Pony demand weakens

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 12

Pony demand weakens

The pony market lost much of its lustre when the twentyfifth cob, hack, and pony sale was held at Kirwee yesterday.

As usual, a small selection of show-quality ponies met a fair inquiry, but for most of the offering, the buoyant prices of some sales in recent years were not repeated. It was a “sticky” sale, only the better class of pony fetching more than $2OO. No one factor was advanced for the sale not being up to its usual strength. But the tone of the sale suggested that the pony population has caught up to demand, and it was also suggested that the cost of keeping a pony — with chaff costing $5 to $7 a bag — might have deterred some potential buyers from entering the market. A competing pony fixture in Christchurch might also have been a factor.

Figures taken out at the close of seUing showed that of 146 lots put into the ring, 46 found buyers, either under the hammer, or after they . had been passed out of the ripg below the vendors’ reserves. .

The presence of a few highnriced lots lifted the average to a respectable $lBO, but it was, in fact, a day of modest prices, for 40 lots (or 42 per cent) sold at $125 or less. 1 However, it seemed that quality was not as good as usual. Manv of the ponies were on the plain side, arid quite a number were in rather light condition for good sale-ring presentation.

Although the pony market appeared to have reached its limit for the time being, the hack market, in contrast, was good. Of 33 lots which fetched $2OO or more, 17 were hacks, yet hacks accounted for only a small proportion of the offering. A chestnut thoroughbred colt with a sound show record, offered on account of Mr D. A. Reid, of Rai Valiev, fetched the top price of $BlO. A slx-year-old chestnut mare, standing 16 hands, and with the good temperament of a stock horse, fetched $750, after being passed out of the ring at about $550. She was offered on account of Mr D. Harrington, of Waiau, who sold the top priced lot at the 1971 Kirwee sale. TOP PONY The top price for ponies was $540 for a liver-chestnut mare, standing 14 hands, offered on account of Mr D. A. Hepworihy. of St Andrews. She was d p sr*ibed as an excellent all-rounder, and outstanding in dressage competitions. A grey pony mare standing 11.1 hands, offered on account of Messrs B. J. and S. J. Sm’th, of Gore, fetched $5OO, fnllow’ng some spirited bidding. She was a quality pony, presented in good order. Other leading sales included: Miss J. N. Orr, Sutherlands: Dounreay, aged bay mare, by ■ thoroughbred stallion out of ■Dundee Lass (standardbred) with positive test to Indecision. $450. iMrs A. Lorye, Christchurch:

>-i Prince Zarcon, throughbred geld-’ t ing, 7 years, $425. Mr G. L. Mor-! k ris, Rangiora: Bay gelding, rising; 1.!3 years, 15 hands $350. Mr A.; r Andrews, Temuka: Chestnut; s mare, 5 years, $3OO. Mr. J. G. ! >. Spinks. Gore: Chestnut filly, by Arab stallion, likely to grow to t 15 hands. $3OO. Mrs S. N. Reed, d Darfield: Chestnut mare, 5 years, f under 12 hands, a show winner, a $3OO. Mr W. G. Muldoon, Oxford: Stock horse, 4 years, about 16 >, hands $270; and stock horse, e 2 years, about 15 hands. $2BO. Mrs It R. H. Black, Ashburton: Grey g mare, 3 years, by Arab stallion t out of mare by thoroughbred t stallion show potential, $260. i> Peter Poulter, Temukar Grey t mare, 5 years, 12.1 hands, recommended for child, $260. B. Harland, Dunedin: Piebald gelding, s rising 3 years, about 9} hands, -, recommended for children, $250. n Mrs J. D. Sinclair. Lawrence: . Thoroughbred gelding, 5 years, d good jumper, suitable lady’s d hack, $250. Mrs A. Hildyard. Wakefield: Black gelding, rising 3 ivears 14 hands, unbroken, $240. ■ giß. Hills. Culverden: Gelding, 7 t ■ years, 16.2 hands, shepherd’s! i, hack, $225. Miss A. Tilley, West; g Melton: Grey gelding, rising 5; s vears 13.2 hands, suitable for d learner. $167. Rangitata Island’ Partnership: Grey gelding, rising 8 years, about 16 hands, $220. I: Miss S. Whiting, Ashburton: Grey y ponv, aged. 11.2 hands, suitable ■f children, $220. W. K. and M. E. h Jenkins. Courtenay: Chestnut ). gelding, rising 3 years, about 13.3 i: hands, unbroken, $220.