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KIRBY STEPHEN JUNE 4TH
Appleby Fair just 12 miles away from Kirkby Stephen
--so the days events partly revolved around that with attendees from far afield en-route to trade at the Fair over the weekend.
I knew Cumbria Trading Standards AHOs were attending Appleby Fair so concerned they might not be able to cover KS.
However the sale was well covered with one AHO all day and a second after completing his shift at Appleby, but RSPCA help and interventions would not have been possible if the Fair had not been ongoing.
RSPCA not previously seen at Kirkby Stephen sale.
Even the Police called in to see if all was well at the end of the day
Two AHOs supervised loading at the end of the day and intervened when too many on transport or use of whips and were checking compliance with transport regulations. I saw them advise on tying up--one Shetland would have hung had he gone down--he was re-tied at a lower height
At least 200 went through the ring, lot numbers went up to 280 but some not forward.
Approximately 80 changed hands in the ring
3 horses travelled from Essex spun for incorrect paperwork--microchipped but no passports.
1 pony coughing up gunk removed to quarantine pen, then removed at AHO request by RSPCA to their quarantine stables near Appleby Fair--owner very difficult to trace despite numerous calls over the tannoy and address registered with Auctioneers illegible.
1 cob mare (6yo) with young foal at foot travelled from Surrey (300 miles) removed from sale on welfare grounds--painfully thin quite possibly a dental problem as it was chewing ''oddly'' , others in the batch well covered, taken to RSPCA grazing near Appleby Fair.
I was disappointed that this large stud travelled such young foals that distance to sell.
IMAGE
Chestnut mare--welfare case, coloured warmblood mares in background
Two batches from Ireland, one regular consignor, sold his Irish cobs fairly cheaply but still went away to Appleby Fair with a full lorry
A new seller brought a whole batch of very well covered, very similar coloured warmblood mares all 16hhplus--looked like a stud clearance but the right buyers were not at this sale (mainly coloured cobs, Fells, Dales and Shetlands), they were bid from 560 to 960 gns but only 1 sold, if details had been in the catalogue the horses may have drawn more interest
Riding horses in general did not sell--the best a 6yo ISH bid to 1700gns but not sold
One lame horse went through the ring, that seller usually puts them through ridden so I expect he was aware but he did not sell for meat money.
Still far too many uncastrated colts coming to sale up to 3yo, totally unsuitable for stallions, some with straight shoulders, ewe necks and are often unsold.
Approximately 30 colts and 2 jack donkeys (who sold for 60gns each, were groomed in the yard and then I expect taken to Appleby) Still a number of 2yo fillies in foal--some very immature.
Some particularly nice feathered cobs, one bid to 2600gnsand a 5yo stallion bid to 1700gns were not sold-- presumably going on to Appleby Fair.
A very nice 4yo piebald Shetland gelding shown under saddle made 320gns, a 2yo filly from the same seller 350gns but a poorer quality grey Shetland mare sold for 100gns only
A heavy 14.2 2yo cob served by stallion sold for 1200gns
One yearling went in the ring with a child sitting on it, another was vaulted onto in the ring.
The poorer quality coloured youngstock drew bids from 100 to 350gns
Better quality 400 to 1200gns
The day got very hot not all lots were offered water
Not all foal pens were bedded
A number of mares close to foaling but dates ''not known'' as ran with stallion--but full udders clearly seen.
The usual batches of ponies and youngsters were tied to lorries in the yard--I did not see water offered although most had hay.One tired foal lay down on the concrete.
On the whole a calmer atmosphere than the last sale apart from a few noisy colts but nothing trying to leap out of pens.
Report from Benjamin
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