Opening strongly and concluding on an exceptional high, 2025 proved to be another solid sales year for the sport horse sector.
With prices holding firm throughout, demand for high-end competition stock was voracious, while the appetite for quiet, level-headed individuals led to record returns.
The end-of-season specialist sales of show jumpers, young event horses and top-level show jumping foals made for some impressive headlines, with Greg Broderick’s annual Ballypatrick elite auction reaping some spectacular prices.
Offering a small (34 lots) but truly select top drawer catalogue of show jumpers, the Ballypatrick figures were topped by the sale of the Swiss-bound seven-year-old jumping mare Ursula Ter Wigen Z (by Untouchable) for a whopping €940,000.
Moving away from these heady heights, the auctions around the country delivered a generally consistent trade which, at the close of play, illustrated that both clearance rates and averages have in most cases risen steadily throughout the year.
The only stagnancy is the stubborn two-tier pattern in the trade which has led to a weakened middle market, most notably in the foal sales – and to a lesser extent in the three-year-olds.
Among the observations taken from the year is the fact that the specialist sales (Goresbridge, Cavan, Mayo Breeders and Monart etc) have increasingly become the focus for many three-year-old and foal producers.
While the top drawer, blacktype jumping foal continues to command a premium, many customers were overheard citing poor conformation and an unattractive blend of genetics as the reason for the sluggish demand at the lower end of the sector. It is also notable throughout the year that offerings by thoroughbred sires have struggled to make an impact, whereas progeny of thoroughbred mares by sport horse sires have proved popular among event horse buyers. Finally, and also significantly, is the trend that has seen imported horses featuring prominently among the year’s sale toppers.
Sales toppers for 2025
Top-priced four-year-old
Monbeg Sport Horses’ Monbeg Monaco, four-year-old gelding by Malcomme P (dam by Emir R) €90,000 (Goresbridge Go For Gold). Imported from Holland, the handsome grey landed top honours at €90,000, when secured by British event horse owner Ian Barrett.
Top-priced three-year-old
MBF Shadow, was the top priced three-year-old at the 2025 Goresbridge Go For Gold sale. \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
Consistently top producers, MBF Sporthorses’ MBF Shadow, three-year-old gelding by Mees VD Watermolen (dam by Hoolagan De Rosyle) €60,000 (Goresbridge Go For Gold).
At €60,000, the imported MBF Shadow was knocked down to British event horse owner and staunch Irish horse supporter Karla Wheatcroft.
Top foals
Declan Fegan’s Berkleys Touch Of Sol, colt foal by United Touch S (dam by Come On) €46,000 (Cavan Elite Sales).
Declan Fegan’s American-bound Berkleys Touch of Sol broke records when heading the strong Cavan edition at €47,000.
In the country
Gerard and Barbara Clarke’s Drishoge Creed, eight-year-old gelding by Hector Van d’Abdijhoeve (dam by Zanzou R) €43,000 (Goresbridge May).
The year’s sale-topping honours in the country fell to the eight-year-old show jumper Drishoge Creed who realised €43,000 for Gerard and Barbara Clarke.
Top-priced four-year-old
MBF Sporthorses and Higgins Sport Horses’ MBF Fortuna, four-year-old filly by Imnotafraid Fortuna (dam by Ars Vivendi) €38,000 (Goresbridge March).
Heading yet another sector, Co Waterford producers Brian and Meabh Flynn topped the table when MBF Fortuna realised €38,000.
Top-priced three-year-old
TR Sport Horses’ Keonan Twister, three-year-old gelding by Corporal VDL (dam by Russel) €16,500 (Goresbridge October).
The top price of €16,500 went to TR Sporthorses’ Keonan Twister, a gelding bred by Keonan Stables, and snapped up by Elizabeth Eames.
Top-priced foals
Ballyv Ernie, a colt foal by Ermitage Kalone topped the sale at Goresbridge. \ Sally Parkyn
Ballyv Stables’ Ballyv Ernie, colt foal by Ermitage Kalone (dam by Taloubet Z) €14,000 (Goresbridge October).
Ponies
Tosh Widger O’Riordan’s Grantstown In It To Win, five-year-old 128cms gelding €28,500 (Goresbridge December).
Demand for well-produced ponies was another constant. Every auction house delivered five-figure prices, with the top return of €28,500 falling to Tosh Widger’s five-year-old jumping pony Grantstown In It To Win.
