Platte Livestock Horse Sale Reports

I hopped on to the Platte Livestock Market website and found their report from the past few months of horse sales.  Unfortunately, Platte is too far away for me to go on a weeknight. I can't figure out the reason for the changes in price on the loose horses. Why some months it's 20.00 and some months it's 40.00. Come August, there will be many more loose horses flooding the market and very little chance of those horses finding a permanent home. They'll be headed in to the slaughter pipeline.

HORSE SALE MON. JUNE 1ST, 2015

SOLD 78 HORSES

HORSES SOLD  35.00-60.00/CWT

STUD HORSES  25.00-30.00/CWT

NEXT HORSE SALE MON. JULY 6TH, 2015

HORSE SALE

SAT. MAY 9^TH
SOLD 183 HEAD
BIGGER LOOSE HORSES              40.00-65.00/CWT
LIGHTER LOOSE HORSES                        20.00-40.00/CWT
ROPING STEERS                             1100.00-1165.00/HD 
RIDING HORSES                             UP TO $4050.00
T.TALSMA                GELDING      $4000.00
D. VLASMAN           GELDING      $4050.00
M. JANDREAU         GELDING      $3000.00
J. MCGREGOR         GELDING      $3500.00
T. DELANGE            MARE            $3900.00

NEXT HORSE SALE MON. JUNE 1ST 4:00 (TACK) 5:00 (HORSES)




MON. APRIL 6^TH, 2015
SOLD 86 HEAD
LIGHTER HORSES  20.00-40.00/CWT
BIGGER HORSES    50.00-75.00/CWT
NEXT MONTHLY HORSE SALE
SAT. MAY 9^TH, 2015
LOOSE HORSES @ 1:00, RIDING HORSES @ 3:00
 
MONTLY HORSE & TACK SALE MON.MAR. 2^ND
LIGHT HORSES                 30.00-40.00/CWT
BIG HORSES                       60.00-75.00/CWT
NEXT MONTHLY HORSE SALE MON. APRIL 6^TH
(TACK 4:00, HORSES 5:00)

MONTLY HORSE SALE
MON. FEB. 2^ND, 2015
LOOSE HORSES                                40.00-65.00/CWT
RIDING HORSES                               1000.00-2000.00/HD
ROPING CATTLE                              475.00-700.00/HD
NEXT HORSE SALE MON. MAR. 2^ND, 2015
TACK 4:00, HORSES 5:00

NO SALE JAN.---INCLEMENT WEATHER


MONTHLY HORSE SALE MON. DEC. 1^ST
WEIGH UP HORSES                         35.00-50.00/CWT
RIDING HORSES                               750.00-1500.00/HD
NEXT SALE MON JAN. 5^TH TACK @ 4:00, HORSES @ 5:00

 


HORSE SALE MON. OCT. 6TH 
SOLD 47 HEAD
WEIGH UP HORSES                                     35.00-55.00/CWT
RIDING HORSES                                          $700-1500.00/HD
NEXT HORSE & TACK SALE MON. NOV. 3RD
TACK (6:00)  HORSES (7:00)




HORSE SALE MON. SEPT 8^TH
WEIGH UP HORSES                         45.00-60.00/CWT
RIDING HORSES UP TO $1850.00

Calling BS

So it seems I'm calling BS on people these days. Awhile back I was on a website for a major horse auction and they boasted that stallions were not being sold to slaughter and if they were, there were strict regulations about how they were transported.

I've been following a feedlot page, Auction Horse Forum, and they post stallions all the time. There's stallions both in the Washington feedlot and in the Texas holding lot before they are shipped to slaughter in Mexico. You can't tell me that those stallions are being separated from the rest of the herd by a stud wall in a trailer. They are being loaded into semi trailers with the rest of the horses.

So I call BS on the pro-slaughter propaganda to try and make people think that it's only the old and crippled horses headed to slaughter. Most of the horses on the Auction Horse Forum are at their prime age and have some education. Best to do your research before you start chirping like a bird and repeating BS.

