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| Local Auctions, Reactions to Recent Events |
Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:42 pm (PST)
From: Christy Sheidy
Permission to crosspost...
Auction report.... Last night they no sale'd one that was over $2,000.00 a
couple ponies brought $900 - $1,000. I saw a couple that have been in
circulation for a while a walkaloosa mare that brought $1,900 at New Holland
a few weeks ago was sold last night for $900 too hot for the owner
reportedly.... so prices were up and down the lowest that I saw were babies
that were brought in from out west with great pedigree's they were no sale'd
because they didn't bring enough and a TB gelding older huge who was stocked
up from standing he brought only $300.00.
--------------Previous Report
USESR volunteers attended the Weatherford Auction on March 10. There was no shortage of the usual horses there- untrained, unregistered, unknown horses. There was a full crowd present for the tack sales, which take place prior to the horses coming out, but there was no problem finding a seat once the tack portion ended. Even so, all of the horses were selling, except for the occasional "P.O" (pulled out due to the highest bid being too low for the seller).
The regular killer-buyers/horse traders were there, and apart from the noticeably smaller crowd of buyers, nothing had changed from our last visit.
A 2 year old or 4 year old sorrel stallion (the seller did not know the horse's age), halter broke only, sold first, for $120.00.
4 year old bay stallion, wearing a catch rope, halter broke only, no papers, sold for $100.00.
A 4 year old bay mare with "saddle stains" (pressure points where the hair has turned white from improper saddle fitting) sold for $110.00, because the seller did not know whether she was broke to ride or not. Obviously, we were seeing the product of so many horse traders- horses who have been so passed around that they are not given a chance to become socialized to humans, or will not find a good home because their talents are completely unknown. Being passed around from auction to auction to auction is very damaging to the equine's mental state, not to mention other risks, such as health/the exposure to so many unvaccinated/un-cared for horses, deadly kicks from strange horses who are also terrified and insecure, etc.
On the other hand, a black filly out of a son of Gray Starlight, but without papers, green broke, gives up feet, and the rider dismounted and pulled on her tail to show how gentle she is, sold for $875.00 and a sorrel and white 'Pinto' mare who was well-broke, went for $660.00.
Next, a 2-year old red dun filly with 60 days under saddle, sold for $530.00.
A small bay stallion, 3 years old and standing approximately 13 hands high, sold for $50.00, no papers.
The saddest time came when an impressively large, well-built, 18 year old gelding was brought into the ring by his owner, how painstakingly explained to the bidders that a chiropractor said that he could collapse on someone at any time and would not be safe for anyone to ride. The only explanation given was, "nerve damage". The owner/seller was almost in tears, and when the bidding began, it was fierce. We didn't get how much the horse sold for, because we hurried to the back to talk to the owner. She said that she is aware of horse rescues, but also said, "what else could I do with him?", which didn't ring true, because she knew about rescues and rejected them. She chose to get whatever small amount of money she could get for him, knowing what his fate would be.
Overall, it appeared that the problems associated with auction horses kept prices down when appropriate, but where no problems were evident, horses sold for somewhat high amounts, as has always been the case, and probably always will be, no matter what the slaughter market does. It has always been USESR's position that no horse's value is, or ever has been, set by the slaughterhouse. People have said that slaughter prices hold the market value of a horse at a set amount, that amount being what the slaughterhouses pay per pound. That never made any sense, because the only sellers collecting that set price, are the killer-buyers. The original seller only receives the lower amount that the killer-buyer pays them. Concerning sales prices that are anywhere above the slaughterhouse price per pound, those prices are based on the merits of the horse being sold, not upon what the slaughterhouses pay the killer-buyers. Most people who buy and sell horses, and are not horse traders who also ship horses to slaughter, never even know what the slaughterhouses are paying.
Horse auctions have historically been vilified by our side, because they are where most killer-buyers get their horses, but to everyone else, they serve the same purpose as the slaughterhouse itself- as a dumping ground for neglected horses whose owners just want to eek out the last penny they can get from them. That is why even after horse slaughter is illegal in the U.S., auctions will still continue on, and remain the dumping grounds for human error, and the financial reward for cruelty.
-------Previous Report:
USESR volunteers attended the Weatherford Auction on Saturday, January 27. Attendance was a high as ever, with the usual "standing room only" number of attendees. There were around 30 horses, as well as approximately half a dozen donkeys. Some people in attendance were not aware that horses were not being slaughtered, indicating that not every horse trader keeps close tabs on the slaughterhouses. Those who did not know about the recent change, did not seem concerned at all. One attendee stated that she was unhappy that no horses are being slaughtered at the plants in Texas, because she believes abuse and abandoment will ensue shortly.
Horses who were unproven, unregistered, and/or had behavioral issues went for around $150, which didn't seem to surprise any of the regulars, as hay prices in Texas are so expensive right now. Well-trained, proven, sound, healthy, gentle riding horses, with or without papers, went for around $500. One Poco Bueno decendant proved that buyers in this area are looking for horses they can use, and are not particularly interested in breeding at this time. Here are a few examples:
18 year old grey gelding; not ridden lately, was being ridden in the ring. $500.00.
2 year old bay filly, not registered, not broke. $50.00.
13 year old bay QH. "Has papers, but no transfer certificate". Out of Poco Poco Doc. $1,700.
5 year old gelding with 30 days under saddle. $250.
16 year old sorrel mare. Gentle to ride, but she will bite you if she can. $120.
3 or 4 year old (nobody knew) sorrel gelding. Sound, gentle, "been heeled on". $600 (seller wanted at least $750, so he was p.o.'d)
6 year old bay stallion. Coggins said he was 8 years. $100.
8 year old brown gelding, with Dash for Cash bloodlines. Registered. "Might be limping". $150.
3 year old gelding, broke to ride. $160.
6 year old sorrel stallion, registered AQHA. Doc Bar, Daktari and Royal King close in bloodlines. Not broke to ride. Seller claims he's bred him to Palominos for the past several years and he always produces a Palomino foal. $350.
14 year old roan gelding (I thought he looked like a grey; he was 'white'). "Was in a feed yard in W. Texas. Kid horse". $310.
6 year old gelding, being ridden in the ring. Red roan. Very flashy. $420.
Please keep in mind that these are auction horses. Traditionally, horses who find themselves at auction are there because they have some hidden defect; otherwise, they would be sold for much more on the open market. For instance, a 14 year old kid gentle, broke to ride, experienced work horse, would not sell for such a low amount in the newspaper. Plenty of people want horses like that for their young children to compete on, or to carry young riders safely and calmly down a trail. Bidders figure there's more to the story than that, or he wouldn't be in an auction, going for 'bottom dollar' to the 'top bidder'.
We invite you to share your auction reports in our "comments" section, below. Reports are most welcome, and will be used by anti-slaughter volunteers to compile information and interpret the immediate, future needs of rescue organizations and slaughter industry rumors.
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