A quarter of century ago back in 1983 the Clarke family first opened the doors of the Cavan Equestrian Centre and began to host their first horse and pony shows.

The facilities then consisted of an indoor and outdoor sand ring, these days that would seem small but the shows were regularly attended by international riders Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh, James Kernan and Trevor Coyle to name but a few.

With the show’s attendance growing year on year Mervyn Clarke saw a niche in the market for horse and pony sales in that part of the country. After a very large expansion in 1993 and 1994, which saw the completion of a new indoor competition arena, they held their first International Performance Sale in January 1994.

A total of 200 lots made up the first catalogue.

Cavan now host between 16 and 18 sales days per year including six Performance Sales, one Premier three-year-old sale, two Young Stock Sales, two Registered Irish Draught Sales and an Elite Foal Sale.

The complex is now the biggest equestrian venue in the country with:

•500 permanent stables.

•Three indoor arenas. totalling 13,000m2.

•Two outdoor all-weather arenas.

•Four grass arenas.

•A restaurant and bar.

•Cladem – equestrian store.

Hundreds of talented horses have passed through the sales ring in Cavan over the past 25 years. Included in this elite list are; Mighty Nice, a 15-year-old the Irish-bred gelding By Ard Ohio and Sarazen who was ridden by American Phillip Dutton to win an individual bronze medal for eventing at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Another Olympic eventer to pass through was the Irish-bred Cooley Rorkes Drift (Courge II – Rachelle Comet) Ireland’s Jonty Evans have recorded many fantastic international results with this horse.

ABC Quantum Cruise (OBOS Quality – Cruising) went through the ring as a six-year-old and was sold to Peter Charles. He has since gone on to have a successful show jumping career competing up to Longines Global Champions Tour level under his son Harry.

In 2008 the operation expanded to include the Premier Three-year-old sale and the Elite Foal Sale. They were introduced to allow purchasers and vendors have specific days to concentrate on youngsters.

Over the years many lots have reached big prices in the Cavan Sales ring, but the largest reached so far came in 2007 when a 168cms three-year-old grey stallion by Cornet Obolensky was knocked down for €46,000.

To celebrate 25 years of successful sales the Clarkes have decided that for the first sale of 2019 on 6th March, as a thank you to the vendors who have supported them to give 25% off all entries.