Godbout Express

Lets not turn a blind eye to what is happening...

https://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/godbout-express-observed-shipping-horses-to-canada-on-long-holiday-weekend/

I'm not exactly sure what to do other than to spread the word and hope that someone with a bigger voice than mine has the power and authority to step in and stop what's going on.

April Sales Report

So the South Dakota Horse Sale, which was held April 18th has their sales report. I typically read and reread the sales report for the loose horses. I did find a few interesting points in their little blurb about loose horses. Prices are higher for loose horses "Yearling Feeders sold $100 and older thing horses $385".

"Stallions are unable to be shipped to plants per rules and regulations and USDA transportation rule require separate compartments in stallion travel. Stallions sell $75 to $150."

I find that statement interesting because I haven't heard any news about that bit of info. I've been watching the Auction Horse Forum, and they are now taking pictures and documenting some of the horses at the Texas/Mexico border but I never did see any stallions.

I also find it interesting that they are willing to pay almost $400 for older thin horses. Oh what I would give to offer them permanent retirement instead of being shipped to slaughter. Breaks my heart to pieces.

I believe the next sale is June 13th. I know I wont' go but I would love to, even if all I could do was sit on my hands and watch. The local auctions around here are disappearing, except for the one that has been in business for years. Maybe that's a good thing. I don't have any money to pull a deserving horse and with having to turn away free horses that need retirement, best to not be near any auctions. I'm just feeling helpless as of late.

Upcoming Loose Horse Sale

I happened to be on the South Dakota Horse Sale website (it used to be the Corsica Horse Sale). They are looking to have a Loose Horse Sale the second Saturday in December. This will definitely be a time for owners to dump their horses before the real winter sets in (not that winter hasn't set in already).

Unfortunately, we won't be able to bring anyone home unless people would be willing to donate towards the winter hay. We are still short on funds for Junior's final bale of hay so I doubt we can bring another horse in at this time.

Here's the blurb about current prices:

The top ten Loose horses averaged $833 selling from $600 to $1500 top. On the weigh up end, market was higher. Heavy horses, 1000 lb and over sold .40 to .45 cents lb, 500 to 1000 lb sold.30 to .40 cents lb and yearling horses, 500 to 800 lb sold .23 to 30 cents lb. We hope to hold a Loose sale the 2nd Saturday in December, if weather forecast permits.

Of course they won't mention the No Value and the low prices that some horses brought in. I worry for the horses heading to the loose sale in December. People will be culling because of the harsh winter we've already had and expect to have more. I wish we had more funds to at least pull ONE horse.

Anyone want to sponsor a Sanctuary horse or be willing to sponsor an auction horse? Figure $65 per bale and we would need five bales. We'd also most likely need to purchase grain but for now, hay is the most important part. Maybe for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, you'd rather sponsor a horse. $100 a month sponsors a horse at the Sanctuary. Or maybe this year, you'd like to help save a life.

This Is Horse Slaughter In Canada

A really good read:

https://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/this-is-horse-slaughter-in-canada/

Auction Horse

I didn't write this nor do I know the person. But she is doing her part in trying to save slaughter bound horses that are trapped at feedlots every week.



