Browse content similar to Builth Wells 1. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
Line | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|
We may live in a digital age, | 0:00:07 | 0:00:10 | |
but a surprising amount of British trade is still done | 0:00:11 | 0:00:14 | |
the old-fashioned way... | 0:00:14 | 0:00:16 | |
-1,200... -INDISTINCT CALLING | 0:00:16 | 0:00:19 | |
..at traditional auctions. | 0:00:19 | 0:00:21 | |
Now's your time to get a bargain. | 0:00:21 | 0:00:23 | |
These sales may feel like throwbacks to a bygone age, | 0:00:23 | 0:00:26 | |
but for the buyers and sellers who flock to them, | 0:00:28 | 0:00:31 | |
they're still the best way to conduct business. | 0:00:31 | 0:00:33 | |
At 1,600, blow your nose and bid again. | 0:00:33 | 0:00:36 | |
We'll be visiting the UK's most dynamic traditional markets. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:39 | |
BELL RINGS | 0:00:39 | 0:00:40 | |
..selling everything from pigs to cattle, | 0:00:42 | 0:00:45 | |
sheepdogs to ponies... | 0:00:45 | 0:00:47 | |
..fish to veg, | 0:00:49 | 0:00:51 | |
and discovering how they are the heartbeat of rural life. | 0:00:51 | 0:00:55 | |
There'll be bargains to be had today. | 0:00:56 | 0:00:58 | |
-4.50. -Best part of being in an auction. | 0:00:58 | 0:01:00 | |
Today, we're in Wales, | 0:01:02 | 0:01:04 | |
at the UK's biggest annual auction of Welsh Cobs, | 0:01:04 | 0:01:07 | |
the classic British horse breed with a global reputation. | 0:01:09 | 0:01:12 | |
We'll be meeting the auctioneers in the hot seat... | 0:01:13 | 0:01:16 | |
At £300... | 0:01:16 | 0:01:18 | |
To be an auctioneer at an event like this, it's a massive buzz. | 0:01:18 | 0:01:22 | |
..and following the fortunes of three buyers and sellers... | 0:01:22 | 0:01:25 | |
It's like being a child in a candy store. | 0:01:25 | 0:01:27 | |
You know, you want to look at everything. | 0:01:27 | 0:01:28 | |
It's really exciting. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:30 | |
..as they experience all the excitement... | 0:01:30 | 0:01:33 | |
Mine are just going through. | 0:01:33 | 0:01:35 | |
..and tension... | 0:01:35 | 0:01:36 | |
At 1,000... Oh, I say. | 0:01:36 | 0:01:39 | |
..as the hammer falls. | 0:01:41 | 0:01:43 | |
We're in the ancient market town of Builth Wells on the River Wye, | 0:01:54 | 0:01:59 | |
in the rolling hills of the Powys in beautiful mid Wales. | 0:01:59 | 0:02:03 | |
On the outskirts of the town is the Royal Welsh Showground, | 0:02:05 | 0:02:09 | |
holding a very special auction, held here once a year - | 0:02:09 | 0:02:13 | |
the Welsh Cob Autumn Sale. | 0:02:13 | 0:02:15 | |
The buzz, the atmosphere. I really like the atmosphere. | 0:02:22 | 0:02:25 | |
It's exciting already that we're down here, and you can just feel | 0:02:25 | 0:02:27 | |
people are bit excited at the beginning of the day. | 0:02:27 | 0:02:30 | |
-How are you?! -Yeah, good. | 0:02:30 | 0:02:32 | |
And you see people you haven't seen sometimes for years. | 0:02:32 | 0:02:36 | |
It's surprising how the horses bring people together. | 0:02:36 | 0:02:40 | |
Good girl, good girl. | 0:02:40 | 0:02:41 | |
500-plus animals here, | 0:02:41 | 0:02:43 | |
so there's a good selection of animals to suit most people. | 0:02:43 | 0:02:46 | |
Any prospective purchasers or sellers, | 0:02:46 | 0:02:49 | |
this is the place to come. | 0:02:49 | 0:02:51 | |
He's looking more handsome than ever. | 0:02:57 | 0:02:59 | |
There is no other sale like this anywhere in the world, | 0:02:59 | 0:03:03 | |
in numbers and in attendance. | 0:03:03 | 0:03:06 | |
Andrew Elliott has been selling horses at this sale | 0:03:06 | 0:03:09 | |
for the last 20 years. | 0:03:09 | 0:03:11 | |
All good? Morning, madam, how are you? | 0:03:11 | 0:03:14 | |
Andrew Elliott. How do you do? | 0:03:14 | 0:03:16 | |
Mark, I am your auctioneer for today. | 0:03:16 | 0:03:18 | |
Over the three days of this sale, | 0:03:18 | 0:03:20 | |
there will be somewhere in the region of between 5,000 and 6,000 people here. | 0:03:20 | 0:03:23 | |
They've travelled from the tip of Scotland, they've come up from Kent, | 0:03:23 | 0:03:27 | |
they've come from Cornwall. There won't be a county... | 0:03:27 | 0:03:30 | |
There's barely a town in the United Kingdom which won't be represented | 0:03:30 | 0:03:35 | |
at this sale. And, then, of course, we go overseas, as well. | 0:03:35 | 0:03:38 | |
So, it's special. | 0:03:38 | 0:03:39 | |
Well, you'll be fine, you'll be fine. I always say it doesn't matter | 0:03:39 | 0:03:42 | |
where they are, they sell on their merits. | 0:03:42 | 0:03:44 | |
They sell on their merits, so... | 0:03:44 | 0:03:46 | |
Andrew's finishing his first task of the day, | 0:03:46 | 0:03:49 | |
walking the ground and visiting some of the horses and owners. | 0:03:49 | 0:03:52 | |
That's fine. As long as I know what the worst-case scenarios are. | 0:03:52 | 0:03:55 | |
I'm going to try and make you wealthy, | 0:03:55 | 0:03:57 | |
I'm going to try and make us wealthy. | 0:03:57 | 0:03:58 | |
-OK? -You keep trying! -We'll keep trying. Thank you. | 0:03:58 | 0:04:02 | |
-Thank you. -See you later, bye-bye. | 0:04:02 | 0:04:03 | |
Bye-bye, bye-bye. Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye. | 0:04:03 | 0:04:05 | |
With the start of the sale fast approaching, | 0:04:06 | 0:04:09 | |
the pressure is mounting. | 0:04:09 | 0:04:10 | |
I think it's a bit like being on stage. | 0:04:11 | 0:04:13 | |
I get stage fright because I have a stammer, | 0:04:13 | 0:04:15 | |
which thankfully doesn't often present itself on the rostrum, | 0:04:15 | 0:04:18 | |
but it's always there, and I'm always thinking about it, | 0:04:18 | 0:04:21 | |
so, yes, I do get nervous. I get stage fright. | 0:04:21 | 0:04:23 | |
And because I want to keep these people happy. | 0:04:23 | 0:04:25 | |
Today, Andrew is performing to a maximum capacity crowd. | 0:04:28 | 0:04:31 | |
2,500 people have turned up, | 0:04:32 | 0:04:34 | |
bringing much-needed revenue to the local economy. | 0:04:34 | 0:04:38 | |
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Builth Wells, the warmest, the very, | 0:04:38 | 0:04:41 | |
very warmest of welcomes to this, | 0:04:41 | 0:04:43 | |
the 54th annual Autumn Cob Sale, | 0:04:43 | 0:04:46 | |
here on the good Showground at the Royal Welsh. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:49 | |
Now, then, quality, performance. | 0:04:49 | 0:04:53 | |
I don't need to do any more talking here. | 0:04:53 | 0:04:55 | |
This good fellow will do it all for me. | 0:04:55 | 0:04:57 | |
A Welsh Cob is one of the UK's native breeds. | 0:04:57 | 0:05:02 | |
It's a very, very hardy, tough animal. | 0:05:02 | 0:05:07 | |
2,000 now. 500, I got. | 0:05:07 | 0:05:09 | |
Six. Seven. | 0:05:09 | 0:05:11 | |
In the arena, buyers assess the horses in three key ways. | 0:05:11 | 0:05:15 | |
