Horse club

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I have a whole farm full of my own creatures.
Ruth, the auction mule and the Aztca yearling whom she babysits. View attachment 1852399 View attachment 1852401 I have 2 GRPs (one pictured above), one in foal for a 2020 half Welsh, a 2yo quarter horse project (pictured below annoying my saint of a lesson horse), a 5 year old grade prospect and a few lesson horses. I have a 22 horse barn, so the rest if filled with board and training horses.
View attachment 1852402 View attachment 1852403

Oh wow! They’re beautiful. I wish My family could afford that many horses!

 

[OneTwoMany]

Oh wow! They’re beautiful. I wish My family could afford that many horses!

It helps when they pay their way (except for Ruth) and are all for sale for the right price.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

It helps when they pay their way (except for Ruth) and are all for sale for the right price.

Oh wow. Your selling them? My 3 horses that I have had.

Tilly (dappled grey)
Hudson (liver chestnut)
Max (grey)

 

[CJLR]

1) I have a "kill pen" mule. You can go straight to your local auction and outbid the kill buyers (the guys or gals buying everything under $300 -sometimes way less- or so). You, and hopefully your trainer or trusted experienced horse person, can walk through and ask questions before the horses are run through the auction. One the kill buyers buy them, the will try to flip the pretty/sound/sob stories for up to 10x the purchase price. Remember every dollar you spend to get a horse "off the truck" can buy three more direct ship horses who you will never see posted on the "ThE TrUcK Is CoMiNg" sites.
Oh, and remember that horses end up at auctions for a reason. Those reasons can be career ending, injuries temperament or training, or sometimes bad luck. The plus side is that for relatively little money, you fully own a horse to do with what you please. There are some diamonds in the rough. I have quite a few horses in my barn that I found through less conventional means... but only the mule was a "kill pen" purchase.View attachment 1852395

2) If you are a novice horse owner or rider, always buy a horse that you can ride today. Too many people buy a horse to grow into and end up being overworked, getting scared and quitting horses. Anyone buying their first youngster should be working closely with a trusted mentor or trainer. Remember, putting a solid foundation on a youngster is the best insurance you can give your horse in life.

3) Work with a trainer to answer this question. Remember it costs as much to feed/shoe/care for a nice horse as a problem horse.

4) The biggest drawback for most adoptions is the lack of ownership, so it is actually more of a longterm lease. That may work for some people, but as a horse trainer I put training on horses to sell to good, appropriate homes. I have no interest in putting training on a horse that I do not own. But that's me. To each their own.

Signed,
USDF Silver medalist, USPC instructor, WDAA Train-the-Trainer grad

Attached is Ruth Brayder Ginsburg, former kill pen mule.

ok thankyou so much I do have experience with taking care of horses just not that much experience riding them.

 

[TropicalBabies]

1) I have a "kill pen" mule. You can go straight to your local auction and outbid the kill buyers (the guys or gals buying everything under $300 -sometimes way less- or so). You, and hopefully your trainer or trusted experienced horse person, can walk through and ask questions before the horses are run through the auction. One the kill buyers buy them, the will try to flip the pretty/sound/sob stories for up to 10x the purchase price. Remember every dollar you spend to get a horse "off the truck" can buy three more direct ship horses who you will never see posted on the "ThE TrUcK Is CoMiNg" sites.
Oh, and remember that horses end up at auctions for a reason. Those reasons can be career ending, injuries temperament or training, or sometimes bad luck. The plus side is that for relatively little money, you fully own a horse to do with what you please. There are some diamonds in the rough. I have quite a few horses in my barn that I found through less conventional means... but only the mule was a "kill pen" purchase.View attachment 1852395

2) If you are a novice horse owner or rider, always buy a horse that you can ride today. Too many people buy a horse to grow into and end up being overworked, getting scared and quitting horses. Anyone buying their first youngster should be working closely with a trusted mentor or trainer. Remember, putting a solid foundation on a youngster is the best insurance you can give your horse in life.