Week after week I see slaughterbound horses. I go to feedlots and auctions and you would think that maybe I would quit feeling by now. Every week I go to the feedlot in Sunnyside. There are usually a few familiar faces from the week before, but mostly new faces, and new stories, or sometimes no stories at all. Sometimes I wonder how there are just so many horses that week after week I try to save them and say goodbye to the ones that ship to slaughter, yet there are always more.
I sat and just looked at this little foal for a while tonight and wondered what kind of life he would have and hoped that he wouldn't come back and end up in this kind of situation again. He doesn't have a home yet, nor does his mother, but I will post them and I will try. That's all I can do is try, week after week, horse after horse. I sat there on the hay and watched the little foals as they escaped from their pen and played in the alleyway while munching on hay, oblivious that this is not a safe place for horses to be, but rather death row.
Many people have the assumption that just because this particular feedlot lets us list horses to give them a second chance, that horses that are desirable will be able to be rehomed, for example, kids horses. 
Last week all but one of the kids horses recently bought at an auction shipped to slaughter without even a chance to be listed. The truck came early and the load was filled. These were horses that were rehomeable horses but they were bought for the purpose of slaughter, as all are there. When the truck is there, there is no time to look through stories on horses and find out who they are. It really is tragic that these kids horses shipped but no horse is safe when bought by a kill buyer. If you are thinking about buying them at the auction then please do and do not wait for them to end up at a feedlot because they will not be guaranteed safe. He tries his best to keep horses who could go back to be good horses for people and lets us rehome them for what they would bring slaughter price, but he has to feed them too and often times is lucky to even break even on their resale. Kill buyers are horsemen too, no matter what anyone says. I don't think one kill buyer likes shipping a horse that he considers a good horse, but there are just so many and their business is slaughter, not rescue.
I looked through about 130 horses today and only 30 will probably be listed. How do you choose? What do you say to the friendly horse that comes up to you and wants to be your friend but is lame? You give him some love and walk away knowing that he will be on the next slaughter truck. It's the crippled ranch geldings that really get to me. These were good horses who took care of their people and ended up crippled from working so hard. They were not given the chance to retire but instead just sold for their meat to use them one last time. Sometimes I just don't know how I can do it anymore as I look at the pregnant mares I can't touch also in the ship pen. I feel like I fail each and every one of those horses in the ship pens. Surely there has to be someone for them too, but the truth is, there just aren't enough homes, and horses are expensive.
As always, I thank each and everyone of you for sharing these horses and hopefully reaching one person that had no idea of their plight. If even one person chooses to rescue and not breed, or doesn't send their horse to auction and seeks responsible rehoming instead, or chooses to euthanize their old horse, we are successful. I am always amazed at how we pull together as a community to save these horses week after week. For those horses it makes all the difference in the world and you have my deepest thanks. Tomorrow I will spend my day posting new horses. Please have a look and share if you could. It does make a difference. Thank you.



If you are interested in learning more, please go to http://auctionhorseswa.proboards.com/. You will want to do your own research on this group as there is controversy about feedlots and such but I thought I needed to share. At the Sanctuary, we try to provide homes for horses to retire but we can only do so much and we need your help. The horses need your help. For Christmas, maybe you can help sponsor a horse? $100 a month or even just $5 goes a long way in helping a senior horse.

"The Sales Yard"

Wow...

http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/michelle-anderson-at-home-with-horses/archive/2014/10/27/the-sales-yard.aspx


And in fact, I get people who find one of the Sanctuary horses and ask if he's up for adoption. No, I promised them a permanent home. But if they too were standing in an auction, they would not catch the eye of anyone in particular. No one would pay attention to Bo because he's not a Quarter Horse and he's ribby. No one would pay attention to Maverick because he's sorrel. They'd turn and run when they met Rabbit. They would fall in love with Dude until they got him home and tried to ride him, only to discover that his back end is bad (unless he's having a bad day and he's off in the back that day). Everyone would look like a plan horse if they arent' given a chance to shine.

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?

Playing Catchup

I’m not sure how the time got away from me this month. I’m barely keeping my head above water at my paying job. But that’s part of the working world right? Besides being swamped at the paying job, I’ve spent more quality time with the family.  My family has been there to support me physically, financially, and emotionally and now it’s my turn to return the favor. I was once told I didn’t have my priorities right and that I should be more focused on trail riding than rescue/sanctuary work, or even my family. All I can say is that I feel bad for those people who think that family shouldn’t be first and foremost.  And if that means I miss some event because I need to be with family, too bad. The door is always open to join our family in whatever activity; there’s always food on the table and a welcome smile.

There were three auctions this weekend I had contemplated attending. But I hadn’t hardened my heart against the loss I would feel at not being able to do anything. I refuse to be the type to put my head in the sand and ignore what’s going on. I don’t believe in the “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy but I am emotionally drained this month after a few non-horse related activities. There is only so much heartache a girl can take.  I am still considering going to the May 5^th horse auction in honor of Savanna, Sahara, and Prize (aka Jett) but we’ll see how prepared I am.

