Average

The SD Horse Sale posted their September catalog. I tend to look through the catalog just to see if I recognize any of the catalog horses. I also want to read up on what they are saying about the loose horses. Here's their latest:


Loose Horse – On the weigh up end, the horses weighing 700 to 1000lbs and needing to go to feedlots before they will be accepted at plants, usually sell 10 to 20 cents a lb. Horses over 1000 lb selling for 25 to 35 cents lb. Takes a awful good No. 1 to bring 35 cents a lb and we see few of those.

They were disappointed about the lawsuites against the slaughter houses. We need to continue our efforts to keep horses out of the loose horse sale. They outright say horses are going to feedlots. If you read in between the lines, you'll know that these same "feedlot" horses are being fattened and shipped to slaughter.

They also talked a bit about the "average" horse not selling as well. Those horses that have done a lot of work or performed in rodeos bring more money. Which, when selling horses, is really what you need to do. I totally understand and agree that if you are going to breed, you need to get your stock out there to get them exposed to everything and get them into the hands of people who are knowledgeable about horses and want to do right by the horses (instead of the backyard breeders).

The only problem I have is that they were disappointed with the "average"  horse. Well, I'm average. There's really nothing outstanding about my character or overall appearance. If I were a horse, I'd probably be a sorrel mare. :-) But those "average" horses, with the right person, can really shine. Just look at Savanna. She was passed up by so many people at the auction. And now look at her! The right person found her and now she's blossomed into an amazing horse.

Lets turn these "average" horses (also known as diamonds in the rough) into some spectacular horses and don't let them get into the loose horse sales and slaughter pipeline.