AN EQUINE event that dates back generations took place at Chagford’s grass market last week on its time-honoured date of the second Thursday in October.
More than 400 Dartmoor hill ponies went under the auctioneer’s hammer at the Chagford Drift Sale at the historic venue.
The traditional autumn rounding-up and auction of the wild moorland ponies has been taking place for centuries, as a way of both managing and preserving the breed.
The sale at Chagford Market has been managed by Rendells since the company came into being in 1812.
Auctioneer Jonathan Bell from Rendells’ Chagford office said: “We had an outstanding number of entries and we filled up so quickly that we have put in an additional sale date on October 22.
Equine transports await new occupants (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Traditional wooden pens are a feature of Chagford’s Grass Market. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Who needs puppy dog eyes when you can have pony eyes instead? (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Equine excellence. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Prospective bidders eye up potential new charges. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Ken, one of several pony wranglers charged with moving horses from holding pens to auction ring. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Human touch – a gentle nose stroke soothes a nervous pony. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
The registration pen where ponies have their microchips checked before being given a sales number. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Rough and tumble - ponies are unloaded at the market. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Getting to nose you at the Dartmoor Hill Pony Drift Sale. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
Running the aisles - hooves thunder on the grass as ponies are moved from pen to pen. (StevePope/IliffeMedia)
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