Public New Forest pony auctions will not return to Beaulieu Road until 2023

PLANS for a return to public pony auctions at the Beaulieu Road Sales Yard have been put on hold until next year at the earliest amid a continuing outbreak of strangles.

It was hoped the New Forest Livestock Society could host its first face-to-face auction in two years on 27th October, after the event in early September was cancelled.

But an ongoing outbreak of the equine illness strangles means live sales not return this year.

A number of drifts planned to take place in the area have also been called off due to the outbreak.

The commoning community had been looking forward to the auctions returning to Beaulieu Road, having been held online amid Covid restrictions and an arson attack at the site in April last year.

The October event and a further auction planned for 1st December have now been replaced by an online timed auction which will run from 23rd November to 1st December.

New Forest Livestock Society chair Lucinda Lang advised buyers: “It is strongly recommended animals are viewed prior to bidding.

“This can be arranged via the vendor through the details provided on the online catalogue.

“Should you require transportation, there are several establishments which offer this, and it is recommended getting up front quotes of costs.”

Strangles is one of the most common equine diseases, with around 600 outbreaks in the UK each year. It is rarely fatal but can affect horses of any age, sex or breed.

The British Horse Society advises that symptoms of strangles to look out for include a high temperature above 38.5C, lethargy, loss of appetite, a lowered head and neck, and a persistent cough.

Other typical symptoms include a thick and discoloured nasal discharge, and glandular swelling in the lymph nodes under the jaw.

The New Forest Livestock Society said in a statement: “In conjunction with Southern Counties Auctioneers, it has been agreed to cancel the remaining sales planned for 27th October and 1st December due to further cases [of strangles] having been identified within the vicinity.”

The timed online sale will now run from Wednesday 23rd November to Thursday 1st December 2022, with an online catalogue available before the launch.

Auction dates for 2023 are currently being decided. Visit www.scauctioneers.com