The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society has announced it has withdrawn the auspices of the society from the annual Shetland pony sale which takes place at Thimbleby & Shorland’s auction mart in Reading.
After the 2018 sale, which was the 50th year the fixture had been held at the market, the society says it received a number of complaints from people who had attended, who apparently expressed “serious concern” for the welfare of some of the ponies who were sold .
On behalf of the society council, president Jill Jones confirmed the society will not be involved with next year’s event, but is unsure whether Reading Mart will continue to hold a pony sale .
“Council received an unprecedented amount of complaints from members and unanimously decided that there was no option but to resign our involvement with the sale,” she said.
“Most of the complaints were to do with concerns over the welfare of some of the ponies and how they were being treated by some of the purchasers outside of the ring.
“The auctioneers are in the ring working hard to get the best prices for the ponies and they can’t often be outside to see what goes on.” She claims “there is a distinct lack of supervision as well as a contingent of people who cannot be controlled”.
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“We are by no means trying to stop the Reading sale but all we are saying is that regretfully we are no longer associated with it as a society,” Ms Jones added.
The auction mart declined to comment when contacted by H&H.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
