Online New Forest pony auction sees £580 donation to children's charity Naomi House
AN online auction of New Forest ponies has been held as repair work continues on the Beaulieu Road sales yard following a devastating fire in April.
The event replaced two planned sales in October and December, with the £580 proceeds of one lot donated to Naomi House Children’s Hospice.
The top price achieved for a New Forest Pony was £3,150 for Sunnyside Skylark by Lucky Lane Rollo, described as a strong six-year-old grey Forest-bred gelding which had been broken to ride. She was owned and bred by Katie Luker.
The sales were organised in conjunction with the New Forest Livestock Society, New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society and Southern Counties Auctioneers.
Lucinda Lang, chair of the New Forest Livestock Society, said: “The online auction proved to be popular, with prices reflecting the quality and demand for the New Forest Pony and what they have to offer.
“This breed has an amenable temperament, versatility to multiple disciplines, hardiness, strength, and sure-footedness.
“There was a good mix of fillies, colts and geldings so the buyers had a good selection to choose from.”
The auction was open to all registered New Forest ponies and part-breeds registered with the society, plus other breeds that had been depastured on the open Forest by commoners.
Altogether 135 lots were put forward with 90 fully registered New Forest ponies including Forest-bred creatures, stud foals, a strong selection of yearlings, two and three-year-old animals and several older ponies.
The proceeds from the sale of Rowhill Patience (£580), owned and bred by Alan Ingram, were donated to Naomi House.
Other top prices achieved in the New Forest section included Roxanna Thomas’ Lovelyhill Peaky Blinder, a grey three-year-old gelding by Willoway Dancing Gold which reached £3,000; and Kate Ingram’s Hollyhatch Duchess II, a home-bred bay three-year-old filly by Hollyhatch Huntsman which fetched £2,100.
Longslade Juniper Berry, a black two-year-old gelding, and Martine Harding’s Rushmoor Huntsman, a two-year-old bay, also sold for £3,000 each.
Luke Blomfield’s home-bred bay yearling filly Sway Saint Tropez by Sway Supernova achieved £2,500, and Diana Kitcher’s home-bred black yearling gelding Buckherd Rocking Around by Lovelyhill Hendrix sold for £1,150.
Foals which achieved top bids included Sabina’s Nightingale (£1,500) and Rowhill River Dance (£1,050).
