Upkeep of Beaulieu Road saleyard by New Forest Livestock Society is ‘no mean task’

This summary of the work involving the New Forest Livestock Society was written by its chair, Lucinda Lang. It was first published in the New Forest CDA annual report for 2024/25.

Three sales were held at the Beaulieu Road Saleyard with a further online auction in December during 2024. Thanks must go to Southern Counties Auctioneers (SCA) for their continued support
with these sales and for providing enhanced catalogues giving vendors the opportunity to incorporate more detail of their animals and a photo.

The Beaulieu Road social media page has also provided vendors the opportunity to provide more information before the sales to buyers which has proved useful. Two NFLS pre-sale shows took place for registered New Forest ponies with the youngstock pre-show in the spring and foals in the autumn.

All animals entered are required to be halter broken, be able to lead out and be presented to an independent judge with a final Overall Champion and Forest Bred Champion for each show.

Our thanks to Mrs Faye Turner (youngstock show) and Mr Michael Goddard (foal show) for their time to come and judge. Thanks also to Dave Readhead who kindly donated the Ashdene Cup to the Forest Bred Champion foal in the Autumn; this cup is in memory of his father and the Ashdene New Forest ponies.

Prize money continues to be generous but only awarded if the animal is then sold through the main sale.

30th May sale with Youngstock pre-sale show

There were some 90 entries forward across all the sections (Section 1 registered New Forest; Section 2 part bred New Forest ponies and Section 4 other horses / ponies / donkeys).

Portmore Rico, a roan three-year-old gelding was the highest priced registered New Forest pony in Section 1 selling for £2,050; a brown four-year-old filly Hazelhill Little Scrumpet fetching £1,500 and Ridley Architect, a bay yearling filly for £920.

There were two classes for the pre-sale youngstock show (one for yearling fillies, colts, and geldings and the other for two, three and four-year-old fillies, colts, and geldings). Eleven came forward on the day.

Ridley Architect, a bay yearling filly sired by Cadland Masterplan took both the Overall Champion and Forest Bred Champion awards and Hazelhill Little Scrumpet, a dark brown four-year-old filly sired by Mallards Wood Law and Order taking both the Reserve Champion and Forest Bred awards.

3rd October sale

The first autumn sale for 2024 with some 84 animals forward. The weather was kind and there were plenty of bidders in attendance which resulted in a strong trade although back compared to the late September 2023 sale.

Top price for Section 1 went to Peters Pirouette, bay three-year-old filly fetching £1,500. Section 1 foal prices included Rushmoor Viola, bay filly foal at £710 and Foxhills Dillon, grey colt foal at £330 (colt foals averaged at £194 and filly foals at £507 on the day in this section).

Beaulieu Road Saleyard

7th November sale

Over 120 animals forward on the day with a good trade throughout with a lot of interest and bidding for the registered New Forest foals. Several animals were sold, raising funds to support the Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington.

A huge thank you to all those commoners who supported this charity. Top prices for Section 1 foals included Shallowmead Euphoria, bay filly foal fetching £1,180 and Burnford Mulberry, roan colt foal making £1,020 (colt foals averaged at £395 and filly foals at £685 on the day).

Older ponies in Section 1 included Durleyfarm Merlin, bay three-year-old gelding selling for £1,500; Farringdon Gold Comet, chestnut four-year-old gelding £1,290; and Blakeswater Duchess, six-year-old dark bay mare for £1,300.

After a four-year break, the NFLS held its pre-sale foal show with some 18 entries forward. There were four classes (one for filly foals and three for colt foals) with a good mix of both stud and Forest Bred foals (forest bred foals are sired and born on the open Forest) across all classes.

Overall Champion went to Shallowmead Euphoria, a bay filly foal sired by Blakeswater Quantum Solace with Brock Gold Rush, a chestnut roan colt foal by Knavesash Gold Fever in Reserve.

Tilebarn Francis Falcon, bay colt foal sired by Fidleywood Falcolner took the Forest Bred Champion with Burnford Mulberry, a roan colt foal sired by Sandhole Raven taking Reserve.
All 18 of the foals entered in the pre-sale foal show sold through the sale ring.

Beaulieu Road Saleyard

4th December online sale

The final sale of the year was online and there were some 152 entries forward, 110 being in Section 1. Top prices in Section 1 included Tiptoe Rebel Prince, a bay four-year gelding fetching £1,600, Buckland Full Speed, a black filly foal making £1,200 and Buckland Drummer Boy, a dark brown colt foal at £920.

The Committee

Throughout the year the NFLS committee has worked hard with the general maintenance [of the saleyard], which is no mean task and is continuous. Several rows of new pens were completed during the period and this work will continue going forward in 2025.

In November, Robert Maton and Sophie Harvey and I organised a fundraiser at Minstead Village Hall for the continued maintenance of the Beaulieu Road Saleyard, which raised approximately £3,800. A big thank you for everyone coming along and supporting; and an even bigger thank you to all the local businesses and organisations who kindly donated some amazing raffle prizes.

Finally, a huge thank to the NFLS Directors and NFLS committee members for the support and help throughout the year.

Lucinda Lang, chair of the NFLS