50. Come on. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:18 | |
The first thing that a prospective buyer is going to look at | 0:05:18 | 0:05:21 | |
is blood. By blood, we're referring to breeding. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:25 | |
What a type to have in this ring. | 0:05:25 | 0:05:27 | |
Buy the stallion. | 0:05:27 | 0:05:29 | |
Now, you know what he's produced. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:31 | |
You've got a great chance to buy a son. Come on. | 0:05:31 | 0:05:34 | |
Second thing is how it looks. | 0:05:34 | 0:05:36 | |
The physical attributes of a Cob. | 0:05:36 | 0:05:39 | |
900. It's your turn. | 0:05:40 | 0:05:42 | |
50. 1,000. | 0:05:42 | 0:05:45 | |
But just because it looks good, | 0:05:45 | 0:05:47 | |
doesn't mean it's going to move well. | 0:05:47 | 0:05:49 | |
£1,000 in front. | 0:05:49 | 0:05:51 | |
Sold. 50! | 0:05:51 | 0:05:52 | |
Buyers want to see the horse's movement | 0:05:52 | 0:05:54 | |
as it runs around the arena. | 0:05:54 | 0:05:56 | |
For the sellers, this is a big moment. | 0:05:57 | 0:05:59 | |
1,200, 1,200. | 0:05:59 | 0:06:01 | |
Your vendor, his moment of glory in the ring, | 0:06:01 | 0:06:04 | |
to whether he's going to shine or whether he's going to crash | 0:06:04 | 0:06:08 | |
and burn, whether it's going to make £100, | 0:06:08 | 0:06:10 | |
whether it's going to make £10,000. | 0:06:10 | 0:06:12 | |
His time in the ring is probably no more than two minutes. | 0:06:12 | 0:06:15 | |
1,200. Come on, ladies. | 0:06:15 | 0:06:17 | |
1,200. | 0:06:17 | 0:06:19 | |
He's a bit of a star. | 0:06:19 | 0:06:20 | |
1,200. | 0:06:20 | 0:06:22 | |
They take him, you lose him. | 0:06:22 | 0:06:24 | |
To be an auctioneer at an event like this, it's a massive buzz. | 0:06:24 | 0:06:28 | |
At 1,400, there it is! | 0:06:28 | 0:06:31 | |
1-4. First time, sold here. | 0:06:31 | 0:06:34 | |
Hammer's up. 2-2-3. | 0:06:34 | 0:06:36 | |
Well done, that team. Thank you, there. | 0:06:36 | 0:06:38 | |
Seller and breeder Marilyn Beach is a regular here, | 0:06:42 | 0:06:45 | |
who's hoping to sell four horses at the auction | 0:06:45 | 0:06:48 | |
to help ensure a solid future for her stables. | 0:06:48 | 0:06:51 | |
All right, Gran? | 0:06:51 | 0:06:54 | |
Thank you. | 0:06:54 | 0:06:55 | |
I really enjoy the sale. | 0:06:55 | 0:06:57 | |
I enjoy the preparation, I enjoy the day, I enjoy the work, | 0:06:57 | 0:07:02 | |
and if we stay for the party tomorrow night, | 0:07:03 | 0:07:05 | |
I'll enjoy that, as well. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:07 | |
Marilyn has been breeding and training Welsh Cobs | 0:07:18 | 0:07:21 | |
for the last ten years. | 0:07:21 | 0:07:22 | |
I think I love everything about horses. | 0:07:24 | 0:07:27 | |
I always have done. | 0:07:27 | 0:07:29 | |
They give me peace, | 0:07:29 | 0:07:31 | |
they gave me purpose, and... | 0:07:31 | 0:07:34 | |
Well, I just love everything about them. | 0:07:34 | 0:07:37 | |
SHE CHUCKLES SOFTLY | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
Marilyn is keen to maintain good finances at the stables... | 0:07:39 | 0:07:43 | |
Ooh, sorry, sweetie. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:44 | |
..so that one day she can hand them down to her granddaughter, Robyn. | 0:07:44 | 0:07:47 | |
-Is that going to fit her, Rob? -Uh, this might be a bit big. | 0:07:51 | 0:07:55 | |
One day, I would hope that, yes, we can pass the reins to Robyn, | 0:07:55 | 0:07:59 | |
but nobody's going to make her do it. | 0:07:59 | 0:08:01 | |
She'll do it because she wants to, | 0:08:01 | 0:08:03 | |
and I'm sure she will want to, | 0:08:03 | 0:08:05 | |
because once they're in your blood, they're there for ever. | 0:08:05 | 0:08:08 | |
Marilyn's daughter, Claire, also loved horses, but in 2008, | 0:08:11 | 0:08:16 | |
she died suddenly at the age of just 43, | 0:08:16 | 0:08:19 | |
and the stables became a lifeline for the grieving family. | 0:08:19 | 0:08:23 | |
Robyn adores her horses, | 0:08:23 | 0:08:24 | |
and she's always been passionate, | 0:08:24 | 0:08:27 | |
and when she lost her mum, | 0:08:27 | 0:08:30 | |
then they were her saviour. | 0:08:30 | 0:08:32 | |
You know, she used to spend hours and hours in the stables with them. | 0:08:32 | 0:08:37 | |
And, really, they were what sort of what pulled her through | 0:08:38 | 0:08:41 | |
such a rough time. | 0:08:41 | 0:08:43 | |
Good girl. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:46 | |
Sometimes I get tearful, | 0:08:48 | 0:08:51 | |
and I think I shouldn't be here, | 0:08:51 | 0:08:53 | |
it should be her mother doing it, but there you are. | 0:08:53 | 0:08:57 | |
It's how things are, and we just have to make the best of it. | 0:08:57 | 0:09:01 | |
And I think we do. | 0:09:01 | 0:09:02 | |
Grandmother and granddaughter are keen to get good prices | 0:09:04 | 0:09:07 | |
for their horses at auction. | 0:09:07 | 0:09:09 | |
Three of the animals they're selling are foals | 0:09:12 | 0:09:14 | |
that Marilyn has nurtured since birth. | 0:09:14 | 0:09:17 | |
Celtic Prince, | 0:09:18 | 0:09:20 | |
Kez, | 0:09:20 | 0:09:21 | |
and Marilyn's favourite, Hattie. | 0:09:21 | 0:09:24 | |
She's a bit of a character. | 0:09:25 | 0:09:27 | |
But she's a very pretty foal. | 0:09:29 | 0:09:31 | |
In fact, she's probably one of the prettiest that we've bred. | 0:09:31 | 0:09:34 | |
I hope she gets a good home, | 0:09:34 | 0:09:37 | |
and so the price I would expect to get | 0:09:37 | 0:09:40 | |
is in the region of £400-500. | 0:09:40 | 0:09:43 | |
Hello, girl. Oh, you're a sweetie, aren't you? | 0:09:46 | 0:09:48 | |
You're a sweetie. Yes, you are. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:50 | |
But the horse they're banking on for a big price | 0:09:50 | 0:09:52 | |
is an older mare called Lexley Eclair. | 0:09:52 | 0:09:55 | |
We're hoping to get about 4,000 for her. | 0:09:55 | 0:09:59 | |
Well, when I sell her, I will obviously cry a lot, | 0:09:59 | 0:10:02 | |
because I always do. | 0:10:02 | 0:10:04 | |
Because, you know, I do such a lot with them. | 0:10:04 | 0:10:06 | |
You're a very special, girl, aren't you? | 0:10:06 | 0:10:09 | |
Yes, you are. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:10 | |
At the auction, Lexley Eclair will be ridden by granddaughter Robyn. | 0:10:10 | 0:10:14 | |
It's important that people see her riding up there, | 0:10:16 | 0:10:19 | |
otherwise, you start to question - or I do, anyway - | 0:10:19 | 0:10:22 | |
you know, why isn't it ridden? You know, what's wrong with her? | 0:10:22 | 0:10:25 | |
Whether she's ridden in the ring or not all depends | 0:10:25 | 0:10:28 | |
on how she takes the day. | 0:10:28 | 0:10:29 | |
You know, she's only been riding eight weeks. | 0:10:29 | 0:10:31 | |
