Short and Abbott has become the latest dealership to join the Polaris national network, stepping in to support customers across Devon and Cornwall after well-known local dealership Cornish Tractors scaled back their operations.

The move sees Short and Abbott, a long-established agricultural engineers and machinery dealership founded in 1980 and based in Holsworthy, take on Polaris sales, servicing and customer support for the region. It will provide continuity for existing customers while also expanding access to the Polaris ATV and UTV range for farmers, landowners, estates, groundcare teams and rural businesses.

Cornish Tractors had been a familiar name for many Polaris customers in the area, but the business scaled back in early 2026 due to ill health. Short and Abbott has now taken on the franchise to ensure customers continue to have access to local Polaris expertise, aftersales support, parts and used machines to new vehicle sales.

Dan Abbott, who runs Short and Abbott alongside his father Gary, said: “We are thrilled to be fortunate enough to secure the Polaris brand and it is a great fit for our business. This was an opportunity to work with a market-leading franchise that fits well into our future plans to be a market leader ourselves.

“Polaris is top of the stack and we want brands that can support our growth. We’ll be doing sales, servicing, looking after the existing customer base from Cornish Tractors, as well as seeking new Polaris customers ourselves.

“We’ve already sold a number of units and we’re making sure to deliver continuity of support as that is really important.”

Short and Abbott was founded by Gary Abbott and Colin Short and has served the agricultural machinery market for 46 years. The business has represented a number of tractor brands during that time, with Case now the main tractor franchise for the dealership.

Following Colin’s retirement in 2022, Dan Abbott joined the business and has since worked to modernise its operations, strengthen its technical capability and build a future around high-quality machinery brands.

Dan brings significant engineering experience to the role. Before joining Short and Abbott, he worked in oil and gas and as a design engineer within military vehicle and submarine manufacturing. However, his connection to the business started much earlier.

He said: “I grew up in the yard next to the business, so machinery and engineering have always been part of my life. That is where my interest in engineering really came from.

“My background has given me a very technical approach, and I can now bring those skills back into the business as we continue to modernise and grow.”

The addition of Polaris marks an important expansion for Short and Abbott, giving the dealership a market-leading ATV and UTV range to offer customers working across Cornwall’s farms, estates, groundcare sites and rural businesses.

The Polaris line-up includes Sportsman ATVs and Ranger side-by-side utility vehicles, with models designed for towing, carrying, off-road access and demanding daily work.

Polaris District Sales Manager Michael Robson said: “It is important that Polaris customers in Cornwall continue to have access to strong local support, and Short and Abbott is extremely well placed to provide that.

“The business has deep roots in the agricultural machinery sector, strong technical knowledge and a clear commitment to customer service. We look forward to working with Dan, Gary and the team as they support existing customers and grow the Polaris brand in the region.”

To learn more about Short and Abbott, visit www.shortandabbott.co.uk