DERBY AUCTION SEPTEMBER 8th

I attended Derby market on Saturday 8th September. 
In fact the market was very quiet but it was a fairly grim atmosphere. 
I arrived 15 minutes late because of traffic and there was not a huge amount of  horses for sale.
Also the RSPCA officers were in attendance.
There was, however, some rough handling practices (to be seen) which seemed to be common place and
not dis-allowed by the auctioneer - no sticks or goads -  just rough handling, slapping around the backend,
and one young colt was slapped around the face when (handlers were) trying to move him out of the ring.
Many of the dealers were allowed to stand in the very narrow access into the ring, this left little room for even
the smallest of ponies to get by, many of which where slapped on the back end
as they passed through to the ring. There also seemed to be a few horses kept on the
lorries when I walked around the lorry park.
There was at least 4 horses which were in pens on the end horses were Nordic types.

DG.