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Going to the auction

2K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  OutOfTheLoop 
#1 ·
Tomorrow evening, my family and I will be attending the D. R. Chambers & Sons auction located in Unadilla, NY. On every Friday, the auction runs horses through with the average price of $50 per horse.

However, tomorrow's auction will be a bit different as trail horses, coming out of Texas, will be running through. Since I am in the market for my very first horse I figured I would drive up to take a look around. I know the horses will be going for a lot more, as I doubt they will be selling them at meat prices, so I'm making sure to bring some extra cash just in case.

I understand that the auction isn't the greatest place to purchase my first horse even if trail horses are running through. So, let me ease your mind and tell you that even if I do find one there that strikes my fancy, he/she will be boarded at my riding barn where my instructor/trainer is there 24/7.

I've been told I should enter the auction with a cold heart as to not get attached to every single horse that runs through. Is there anything else I should prepare myself or keep an eye out for?
 
#2 ·
Take someone VERY experienced with you. I would also suggest you have your ducks all in a row prior. Transport, quarantine, vet, etc. It is hard not to want to save them all........especially the young ones. Wish is was a little closer-I would be there. It is about 3 hours...a bit far for a friday night alone.
 
#3 ·
Definitely go in with a cold heart. I wish I could send all the meat buyers to slaughter themselves but that's for a different thread.

Is there any way you can buy that's not at an auction? I know you're looking for cheap but I have heard so many stories of auctions gone wrong, it's very common to drug a horse up and get them out for the highest price possible. If a horse is going to auction for meat price then that horse doesn't have a working life ahead of it, and if it does it will take a lot of time to recuperate it.

I despise auctions so really wouldn't know what to look for, but I guess I will give the tip to look in the horse's eyes. Even if it looks like a good horse from the stand it's probably smarter to go with one that has any light in its eyes and is a little off versus a dull horse that is quite possibly so drugged it wouldn't know if a truck hit it. After you get the horse keep a close eye on it for the first week or two, enough time for possible drugs to wear off. You might have to call the vet for euthanasia if it has a bad injury.
 
#4 ·
Before you bid, get the auctioneer to give you a garuntee. The auctioneer will ask the seller, and if the seller says ok, he will garuntee the horse. If the seller wont give garuntee, either somethings wrong, or they simply do not know. If you do get it, and the horse isn't what you bought a few days later, you will have to get your money back from the sellers not the auction.
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