WHILE the top price at last Sunday’s Connemara Pony Sales one-day sale didn’t quite hit the highs of the rest of the 2022 season, trade was still buoyant throughout with 110 ponies passing through the ring, a healthy clearance rate of 75% and a big oversees interest in the native breed.

As he has done on a number of occasions, 23-year-old Sligo dealer Tiernan Gray accounted for the top lot at €9,200.

That price went to the six-year-old mare Knockma Polly (Lot 108), by Castleside Tigue out of Hollbrook Ash (High Peak). Consigned to the sale by Alison Porter, the mare has an SJI record up to 1m under Alexandra Porter and 13 SJI points.

Just a few minutes earlier, Carol Henley’s TBS My Way was sold for €8,800. Another six-year-old mare, this dun is by the jumping stallion Cheeky Bobby Sparrow out of Canal Laurinda (Callowfeenish Mairtin). Niall Daly signed for the mare who was described as the perfect all round with show jumping and hunter trialling under her belt and she is also a full-sister to two Grade A show jumping ponies.

Clifden regular Patrick O’Gorman went home with a total of five lots, including the highest priced four-year-old of the sale, Miss Rosia (Lot 124). The lightly broken 15.2hh dun mare by Magherfadda Lad was sold by James Cafferty for €8,600.

Among the remaining of Tiernan Gray’s six purchases was Louise Ordinaire’s five-year-old mare, Ballyduff Star (Lot 24) by Lightening Star out of the Monaghanstown Fionn mare Satara. Gray gave €8,000 for the 14.2hh pony who has show jumped and been across the county as well as hunted.

Gray also signed for Lorna Coffey’s Penny Lane (Lot 91), a seven-year-old mare by Maecon Boy, at €7,400, and he gave €6,400 to Pauline Dahill for her eight-year-old 14.2hh piebald gelding Dandylion who has no recorded breeding.

The highest priced gelding and three-year-old in the sale was Lot 49, Cloneenagh Alfie, a dun by Kippure Alkatraz who has plenty of experience for his age and has been out to non-registered shows. Sara Drogan signed for this one, consigned to the sale by Mark Kelly, at €7,700.

Gelding

Two more geldings that were sold for upwards of €7,000 were Lot 93, Ballymahon Flaming Spirit (Moonlight Silver Shadow – Wilma Harmony) a three-year-old bought by Ballinasloe’s Kiernan Egan for €7,200, and Lot 59, Cregduff Benny (Clooncarra Fionn – Misty Island) who Patrick O’Gorman purchased at €7,000.

Also notable in Clifden was prominent Wicklow-based sport horse producer and event rider Daisy Duggan who purchased four ponies, including James McWeeney’s four-year-old gelding Longstone Class Act (Longstone Silver Shadow) at €6,000.

A total of 34 ponies were sold oversees; 17 of those made their way to Belgium after being purchased by SDV Horses, another 12 were sold to our nearest neighbours in Britain, while two apiece were sold to France and Germany, and one to Sweden.

The next sale at the venue takes place from October 28th to 31st and entries are now open.