3) Work with a trainer to answer this question. Remember it costs as much to feed/shoe/care for a nice horse as a problem horse.

4) The biggest drawback for most adoptions is the lack of ownership, so it is actually more of a longterm lease. That may work for some people, but as a horse trainer I put training on horses to sell to good, appropriate homes. I have no interest in putting training on a horse that I do not own. But that's me. To each their own.

Signed,
USDF Silver medalist, USPC instructor, WDAA Train-the-Trainer grad

Attached is Ruth Brayder Ginsburg, former kill pen mule.

well said with qualifications to do so. Aloha and welcome to BYC and horse club. What part of the world are you at? B E A U T I F U L set up. I'd love to see and hear more about what you are doing so I can live vicariously through you- without the cost, workload sore back and bruises of course- or maybe just be jealous or inspired- in a good way. I have never seen anything but a western saddle on a mule before... lol RBG is looking very refine! Wishing you both many good years together, lucky mule to land a gig like companion horse/baby sitter. Is she sound? Do you or have you had other mules? Our island has a big mule culture, wanted mostly by hunters for their sure footedness.
What brought you to the kill pen, how often do you go and how many times have you adopted for your own needs? You go shopping with students ever? With the picture you painted I wonder what the good horseflesh ratio is? Again, I have never been to a kill pen but will most likely go when i make it to the mainland. Just for the experience.

 

[TropicalBabies]

ok thankyou so much I do have experience with taking care of horses just not that much experience riding them.

Half way there!!!

 

[CJLR]

Half way there!!!

yes lol

 

[OneTwoMany]

well said with qualifications to do so. Aloha and welcome to BYC and horse club. What part of the world are you at? B E A U T I F U L set up. I'd love to see and hear more about what you are doing so I can live vicariously through you- without the cost, workload sore back and bruises of course- or maybe just be jealous or inspired- in a good way. I have never seen anything but a western saddle on a mule before... lol RBG is looking very refine! Wishing you both many good years together, lucky mule to land a gig like companion horse/baby sitter. Is she sound? Do you or have you had other mules? Our island has a big mule culture, wanted mostly by hunters for their sure footedness.
What brought you to the kill pen, how often do you go and how many times have you adopted for your own needs? You go shopping with students ever? With the picture you painted I wonder what the good horseflesh ratio is? Again, I have never been to a kill pen but will most likely go when i make it to the mainland. Just for the experience.

I NEVER go to kill pens or sale barns unless I hear through the grapevine (you know how horse people talk) about a very nice horse that is being auctioned due to stablemans lien. There is absolutely no guarentee of soundness/function/health/age and all kinds of icky diseases run rampant. I would never recommend any student of mine purchase from the kill pen. Like I said, I purchase horses I dont adopt them. Good training is value added to any horse and this lets me sell safe dressage horses to students or students of other trainers. As a trainer i can better find a perfect match for my students from other private sellers. It is hard enough to learn dressage, so buying a project horse should be saved until the rider is quite proficient at fixing issues.

I try not to be a sucker and buy too many hard luck stories (like Ruth), but I have the knowledge and room to rehab or retire one or two worst case scenarios. Fortunately, I love ruth even if shes not a dressage horse and she is more of a pet than anything and welcome to live out her life here.

On the other front, I run a Dressage training barn in south east Texas. I'm currently hiding from the heat on my day off.

Other than the ponies, I have 4 hens and 2 roos (a valentines day gift for my SO), which is why i joined this community instead of the horse boards i used to frequent.

