$1 horses.......are these people for real??????

[MaggieRae]

Apparently, around here they got rid of some of the ag exempt laws when it comes to horse breeding. This is horse area so it's really hurting the equine business. I haven't looked it up since I don't run a farm, but there's been a serious influx of horses into the market because big farms are leaving the business.

 

[scbatz33]

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They did that in KY too. i was shocked when I moved back here to see what kinds of stupid legislation has been passed to hurt the horse industry. What people round here don't seem to get is the "big boys", the Sheiks, the Irish, the Japanese, don't HAVE to keep their farms here. They have enough money to put those farms, those horses with the HUGE stud fees anywhere in the WORLD. If they pull out, Kentucky will not exist in the way it has for the past 100+ years.

It will look like Detroit when the auto industry crashed, or West Pa when the steel mills left. People are so short sighted to not SEE that the horse industry isn't just about The Derby. So many people and businesses depend on the horse industry.

Not to mention, when the farms go under and some mini mall or subdivision developer buys it up, you can't turn that back into a horse farm. You can't make an asphalt parking lot rolling hills - once it's done, it's done.

 

[Msbear]

Im planning a trip to the New Holland auction in a few weeks or so to pick up some drafts or crosses. Im interested in some trail horses and maybe a pony for my son. I was doing some research and came across a video of a small childrens pony being led through and purchased by "the meat man" and I can't get it out of my head. Im not some driven activist but, something about sound, healthy horses going to slaughter and treated like they are ... just meat is something I cannot understand. Im thankful the US slaughter houses were shut down but, now they are just sent on these incredible journeys to Canada and Mexico. They don't get fed or watered or rested... just so sad. It is a double edged sword because there are many sick, old and unrideable/unuseable horses that may have no other option if no one is willing to give them a spot as a companion animal. It's a sad necessity I think... but, horses are being stolen out of fields to be sold as meat and horses are healthy and could be of use and are sold as meat and not even given the chance... so sad

Im trying to mentally prepare myself for what I may see and bring someone with me to help pick out some horses with the best chance of a speedy recovery.

 

[CCFarms9559]

In Ky, there are people who drive to a rest area, tie up the horses and drive away. They changed the law so you can shorten the time before they are declared abandoned and adopt them. People can't afford to feed them in this economy. Very sad.

 

[scbatz33]

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Going to New Holland is a VERY VERY bad idea. Never heard a single good thing about that place and it's the last place I'd voluntarily go. Just sayin'

 

[scbatz33]

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Keeneland now locks up the empty trailers so abandoned sale horses are loaded into unsuspecting people's trailers. KEENELAND for crying out loud!

 

[Msbear]

I know it's terrible but, some nice horses have been bought there. Im not expecting to find anything fantastic and may even just purchase mares with foals .. as they too get purchased for slaughter. I have lots of friends in my area and most with horses. Im thinking I could pawn off some companion horses on them if I cannot find homes for them anywhere else... If I can get rid of the ones I get, I may do it again.

Im most scared about getting overwhelmed with vet bills because I cannot afford thousands of dollars on them after I just spent what I'll have to in order to buy them and get them home.

 

[scbatz33]

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Those stakes mares were at New Holland.

 

[patandchickens]

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Admittedly this was back in the 70s and 80s, but a very high proportion of the horses I rode/trained when I was growing up were from New Holland. The barn owner went there every month or so, bought whatever he thought looked useful for something, and used them for lessons and for more-advanced students to work with until they could be sold. (He sold a lot of horses). Very, very few of the horses he brought home from New Holland did not turn out to be happily-and-soundly useful for SOMEthing.... although some of them, their niche in life was "beginnery backyard pet" whereas others wound up doing local hunter shows or, in a few cases, even rated shows.

Now mind you his father was an old Irish horse trader and the both of them were quite gifted at knowing what they were looking at, plus which they went there often enough that they knew whose horses to buy and whose not to. And there were lots and lots of ones NOT to.

But still, it was clearly easily-possible to get good horses there, at least back then and through the 90s. If (and its a BIG if) you have the right combination of knowledge, horse-experience, auction experience, and willingness to gamble. Which frankly is true of buying horses at ANY auction.

JME,

Pat

 

[sgtmom52]

I live in the Central PA and this was just posted on CL. She is a nice looking pony.

http://york.craigslist.org/grd/1901460302.html

5 year old grulla pony!! Must sell going to auction!!
Date: 2010-08-16, 10:59AM EDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

TRAFFIC SAFE, KID SAFE, SOUND AND UTD, RIDES ENGLISH WESTERN, BAREBACK, HALTER AND LEAD IT DONT MATTER GOOD BROKE WTC AND BACKS, JUMPS NICE, NICE MOVER, AMAZING SHOW QUALITY CONFORMATION!! NEEDS TO GO SHE IS GOING TO AUCTION FRIDAY..800 OBO