Purchasing at Clifden Sales (and also any breeder recommendations)

[fornema]

I am hoping to attend the next Clifden sales and combine this with visiting a few breeders if anything available with them at the time. Will be looking for a 3/4/5 yr old, broken ideally but unbroken also not an issue.

Any hints, tips? Any warnings, aside from not getting carried away? Will of course need to wait for the catologue to view breeding/HWSD.

As to Connie breeders, any recommendations of Connie’s that are lightly backed/ready to be backed or beginning to be established?

Separately, is there such a thing as an agent who can book viewings and arrange transport etc outside of the sales?

 

[Old school]

There is a lady called Equine Viewer on Facebook who specialises in that sort of thing. She should also be able to advise.

Very hard to trust anyone tbh. Just be clear about your requirements and try not to deviate too much…. and go home with three colt foals!!!

 

[Cortez]

Firstly it’s “Connemaras”, we don’t call them “connies” here, and Clifden is a breeder’s show so you’re more likely to get young stock there than older, schooled ponies. Cavan sales have dedicated Connemara sales a couple of times a year and I’ve always had better luck there than in Clifden for ridden ponies. The last good 4 year old I got from a breeder in Tipperary, I’ll see if I can find his details for you and pass on.

 

[gallopingby]

I am hoping to attend the next Clifden sales and combine this with visiting a few breeders if anything available with them at the time. Will be looking for a 3/4/5 yr old, broken ideally but unbroken also not an issue.

Any hints, tips? Any warnings, aside from not getting carried away? Will of course need to wait for the catologue to view breeding/HWSD.

As to Connie breeders, any recommendations of Connie’s that are lightly backed/ready to be backed or beginning to be established?

Separately, is there such a thing as an agent who can book viewings and arrange transport etc outside of the sales?

There are now a few ‘agents’ who attend the Clifden sales, best to look at comments from previous users. Breeders don’t usually sell anything remotely beginning to be established although occasionally one or two may appear at a sale, some may have been backed and some been out in hand but might not have had much time spent on their education. Just watch where they’ve come from how many homes they’ve had. The catalogue will usually give you the name and breeding but not the owner / seller details so you may need to ask around. There are a number of transport companies who attend the sales, some are more reliable than others! Good luck, it would be worth just going and watching at a few sales before even thinking about buying if you’ve no previous experience. It used to be possible to buy two ponies at the sales and bring them across to the uk with the aim of keeping one and selling the other on as a means of financing the deal but youd be lucky to do this these days.

 

[Old school]

Tip: have knowledge about organising your own vetting if you purchase. Read the Sales terms and conditions. There is no required sales vetting as part of sales entry.