And finally our Mini Highland Cow, Rhona. Hopefully she'll have her first calf in 2020.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I NEVER go to kill pens or sale barns unless I hear through the grapevine (you know how horse people talk) about a very nice horse that is being auctioned due to stablemans lien. There is absolutely no guarentee of soundness/function/health/age and all kinds of icky diseases run rampant. I would never recommend any student of mine purchase from the kill pen. Like I said, I purchase horses I dont adopt them. Good training is value added to any horse and this lets me sell safe dressage horses to students or students of other trainers. As a trainer i can better find a perfect match for my students from other private sellers. It is hard enough to learn dressage, so buying a project horse should be saved until the rider is quite proficient at fixing issues.
Thanks for your story. It would be amazing to be able to purchase the horse that you took lessens on and were probably very attached to, if you/your parents could afford it... but I bet those babies are pricey. I guess coming from a standpoint of not having a lot of money to purchase a pony and/or having a bleeding heart, low expectations like pleasure/trail lol, maybe a pipe dream... a body could find a decent horse, definitely a project horse to some extent at the auctions. Give the hopeless some hope. If you were careful, had a good vet, did your research, had experience and a good eye or friend with. Could be done. You probably wont have the prettiest horse on the block but possibly the most grateful.
I have seen way too many people get a bad deal privately after spending big $$$. I guess it is all risky business... just super risky at the auction.

I try not to be a sucker and buy too many hard luck stories (like Ruth), but I have the knowledge and room to rehab or retire one or two worst case scenarios. Fortunately, I love ruth even if shes not a dressage horse and she is more of a pet than anything and welcome to live out her life here.
Yes, if it is your living it is probably not wise to expose your stock to disease. That could effect you real quick with down horses and vet bills. Shutter to think...

On the other front, I run a Dressage training barn in south east Texas. I'm currently hiding from the heat on my day off.
Oh yes, I know that one well. I love the winter, spring and fall months. Not a fan of summer. It bites and seems like our only season has been summer lately. Yuck.

Other than the ponies, I have 4 hens and 2 roos (a valentines day gift for my SO), which is why i joined this community instead of the horse boards i used to frequent.
Nice chicken (a polish ???) and cow (cute as can be!). Forgive me, we are having rolling black outs... I've been tossed off twice and losing my train of thought and patience.
Mahalo for sharing. Pretty cool little outfit you have going there. Yeeehaa!
Would love it if you continue to share especially new borns
View attachment 1853079

And finally our Mini Highland Cow, Rhona. Hopefully she'll have her first calf in 2020.View attachment 1853081

 

[Peaches Lee]

1) I have a "kill pen" mule. You can go straight to your local auction and outbid the kill buyers (the guys or gals buying everything under $300 -sometimes way less- or so). You, and hopefully your trainer or trusted experienced horse person, can walk through and ask questions before the horses are run through the auction. One the kill buyers buy them, the will try to flip the pretty/sound/sob stories for up to 10x the purchase price. Remember every dollar you spend to get a horse "off the truck" can buy three more direct ship horses who you will never see posted on the "ThE TrUcK Is CoMiNg" sites.
Oh, and remember that horses end up at auctions for a reason. Those reasons can be career ending, injuries temperament or training, or sometimes bad luck. The plus side is that for relatively little money, you fully own a horse to do with what you please. There are some diamonds in the rough. I have quite a few horses in my barn that I found through less conventional means... but only the mule was a "kill pen" purchase.View attachment 1852395

2) If you are a novice horse owner or rider, always buy a horse that you can ride today. Too many people buy a horse to grow into and end up being overworked, getting scared and quitting horses. Anyone buying their first youngster should be working closely with a trusted mentor or trainer. Remember, putting a solid foundation on a youngster is the best insurance you can give your horse in life.

3) Work with a trainer to answer this question. Remember it costs as much to feed/shoe/care for a nice horse as a problem horse.

4) The biggest drawback for most adoptions is the lack of ownership, so it is actually more of a longterm lease. That may work for some people, but as a horse trainer I put training on horses to sell to good, appropriate homes. I have no interest in putting training on a horse that I do not own. But that's me. To each their own.

Signed,
USDF Silver medalist, USPC instructor, WDAA Train-the-Trainer grad

Attached is Ruth Brayder Ginsburg, former kill pen mule.

What a cute little mule, and I love her name too!