Archive Article: 1997/04/18
Its not just cattle and sheep that people travel the length and breadth of the country to trade in, its horses, too. FW went to a big collective sale last week…
The venue was Wigton, Cumbria, a mart currently celebrating its centenary. And this was the spring offering.
With about 120 horses presented, it may have been a big entry – but not all the entries were big. Included was a couple of Shetland ponies – this one about shoulder height (To Sam Wright, that is.)
Studying the form…
Auctioneer Donald Scott said trade was a little lacklustre. "Lots of people ringside but not enough money about perhaps." Its usually the autumn sale, when thoughts of winter keep are uppermost in peoples minds, that sees weaker prices, he added. Tack, however, met a ready demand.
Hard hats make sense… young Ben Bainbridge smiles for the camera.
Barbara Hutchinson and Liquorice. This was a day which saw a top price of 1550gns, paid for an eight-year-old Cleveland bay cross heavyweight hunter. It stood marginally over 16 hands high. Bidding topped the 1000gns-mark on three other occasions.
Sales like this provide a good opportunity to have a chat and catch up on the local news. Watch out, though, too much talking can make you hoarse!