It’s difficult to go to the auctions when I know I can’t do a damn thing. As it stands, I had to turn down two 25 year old geldings last week. I simply cannot bring any more in until after my health improves. It’s frustrating because those oldsters are the ones that need the retirement home and deserve the rest and I can’t even offer that to them right now. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating. If someone would be willing to sponsor either or both, we could have considered taking them in but as things stand now, we cannot take any more in. It’s frustrating to see the need and not be able to fill it. There’s a saying in a Pixar movie that I keep tucked away in my brain, “See a need, fill a need.” The frustrating part is seeing the need and not being able to fill the need.

On the happier side of sanctuary life, I did get a chance to take Jim out for a quick mile ride the other day. Unfortunately, that was about the extent of my riding ability for now, short little bursts are about all I can handle.

Last night I walked around the corner to see Jim poking Maverick in the shoulder with a stick. The minute Jim saw me, he dropped the stick and acted like he hadn’t been doing anything wrong. I can’t figure Jim out. He’s so aloof and wants to act rough and tough but really he is a prankster. It’s fun to watch him torment Maverick (because Maverick needs it)! Of the two, I would have sworn Maverick to be the prankster not Jim.

The night before, I watched Maverick cut Chaos. It wasn’t the cutting like I’ve seen in the past where Maverick keeps the other horse away from the herd. Maverick was literally spinning on his back end like a cutting horse to keep Chaos where he was at. Now if Maverick had gotten down low to cut Chaos, I would have fallen down in shock.  I think with the proper education, Maverick could really be an amazing cutting horse. I figured I’d end up turning him in to a team penning horse but after seeing his moves the other night, I think he has a knack for cutting. I need to do a little bit of asking around to see if someone would be willing to try him out on a cow. Maybe I see something different than what others see or would feel while riding. But I’m too curious not to try it out. Anyone a cutting horse expert that wants to try Maverick out on a cow?

I am still debating on taking Jim to the HorsePower/Handi-Riders Horse Show this weekend. They have a gaited class but having not ridden him that much and him being out of shape (and my health not being in tip top shape), I’m not sure it wise to show him this time around. Our drill team is riding during the break. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been awhile since being around all those wonderful ladies. So much horse wisdom and so much kindness. It just amazes me and lifts my spirits. It’ll be my highlight of the week.

Last night we pushed a round bale in to the blind pen and let Queen wander the yard. She hasn’t been out since last week. She and I had a disagreement on her manners so she had to stay in the blind pen all of last week.

Chaos and I also had a disagreement on his behavior last week too. He ended up going into the timeout/naughty pen last week. The grass is starting to shoot up but I won’t let them out on the pasture. The pasture isn’t coming back and the minute I let them out, I won’t be able to catch them. But Chaos doesn’t care about that and managed to push on the fence. Two weeks ago, he decided that he would join the blind pen and eat off the round bale (which upset both Babe and Thor). Chaos  managed to wiggle his way into the blind pen twice before I got smart  about the fencing. Then after realizing there was green grass, he managed to take down a portion of the fence (and jump the other portion) to get to a pasture that is off limits for this year. What’s worse is that he took King along with (thank goodness he didn’t take the entire herd). I went out to do chores in the morning thinking I could do chores quick and head in for some family quality time. Nope, I had to wrangle Chaos and King back into the drylot and do some fencing. Chaos went into the timeout pen after that for a few days. But when I let him back into the drylot, he once again got past my temporary fencing (but luckily didn’t jump the fence again). I know he’s just bored but it’s so frustrating to find horses where they shouldn’t be. Luckily he’s behaved the last few days. I really don’t want to find him standing in my front lawn (which is where Queen goes when she escapes).  Let me add one caveat. We don’t have loose horses all the time. We do live on an old farm that used to run cattle and for anyone that’s been around cattle, you know that you can’t have anything nice. Cattle destroy fencing and we are slowly but surely replacing all of the fence. But it takes time and money, of which we are limited on both.

