AN overall sale averaging almost double the previous year was notched at the Chagford annual pony drift sale.
Auctioneers Rendells, of Chagford, report an even larger entry of ponies than last year?s modern record, with 420 catalogued.
They met competitive bidding with fresh buyers being recorded right through to the end of the sale and only three ponies failing to reach the minimum price.
Although there were fewer private buyers than in recent years, there was a strong company of trade buyers competing strongly for every lot, indicative of the extra interest that has been generated in drift sales by the hard work in developing markets and publicity carried out by the Dartmoor Feral Pony Working Group in the past two years.
Better quality and nicely marked ponies attracted the most interest, although even a long entry of 108 plain-coloured colt foals, usually the type least in demand, attracted record prices for this class, topping at 85 gns.
Meldon ponies (J Shears), again top seller of Dartmoor type foals, with a spotted filly realising 170 gns (sale average £80.66) but the best trade of the day was reserved for Miniature Shetlands, with filly foals realising up to 200 gns and averaging £159.83, mainly exhibited by Mrs J Mortimore, Chagford and Mrs E M Alford, Tavistock.
Coloured Dartmoor type colt foals sold to a top of 132 gns (sale average £50) and plain-coloured filly foals to 95 gns (sale average (£40).
Enthusiastic bidding, and high prices, were experienced in all categories, with empty mares selling to £180. Yearling ponies were a more variable trade with the better sorts making up to 105 gns.
A better demand than usual for halter broken ponies to a top of 520 gns for a 6yo gelding from Miss H Parr, Moretonhampstead.