Belgium, all broken and ridden ponies. They ranged from €900 to €2,100 with a lot of them fetching between €1,600 and €1,800.

“The top priced pony was a broken and ridden gelding sold to a man from Co Kildare for €3,150. The poorest stock was older mares for which there was not great demand with some selling for between €300 and €400.

“The demand for riding ponies was fairly good across the board. There was a lot of people looking for nice fillies, for breeding and showing. They were looking for three and four-year-old fillies, good looking, quality animals. The fillies were fetching an average of €1,200 to €1,800 and they were sold all over Ireland and a good few to the UK as well,’’ reported Heanue.

Cooper Transport are currently transporting a two-year-old dun filly sold to a New Jersey mother and daughter who visited the Connemara Pony Sales for the first time. “The filly fetched €750, the American clients intend to break her in and eventually breed from her. Coopers are bringing her to the USA for them.

“Overall, I’m happy with our first sale of the year, it bodes well for our May Sale (Saturday and Sunday, May 16th-17th) and we are now involved with Clifden’s Elite Sale as well (Saturday, May 16th at 4pm). Entries close for the May sale on April 10th. The catalogue will go online (www.connemaraponysales.com) on May 1st and we’re hoping for a good sale,’’ said Heanue.

Asked about private sales, Heanue said approximately 30 catalogued lots didn’t turn up. “All our sales were through the ring but around 30 lots didn’t turn up, some could have been sold before the sale.”