It's a big ask of anything. | 0:10:31 | 0:10:33 | |
It'll all depend on how... | 0:10:33 | 0:10:35 | |
You know, how she takes it and how she's coping. | 0:10:35 | 0:10:38 | |
If she does it all right, then we go in the ring. | 0:10:38 | 0:10:40 | |
It's a loud old noise, and it's a... | 0:10:40 | 0:10:43 | |
It's a great atmosphere, it's quite exciting, | 0:10:43 | 0:10:45 | |
but I don't think they feel the same. | 0:10:45 | 0:10:47 | |
Sometimes, they're like, "Oh!" | 0:10:47 | 0:10:49 | |
If everything goes to plan at the auction, | 0:10:49 | 0:10:52 | |
Marilyn could earn up to £6,000 for her horses, | 0:10:52 | 0:10:56 | |
and keep the stables that have seen her and Robyn | 0:10:56 | 0:10:59 | |
through such hard times | 0:10:59 | 0:11:00 | |
in good shape for the next generation. | 0:11:00 | 0:11:02 | |
-Where's the trailer to? -On the back of my car. | 0:11:11 | 0:11:13 | |
Could you just walk her down and walk her back for me? | 0:11:13 | 0:11:15 | |
Would that be all right? | 0:11:15 | 0:11:16 | |
Oh, there's a good boy. | 0:11:24 | 0:11:26 | |
Oh, bless you, too. | 0:11:26 | 0:11:28 | |
Big scary world, isn't it? | 0:11:28 | 0:11:30 | |
At the auction, Marilyn and Robyn | 0:11:30 | 0:11:33 | |
have 30 minutes to groom and settle Lexley Eclair. | 0:11:33 | 0:11:37 | |
You will find vendors that are on edge, are nervous. | 0:11:37 | 0:11:41 | |
A lot of these stock, as well, that we're selling here, | 0:11:41 | 0:11:43 | |
it's the first time away from home. | 0:11:43 | 0:11:45 | |
A lot of them have been born and raised and grazed | 0:11:45 | 0:11:48 | |
on Welsh hillsides. | 0:11:48 | 0:11:50 | |
They've not seen this amount of people. | 0:11:50 | 0:11:52 | |
So, then, to bring their stock down to this environment, | 0:11:52 | 0:11:56 | |
it's a whole new world. | 0:11:56 | 0:11:58 | |
My biggest worry is the start. | 0:11:58 | 0:12:01 | |
That first getting them out and riding them around | 0:12:01 | 0:12:04 | |
and seeing how they take the environment. | 0:12:04 | 0:12:07 | |
Normally, once they've done that, | 0:12:07 | 0:12:09 | |
me and the horse are a lot calmer. | 0:12:09 | 0:12:11 | |
Because she's only a baby, I was quite worried for her, | 0:12:11 | 0:12:15 | |
but she's taking it really well, to be honest. | 0:12:15 | 0:12:17 | |
Potential bidders take the chance for a last-minute look at the mare | 0:12:17 | 0:12:21 | |
before she goes under the hammer. | 0:12:21 | 0:12:24 | |
She's like, "What are you doing in there?"! | 0:12:24 | 0:12:27 | |
Had to be quick! | 0:12:27 | 0:12:28 | |
She's a big girl. | 0:12:28 | 0:12:31 | |
I think once she's got a bit of muscle in her, as well, | 0:12:31 | 0:12:33 | |
-she's going to... -Yeah. -..she's really going to chunk up a bit. | 0:12:33 | 0:12:37 | |
Yeah, she is. | 0:12:37 | 0:12:39 | |
She's caught the eye of a nice family, | 0:12:39 | 0:12:41 | |
but they'd like to see her out and, uh, ridden. | 0:12:41 | 0:12:45 | |
Buyers are looking to see what the horse looks like on the move, | 0:12:45 | 0:12:49 | |
and its temperament with the rider. | 0:12:49 | 0:12:51 | |
People are quite drawn to her because, obviously, | 0:12:53 | 0:12:56 | |
she is a beautiful girl, | 0:12:56 | 0:12:57 | |
but she's actually taking it quite well, | 0:12:57 | 0:12:59 | |
and she's reacting quite well to the crowd. | 0:12:59 | 0:13:03 | |
She's quite quiet. | 0:13:03 | 0:13:05 | |
So, I think she's catching people's eye for the fact that | 0:13:05 | 0:13:09 | |
she's taking it quite well. | 0:13:09 | 0:13:11 | |
For a baby, anyway. Come on. | 0:13:11 | 0:13:13 | |
Today, I'm feeling extremely nervous. | 0:13:15 | 0:13:19 | |
There's a lot of hustle and bustle. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:21 | |
I'm hoping that the horse will behave well, | 0:13:21 | 0:13:25 | |
which is a big ask for such a youngster, | 0:13:25 | 0:13:27 | |
and that she'll perform to her best, | 0:13:28 | 0:13:31 | |
and hopefully get a good price, and a good home. | 0:13:31 | 0:13:34 | |
Mine are just going through. | 0:13:34 | 0:13:36 | |
-Number nine? -Yep. | 0:13:36 | 0:13:38 | |
Marilyn has a reserve price of £4,000 on Lexley Eclair, | 0:13:41 | 0:13:46 | |
If they don't reach this, they'll be taking her back home. | 0:13:46 | 0:13:51 | |
Now, then, this is lot number 28 in the ring. | 0:13:51 | 0:13:53 | |
Lexley Eclair. | 0:13:54 | 0:13:56 | |
Now then, Eclair is as sweet as her name. | 0:13:56 | 0:13:59 | |
First bath yesterday, excellent, as she was with the farrier. | 0:13:59 | 0:14:03 | |
She loves to be made a fuss of. | 0:14:03 | 0:14:05 | |
Loves her work. | 0:14:05 | 0:14:07 | |
Granddaughter Robyn is taking the horse around the arena | 0:14:07 | 0:14:10 | |
to show her off to the crowd. | 0:14:10 | 0:14:12 | |
2,000 now. From a very, very good stable now. | 0:14:13 | 0:14:16 | |
2,000, 1,500, 1,000 starter, away. | 0:14:16 | 0:14:19 | |
At 1,000 now. Yes, I hear the yes. 1,000 I'm bid. Two. | 0:14:19 | 0:14:22 | |
1,200 the outstanding bid is at. | 0:14:22 | 0:14:24 | |
1,200 I've got. 1-2, 1-4, 1-6. At 1,600... | 0:14:24 | 0:14:27 | |
Then nerves start to get the better of the horse. | 0:14:27 | 0:14:30 | |
At 1,000... | 0:14:30 | 0:14:32 | |
Oh, I say. | 0:14:32 | 0:14:34 | |
These horses are supposed to be cool-headed, | 0:14:35 | 0:14:38 | |
not jumpy and skittish. | 0:14:38 | 0:14:39 | |
Here we go. At 1,600. | 0:14:39 | 0:14:41 | |
At 1,800, 2,000 I'm bid now. | 0:14:41 | 0:14:44 | |
At 2,000 now. | 0:14:44 | 0:14:45 | |
At 2,000 I've got now. | 0:14:45 | 0:14:47 | |
2,000 bid. At 2,000 we are bid. | 0:14:47 | 0:14:49 | |
At 2,000 now. Hammer's heading up. | 0:14:49 | 0:14:51 | |
At 2,000, take a little one if it helps you. | 0:14:51 | 0:14:54 | |
At 2,000. Take a little one, two, one. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:57 | |
The same applies there. At 2,100. 2-1, 2-3. | 0:14:57 | 0:15:00 | |
2-3. | 0:15:00 | 0:15:01 | |
2-6, have I? | 0:15:01 | 0:15:04 | |
2-8. Do you fill it up? | 0:15:04 | 0:15:06 | |
At 2,800. The blood is worth double this money. | 0:15:06 | 0:15:10 | |
At 2,800, at the very least. | 0:15:10 | 0:15:12 | |
It's nowhere near the £4,000 reserve, | 0:15:12 | 0:15:15 | |
and the horse looks jumpy again. | 0:15:15 | 0:15:18 | |
At £3,000, then. | 0:15:18 | 0:15:19 | |
Bidding grinds to a halt. | 0:15:19 | 0:15:21 | |
Away today, then, at 3,000. | 0:15:21 | 0:15:24 | |
I'm afraid we won't let her go there. Not sold. Thank you, ma'am. | 0:15:24 | 0:15:28 | |
Well, the auction was more than a bit of a disaster. | 0:15:35 | 0:15:38 | |
She's never ever behaved like that at home. | 0:15:38 | 0:15:41 | |
I think it was just all too much for her. | 0:15:41 | 0:15:43 | |
A four-year-old. It was just too much. | 0:15:43 | 0:15:46 | |
Robyn feels rotten. | 0:15:49 | 0:15:51 | |
She feels really sick, because she rode beautifully, | 0:15:51 | 0:15:55 | |
