The UK’s first prestige Connemara pony sale will take place in Worcestershire this September.
The sale is part of Brightwells’ Festival of the Horse sale at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, on Tuesday, 8 September.
Until now, British Connemara breeders have sold their ponies privately.
Henrietta Knight, vice-chairman of the British Connemara Pony Society (BCPS), National Hunt trainer and Connemara judge, who organised the sale said: “Connemaras are a breed close to my heart. There are many Connemara sales in Ireland, but the ponies were one of the few native breeds that didn’t have a sale here.
“They are wonderful performance ponies and now enthusiasts will have the chance to visit a sale on their doorstep rather than having to travel to Ireland.”
Brightwells auctioneer Andrew Elliot said: “We have recognised for some time the popularity of the breed and are very excited about the prospect of offering, what I hope will be, an excellent catalogue of ponies.”
All entries must hold a passport from the Connemara Pony Breeders Society, BCPS or other approved Connemara society, although the sale is open to pure and part-bred ponies.
There will be sections for foals, young stock and breeding stock, as well as ridden performance ponies.
There are 140 Connemara foals bred in the UK each year, but many are brought into the country from Irish breeders, where sales take place at some of the country’s biggest horse auctioneers several times a year, including Clifden in Co Galway, Cavan and Goresbridge in Kilkenny.
Cheshire-based breeder Kerry Wainwright said: “The Malvern sale is a great idea. My only criticism is that it seems a bit early to have weaned your foals and I think holding the sale at the weekend would maximise the number of buyers who can come. A weekend later in September would have been my choice.”
Entries close at the end of July.
For more information visit www.brightwells.com
