Chagford Pony Drift Sale: A Wild to Wonderful success

The historic Chagford Pony Drift Sale once again proved its popularity, with another highly successful "Wild to Wonderful" event held at Chagford Market. This year's sale saw 321 ponies penned, a significant increase from the 253 ponies last year. An impressive 96.6% of the ponies were sold, a jump from 89.7% in 2022, highlighting the growing demand for these prized Dartmoor ponies.

Buyers from across the country attended the sale, enjoying mostly sunny weather. The first bidders arrived all the way from Suffolk, showing their determination to secure one of these unique ponies. The highest sale of the day went to Mr. A Steed’s Hendawle Shania Twain filly, fetching an impressive £1,911. Other ponies from the same consignment sold for £1,732.50, £1,470, £1,386, and £1,365, demonstrating the strong market for quality ponies. The average price, however, was slightly down from last year at £193.33.

Mr. N. Burgoyne of Okehampton achieved the second-highest sale with a skewbald filly selling for £1,102.50. Local vendor Mr. John Shears of Nattadon also made headlines with a spotted filly selling for £756, earning top price honours among the local sellers.

As always, the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association played a pivotal role in the event’s success. The team worked tirelessly throughout the long day, managing the essential tasks of microchipping, processing passports, and promoting the sale with their extensive publicity efforts.

The Chagford Pony Drift Sale is part of a long-standing tradition in Dartmoor, tracing its roots back centuries. The Drift Sale originally arose from the practice of "drifting" ponies off Dartmoor to round them up and manage the herds. These wild ponies have been a fixture of the moor for over a thousand years, with sales like this one serving as both a way to manage the population and preserve the breed.

The sale began with the Abel Brothers, regular contributors to the event, with Phil Abel joining auctioneer Mike Pedrick in providing lively commentary on each pony. Their entry topped out at £288.75 for a skewbald filly. The day concluded with a strong showing from CE Mudge, whose dun filly sold for £241.50, rounding off another successful day at Chagford Market.

This annual event not only celebrates the beauty and history of the Dartmoor ponies but also reinforces their continued relevance and importance in modern-day farming and equine culture.

Regardless of selling first or last there was a consistently high demand throughout the sale.

Individual top prices:

Abel Brothers to £288.75

C Pearse & Son - bay filly to £126

Richard Mann - dun filly to £320

Angus Mortimore - Shetland colt to £661.50

Richard Mortimore –, skewbald mare & filly £357

Mrs Mary Alford - dun and white filly to £409.50

Mrs R Barkwell & Mrs H Heard – brown and white filly to £325.50

WJ & DM Jordan and Son – spotted colt to £693

PR Coaker – dun filly to £367.50

L & R Mortimore – roan colt to £52.50

Mrs Wendy Watson – chestnut colt to £78.75

Mrs E Irish – bay and white filly to £52.50

PA & DE Cleave – bay filly to £57.75, aged mare to £84

M Lamb – “Rupert” cream colt to £252

John Shears – filly “Nattadon Smokey II” to £756

CP Heard – skewbald filly to £420, Shetland stallion to £346.50, piebald stallion to £483

Nicky Hopwood – chestnut colt to £78.75

Nick Burgoyne – skewbald filly to £1,102.50

R Nosworthy - grey filly to £178.50

Mrs Anne Cole - coloured filly to £372.75

Mrs Hazel Pearse – spotted filly to £273

A Partridge – dark bay filly to £84

CE Mudge – dun filly to £241.50

The next Dartmoor Pony Sale at Chagford is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, at 10 am with entries already rolling in. This upcoming sale will require vendors to ensure their ponies are microchipped and fully documented with identification forms. Catalogues will be available in due course.