I’ll be glad for summer when the herd can be out on the pasture. I’m hoping to start the big herd on grass soon. I typically fence off a portion of the lawn and put them out there for a few minutes every  night. It’s easier to handle them when they are on the lawn rather than the pasture. If they don’t want to be caught in the pasture, there’s no way I can catch them. That’s not the case when I have them out on the lawn. I know I sound all hick by saying they are on the lawn but that’s just what it is. Guess I’m a hick.

I am excited for tonight. I am swinging by to see Jett (aka Sir Prize). It’s hard to believe that he’ll be a year old next month (May 10^th).  Of course, it’s hard to believe that tomorrow marks a year for Savanna. A year after escaping that hell she called life, she now has such a bright, bright future. She’s really come a long way. I have to thank S. for taking Jett and giving him the opportunity to grow. He is such an amazing little boy. Also, a huge thank you to Gentle Spirits for taking Savanna in to try and find her a permanent home that she so desperately deserves. That poor girl has seen more in her short six years than some horses see their entire lives. Just looking at the pictures of Savanna from this past weekend and the pictures of her the day after we pulled her from the auction shows the massive changes she’s gone through.  It goes to show what love and consistency can do. My hats off to Gentle Spirits and S. for all their hard work and dedication.  I am truly honored and humbled by all that you do.

Auciton Night

Tonight is the monthly Mitchell Horse Sale. In honor of Bo, I'm going. Hard to believe that a year ago this coming Monday we pulled Bo from this same auction. I haven't mentally prepared myself for a sale but I'm going anyway.

I won't be able to bring anyone home. We have no room and no funds. But I want to go in honor of Bo (who is my happy-go-lucky heart horse). He was definitely a diamond in the rough. I'm sure to be a total wreck by the end of the night, driving home in tears. I feel helpless just sitting here. Even if I can't bring anyone home, I can do the next best thing and remember them.

If anyone would like to go with, I'd love the company.

Auction Time :-(

October is auction season. There are two auctions coming up in October/November.

October 15th is the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Horse Sale starting at 11am. This is not a cataloged sale. I expect lots of horses and few buyers. I also expect that 95% of the loose horses will go to slaughter.

October 29th or November 5th is the Mitchell Livestock Horse Sale. Again, I expect 95% of the loose horses to go to slaughter.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to do something for these horses. We are full at Borderlands but if people would be willing to donate for the pull, vet, farrier, and feed, we could pull one or two, evaluate them, bring them to health and put them up for adoption.

Now is the time to do the right thing even with it's the hardest thing in the world. Even if you have no money, have no space, you DO have a voice. Speak out for those that do not have a voice. Here is your opportunity to Pay It Forward.

Auction Report from Fugly

Well, the new "Fugly" is attending auctions in Colorado. I'm glad someone else is going to auctions to report the types of horses, prices, and conditions. It's heart breaking and very stressful for both people and horses. After reading the report for the catalog/non-catalog horses, I'm scared to know what the loose horses would have been like.

I still don't know the kill buyers in this area. I know some of the traders (if only by appearance). I wish I had more cahoonas to step up and introduce myself and play hardball with them. You know, schmooze with them to see if I can't get my foot in the door. I don't always have to be the polite little chick sitting in the stands doing nothing. Although my farrier mentioned a name I didn't recongize but apparently the person in question knew me. Creepy. But I guess the more auctions I attend, the more people will recognize me too.

Anywho, I seem to be rambling but I wanted to share the link.
http://fuglyblog.com/2011/09/01/a-day-at-the-auction/

It's hard to take and upsetting but people need to be aware of the situation. Now is NOT the time to play osterich and put your head in the sand. As someone recently said, now is the time to scream!

Enumclaw Auction Experience

A good blog post about the Enumclaw auction in Washington state.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/horsebytes/2008/08/04/buy-low-and-forget-about-selling/

I honestly don't know if I could handle going to auctions like Enumclaw, New Holland, Shipshawanee, or Sugar Creek. I have a hard enough time with the few in this area.

July 15th Auction Results

I'm finally getting a chance to list the horses that were at the July 15th Mitchell Horse Sale. Stupid blogger won't let me format it nice so it's all in one heap. The information is listed as: Hip #, Price, Buyer, and Description.