she did everything she could do, | 0:15:55 | 0:15:58 | |
but the horse just wasn't playing ball today. | 0:15:58 | 0:16:02 | |
With Lexley Eclair unsold, | 0:16:02 | 0:16:04 | |
all their hopes now rest with the three foals. | 0:16:04 | 0:16:08 | |
They'll have a chance to try again soon at this three-day | 0:16:08 | 0:16:11 | |
mid Wales market, the home of the Welsh Cob. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:14 | |
Are you going to talk to her nice? Hello, beauty. | 0:16:22 | 0:16:24 | |
-Pretty chilled out about life, isn't she? -She is! | 0:16:26 | 0:16:29 | |
The Welsh Cob dates back at least 1,000 years. | 0:16:29 | 0:16:32 | |
For centuries, they were our national workhorses, | 0:16:36 | 0:16:40 | |
from transport to farming... | 0:16:40 | 0:16:43 | |
..and mining. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:46 | |
But they remain as popular today as they were then. | 0:16:46 | 0:16:50 | |
They're known for their resilience, their hardiness. | 0:16:52 | 0:16:55 | |
They're used to living in tough conditions, | 0:16:55 | 0:16:58 | |
on the sides of hillsides. | 0:16:58 | 0:17:00 | |
It has a massively passionate, passionate, passionate following. | 0:17:01 | 0:17:06 | |
Not just from the Welsh, | 0:17:06 | 0:17:07 | |
not just from the rest of the UK, | 0:17:07 | 0:17:10 | |
but internationally, as well, worldwide. | 0:17:10 | 0:17:13 | |
Cobs are exported to around 17 countries worldwide, | 0:17:14 | 0:17:19 | |
an export trade worth millions of pounds a year to Wales. | 0:17:19 | 0:17:22 | |
Here we go. Alone with company, loves to please, willing Cob, | 0:17:23 | 0:17:27 | |
good with the farrier... | 0:17:27 | 0:17:29 | |
But with the breed so popular, | 0:17:29 | 0:17:31 | |
the sheer scale of the Autumn Cob Sale presents unique challenges | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
for auctioneer Andrew. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:37 | |
With a crowd this big, how exactly do you spot the bidders? | 0:17:37 | 0:17:41 | |
1,000 anywhere? 500 I've got. 500's the opening bid. | 0:17:41 | 0:17:44 | |
This particular sale ring is a massive sale ring. | 0:17:44 | 0:17:49 | |
You are quite a long way away from your buyers, | 0:17:49 | 0:17:53 | |
because you need this big ring to allow the animal to show itself off. | 0:17:53 | 0:17:58 | |
We're looking, in that sale ring there, | 0:17:58 | 0:18:02 | |
at maybe 2,500 people. | 0:18:02 | 0:18:04 | |
Now, you will get bidders that will bid to you in the most discreet | 0:18:04 | 0:18:08 | |
fashion, because they want to keep their powder dry. | 0:18:08 | 0:18:10 | |
They don't want anyone else to know they're going to be bidding. | 0:18:10 | 0:18:13 | |
And then you get the very flamboyant bidder, as well, | 0:18:13 | 0:18:16 | |
who really gives a big flourish and a flash of their bidder's card. | 0:18:16 | 0:18:21 | |
You have got to tune yourself in, as an auctioneer. | 0:18:21 | 0:18:25 | |
Thankfully, you've got spotters as well, | 0:18:25 | 0:18:27 | |
and we couldn't do it on our own. | 0:18:27 | 0:18:29 | |
We've got other guys and ladies that are looking out where we can't see. | 0:18:29 | 0:18:34 | |
But you're constantly, constantly looking around | 0:18:34 | 0:18:38 | |
the whole ring for any bid. | 0:18:38 | 0:18:40 | |
You can't afford to miss them. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:42 | |
As an auctioneer, you can't afford to miss them. | 0:18:42 | 0:18:44 | |
920. Thank you, sir. | 0:18:44 | 0:18:46 | |
574 over there. Five for the black one at the back. | 0:18:54 | 0:18:57 | |
She has a lovely temperament and is totally unspoiled. | 0:18:57 | 0:18:59 | |
She has four straight moving paces, | 0:18:59 | 0:19:01 | |
and a definite future ridden or fantastic broodmare. | 0:19:01 | 0:19:03 | |
For many people at the Builth Wells auction, | 0:19:05 | 0:19:08 | |
buying horses is crucial for their business. | 0:19:08 | 0:19:11 | |
-Some nice horses going through there, look. -Yeah. | 0:19:11 | 0:19:15 | |
It's looking good. | 0:19:15 | 0:19:16 | |
And especially for buyer Janet Alderton, | 0:19:16 | 0:19:19 | |
who's at the sale for her disabled riding school. | 0:19:19 | 0:19:21 | |
It's like being a child in a candy store! | 0:19:23 | 0:19:26 | |
You know, you want to look at everything. It's really exciting! | 0:19:26 | 0:19:29 | |
Janet runs the business from her farm in Herefordshire. | 0:19:34 | 0:19:37 | |
As a one-to-one riding school for people with disabilities, | 0:19:37 | 0:19:41 | |
it relies on sourcing good horses for the job. | 0:19:41 | 0:19:44 | |
So, in 2013, a group of like-minded people | 0:19:44 | 0:19:48 | |
and myself got together, | 0:19:48 | 0:19:50 | |
and we formed a group called Ride To Achieve, | 0:19:50 | 0:19:52 | |
which was very much looking at having one-to-one sessions, | 0:19:52 | 0:19:57 | |
and it's found a niche market, | 0:19:57 | 0:19:59 | |
and we're thriving. | 0:19:59 | 0:20:01 | |
That's a good boy, aren't you? Hey? | 0:20:10 | 0:20:12 | |
How are you, Janet? Are you all right? | 0:20:12 | 0:20:13 | |
Every week, the school works with around 40 riders | 0:20:15 | 0:20:18 | |
with a wide range of physical and learning disabilities. | 0:20:18 | 0:20:22 | |
For customers like Jackie, it's worked wonders. | 0:20:22 | 0:20:26 | |
Because they give you one-to-one attention. | 0:20:26 | 0:20:28 | |
They recognise your dreams and your hopes and your potential, | 0:20:28 | 0:20:32 | |
and they really help you to achieve what they want you to achieve. | 0:20:32 | 0:20:35 | |
And nothing's impossible. | 0:20:35 | 0:20:36 | |
Push the hand down a little bit so it really takes the contact forward. | 0:20:36 | 0:20:40 | |
For somebody like me, in a wheelchair, they give you freedom, | 0:20:40 | 0:20:43 | |
because, you know, moving about isn't always easy. | 0:20:43 | 0:20:45 | |
Get on something like Victor and you're away, | 0:20:45 | 0:20:47 | |
and that's an amazing feeling in itself. | 0:20:47 | 0:20:50 | |
Janet's daughter, Jo, is the head trainer. | 0:20:50 | 0:20:53 | |
I think it's essential as a coach | 0:20:53 | 0:20:56 | |
to have the correct horse | 0:20:56 | 0:20:58 | |
that will work with us, | 0:20:58 | 0:21:00 | |
that will help our riders. | 0:21:00 | 0:21:03 | |
I think they need to have a good nature, be safe. | 0:21:03 | 0:21:05 | |
So, it really is essential that the horse and the coach works as a team, | 0:21:05 | 0:21:10 | |
and can work as a team with the rider. | 0:21:10 | 0:21:13 | |
That's it. Just watch that outside shoulder. | 0:21:13 | 0:21:15 | |
To work at the riding school, | 0:21:15 | 0:21:17 | |
a horse has to have just the right mix of qualities. | 0:21:17 | 0:21:20 | |
And with their strength, intelligence and calm temperament, | 0:21:20 | 0:21:24 | |
Welsh Cobs are ideal. | 0:21:24 | 0:21:26 | |
