Devon leisure Equestrian Centre hosted its first ever North of the Border Elite Sport Horse Foal Auction on Saturday the 10th of November 2001.

At 12 noon Liz Smith of Dengie feeds welcomed the audience, breeders and the show's judge Mr. Johan Knaap from the KWPN, Holland's National Stud.

The show commenced with the ridden four year old star of the future class.

The horses assembled in the collecting ring and were called forward individually to show walk, trot and canter on both reins. This was followed by a single round over fences.

Mr. Knapp assessed the horses on the suppleness and freedom of pace, the attitude of the horse under saddle, conformation and overall impression.

11 horses were brought forwards and all of the horses behaved remarkably well considering their age and general lack of experience in the show ring.

After a final parade of all the horses around the arena, Mr. Knapp announced that Arcadia II would take this years Title.

Sired by Stonegrove Ace of Summerhill Stud, this charming bay mare showed good elasticity of movement in all three gaits and a particularly well cadenced canter.

More remarkable however, was her particular movement over fences, a stylish rise up through the shoulder and wither and an excellent bascule over each fence.

This natural talent over fences was accompanied by great boldness and confidence on the approach to and between fences.

Taking third place was home bred Positive owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Low-Mitchell of Balcormo Stud near Leven in Fife

This handsome bay gelding by the grade A Stallion Dramiro keur and carries the father bloodlines of famous G Ramiro Z, Joost and Lucky Boy. Positive's dam is Jerboa and a first premium mare by Secundus, Mr amd Mrs Low Mitchells Top show jumping sire. Positive won the foal chamionship at the SSH Summer Show in 1997 and the four year old championship this summer which was judged on conformation dressage and jumping. He was backed last spring and has competed at a few un affiliated shows proving straight forward to ride and bold and demonstrated a scopey and powerful jump.

As a result of the show Positive, along with Tosca, also presented at the show, were sold and shall be leaving for Texas in the United States, on Thursday the 29th of November. The two horses were purchased by Joanna Bebbs.

Prolifique, another of the Low Mitchells horses, was also sold to a dressage home and will hopefully be bred from, to continue such a sucesseful lineage!

The course comprised of 8 fences set to a height of 1m and a maximum spread width of 1m10, jumps comprised of two doubles, and one related distance. Mr. Knaap observed closely as each horse and rider tackled the obstacles.