Opening strongly and concluding on an exceptional high, 2025 proved to be another solid sales year for the sport horse sector.
With prices holding firm throughout, demand for high-end competition stock was voracious, while the appetite for quiet, level-headed individuals led to record returns.
The end-of-season specialist sales of show jumpers, young event horses and top-level show jumping foals made for some impressive headlines, with Greg Broderick’s annual Ballypatrick elite auction reaping some spectacular prices.
Offering a small (34 lots) but truly select top drawer catalogue of show jumpers, the Ballypatrick figures were topped by the sale of the Swiss-bound seven-year-old jumping mare Ursula Ter Wigen Z (by Untouchable) for a whopping €940,000.
Moving away from these heady heights, the auctions around the country delivered a generally consistent trade which, at the close of play, illustrated that both clearance rates and averages have in most cases risen steadily throughout the year.
The only stagnancy is the stubborn two-tier pattern in the trade which has led to a weakened middle market, most notably in the foal sales – and to a lesser extent in the three-year-olds.
Among the observations taken from the year is the fact that the specialist sales (Goresbridge, Cavan, Mayo Breeders and Monart etc) have increasingly become the focus for many three-year-old and foal producers.
While the top drawer, blacktype jumping foal continues to command a premium, many customers were overheard citing poor conformation and an unattractive blend of genetics as the reason for the sluggish demand at the lower end of the sector. It is also notable throughout the year that offerings by thoroughbred sires have struggled to make an impact, whereas progeny of thoroughbred mares by sport horse sires have proved popular among event horse buyers. Finally, and also significantly, is the trend that has seen imported horses featuring prominently among the year’s sale toppers.
Sales toppers for 2025
Top-priced four-year-old
Monbeg Sport Horses’ Monbeg Monaco, four-year-old gelding by Malcomme P (dam by Emir R) €90,000 (Goresbridge Go For Gold). Imported from Holland, the handsome grey landed top honours at €90,000, when secured by British event horse owner Ian Barrett.
Top-priced three-year-old
MBF Shadow, was the top priced three-year-old at the 2025 Goresbridge Go For Gold sale. \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media
Consistently top producers, MBF Sporthorses’ MBF Shadow, three-year-old gelding by Mees VD Watermolen (dam by Hoolagan De Rosyle) €60,000 (Goresbridge Go For Gold).
At €60,000, the imported MBF Shadow was knocked down to British event horse owner and staunch Irish horse supporter Karla Wheatcroft.
Top foals
Declan Fegan’s Berkleys Touch Of Sol, colt foal by United Touch S (dam by Come On) €46,000 (Cavan Elite Sales).
Declan Fegan’s American-bound Berkleys Touch of Sol broke records when heading the strong Cavan edition at €47,000.
In the country
Gerard and Barbara Clarke’s Drishoge Creed, eight-year-old gelding by Hector Van d’Abdijhoeve (dam by Zanzou R) €43,000 (Goresbridge May).
The year’s sale-topping honours in the country fell to the eight-year-old show jumper Drishoge Creed who realised €43,000 for Gerard and Barbara Clarke.
Top-priced four-year-old
MBF Sporthorses and Higgins Sport Horses’ MBF Fortuna, four-year-old filly by Imnotafraid Fortuna (dam by Ars Vivendi) €38,000 (Goresbridge March).
Heading yet another sector, Co Waterford producers Brian and Meabh Flynn topped the table when MBF Fortuna realised €38,000.
Top-priced three-year-old
TR Sport Horses’ Keonan Twister, three-year-old gelding by Corporal VDL (dam by Russel) €16,500 (Goresbridge October).
The top price of €16,500 went to TR Sporthorses’ Keonan Twister, a gelding bred by Keonan Stables, and snapped up by Elizabeth Eames.
Top-priced foals
Ballyv Ernie, a colt foal by Ermitage Kalone topped the sale at Goresbridge. \ Sally Parkyn
Ballyv Stables’ Ballyv Ernie, colt foal by Ermitage Kalone (dam by Taloubet Z) €14,000 (Goresbridge October).
Ponies
Tosh Widger O’Riordan’s Grantstown In It To Win, five-year-old 128cms gelding €28,500 (Goresbridge December).
Demand for well-produced ponies was another constant. Every auction house delivered five-figure prices, with the top return of €28,500 falling to Tosh Widger’s five-year-old jumping pony Grantstown In It To Win.
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