It'd be really exciting if we could find two horses. | 0:21:26 | 0:21:29 | |
One that's already broken in and going, | 0:21:29 | 0:21:32 | |
and that we were able to sort of ride on and produce fairly quickly, | 0:21:32 | 0:21:36 | |
and then a youngster for us to bring on in the future. | 0:21:36 | 0:21:39 | |
That would be our ideal result, would be to have two. | 0:21:39 | 0:21:42 | |
So, yes, fingers crossed. | 0:21:42 | 0:21:43 | |
The school needs a regular supply of horses to operate. | 0:21:45 | 0:21:48 | |
Otherwise, they'll struggle to keep up with customer demand. | 0:21:48 | 0:21:52 | |
He's a good boy. Yes, he is. | 0:21:52 | 0:21:54 | |
He's a good boy. | 0:21:54 | 0:21:56 | |
Yes, he is. | 0:21:57 | 0:21:59 | |
For Janet's riding school customers, | 0:21:59 | 0:22:01 | |
there's a lot resting on this auction. | 0:22:01 | 0:22:03 | |
It's really important that we find the right one. | 0:22:06 | 0:22:09 | |
Because, actually, this horse potentially will be life-changing. | 0:22:09 | 0:22:12 | |
You know, it changes people's lives. | 0:22:12 | 0:22:14 | |
It's going to be inspirational for | 0:22:14 | 0:22:17 | |
such a range of people. | 0:22:17 | 0:22:19 | |
And, yeah, we're always excited about that. | 0:22:19 | 0:22:21 | |
With this school demanding a regular supply of exceptional horses, | 0:22:39 | 0:22:44 | |
and Janet and Jo having a limited budget, | 0:22:44 | 0:22:46 | |
they certainly have their work cut out. | 0:22:46 | 0:22:50 | |
-He's got a kind face. -Yeah. There's a mare down there. | 0:22:50 | 0:22:53 | |
-OK. -It's in foal, though. | 0:22:53 | 0:22:55 | |
-OK! -No, no, but... But I like it. | 0:22:55 | 0:22:58 | |
You know, when you're enthusiastic about horses, | 0:22:59 | 0:23:02 | |
what more can you want? This is better than Disney World, | 0:23:02 | 0:23:05 | |
this is just perfect, it's just so exciting, so stimulating. | 0:23:05 | 0:23:08 | |
It might be fun, but buying horses is a serious business. | 0:23:10 | 0:23:13 | |
And Janet has a game plan. | 0:23:13 | 0:23:15 | |
All right, baby. | 0:23:17 | 0:23:18 | |
Sales are a little bit of a cloak-and-dagger thing, | 0:23:20 | 0:23:22 | |
because you don't want to show any interest in anything, | 0:23:22 | 0:23:25 | |
because if you show an interest, | 0:23:25 | 0:23:27 | |
then they think that that prices are going to go up. | 0:23:27 | 0:23:29 | |
Would it be possible just to sort of walk him up and down here, please? | 0:23:29 | 0:23:34 | |
Thank you. | 0:23:34 | 0:23:35 | |
So, you know, I want it as cheap as possible, the sellers, | 0:23:35 | 0:23:39 | |
the vendors, want as much as possible, so, | 0:23:39 | 0:23:41 | |
you take on a little bit of a slightly protective layer | 0:23:41 | 0:23:45 | |
of being a little dismissive. | 0:23:45 | 0:23:47 | |
You ask a few questions, but you walk away. | 0:23:47 | 0:23:50 | |
You don't stand there raving about how exciting something is, | 0:23:50 | 0:23:53 | |
because you don't want them to know that. | 0:23:53 | 0:23:55 | |
That's just not your poker hand at all, you know. | 0:23:55 | 0:23:57 | |
Good boy. | 0:23:57 | 0:23:59 | |
They found a horse they like the look of. | 0:23:59 | 0:24:01 | |
A strong, four-year-old male called Lucky Ace, | 0:24:01 | 0:24:03 | |
that would be perfect for their disabled riders. | 0:24:03 | 0:24:06 | |
He really fills the eye. | 0:24:07 | 0:24:09 | |
He's got a lovely big front on him, which is really important. | 0:24:09 | 0:24:13 | |
-He's got a kind eye. -He's got a kind eye. Lovely, real nice example | 0:24:13 | 0:24:17 | |
of the qualities of the Welsh. | 0:24:17 | 0:24:19 | |
Yeah, he's certainly one we'll look to follow. | 0:24:19 | 0:24:21 | |
-It's...a lot to like about him. -Yeah. | 0:24:21 | 0:24:25 | |
Yeah, nice horse! Hello, beautiful! | 0:24:25 | 0:24:27 | |
Everywhere you look, there's quality. | 0:24:27 | 0:24:29 | |
You're looking at it, you're thinking, can you make that work? | 0:24:29 | 0:24:32 | |
Would it happen? Whoops, sorry. | 0:24:32 | 0:24:34 | |
We have to come back to being realistic about what we're actually | 0:24:34 | 0:24:37 | |
looking for, at the moment. Because, from a business point of view, | 0:24:37 | 0:24:40 | |
we have to buy the right animal. | 0:24:40 | 0:24:41 | |
This isn't a hobby, this is a business. | 0:24:41 | 0:24:44 | |
But, yeah, this is the best environment ever. | 0:24:44 | 0:24:47 | |
Absolutely love it! | 0:24:47 | 0:24:48 | |
Disabled riding school owners Janet and Jo are ready to place their | 0:24:52 | 0:24:56 | |
first bids in the arena. | 0:24:56 | 0:24:57 | |
This is really electric, this is really exciting. | 0:24:57 | 0:25:00 | |
Next up in the sale is Lucky Ace. | 0:25:03 | 0:25:05 | |
The horse they've just been inspecting. | 0:25:05 | 0:25:08 | |
It's the perfect horse for their school. | 0:25:11 | 0:25:13 | |
Strong and calm, without being too wide | 0:25:13 | 0:25:15 | |
for their disabled customers to ride comfortably. | 0:25:15 | 0:25:18 | |
This is the type of horse that could change people's lives. | 0:25:21 | 0:25:25 | |
500, 500, 500, 500 here! | 0:25:25 | 0:25:28 | |
But as this sale starts, competition is strong. | 0:25:30 | 0:25:33 | |
Buyers have got to decide how many pound notes are in their wallet, | 0:25:36 | 0:25:40 | |
and how far they're prepared to go. | 0:25:40 | 0:25:43 | |
If you like that Cob, you've got to think to yourself, | 0:25:43 | 0:25:46 | |
"How much am I going to spend on that?" | 0:25:46 | 0:25:48 | |
"How much would I be prepared to spend on that?" | 0:25:48 | 0:25:52 | |
-How much more, do you think? -Huh? -How much more, do you think? | 0:25:52 | 0:25:56 | |
Just see where they're going. | 0:25:56 | 0:25:58 | |
The price has rocketed up, | 0:25:58 | 0:26:00 | |
and head has to rule over heart. | 0:26:00 | 0:26:03 | |
1,800 is on top. | 0:26:03 | 0:26:06 | |
2,000 down below. | 0:26:06 | 0:26:09 | |
At 2 I'm bid down below. | 0:26:09 | 0:26:10 | |
Janet drops out of the bidding. | 0:26:10 | 0:26:12 | |
2,000 I'm bid there. 2-2. | 0:26:12 | 0:26:14 | |
-Yeah, he's going... I hope he keeps going. -Yeah. | 0:26:14 | 0:26:16 | |
-Because it's a nice horse. -Yeah, it's nice. He is. | 0:26:16 | 0:26:20 | |
2-4, 2-4. | 0:26:20 | 0:26:21 | |
-Yeah. -2-6. | 0:26:21 | 0:26:23 | |
Yeah, no, he's out for us now. He's out, yeah, yeah. | 0:26:23 | 0:26:25 | |
-Yeah. -2,600's in again. | 0:26:25 | 0:26:28 | |
It's really, really, really, nice but out of our price range now. | 0:26:28 | 0:26:31 | |
He's gone on up. I hope he keeps going for more money. | 0:26:31 | 0:26:34 | |
He's worth a lot of money, this horse. He's lovely. | 0:26:34 | 0:26:37 | |
£2,600, then. There it is. On top. Hammer's up. | 0:26:37 | 0:26:40 | |
Coming down. 2-6, well done you. | 0:26:40 | 0:26:43 | |
It seems Janet and Jo need to set their sights a little lower, | 0:26:43 | 0:26:47 | |
