Has anyone EVER had good luck with an auction horse?

We have bought one horse thru an auction and he is a true gem. BUT it was a pre screened, money back if there was anything found wrong with the horse within three days auction. So 99% of the horses were pre-vetted, and shown on cattle and went for some pretty high prices. You always take a chance when you buy a horse (yes, private sellers are capable of being dishonest, to) , and even more of one when you buy thru a small auction barn (Saturday night sales). I wish your husband a speedy recovery. As far as the horse goes, there are just to many good ones to put up with a nut case. You can fix these horses, but it takes a long time and a good horseman to do it. They are not something for the casual horse owner that just wants something nice and safe to ride. He sounds like a gelding we had that we bought really cheap. The seller failed to mention that he was terrifed of being saddled to the point of nearly killing both of us when we tried. After one solid year of working with this horse, we finally got him settled to just minor blow ups. And still, if you were not a heck of a hand with a horse, you would be in the dirt in a heartbeat. We finally gave him to a friend who has a large ranch in Wyoming. The cowboys there knew what to expect and kept him tired enough to behave. But to the average horse owner, a horse like this is usually to much of a pain. I do not blame you for selling the horse and moving on the something that will suit you better.

I am not sure why you equate your husband's accident with the fact that the horse was bought at auction.

Any horse, from any sale, could have a short "fuse" you don't know about. Or have been misrepresented. Or experience a change in attitude from being relocated. Or develop what seems like a "behavioural problem" when in fact there is an underlying medical problem causing pain. And any horse, even the most "bombproof", could have a meltdown moment. They're thinking, feeling creatures, not machines.

I find it really odd that some people find it acceptable to throw away horses to slaughter because it becomes inconvenient or expensive to keep them. Would you do that to your family dog if the price of dog food went up? If you couldn't afford his expensive medical treatment, would you think it's allright to send him to a barbaric killing facility instead of at least being afforded a dignified, pain-free death?

Horses are smart and they go to their deaths at the slaughterhouse in a terrified state. Upon arrival at the grounds, they can hear, smell and sense the blood and death and pain. Horses are not exactly livestock, they are more aptly classified as pets. We keep them for fun and recreation, like we do dogs and cats; we don't raise them or breed them for food or survival. So why do you think it's okay to murder some pets and not others?

I understand you're very angry right now because of your husband's unfortunate accident, and I do not expressely disagree that a human's life is worth more than an animal's. But I do not think it is fair either to lump all auction horses into the same category, or to decide based on an accident that slaughter has a rightful place in equine husbandry because it is the most cost-efficient alternative.

Actually if you buy a horse at an auction that was ridden through, the best thing to do is walk the pens in the back where everyone is with their horses that they are riding through. Any one with a quality horse is going to be riding them to show them off and will let others test ride them also. That way you can actually sit the horse and ride it around instead of just watching the owner of the horse ride it through the ring. If they won't let you ride it...don't buy it. There is something wrong with it. I have a 10 year old arabian mare, a 6 year old draft mare that I got at a auction. The couple sold her(the arabian) because their girls went off to college and the couple didn't ride...she's a wonderful horse. The draft mare I got at the same auction, different time and she is the horse that I ride bareback...her withers are non-existent =) I never buy the horses that run through loose, they are running in the ring on the loose for a reason. Just because your husband got bucked off doesn't mean it's a bad horse...how long did he spend on the ground with the horse? What was going on when he blew this fuse? I know that when I get new horses I always do nothing but 2 weeks of ground work which gives my new horse a chance to get to know me and trust and get to know how I move and to recognize my voice. Then I spend another two weeks doing ground work with the tack on....I got to know my horses very well this way and they got to know me before I got one...I also made sure to ride them in the round pen for a week and then in my small pasture for a week before the first really long ride...now I can't go outside without them all running in. You are right...with the drought, there are some awesome horses going throught auctions here in south dakota too. I'm sorry to hear that your husband got hurt. It's not the horse's fault though..when buying at a auction it's always "buyer beware". I go to the auction where I live all the time. Not always to buy. I like to look...I have 4 horses now and can't have anymore. But I see the meat men all the time. It's really sad to see how these horses are packed into a stock trailer sqealing(SP?) and screaming. If you saw how they were treated up to their last moments...you might re-think the slaughter part. Best wishes in your husbands recovery...what did you do with the horse?

