The Stirling Bull Sales was less of an eye-opener that I expected when I made my first ever visit to the famous event earlier this month.

Not one to be impressed by fame (or infamy for that matter), I wasn't tempted to attend Monday's show date when the attendance of the Princess Royal arguably had a greater billing than the bulls on show. Instead, I opted for Tuesday's sale day when I was assured that the excitement of the sale ring was worth experiencing.

With a special interest in the Aberdeen-Angus through sadly missed pony friends, Wyn and Deirdre Colville (Islabank) and Jock and Jenny Campbell (Wedderlie), I aimed for the morning's Angus trade only to witness so many of the bulls failing to find a buyer through the ring and some good, but not spectacular prices.

Sadly, this aspect of the event for me was more of a damp squib than a firework. However, there is nothing like a sale by auction to fire both interest and imagination, so in this respect, my visit was far from disappointing.

Luckily for my finances there was nothing other than a cup of coffee to buy so the temptation to bid was non-existent.

Having never previously visited United Auction's Stirling Agricultural Centre, I was impressed beyond words. What a great job executive chairman, David Leggat, and his team have done in creating a comfortable and convenient sale venue to which the bull sales moved from Perth in 2009.

It is far removed from the old Kildean Market across the river, which had to be one of the coldest places on earth, summer or winter - and incidentally was the first venue for the National Pony Show in Scotland.

It must be said that Kildean served the equestrian community well over the years with its seasonal sales of horses, ponies and tack.

Along with Perth, as well as nearby Millhall and Bridge of Allan, Kildean was a feature in the equestrian calendar in Central Scotland as, too, were the Borders sales at Kelso, Hawick and Biggar.

As sorely missed as they may be, I suspect the UA team wouldn't be tempted to resurrect a horse/pony sale, although I wonder if there might be a place for one alongside rare farm breeds or poultry? Now there's a thought.

I know that I've mentioned it in previous columns, but I have to come back to the condition of show livestock other than equines which, in the case of bulls at this sale, was described from time to time as 'natural' by the auctioneer. Knowing the barrow loads of feed that go into sale bulls, I had a quiet laugh to myself.

Admittedly no cattle expert, nonetheless I wasn't impressed by the overly fat bulls I saw waddle round the ring. Based on what I saw, locomotion has to be a cause for concern for buyers and the 'good walkers' were few and far between among the bulls I saw go through the ring.

It brought home to me the continuing need for equestrians to be vigilant over the condition of their charges and not to get them so fat that they become practically useless.

In the equestrian show ring I see an improvement. However, there is still room for more and I appeal to the judges to sort the matter out once and for all. As wonderful as they may be in all other aspects, the only place for overly fat, verging on obese animals, is down the line.

Not only should our judges be brave enough to do this, but they should follow it up by telling the exhibitor why they are there. I am confident that this would sort out this particular show ring problem once and for all and the health of our show horse and ponies would be all the better.

A recent photograph from the sports pony grading show in Germany tells its own story, for not only is the two-year-old colt showing athletic ability over a jump but it has been kept in working condition for the show. It is this mind-set with which we have to come to terms in Britain as it cuts across tradition.

Fitness of riders has also come to the attention of commentators with an increasing awareness of the role it plays in the success of our riders.

Personal experience leads me to concur with this since, as a handler, I'm only too aware that age isn't coming easy and making time to become a bit fitter will be time well spent.

There is no doubt that fitness continues to play its hand in the recovery of one of Scotland's leading dressage figures, Jo Hamilton, whose riding accident in December left her in a critical condition as her life hung by a thread.

According to her mother, Flora, they had no idea what actually happened other than the fact that Jo was found unconscious in their outdoor school at Ormiston near Edinburgh, where mother and daughter run a busy and successful livery yard.

Sand on the knees of her well-known dressage horse, Corchapin, suggest that he may have fallen but no one will ever know as Jo has no recollection of the event. The injury sustained necessitated an induced coma from which she emerged unable to walk and had difficulty with vision and speech.

Slow initial recovery has accelerated in recent weeks as Jo was transferred to Edinburgh's Astley Ainslie Hospital, which specialises in rehabilitation for victims of brain injury and strokes.

With 14 British as well as 16 Scottish titles to her credit, the competitive side of Jo's personality is speeding her recovery.

Cards and messages of good luck from her friends and admirers have certainly spurred her on, although full recovery may take longer to achieve than that desired by this talented Scot, whose future, despite this temporary setback, thankfully continues to look rosy.