JASON HIGGINS, sport horse producer and pin hooker: “From a show jumping point of view, it’s been very hard to see a jumper this week. As for the event horses – there have been some nice horses around, and it was possible to buy them at the value to produce for resale.”

SALLY EARNSHAW, Gloucestershire-based event horse owner: “I felt this week’s sale has offered much better quality than in the past few years, and as a result we have bought several.”

GRAHAM SMITH, show jumping owner: “I did buy a couple, but personally, I thought that the horses were not up to the usual standard – so it was disappointing for me. There have not been many stars among them, and too many lacked the wow factor.”

TOM MARCH, event rider and producer: “The standard is definitely two tier – and are some ‘no job’ horses. The breeding has lost its way a bit, and everyone seems to be obsessed by a big trot. As a result there are not many horses with a natural, light balance – you have to imagine yourself riding one.”

PAUL DONOVAN, event horse producer and rider: “Some of the better ones have undoubtedly been aimed for the special sales at the end of the year, but there were some nice horses around, and I hope I’ve got one!”

SHELLY ARGYLE, Carnsdale Show Horses: “From a showing perspective we struggled this week to find smaller horses with bone and step, and in all sizes the bone is lacking.”