or risk not getting the horses their stables really needs. | 0:26:47 | 0:26:52 | |
Yep, that was nice. | 0:26:52 | 0:26:53 | |
There's a good boy. | 0:27:02 | 0:27:04 | |
Oh, bless you, too! | 0:27:04 | 0:27:06 | |
Sellers Marilyn Beach and granddaughter Robyn | 0:27:06 | 0:27:08 | |
are getting ready for their final sale in the arena. | 0:27:08 | 0:27:12 | |
Shall we put these on? Or we can try. | 0:27:12 | 0:27:14 | |
They need to make some money to help the financial future | 0:27:14 | 0:27:17 | |
of their stables, and now it's all down to their three foals. | 0:27:17 | 0:27:22 | |
We've just come down to the collecting ring, | 0:27:22 | 0:27:25 | |
and shortly we'll be going into the sale ring, | 0:27:25 | 0:27:27 | |
and I'm very, very nervous and excited. | 0:27:28 | 0:27:32 | |
Electric, the mood is. | 0:27:32 | 0:27:34 | |
Having raised the foals since birth, | 0:27:37 | 0:27:39 | |
parting with them is bittersweet for Marilyn. | 0:27:39 | 0:27:42 | |
I'm hoping at the end of it, that they will be sold, | 0:27:42 | 0:27:46 | |
and there'll be smiles all round, | 0:27:46 | 0:27:48 | |
but I'll certainly have tears. | 0:27:48 | 0:27:50 | |
No question. | 0:27:50 | 0:27:52 | |
As the previous lot goes through, | 0:27:54 | 0:27:57 | |
bidding seems to have slowed down. | 0:27:57 | 0:28:00 | |
Not so good. | 0:28:00 | 0:28:01 | |
Six-month-old Celtic Prince is first up. | 0:28:03 | 0:28:06 | |
2 I got. 200 a bid. At 250. | 0:28:08 | 0:28:10 | |
250, 250, 300. | 0:28:10 | 0:28:13 | |
Look at the size of him. | 0:28:13 | 0:28:15 | |
Proper boy. Proper fella. | 0:28:15 | 0:28:18 | |
The price is slowly creeping up. | 0:28:18 | 0:28:20 | |
At 300 bid, four! | 0:28:20 | 0:28:22 | |
400, 400. | 0:28:22 | 0:28:24 | |
Take a big step, sir. If you don't, he will. | 0:28:24 | 0:28:26 | |
450, 450. | 0:28:26 | 0:28:27 | |
450. | 0:28:27 | 0:28:28 | |
Close the door. | 0:28:28 | 0:28:30 | |
450, last call, last look. | 0:28:30 | 0:28:32 | |
Gone left. Sold, then, at 450. | 0:28:32 | 0:28:35 | |
Thank you, sir. | 0:28:35 | 0:28:37 | |
Buyer is 200 at 450. | 0:28:37 | 0:28:40 | |
Next in the arena is Kez, also about six months old. | 0:28:40 | 0:28:44 | |
At 200, 200. 200 now. | 0:28:44 | 0:28:47 | |
At two, 200. Thank you, sir. | 0:28:47 | 0:28:49 | |
300, 300, 300, 300. | 0:28:49 | 0:28:52 | |
£320. | 0:28:52 | 0:28:54 | |
Last look at the good Kez. | 0:28:54 | 0:28:57 | |
Sold at 320. | 0:28:57 | 0:28:59 | |
And the foal sells for a good price. | 0:28:59 | 0:29:01 | |
Last up is the filly called Hattie. | 0:29:02 | 0:29:05 | |
Marilyn thinks it's the prettiest foal she's ever bred. | 0:29:05 | 0:29:08 | |
She wants £500. | 0:29:09 | 0:29:11 | |
But auctioneer Andrew is having trouble getting the crowd going. | 0:29:11 | 0:29:14 | |
1,000 anywhere? | 0:29:14 | 0:29:17 | |
200 in the ring. At 200 now. | 0:29:17 | 0:29:19 | |
It may be in your eyes an absolutely | 0:29:19 | 0:29:21 | |
drop-dead gorgeous beast that you're offering, | 0:29:21 | 0:29:25 | |
but, for some reason, the audience doesn't agree with you, | 0:29:25 | 0:29:28 | |
and no matter how much you talk it up, | 0:29:28 | 0:29:30 | |
you can't get those purchasers to put their hand in the air. | 0:29:30 | 0:29:33 | |
Very disappointing. At 150. | 0:29:33 | 0:29:35 | |
I've loved it. Why don't you love it? | 0:29:35 | 0:29:38 | |
Last look. 180. 180. | 0:29:38 | 0:29:40 | |
-180. -Yes! -200. | 0:29:40 | 0:29:41 | |
£200, my good man, close to me, is out, there's the bid. | 0:29:41 | 0:29:45 | |
At 200, I look at you again, sir. At 200. 200. Look at me, sir. | 0:29:45 | 0:29:50 | |
-Very disappointing, but... -£200. Selling here. -..that's the trade. | 0:29:50 | 0:29:53 | |
Last chance. | 0:29:53 | 0:29:55 | |
At £200. Thank you. | 0:29:55 | 0:29:57 | |
389 at 200. | 0:29:58 | 0:30:00 | |
Thank you. Thank you. | 0:30:00 | 0:30:03 | |
Marilyn may not quite have got the prices she hoped for, | 0:30:03 | 0:30:06 | |
but she still managed to sell the three foals. | 0:30:06 | 0:30:09 | |
I'm a bit disappointed with the prices, | 0:30:09 | 0:30:11 | |
but I'm really happy and proud at the way they looked. | 0:30:11 | 0:30:15 | |
So, today has been a mixture of emotions. | 0:30:16 | 0:30:20 | |
Yeah. A mixture. | 0:30:20 | 0:30:23 | |
And I always cry. | 0:30:25 | 0:30:26 | |
For Marilyn and Robyn, the auction has served its purpose. | 0:30:31 | 0:30:34 | |
With the sale of their foals, | 0:30:34 | 0:30:36 | |
they've raised £1,000 to reinvest in the stables. | 0:30:36 | 0:30:39 | |
At 520, 520. | 0:30:47 | 0:30:49 | |
-1,002. -70. | 0:30:49 | 0:30:51 | |
The Autumn Cob Sale has been a big feature of Welsh life | 0:30:51 | 0:30:55 | |
for over 50 years. | 0:30:55 | 0:30:57 | |
In the early days, it was held on a farm over the course | 0:30:58 | 0:31:01 | |
of a single day, | 0:31:01 | 0:31:03 | |
with one or two auctioneers selling around 100 horses between them. | 0:31:03 | 0:31:07 | |
The scale of the auction today is so large, it needs a whole team | 0:31:10 | 0:31:15 | |
of auctioneers, carefully pacing themselves. | 0:31:15 | 0:31:18 | |
One, five. One, five. | 0:31:18 | 0:31:20 | |
600, 700. 700, 800. | 0:31:20 | 0:31:23 | |
At 150. Hammer's coming up. | 0:31:23 | 0:31:25 | |
Sold at 2,000. | 0:31:25 | 0:31:27 | |
On a day like today, we'll have cut the catalogue up | 0:31:27 | 0:31:30 | |
into equal chunks of 20 lots. | 0:31:30 | 0:31:32 | |
There are four auctioneers that are in operation today, | 0:31:32 | 0:31:35 | |
so you have 20 lots, then you're off, give it to the next guy, | 0:31:35 | 0:31:39 | |
he has 20 lots. You're revitalised, | 0:31:39 | 0:31:41 | |
you haven't used all your energies up, | 0:31:41 | 0:31:43 | |
so you're there, bright and buzzing again and ready to hit the ground. | 0:31:43 | 0:31:47 | |
Hammer's up. Comes down. | 0:31:47 | 0:31:48 | |
Sold. Well done, team. | 0:31:48 | 0:31:50 | |
That effort involved to sort of cajole bids out, | 0:31:50 | 0:31:54 | |
because you want to get the best possible price, | 0:31:54 | 0:31:57 | |
you want to make it worthwhile for the vendors. | 0:31:57 | 0:32:00 | |
The modern Autumn Cob Sale prides itself on its heritage, | 0:32:00 | 0:32:03 | |
adhering to old traditions. | 0:32:03 | 0:32:05 | |
Many families have been buying and selling here for decades. | 0:32:05 | 0:32:09 | |
1,500. Sold at 1,500. | 0:32:09 | 0:32:12 | |
Like David Oliver, who's been coming to the auction for nearly 30 years, | 0:32:15 | 0:32:20 | |
when his father and grandfather first brought him as a little boy. | 0:32:21 | 0:32:25 | |
-All right? How far are you off? -Two minutes, we'll be ready | 0:32:25 | 0:32:28 | |
-to bring them out. -And do you know which numbers... | 0:32:28 | 0:32:30 | |
Now the 35-year-old is in charge of the family horses, | 0:32:30 | 0:32:33 | |
with father Des helping out. | 0:32:33 | 0:32:36 | |
