British Connemara sales

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HazyXmas

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Hi, can anyone help? I currently have two lovely connie ponies, 1 is 20 & semi retired. I am looking for a youngster to replace him & bring on for low level eventing (BE90 & 100's) I have bought the Brightwells Catalogue for the Connemara sale this week but am feeling rather nervous at the thought of buying at a sale. Has anyone bought from this sale in the past? Was the experience & pony, good or bad? Any success/ horror stories? Some people tell me to avoid the English ponies & other people tell me to avoid the Irish! Totally confused.
Many thanks
 
hi,
ive never been to the british connermara sales but i have been to Clifden. Never had any problems there, its a very nice sale.
All i can say is take your time, look through the catalogue and put a star or highlight the lots that stand out to you, go around and look at all the ponies there and again, highlight ones you like the look of and cross out the ones that dont.
Look all over each pony, legs and feet especially and if the owner is about you can ask about them but we usually try not to seem to interested so that the friends or others dont bump up the price. (we've had a few incidents where that has happened).
when the ponies you like come in the ring, then you can see what they are like to handle and then its up to you if you want to bid :)

its the ideal time to buy right now, we bought 5 ponies last time and the most expensive was £1400, the others cost £500 -£600 and they are lovely fillies.

There may always be a dodgy pony/person at these sales but most people i know have had great experiences. I would just go and enjoy, if you buy then you buy, if you dont then there is always another sale.

Good luck!
 
+1 to Kadastorm's post . I was at the Clifden Sales last week prices were just as she said .
There was superb value , with broken and ridden 3 y olds at € 1500 or thereabouts . Most were in very good condition, nothing wrong with them just too many for the bad market. Although broken and backed may be very different to what you would call a "ridden pony".
As always BUYER BEWARE , the great thing is that nowadays nothing can go through the ring in Clifden without proof of identity and declaration of Sweet Itch etc. so if somene tells you it hasn't a passport run a mile .
All purebred Connies should have one or at least a foal cert if its first time off the field.
Very few were bought by the individual owner when I was there so I imagine some of those bought in bulk in Clifden will be quickly turned around and make an appearance at Brightwells.
I do know that some of the East Coast long time breeders occasionally take ponies to Brightwells as there is the chance of a higher price and the journey is nearly as easy for them.
Good luck in your Quest.
 
Thanks for your help & advice. I shall go along & have a look, as you say, there will be plenty more for sale.
Is anyone taking any horses there on Wednesday?
 
brightwells give a good warranty 48 hours i think. you can try them out in a paddock and watch them being ridden, jumped, shown. vetting is advisable but dont forget they vet to sales particulars. my advise would to get there very early ... as often the naughty/spooky/nappy ones get worked hard before 8.30 am. Good luck. also i think the sales warranty is only valid if you have them vetted at the sale. read the small print in the catalogue. some lots may have vat on them , and they all have a buyers premium to add to the ring price. Good luck, have fun.
 
Heading off to Malvern very soon. Feeling very nervous! Should i take a trailer or is it best to find transport there if i buy?
 
I'm just about to head down there now too - definately take your wagon/trailer, you will only regret it if you don't! Hope you have a nice day!
 
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