“WE’RE after having a great day’s trading,” said Goresbridge’s Ed Donohoe at the close of the first day of their May Sport Horse Performance Sale, which saw an average price of €5,829 and a clearance rate of 81% from the 166 ponies on offer. “There were a lot of really nice competition ponies, leisure ponies, and the Connemaras were super. That’s all you can ask for really,” Donohoe concluded.

Wednesday’s top lot came early in the day, when Lot 21, Emoe Roulade, a five-year-old 14.2hh bay gelding by Kroongraaf, was knocked down to British buyer Elaine Cochrane for €14,000. “He was on our list,” said Cochrane, who was looking for a show jumping pony for her nine-year-old daughter. “We always have a look the night before, and he had a lovely jump, an amazing jump. We watched him in the ring and he was very well-behaved, which is key for me, and we had a really good feeling about him.”