The first part of the sale was the cataloged/non-cataloged horses. I think they were done running these horses through in just over an hour.


Riding Horses
2 $325 Trader Travis Tri paint gelding
3 $350/NS 2005 tri paint gelding
4 $225 813 4yr old reg brown mare
5 $300 803 Blk green broke gelding
6 $950 818 6yr old red roan grade gelding
7 $1000/NS 2004 reg brown mare broke but didn’t move around in ring
8 $225 Trader Travis 11yr old appy gelding
9 $175 Trader Travis 7yr old paint mule gelding broke
10 $1700 827 2005 reg buckskin gelding
11 NS/$1075. Wanted $1900. 1998 reg bay mare
13 $210 818 10yr old brown mare. Led in said to have soft front feet
15 $1200 820 2003 reg brown gelding
17 $700 801 17yr old reg buckskin mare *nice
18 $275 336 1998 reg chestnut broodmare
19 $375 803 Black gelding
?? $210 803 14yr old reg little black paint gelding
20 $400 Trader Travis 2007 reg palomino gelding
21 $200 831 2006 reg bay mare *calm
22 $1650 807 16yr old red buckskin gelding
23 $85 833 18month old buckskin gelding. Halterbroke
24 $200 843 5yr old paint mare
25 $300? ?? 16-20yr old mare. Broke
26 $460 839 12-13yr old palomino gelding. Broke


Loose Horses
7877 $200 336 chestnut gelding
7878 $210 819 sorrel gelding
7879 $225 831 sorrel gelding
7881 $210 843 sorrel mare
7873 $235 831 reg bay roan mare
7872 $250 336 exposed reg bay mare
7875 $20 ?? bay weanling with bad feet
7876 $50 814 red roan weanling colt
7874 $20 832 bay gelding yearling?
7855 $100 ?? appy stud
78?? $5 ?? palomino pony filly weanling (private buyer)
7852 $100 819 mare
7863 free 844 shetland baby (private buyer)
7853 $100 831 appy mare
7934 $200 843 cremello mare w/ brand
7933 $300 814 gray gelding broke to drive from NE. had too tighter halter on **gorgeous
$30 ?? mini sorrel mare w/ paint mini baby (private buyer)
$30 ?? mini sorrel mare w/paint mini baby (private buyer)
$30 ?? bred silver mini mare (private buyer)
7858 $20 832 sorrel stud
78?? $20 843 sorrel stud
7856 $20 845 sorrel mare
7862 $60 819 sorrel mare
7854 $60 845 2003 reg appy stud
7851 $30 831 palomino mare
7857 $30 831 black mare
No # $10 843 appy filly
7859 $10 846 sorrel baby
7868 $600 839 1996 reg black gelding **my pick of the night. Absolutely gorgeous
7869 $700 839 12yr old bay gelding
7882 $75 819 reg 2yr old buckskin filly
7885 $80 833 reg 2yr old rose gray filly
?? $60 838 reg 2yr old sorrel filly
7890 $10 843 2yr old cremello gelding/stud? Thin
7886 $135 837 reg 2yr buckskin filly
7888 $40 819 reg 2yr sorrel filly
7883 $135 837 reg 2yr buckskin filly
?? $50 831 reg 2yr buckskin filly
?? $50 831 grade 2yr bay filly
7893 $?? ?? buckskin mare lame on right rear
7894 $110 843 sorrel mare with big knees
7892 $335 845 buckskin gelding *beauty
7924 $175 336 reg 1998 black paint broodmare (same owner for 9 horses)
7931 $250 336 2005 reg black and white mare
7928 $250 336 2005 reg sorrel paint mare
7927 $250 336 2001 reg bay paint mare
7925 $160 819 2005 reg tri paint mare
7930 $160 831 reg tri paint mare
7929 $235 842 reg 1999 black paint mare broke to ride
7932 $175 336 reg 1994 sorrel paint mare
7926 $135 819 reg 1998 sorrel paint (hildalgo)
7938 $250 831 8yr black/brown mare broke
7133 $30 ?? mini mule jenny
7131 $20 832 appy gelding
?? free Dennis paint with bad feet
7133 $5 819 sorrel gelding
7139 $30 845 chestnut mare
7134 $30 814 red roan filly
7130 free ?? black filly * pretty went to private buyer
7174 $110 843 big bay gelding
7132 $185 819 black and white paint mare
?? No Value sorrel paint gelding
?? No Value sorrel paint gelding
?? No Value chestnut stud
7891 $85 819 black paint mare
7141 No Value sorrel gelding
7867 $110 840 black and white stud
7870 $10 843 bay w/ hernia


