A REDUCED entry of Dartmoor ponies was seen at the annual drift sale last week but trade was much better than expected, according to auctioneers.

Rendells Auctioneers held its annual sale of drift ponies at Chagford Market last Thursday (October 8).

Rendells reported a much better trade than expected, considering the difficulties faced by hill ponies.

A keen crowd of buyers had gathered from as far away as Northumberland, Kent, Hampshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire.

A far better sale than recent years was achieved with 65% sold and an increase in the average price — up £30 on the previous year. However, small colts and bay fillies still met a difficult trade. Top price of the day was achieved by Mr N Burgoyne for a black jenny donkey foal selling for 220 guineas to Mrs A M Baber of Helston. Mrs Baber then purchased the very next lot — a brown jenny donkey foal, also for 220 guineas.

Spotted fillies were in great demand with a joint top of 210 guineas for Mr J B Shears and Mrs Hazel Pearse respectively. Skewbalds sold for 80 guineas for Mr Courtney Heard, brown and white sold to 60 guineas for R G Mortimore and Son. Cream and dun sold for 65 guineas for Mary Alford, piebald for 65 guineas for Mrs J Mortimore. Black and white sold at 50 guineas for Mary Alford, chestnut and dun for 35 guineas for Mary Alford, chestnut fillies for 30 guineas for John Shears and a Shetland filly foal for 25 guineas for A Mortimore.

Colts sold to 160 guineas for a spotted black for Mr John Shears, skewbalds to 45 guineas for Mrs D M Alford, dun to 25 guineas for Mary Alford.

Spotted mares sold to 120 guineas for Mr N Burgoyne, grey geldings sold to 80 guineas for Mrs Wendy Watson, a three-year-old liver chestnut gelding sold to 150 guineas for Mrs C Faulkner. A bay yearling sold to 50 guineas for Mrs Wendy Watson, skewbalds to 30 guineas for Mr Courtney Heard, blacks to 30 guineas for Mrs Wendy Watson. A nine-year-old spotted stallion sold to 100 guineas for Miss T Lear.

Rendells expressed thanks to Charlotte Faulkner and her team at the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association for all their assistance and support during the sale. The 2016 drift pony sale will be on October 13.