And they have a surprising use for hair gel. | 0:32:36 | 0:32:39 | |
A bit of hair gel, just to make | 0:32:40 | 0:32:43 | |
the mane and tail lie the way you want it. | 0:32:43 | 0:32:45 | |
Just makes them look... | 0:32:45 | 0:32:47 | |
Just makes a difference to the way they look. | 0:32:47 | 0:32:49 | |
It's all sort of neat and tidy. | 0:32:49 | 0:32:50 | |
They look like they've got a little bit more quality. | 0:32:50 | 0:32:53 | |
A little bit for the foals and then a little bit for me after. | 0:32:53 | 0:32:56 | |
The Oliver family farm, about 50 miles from the Cob sale, | 0:33:05 | 0:33:09 | |
earns its keep with 400 sheep, | 0:33:09 | 0:33:11 | |
but it's the horses that dominate. | 0:33:11 | 0:33:14 | |
I think it's in your blood, especially for us. | 0:33:15 | 0:33:17 | |
It's something we were born into, | 0:33:17 | 0:33:19 | |
and we know no different and it's a passion | 0:33:19 | 0:33:21 | |
that's been handed down through generations, | 0:33:21 | 0:33:23 | |
and I don't think we could do without them. | 0:33:23 | 0:33:26 | |
I couldn't imagine life without a horse. | 0:33:26 | 0:33:28 | |
Good girl. | 0:33:28 | 0:33:30 | |
What started years ago as a hobby has gradually become the focus | 0:33:30 | 0:33:34 | |
for David, sister Sarah and the whole family. | 0:33:34 | 0:33:37 | |
Go back in now, I think. | 0:33:37 | 0:33:39 | |
It's our passion, it's what we love and that, for us, is... | 0:33:39 | 0:33:42 | |
That gives us a lot of fulfilment as a family. | 0:33:42 | 0:33:45 | |
The next generation, David's nieces, | 0:33:45 | 0:33:48 | |
have already been drawn into the family passion. | 0:33:48 | 0:33:51 | |
Whoa, steady! Whoa! | 0:33:51 | 0:33:52 | |
Whoa. Whoa. | 0:33:52 | 0:33:54 | |
Whoa! | 0:33:54 | 0:33:55 | |
Oh. | 0:33:57 | 0:33:58 | |
We're quite lucky, as well, I've got two nieces, Macy and Jodie, | 0:34:00 | 0:34:03 | |
who are absolutely in love with the horses. | 0:34:03 | 0:34:06 | |
They're very, very keen, and they're getting a little bit older now | 0:34:06 | 0:34:09 | |
and I'm starting to have to fight them for duties. | 0:34:09 | 0:34:12 | |
They want to come and lead the foals and make a fuss of the foals, | 0:34:12 | 0:34:15 | |
and they've got their own ponies here on the farm, as well, | 0:34:15 | 0:34:17 | |
and they do come down most nights to try and mess and play with them, | 0:34:17 | 0:34:21 | |
as well, so, yeah, it's great that they're showing an interest. | 0:34:21 | 0:34:24 | |
But the line between passion and obsession is a fine one. | 0:34:27 | 0:34:30 | |
And David admits that they may have crossed it. | 0:34:33 | 0:34:36 | |
They seem to have crept on us, numbers, to be honest. | 0:34:37 | 0:34:40 | |
We've got about 40 horses, at the moment. | 0:34:40 | 0:34:42 | |
But if anyone asks, we tell them 25. | 0:34:42 | 0:34:44 | |
Doesn't sound so much. | 0:34:44 | 0:34:46 | |
The family with 40 horses that says they have 25 | 0:34:46 | 0:34:51 | |
is perhaps in denial. | 0:34:51 | 0:34:53 | |
Downsizing is needed, but it's easier said than done. | 0:34:53 | 0:34:57 | |
I often say we should cut down. | 0:34:57 | 0:34:58 | |
Dad argues which ones we should sell. | 0:34:58 | 0:35:01 | |
And then he likes certain ones, I like certain ones, | 0:35:01 | 0:35:03 | |
my sister likes certain ones. | 0:35:03 | 0:35:04 | |
So we end up then keeping them all, which isn't good news. But, yeah, | 0:35:04 | 0:35:08 | |
we will cut back a little bit before this winter. | 0:35:08 | 0:35:11 | |
We have to, really. | 0:35:11 | 0:35:12 | |
With winter approaching, | 0:35:13 | 0:35:14 | |
reducing the huge number of 40 horses is essential, | 0:35:14 | 0:35:18 | |
if the farm is to function. | 0:35:18 | 0:35:19 | |
We do have to house them over winter. Because it's farm ground, | 0:35:20 | 0:35:24 | |
we can't afford to let the horses run out all winter, really. | 0:35:24 | 0:35:27 | |
They cut the ground up and there's nothing in the spring | 0:35:27 | 0:35:29 | |
for the ewes and lambs, so it's a case of perhaps having to sell, | 0:35:29 | 0:35:32 | |
just to make life a lot easier over the winter. | 0:35:32 | 0:35:36 | |
And, of course, Dad isn't getting any younger. | 0:35:36 | 0:35:39 | |
He won't thank me for saying that. | 0:35:39 | 0:35:40 | |
So, yeah, it's just trying to keep the work down, really. | 0:35:40 | 0:35:44 | |
It's not been an easy decision, | 0:35:44 | 0:35:46 | |
but to avert their impending horse crisis, | 0:35:46 | 0:35:49 | |
the family have chosen four animals to take to the auction. | 0:35:49 | 0:35:52 | |
Three foals and a young adult mare. | 0:35:55 | 0:35:58 | |
This is Claire. | 0:35:58 | 0:36:00 | |
She's a four-and-a-half-month-old filly foal. | 0:36:00 | 0:36:04 | |
She's a nice filly. There is no reserve on her, so, hopefully, | 0:36:04 | 0:36:07 | |
fingers crossed, she'll find a nice home. This is Prada. | 0:36:07 | 0:36:10 | |
She's looking a little bit, uh, | 0:36:10 | 0:36:14 | |
scruffy! We have washed her this morning in preparation for the sale. | 0:36:14 | 0:36:18 | |
So it's just taking a little bit of her coat... | 0:36:18 | 0:36:20 | |
Because the foals' coats are quite thick, | 0:36:20 | 0:36:22 | |
it does take them quite a bit of time to dry out, | 0:36:22 | 0:36:25 | |
so, yeah, she isn't looking at her best! | 0:36:25 | 0:36:27 | |
And we thought, she's quite saleable, she's a lovely colour, | 0:36:27 | 0:36:30 | |
with four white socks. | 0:36:30 | 0:36:31 | |
This is Cara. | 0:36:31 | 0:36:33 | |
She's about the same age again, four-and-a-half, five-months-old. | 0:36:34 | 0:36:38 | |
And she's very closely related to Claire. | 0:36:38 | 0:36:41 | |
This is one I'm in a bit of trouble with Dad, actually, | 0:36:41 | 0:36:45 | |
for entering for the sale. | 0:36:45 | 0:36:46 | |
It's one of his favourites this year. | 0:36:46 | 0:36:48 | |
But we've got to sell something. | 0:36:48 | 0:36:50 | |
But we have got a reserve on this filly. | 0:36:50 | 0:36:54 | |
We would like about £1,000 for her. | 0:36:54 | 0:36:55 | |
This is the final lot we're selling, this is the mare. | 0:36:55 | 0:36:58 | |
This is Pavereen Glamour Chick. | 0:36:58 | 0:37:00 | |
She's very, very well bred, | 0:37:00 | 0:37:02 | |
and we think she will make somebody else a good mare. | 0:37:02 | 0:37:05 | |
So fingers crossed. | 0:37:05 | 0:37:07 | |
Selling four horses will create much-needed space on the farm. | 0:37:09 | 0:37:13 | |
If we do happen to have a lucky day and we do happen to do well with | 0:37:13 | 0:37:16 | |
the ponies, I think the biggest treat we'll have, maybe, | 0:37:16 | 0:37:19 | |
is improving a few of the facilities at home, | 0:37:19 | 0:37:21 | |
improving the stables and things like that, | 0:37:21 | 0:37:23 | |
so it's sort of putting it back in, into the enterprise, really. | 0:37:23 | 0:37:27 | |
