Kelly’s hero comes up short in Clifden

REGULAR Clifden visitor Lucinda Kelly headed west last week in the hope of adding another accolade to that won at the Dublin Horse Show the week previously, but it was not to be with Killaneen Boy.

Placed fifth in his stallion class on the Thursday of Clifden, she was perhaps disappointed, but at the same time she was grateful to have retained the ride on the five-year-old stallion for the biggest Connemara pony show of the year.

“After he won his performance class at Dublin I received a good offer to sell him to the States,” she said. “I was tempted, but it’s not all about the money. He was previously owned by Colm Costello, who is very ill, so he has a special place in our hearts. For a stallion he has such an amazing temperament and it’s hard to find one like him.”

Bred in Co Sligo by Steven O’Beirne, the grey was sold to Colm Costello as a foal and picked up by Ms Kelly as an unbroken four-year-old.

“Colm is a great supporter of the breed and had won so much in-hand with him and wanted him to compete under saddle so I was delighted to get him last year.”

“Last summer Colm developed a rare neurological auto-immune condition. He has been unconscious since and in full-time care in St Vincent’s Hospital so it has been very hard on everyone, especially his family.

“The pony has won numerous working hunter classes around the country but the win at Dublin was particularly emotional for us all as Colm was unable to be there to see it,” she said.

Meanwhile business was said to be brisk at the annual pony show, with many overseas visitors attending the sales over the weekend.

“We heard there were a lot of Americans in town so hopefully plenty of ponies will be going to new homes,” Ms Kelly concluded.