April Sale Report

For those that might not always look at auction prices, the South Dakota Horse Sale always puts a blurb in their catalog about the loose horse sale. I guess they are trying to market slaughter horses. Here's what they wrote:

Loose Sale - Sold 249 Head. A MUCH stronger market both on the weigh up end and the still usable and broke to ride end. There were 105 Loose horses that sold $400 to $1200 with the top 15 Loose horses averaging $769. The heavy horses, No. 1's, on the weigh up end, those 1200 lb &N over sold 45 cents to 50 cents a lb. 1000 lb to 1100 pounds sold 25 cents to 40 cents. 1100 lb to 1200 lb sold 35 to 45 cents lb. Thin young horses, stallions & mules sell $75 to $125. Best to geld those stallions before bringing them to market for much better prices. Our volume loose horse sale brings in all the top byers in the country. Seats are full.



First, No. 1s are the top horses kill buyers want. Not the thin and old horses. The No.1s are the fat and meaty horses.

Second, the seats are NOT full. We were there once and it wasn't packed like they say. Loose horse sales are totally different than catalog sales. People are packed like sardines for a catalog sale, but a open consignment thins out and loose horse there's barely anyone but the kill buyers in the stands. Sure, the seats are full. Full of KILL BUYERS.

I wish we could start fundraising to go to these auctions and rescue loose horses from a CERTAIN death. June 7th is the next sale but we won't be able to attend. I haven't been to an auction since we brought Bo home in March 2011. I've been turning horses away and would prefer to welcome these horses because I think their last chance  may be us. Owners keep threatening to take them to auction, even though they don't want to knowing the fate of their horse will be slaughter. I don't get it.

But right now our hands are tied. if we could get some serious support, both financially and emotionally, we could tackle this huge project. Who's with me?