No holidays. And we might buy a drink or two. | 0:37:28 | 0:37:30 | |
Yeah, but there'll be no posh cars outside. | 0:37:30 | 0:37:33 | |
Back at the auction, sales seem buoyant. | 0:37:39 | 0:37:42 | |
£4,800. | 0:37:42 | 0:37:45 | |
Well done to you. | 0:37:46 | 0:37:48 | |
And big prices are getting cheers from the crowd. | 0:37:48 | 0:37:52 | |
-£5,500. -We're in the wrong game! | 0:37:52 | 0:37:54 | |
That is a lot of money. | 0:37:57 | 0:38:00 | |
It's the perfect time to sell Cara, | 0:38:00 | 0:38:02 | |
the horse David's dad doesn't want to part with. | 0:38:02 | 0:38:05 | |
It looks like it might go jousting, but she's... | 0:38:05 | 0:38:09 | |
It's just a Lycra hood and it just keeps the coat flat, | 0:38:09 | 0:38:12 | |
and it just helps keep the mane over, because the mane wants to be | 0:38:12 | 0:38:15 | |
on the opposite side to the side to the side you lead. | 0:38:15 | 0:38:18 | |
It's just presentation again. | 0:38:18 | 0:38:20 | |
I just hope it makes a difference later on. | 0:38:20 | 0:38:22 | |
We'll take that off her before we take her down to the ring. | 0:38:22 | 0:38:25 | |
It's like seeing somebody with her curlers in. | 0:38:27 | 0:38:29 | |
It is down to the vendor to present their lots in their best possible | 0:38:30 | 0:38:35 | |
light, and there's a lot of cosmetic loveliness that goes on. | 0:38:35 | 0:38:39 | |
There's whitener going on. | 0:38:39 | 0:38:41 | |
They're making their socks look brighter. | 0:38:41 | 0:38:44 | |
They'll even put glitter on them, as well, | 0:38:44 | 0:38:46 | |
to add a bit of pizzazz and a bit of showmanship. | 0:38:46 | 0:38:49 | |
There's a £500 reserve on Cara. | 0:38:50 | 0:38:54 | |
David's dad might still get to take her back home. | 0:38:54 | 0:38:57 | |
£500 away. 500, 500. | 0:38:57 | 0:38:59 | |
3,300 away. | 0:38:59 | 0:39:01 | |
300. 200 bid. | 0:39:01 | 0:39:02 | |
150, 250. 300. | 0:39:02 | 0:39:03 | |
300 bid 300. | 0:39:03 | 0:39:05 | |
50. 350, 350. At 350. | 0:39:05 | 0:39:08 | |
Under 350. | 0:39:08 | 0:39:10 | |
We cannot go there, 350. | 0:39:10 | 0:39:12 | |
Didn't sell her. Quite happy, really. | 0:39:12 | 0:39:15 | |
That's a surprise. | 0:39:15 | 0:39:17 | |
So Cara's going home after all. | 0:39:17 | 0:39:19 | |
But, over the next two lots, | 0:39:22 | 0:39:23 | |
the family's fortunes change, and both Claire... | 0:39:23 | 0:39:27 | |
At 200. A bid 200. Last look round. | 0:39:27 | 0:39:29 | |
Sold then at £200. | 0:39:29 | 0:39:32 | |
Yeah, we sold that one. | 0:39:33 | 0:39:36 | |
..and Prada.... | 0:39:36 | 0:39:37 | |
Sold at 450. In the stands. | 0:39:37 | 0:39:39 | |
..sell for a good price. | 0:39:39 | 0:39:41 | |
Last up is the family's star item, | 0:39:43 | 0:39:45 | |
the adult mare Glamour Chick, | 0:39:45 | 0:39:48 | |
with an ambitious reserve of £2,000. | 0:39:48 | 0:39:50 | |
And David's last chance to make much needed room on the family farm, | 0:39:52 | 0:39:56 | |
even if he is reluctant to part with her. | 0:39:56 | 0:39:59 | |
Older breed. Behind her there. | 0:39:59 | 0:40:01 | |
2,000, 1,500. 1,000, away. | 0:40:01 | 0:40:03 | |
1,000 away. 1,000. | 0:40:03 | 0:40:04 | |
800 where? 500 I'm bid. | 0:40:04 | 0:40:06 | |
Glamour Chick is struggling to impress, and the bidding's off | 0:40:06 | 0:40:09 | |
to a sluggish start. | 0:40:09 | 0:40:11 | |
600, 900. 900 a bid. | 0:40:11 | 0:40:12 | |
900. 900 a bid. | 0:40:12 | 0:40:14 | |
900 a bid. 900. | 0:40:14 | 0:40:15 | |
900 a bid. | 0:40:15 | 0:40:16 | |
1,000 bid. 1,100. 1,100, 1,100. | 0:40:16 | 0:40:18 | |
1,200. A bid. 1,200. 1,200. Last lots round and all. | 0:40:18 | 0:40:21 | |
We cannot go there, 1,200. That'll stop. | 0:40:21 | 0:40:23 | |
It's a no sale for Glamour Chick. | 0:40:23 | 0:40:26 | |
But David's still feeling upbeat. | 0:40:26 | 0:40:28 | |
The two we had a reserve on we're taking home, that's fine. | 0:40:28 | 0:40:32 | |
We wanted more for them. We knew they were good enough, | 0:40:32 | 0:40:35 | |
and the other two have found fabulous homes. | 0:40:35 | 0:40:37 | |
It's swings and roundabouts, but we're still smiling. | 0:40:37 | 0:40:40 | |
With the sale coming to a close, | 0:40:50 | 0:40:52 | |
buyers Janet and Jo are running out of time to buy the horses | 0:40:52 | 0:40:56 | |
they need for their disabled riding school. | 0:40:56 | 0:40:58 | |
But they have their eye on two excellent foals. | 0:41:00 | 0:41:03 | |
We might be bidding on this one, OK. | 0:41:03 | 0:41:06 | |
It all depends how quickly it goes up. | 0:41:06 | 0:41:09 | |
It's a young filly, Crow Eyed Rosebud, | 0:41:09 | 0:41:12 | |
whose smaller frame will be perfect for younger disabled riders. | 0:41:12 | 0:41:16 | |
-Do you want it? -Yeah. | 0:41:16 | 0:41:18 | |
180. Sold right at 180. | 0:41:18 | 0:41:20 | |
180 buys to the team here. | 0:41:20 | 0:41:23 | |
They snap her up at a bargain price, a small investment for their future. | 0:41:23 | 0:41:27 | |
I might as well take two home on the lorry. | 0:41:27 | 0:41:30 | |
So if this one goes the right money, I'll be buying this one, as well. | 0:41:30 | 0:41:33 | |
-It's on 50 at the moment. -Yeah. | 0:41:37 | 0:41:40 | |
And luck is with them. | 0:41:40 | 0:41:42 | |
They get a good deal on another foal. | 0:41:42 | 0:41:43 | |
It wasn't exactly what they planned, | 0:41:45 | 0:41:47 | |
but Janet and Jo got two quality foals | 0:41:47 | 0:41:51 | |
for £350, and after training they'll join the ranks | 0:41:51 | 0:41:54 | |
of the riding school, ready to change the lives of future clients. | 0:41:54 | 0:42:00 | |
It's taken us on a roller-coaster of experiences. | 0:42:00 | 0:42:04 | |
We've seen some really lovely horses, | 0:42:04 | 0:42:06 | |
but actually to be going home with two is great. | 0:42:06 | 0:42:09 | |
Absolutely great. | 0:42:09 | 0:42:10 | |
Three days, 6,000 visitors | 0:42:14 | 0:42:18 | |
and 359 horse sales later, | 0:42:18 | 0:42:21 | |
the auction is over. | 0:42:21 | 0:42:23 | |
Elated. We've had a good sale. | 0:42:24 | 0:42:27 | |
A little bit tired. | 0:42:27 | 0:42:28 | |
I'm a little bit hoarse. | 0:42:28 | 0:42:30 | |
We've been selling little horses and now I'm a little bit hoarse, | 0:42:30 | 0:42:33 | |
but it's gone well. Gone smoothly, and there's been a lot of | 0:42:33 | 0:42:35 | |
very happy people here. | 0:42:35 | 0:42:37 | |
At Janet's stables, the two foals have already started | 0:42:42 | 0:42:46 | |
their training as future horses for the disabled. | 0:42:46 | 0:42:49 | |
On the Oliver land, David still has 38 horses | 0:42:50 | 0:42:54 | |
to nurse through the winter, | 0:42:54 | 0:42:56 | |
but hopes to slim things down in the spring. | 0:42:56 | 0:42:59 | |
And at Marilyn's farm, | 0:42:59 | 0:43:01 | |
Robyn is determined that Lexley Eclair | 0:43:01 | 0:43:04 | |
will finally do them all proud at next year's auction. | 0:43:04 | 0:43:07 |