Now you may understand why I think we need to fundraise to pull horses from auctions. I have a number of horses that came from auctions that are diamonds in the rough. Most of the loose horses went to killbuyers. Let's stop this madness. How are ways we can save horses from these terrible auctions?

Epic Fail

Tonight's auction was totally discouraging. The entire auction lasted three hours and was done by 9pm. I cried all the way home.

I took down prices and descriptions. I'll post later once I've recovered from such an epic fail auction.

A Question For You

Here’s my thought and question to you. I’ve followed the Camelot Rescue (where an auction buys horses for slaughter but allows a group of people to fundraise and pull these horses (after the auction) before they are slated for “the truck” to slaughter. The sale takes place Wed night and the horses must have homes by Saturday morning. It’s a fast and furious pace to rescue these horses.

Unfortunately in the Midwest, this method is not allowed. You are forced to buy the horse during the auction. There is no opportunity to buy a horse after the auction. I would like to follow in Project Sage’s footsteps and raise money to pull one or two horses from an auction, quarantine that horse(s) for 30 days, evaluate the horse, and then adopt him/her out (with the help of surrounding rescues). Think it’s possible to accomplish something like that? The money from the adoption fee would go back into the auction rescue fund and another horse would be pulled.

August is the beginning of the “dumping season”. Kids go back to school, people realize that summer is almost over and we’ll be faced with six months of winter and daily chores. I’m already seeing cheap horses and it’s still prime riding season. What’s going to happen when August rolls around and people begin “thinning the herd”?

There are always cheap/No Value horses that run through an auction. But those same horses require medical care and major training. We would only bid against the killbuyer and could possibly bid on horses that fit someone requirements. Keep in mind every horse will have some type of quirk. It’ll be a matter of figuring out that quirk.

A good friend once said that sometimes there’s nothing wrong with a loose horse other than a bad home (or something like that). It’s been a 50/50 shot of getting an outstanding horse. Take for instance Bo and Savanna. Bo is trained to ride (although we are holding off yet on riding him until he’s back to proper weight). He’s a happy go lucky horse who only wants to please. Savanna is an unknown and most likely only been a broodmare. She cribs something fierce but is tolerant of me bumbling around. She’s not happy go lucky and she’s also mare-ish so I’m guessing that’s why I struggle (I’m mare-ish enough, I don’t need another mare rubbing her mare-ish behaviors off on me). But each horse should be given a chance to blossom. I believe that once Savanna is to the proper weight and not having to take care of a baby, she’ll turn into a stunning girl.

We don’t typically adopt horses. Our program focuses on the oldsters who need a retirement home where they can live out the rest of their life (may it be years or months or days). But there’s too many good horses going to slaughter and we just can’t sit back and watch it happen. There’s a little Pixar movie that I watch sometimes called Robots and there’s a line in it that has stuck with me. “See a need, fill a need.” There is a need to pull horses from the loose auctions. The horses’ only fault is a bad home. Let’s try to “fill that need” and place some good horses in good homes.

So, think it’s possible to fundraise to pull one or two horses? This Friday is the Mitchell Horse Sale, too late to fundraise but I’ll go to figure out standard prices so that we can have a better idea of what we would be dealing with as far as initial cost. Anyone want to come with? I expect it’ll be fairly short. What are your thoughts? Am I off my rocker on trying to tackle such a project? I’d like to hear your thoughts. If you have any good ideas for fundraising, I’d love to hear those too. The more information the better!

