THE much-anticipated reduction sale at Skipton Auction Mart for Hillside Cobs, of Meal Bridge Farm, Denholme, proved a resounding success and saw the star of the show go to a buyer from Otley.

There were 46 buyers from England, Scotland and Wales, across into Ireland, for the 79 breeding mares and young stock on offer, with trade keen and the vast majority finding new homes.

The one-off fixture was staged on behalf of Neil and Clare Bland who were facing a loss of grazing land. 

Star of the sale was Hillside Silver Princess, a 14hh two-year-old silver dapple filly sired by Hermits Silver Fortune which was knocked down for top call of 6,800gns (£7,140).

Silver Princess has been successfully shown and qualified for this month’s Traditional Gypsy Cob Association's (TOYS) National Breed Youngstock Championship Show, where she is expected to appear in the hands of new Wharfedale owner, JC Bellerby, of Weeton, Otley.

Immediately following her into the sale ring was Silver Princess’s own dam, Hillside Truly Scrumptious, with her Hillside Golden Storm-sired cremello filly foal at foot. Said to be one of the best breeding mares for colour, the 14hh silver buckskin mare went on to sell for second top price of 4,800gns to a Welsh buyer, AL Davies, of Betws-y-coed in the Conwy valley.

In addition, a silver dapple yearling Truly Scrumptious colt, Hillside Silver Charm, also by Silver Fortune, out of a black mare to be retained in the herd, sold at 1,900gns to K Arden, of Whitchurch in Shropshire.

Every single one of the mare and foal outfits achieved four-figure sales, among them another at 3,100gns, Hillside Baby Blue, a four-year-old chestnut mare with silver dapple filly foal, going to Co. Durham with L Tindale, of Sherburn.

Of the broken or ready to break entries, catching the eye at 3,600gns was a three-year-old grey gelding going to Ruth Gough in Chipping, Preston, while mares without foals topped at 2,200gns twice for Hermits Ivory Rose, an eight-year-old silver blagdon mare and granddaughter of Silver Fortune, and Hillside Silver Bells, a four-year-old silver bay.

Youngstock at two-years-old also proved popular, colts selling to 2,500gns for the Snowman son, Hillside Bruce Almighty, closely followed at 2,400gns by Hillside Golden Dream, a two-year-old palamino and Golden Storm son, while fillies sold to 2,000gns for Hillside Dream Spirit, a buckskin again by Golden Storm.

Eleven Shetland pony lots also went under the hammer, peaking at 1,100gns for one named Iona, a four-year-old mini appaloosa mare with spotted colt foal at foot.

Clare – she and her husband have put a great deal of time and effort into getting both types and many colours into their traditional gypsy cobs - said afterwards: “We were really happy with how the sale went and were overwhelmed with the turnout and support. Skipton Auction Mart did a fantastic job for us and we would also like to thank everyone for supporting the sale and wish them all the best with their purchases.”