Rebecca Penny: a sad loss to the equine world *H&H Plus*

It’s sad that Brightwells auctioneers is closing its equine sales department. This will have a big impact on the many breeders who have used these events to showcase stock to many UK and overseas buyers for some 66 years. Where else in the UK can you see so many animals, many potentially top class, offered for sale under one roof? [subscriber-content] The Brightwells name is synonymous with events such as the Welsh Pony and Cob Society autumn cob sales, Fayre Oaks Welsh pony sales and the sport horse auction at Addington. These auctions have provided a brilliant shop window for many breeders and been a superb platform for buyers to find valuable additions to breeding programmes or future ridden stars, as well as being a highlight of many people’s social calendar. Animals that started their journey to a glittering career at these sales include Crystal Vision, a 12hh show hunter pony who was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2011 supreme pony of the year; the Welsh section A Uphill James Fox, Olympia champion 2016; and the Welsh section D Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso, 2019 HOYS winner and Olympia champion. I would love to think that a workable solution can be found to save these events, although if someone does step up to the rostrum they will have a hard act to follow. I can say from personal experience that the dedication and attention to detail from the equine team was second to none and it’s a very sad loss to the equine world. Ref Horse & Hound; 19 March 2020 [/subscriber-content]