Ring side view at Kirkby Stephen Horse Sale Sat 7th Nov 09

An INAG member writes:

Approx 300 entries

A different sale to Cowper day in September with no gypsy caravans in town but still the emphasis on coloured cobs. Many Geordie and some Irish accents heard.

Consignments in from Ireland were mainly coloured foals with some sport horses.

Some Welsh Sec A and Sec C foals and New Forest young stock had been brought in from other sales. One Fell pony described as straight off the hill had also been straight off the hill at Dumfries the previous week having been purchased at Penrith Fell Pony Annual Sale on 23rd Oct—3 sales in 15days.

How fast could this practice of moving horses from sale to sale spread disease around the country?

Too many mares were coming through the ring as having run with the stallion all summer — continuing to breed when prices are rock bottom. Clearly many have not heard of or listened to advice on ‘’Sensible Breeding’. Two very nice but over fat Shetland mares had run with the stallion, I hope they did not ‘’take’’ as there was no room for a foal.

There is very much a trend for breeding and starting to ride or drive some of these cobs far too young. One pot bellied youngster barely two years old had a fully worn down set of shoes and was shown in harness with pride, his dipped back showed the strain on his young frame.
A 3yo filly for sale had just weaned a foal.

There seemed to be no market for quiet children’s ponies shown under saddle nor warmbloods or TBs. One 6yo warmblood sold for 1000gns, an Irish Sports Horse 320gns, a TB for 380gns. A wild eyed Friesian cross had clearly been doped and buyers were put off bidding seeing the rider complete with body protector.

One yearling was offered for sale without passport, it was microchipped but the passport had not arrived in time for the sale—it was withdrawn at 900gns.

Some of the dealers stood inside the sale ring and several times were asked to move by the auctioneer to little effect, they were haggling, closing deals and back handing ignoring some of the lots in the ring. The visiting dealers from Ireland were the guiltiest of having their own agenda.

One very lively coloured colt foal stirred them up a bit spending several minutes on its back legs looking for another exit and gained a good price for his spirit.

Many lots were grabbed by one of the dealers for a quick tooth check and the poor foals were prodded with walking sticks from every angle to keep them moving round the ring.

At the end of the sale I found a coloured foal pulling with every ounce of its strength on one of the white rope halters tied to a railing, eyes bulging, I was expecting it to land in a heap and its owners totally ignored it until I pointed to it then they said "do you want to buy it".

A number of lots had hair and skin missing on their faces due to pulling on these halters which are rarely knotted to stop them pulling too tight.

A couple of lots were fully clipped, most people were wearing jackets as it was cold in the mart but no rugs were visible.

Prices — the highest bid coloureds were withdrawn at around £1800. Two excellent beach donkeys were withdrawn at around 600gns each, less substantial donkeys sold to 220gns
Filly foals as always made better trade than colts, the better ones to make over 14.2 between 500 and 800gns. Colts 200-600gns, Fell pony foals around 140gns.

Many lots withdrawn unsold.

Some of the ‘lads’ were learning their dealing skills very young, one very small young man showing 3 mini Shetlands had already learned to ‘thump’ and ‘’prod’’ if the pony did not keep moving.

At least this time there was some bedding down for the ones in mart all night even if it was just a layer of sawdust unlike the Cowper day sale when horses were left on bare concrete all night.

Mart staff had a reader so microchips were being checked but the catalogue does state it is the buyer’s responsibility to check the passport is correct before leaving mart.