A 148cm jumping pony was the star of the sale at Cavan last week where, at €14,000, she headed the two-day renewal by a distance. Spearheading a strong pony sector, the mare was one of a number secured by Swedish buyers, whose appetite for the smaller species appeared insatiable.
Although the stock was very mixed, the overall figures delivered an improved average of €3,130 (€2,928 in 2016). There was, however, a deficit of English customers, and possibly their absence influenced the clearance rate, which slipped to 61% (72%).
It is also significant that the majority of the better sales were finalised privately after the lots had passed through the sale ring, and indeed six of the top 10 lots were clinched later in the day.
SALE TOPPER
At €14,000, the top price fell to Donal Geaney’s 148cm pony Crag Vivendi, who was secured privately by Swedish buyer Jonas Carlen. Homebred by her vendor, as was her dam and her grandam, the six-year-old is by Ars Vivendi, out of Crag Cane by Spring Elegance.
Contradicting her breeding, the mare only matured to 148cm, but as Geaney explained: “She came small, but it suited well as I had the children coming on.”
Indeed, Dan, Jack and Conor Geaney had all competed on the mare to accumulate a total of 111 SJI points.
OTHER NOTABLES
Another jumping pony to sell for five figures was Joe McMahon’s 148cm Shannondale Brendy, a classy performer with 112 SJI points. Also carrying horse breeding, the son of Hannibal Van Overis was purchased by Swedish customer Lotta Burholt for €10,000 in a private sale.
Heading the horse prices at €8,600 was Mary Griffin’s three-year-old gelding by Classe VDL (dam by Olympic Lux). The grey was knocked down to regular Swedish visitor Sandra Westberg.
SOLID TRADE
Trade remained solid for the right individuals, and two more ponies realised €8,000 apiece. The first was Donal Geaney’s second offering, Boomboy, by the Connemara sire Canal Lauras Boy. He was secured privately by a Swedish cash buyer, while compatriot Carina Bjork also negotiated for Ciaran Nallon’s 148cm grade B pony Seanie For Sure.
The younger stock continued to deliver a number of lively exchanges, and trade was competitive for the better sorts. Seven of the 20 three-year-olds who changed hands realised in excess of €4,000, among which was Mary Breen’s homebred filly Rossmount Oscar Queen, by Oscar des Fontaines (dam by Harlequin du Carel). This individual was bought by Northern Ireland dealer James Brizzell for €7,500, while the Frankfort Stud’s gelding by Boswell Mr Heartbreaker (dam by Luz Z) was knocked down to Phil Magleave for €6,600.
The commercial buyers proved the strongest customers for a mixed bag of older stock. One to appeal was Dorothea Wilson’s mare Templepatrick A-Z, who had jumped to 1.30m under Peter Smyth. The well-related eight-year-old had also evented, and although she did not quite reach her reserve in the ring, she was soon snapped up by Yorkshire dealer Graham Sugden for €7,700.
Hunters were in demand throughout and changing hands for €7,400 was Seamus Magee’s five-year-old by Heigh Ho Silver (dam by Chillout). The gelding had been hunting with the Bray Harriers and was one of several knocked down to Athlone producer Jim Derwin.
Top prices
• Donal Geaney’s Crag Vivendi, six-year-old 148cm mare by Ars Vivendi, €14,000.• Joe McMahon’s Shannondale Brendy, six-year-old 148cm gelding by Hannibal Van Overis, €10,000.• Mary Griffin’s three-year-old gelding by Classe VDL, €8,600.• Donal Geaney’s Boomboy, six-year-old 148cm gelding by Canal Lauras Boy, €8,000.• Ciaran Nallon’s Seanie For Sure, seven-year-old 148cm gelding by Ars Vivendi, €8,000.
A 148cm jumping pony was the star of the sale at Cavan last week where, at €14,000, she headed the two-day renewal by a distance. Spearheading a strong pony sector, the mare was one of a number secured by Swedish buyers, whose appetite for the smaller species appeared insatiable.
Although the stock was very mixed, the overall figures delivered an improved average of €3,130 (€2,928 in 2016). There was, however, a deficit of English customers, and possibly their absence influenced the clearance rate, which slipped to 61% (72%).
It is also significant that the majority of the better sales were finalised privately after the lots had passed through the sale ring, and indeed six of the top 10 lots were clinched later in the day.
SALE TOPPER
At €14,000, the top price fell to Donal Geaney’s 148cm pony Crag Vivendi, who was secured privately by Swedish buyer Jonas Carlen. Homebred by her vendor, as was her dam and her grandam, the six-year-old is by Ars Vivendi, out of Crag Cane by Spring Elegance.
Contradicting her breeding, the mare only matured to 148cm, but as Geaney explained: “She came small, but it suited well as I had the children coming on.”
Indeed, Dan, Jack and Conor Geaney had all competed on the mare to accumulate a total of 111 SJI points.
OTHER NOTABLES
Another jumping pony to sell for five figures was Joe McMahon’s 148cm Shannondale Brendy, a classy performer with 112 SJI points. Also carrying horse breeding, the son of Hannibal Van Overis was purchased by Swedish customer Lotta Burholt for €10,000 in a private sale.
Heading the horse prices at €8,600 was Mary Griffin’s three-year-old gelding by Classe VDL (dam by Olympic Lux). The grey was knocked down to regular Swedish visitor Sandra Westberg.
SOLID TRADE
Trade remained solid for the right individuals, and two more ponies realised €8,000 apiece. The first was Donal Geaney’s second offering, Boomboy, by the Connemara sire Canal Lauras Boy. He was secured privately by a Swedish cash buyer, while compatriot Carina Bjork also negotiated for Ciaran Nallon’s 148cm grade B pony Seanie For Sure.
The younger stock continued to deliver a number of lively exchanges, and trade was competitive for the better sorts. Seven of the 20 three-year-olds who changed hands realised in excess of €4,000, among which was Mary Breen’s homebred filly Rossmount Oscar Queen, by Oscar des Fontaines (dam by Harlequin du Carel). This individual was bought by Northern Ireland dealer James Brizzell for €7,500, while the Frankfort Stud’s gelding by Boswell Mr Heartbreaker (dam by Luz Z) was knocked down to Phil Magleave for €6,600.
The commercial buyers proved the strongest customers for a mixed bag of older stock. One to appeal was Dorothea Wilson’s mare Templepatrick A-Z, who had jumped to 1.30m under Peter Smyth. The well-related eight-year-old had also evented, and although she did not quite reach her reserve in the ring, she was soon snapped up by Yorkshire dealer Graham Sugden for €7,700.
Hunters were in demand throughout and changing hands for €7,400 was Seamus Magee’s five-year-old by Heigh Ho Silver (dam by Chillout). The gelding had been hunting with the Bray Harriers and was one of several knocked down to Athlone producer Jim Derwin.
Top prices
• Donal Geaney’s Crag Vivendi, six-year-old 148cm mare by Ars Vivendi, €14,000.• Joe McMahon’s Shannondale Brendy, six-year-old 148cm gelding by Hannibal Van Overis, €10,000.• Mary Griffin’s three-year-old gelding by Classe VDL, €8,600.• Donal Geaney’s Boomboy, six-year-old 148cm gelding by Canal Lauras Boy, €8,000.• Ciaran Nallon’s Seanie For Sure, seven-year-old 148cm gelding by Ars Vivendi, €8,000. 
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