July 15th Sale

I will be heading to the Mitchell Horse Sale July 15th. It starts at 6pm with catalog horses, then moves to non-catalog horses, and finishes up with loose horses. I won't be able to bring anyone home but I want/need to go anyway. If you are looking for something specific, let me know and I'll see if he/she is there. If you want to go with, please let me know. I'd love the company.

Keep your fingers crossed that all will find good homes. My very good friend's son was able to pull a horse from an auction a couple weeks back. Made a deal with the buyer and when asked what the buyer was going to do with the horse "send her to slaughter". What was wrong with the horse you ask, NOTHING. She's young and not broke.

Now is the time to start brainstorming how we can keep good horses from ending up in killbuyer hands. Killbuyers are out to fill their loads and they are looking for those that are plumb, doesn't matter if they are broke to ride and someone's pet. It doesn't matter if they are the best darn horse in the world, if it fills their load they want 'em. Let's put a stop to them.

Auction

I hestiated on going. I didn't have the mind set but we went anyway. I didn't last. So many very nice looking horses in the loose horse sale today at the Mitchell Horse Sale. It totally blows my mind to see a Fjord gelding and a beautiful black Percheron mare standing in the pens. There was even a branded sorrel mare with shoes on the front standing in the loose pen. What really broke my heart was the trio who were so friendly. Two drop dead gorgeous gray mares and a palomino with flaxen mane and tail (beautiful). So friendly, so interested and willing to do anything. I couldn't stay. I couldn't stay knowing they were headed to slaughter.

My only hope was that there were a lot of trailers and the parking lot was packed. My hope is that because it's spring, there are a lot of people interseted in buying a horse for summer trail rides. Those three would be stunnding on a trail or in the show ring. They really didn't even need much more than a grooming and a farrier to put them into the show spotlight to win some ribbons.

But we are full and I know we couldn't take any more. It broke my heart. I couldn't stay.

The worst part was standing there watching a dad unload a trailer load of horses while his son talked with the horses and even encouraged the horses to run around and beat on the trailer to get them out. Nothing like teaching the young about being cruel to animals.

These people apparently breed appaloosas and are from Plankington. sSs Appaloosas. That's all I Can remember. Who knows if they picked them up and is a trader or if they were his actual horses. Two sets of horses that would have made beautiful driving teams, but both sets unhandled. And some of them had names, or at least the kid had names for them. Unbelievable.

I couldn't even go in and watch this time around. I wasn't prepared for this auction. I apparently hadn't hardened my heart like I normally do for auctions. All I want to do is sit here and cry for a little while.

Brego and Ivan

Mayhem

Auction Today :-(

I'm planning on leaving soon to attend the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Horse Sale. The sale starts atl 11am. I like to be there an hour early so that I can look through the loose horses without much interference.

The new management has changed where they put the loose horses so it might make it easier to see them while the auction is going. For whatever reason, the loose horses are kept very close to the auction ring and the consigned horses go up and down the aisles of the loose horses. It was different last time so we'll see.

I really don't like auctions. I'm actually a little queezy just thinking about it. I know some enjoy going to auctions to just hang out and spend the day. It's not the case for me. All I see are so many "potential family members" going to kill. I don't know what more I can do. Being that we are a sanctuary where we keep them until their dying day rather than a rescue where we screen and find potential homes, it's a little hard to take in many. I should probably change our focus but I'm drawn to the oldsters. They deserve just as much respect as those young 'uns.

We'll see how today goes. I'm not in a position to bring anyone home. We are maxed out. There are horses now in every pen and even in temporary pens. I'm still trying to come up with a permanent solution for Thor, which is giving me a bit of a headache. I'm contemplating having Thor and Babe meet to see if that would be a good combination. They met once before this past fall but that was a whole different time and a whole different situation.

Keep your fingers crossed that there are no real bad starvation cases at the auction (although that's now hardly the case since the state wont' allow super thin horses to run through). I'm sure there will be a dozen or so that catch my eye.

I'm not sure how many horses will even be there what with this being Easter Weekend. I hope that there are a lot of people and not a lot of horses. Now to settle my nerves. Think I'll go out and do chore and give everyone a great big hug and tell them how blessed I am to have them here.

Please pray for those that aren't going to make it today.