SHIRE horses and coloured cobs from the well-known Milnerfield Stables of Bingley farmer Keith Downs and his wife Pam went under the hammer at a dispersal sale at Skipton Auction Mart on August 9.

The sale, which brought down the curtain on 36 years as a leading Shire horse breeder and showman for Mr Downs attracted 1,500 people. It was the first sale of its kind ever staged at the mart, which adapted the livestock pens specially to house the 20 mares and foals, in-foal mares, yearling fillies and a three-year-old cob.

Show mares sold to 3,500gns for three-year-old Milnerfield Katie, by the prolific Moorfield Edward son, Moorfield Ted, out of Camalter Lily of the Valley.

Katie was sold in-foal to Caerberllan Real Enterprise.

The pick of the mares with foals at foot was the four-yearold Milnerfield Gold Gift, another well-bred daughter of Moorfield Edward, out of Moorfield Brenda, accompanied by her Sladbrook Benefactorsired colt foal. The duo sold for 3,400gns.

A yearling filly, Milnerfield Dawn, by Lockley Topsman, out of Milnerfield Lady Ruth, sold for 2,400gns. Of the coloured horses, the best seller at 1,800gns was the mare Milnerfield Tilly and her filly foal.

Over the years, Milnerfield Stables has produced many champions at local, regional and national shows, and has also exported home-bred horses to many parts of the world.