Having celebrated its half century in 2018, the family run Goresbridge Horse Sales in Co Kilkenny continues to hold its place as Ireland’s biggest and most successful sport and leisure horse auction. Ideally situated in the heart of Ireland’s horse breeding country, the purpose-built complex stages seven performance sales throughout the year, among which is the flagship six-day fixture in September. This must attend sale usually offers in excess of a thousand horses from the age of three and is the largest of its genre in Europe.

Further dates include the prestigious Go For Gold sale of select event horses in November, the new one-day select sale of show jumpers and event horses in October as well as sales of sport horse foals and broodmares.

As always Martin and Mary Frances Donohoe, their family and staff will assure you of a warm welcome, a professional service and will be happy to assist you in any way.

Despite the continuing challenges of Covid 19, 2021 turned out to be another outstanding year. A record number of five figure sales together with consistently strong clearance rates marked a fantastic season, and was a boost for all concerned. As restrictions eased, it was so good to welcome buyers back to the sales yard in person, while as confidence in the online bidding platform grew apace, we gained new friends and customers from all corners of the globe.

Not everyone is looking for a superstar, but for those who are – our world class graduates enjoyed another great season. Although the sport horse calendar was yet again disrupted in 2021, the undisputed star of the season was the event horse Brookfield Inocent. With Piggy March in the saddle, Brookfield Inocent was outstanding at the European event championships in Avenches, Switzerland winning both team gold and individual silver medals.

Another Goresbridge graduate that has excelled for Piggy March held the 2019 Badminton 5* Championship title Vanir Kamira and runner up porition at Burghley Horse Trials that same year. In 2020 the pair secured 3rd place at the 5* Bicton Horse Trails in 2021 and holding their form, the pair were placed 4th in the 2022 5* Burghley Event.

Standing out among the many other international event winners in 2021 was Eclipto (Michael McNally) who won both the CCI4*S at Millstreet and CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk, The dual winning CCI3* Go For Gold graduate Kilcandra Ocean Power (Michael Jung) looks to be a future star while in show jumping, the 2020 Nations Cup star Castlefield Vegas (1.60m) continues to shine with new rider Felipo Godinho Marcondes. In another major coup, three horses from the Go For Gold sale lined up for the world young horse show jumping championships in Lanaken and a further four took part in the eventing equivalent at Le Lion d’Angers.  

 Just a few of the numerous stand outs include:

• VANIR KAMIRA (Piggy French) – WINNER OF BADMINTON 2019 and RUNNER-UP at BURGHLEY. Placed third at Bicton CCI5*-L 2021. Placed 4th Badminton 2022.
• SANTIAGO BAY (Gemma Tattersall) Top ten Burghley 2019. Placed 3^rd CCI4* Bicton 2021.
• COOLEY SRS placed third at Badminton 2018
• COOLEY LANDS represented Australia at the World Equestrian Games 2018.
• RINGWOOD SKY BOY (Tim Price) Winner Burghley 2018 and top ten Badminton 2019.
• A TOUCH IMPERIOUS (Harriet Nuttall) Runner up in the Hickstead Jumping Derby 2019 was a member of the British Nations Cup squad at Dublin, and a major winner on the premier circuit.
• QUALITY OLD JOKER (Harry Whall and Holly Smith) Winner puissance Liverpool CSIO4* 2019 and well placed on the premier CSIO5*) circuit.
• NOVEMBER NIGHT (Ciaran Glynn) Represented Ireland at the European championships 2019, top twenty Badminton 2019.
• IVAR GOODEN (Imogen Murray) Top ten Badminton and Burghley.

A further batch of event horses, show jumpers and show horses exceeded at the very top of their sport. (See graduates page for further successes) and notably when three graduates featured in the top ten at one of the toughest Burghley competitions in recent years.