I'm sorry to hear about the bad experience you have encountered. I hope your husband has a full, quick recovery!

I used to work for a horse jockey and have been injured several times with horses coming in for that "first" trial ride the day after the auction. People drug horses, mask training issues etc. when selling at a sale barn. Ofcourse good horses go through the sales, but a lot of times its someones misbehaved, spoiled or otherwise ruined or lame horse that is going through. WHENEVER you go to a sale and you don't have any idea of the sellers history, start asking around. Ask the auction owners/auctioneers/yard workers etc. Who is in the catolog that has a good reputation for selling "good" horses and then go find that person and talk to them about the horses they are selling. The auction barns will do this, point out good sellers, as they have a working relationship with these people and more bidders, higher bids, ensures that these "good" sellers will return with another bunch of good broke horses. Many do this for a living, here in MN we have several boys that run out west to pick up good ranch horses and bring back (slowing with the market now though) Be prepared to spend more than the "average" of the run of the mill horses going through because return buyers show up to bid on the horses from the sellers with the good reputations.

If you have watched a sale, this gorgeous horse comes through the ring, appears to be sound, appears to be well mannered but the "jockeys" are not bidding the horse up and a lot of the crowd is not either... other horses that have appeared to be less of a horse have bid up hundreds of dollars more...etc. This happens because people talk and when you get these guys that consistantly run in garbage or drug the horses... well the knowledgeable sale goers AVOID them.

So, you can find a good sale horse but you should do your homework before raising your hand and ALWAYS quarantine sale horses. A lot of sales don't do much in the way of disinfecting the barns and most horses are just thrown into the stalls to nuzzle around in the dirt, meet the neighbors and touch noses etc.

Also, if going to a sale, go to your bigger sale barns. Avoid those little, dingy barns with only 20 or so horses coming through. Most of the junk goes through those small sales. Go to a Catalog sale where you can do some research ahead of time and know that the people have put some $$ into preparing for the sale. They didn't just decide the s.o.b. is gone....after a bad day and run them down to the local wednesday night sale.

Thanks for posting this question. People should be more informed about sale barns. Sales are tricky and you just never know how honest the person selling is, (sale barn or not) Unfortunately people don't put to much thought into another persons well being, only their own.

I got my horse from an auction, although it is a fairly reputable sale (most are show horses, or potential show horses) it is still 90% junk that gets sold, then a few nice horses. My horse was an unbroke 3 year old quarter horse, and is a total steal. I paid 2,000 for him, and he is the nicest horse I have owned. He is sane, sound, tall, amazing mover, etc. He was only at the auction because the little old man that bred him had too many unbroke 3 year olds, and no where to sell them all, so he takes a few to every sale. I will not buy any horse that has a show record that seems too good to be true (in this case its lame) or an older "unfinished" horse (usually either crazy or lame), I also get information on which horses I am interested in, then see if they have gone through the sale before, there are some horses that are at every single sale because they are untrainable. Its really rare to actually get a good deal at a sale like I did, I hit really lucky. Sorry about your husbands accident, it seems wrong that they can sell horses like that with no warning of their problems.

While I don't discredit open auction houses(by this I mean the one's held weekly or monthly and so on) I wouldn't be caught buying from one. I do however frequent consignment sales that are held privately or at equine events. At these auctions you have a better chance of walking away with a horse that you will get your money's worth or much more. This is because unlike open auction's, run of the mill people can't just walk a horse into the barn and say I want to sell this horse. At equine event sales such as NCHA futurity classic and NRHA auctions, you get a pamplett for all consigned horse's months prior to the sale. This give's you the chance to visit the equine and have the horse vetted and x-rayed before purchase. You can go a visit the equine at his homestead and then view him again as he steps foot at the show and auction. This way you have a chance to pick the perfect equine and rule out medical issues. And all equine's at these consignments are drug tested so there is no chance of bute or ace. Also by getting to view the equine early, you get to see how he really acts, as most equine's don't act like themselves at auctions.

I'm not saying that this is the only way to go, and I understand that most people don't have the money to spend at a consignment sell and to have the equine vetted. I'm just saying that I'd rather be safe than sorry and walk away from auction knowing that the equine I purchased is sound and fit's my personality.

Once! But remember, most horses wind up there for a reason. A good kid broke horse is worth alot more money, and would be sold long before it reaches an auction. Not all may be bad, but I have seen a few friends try and beat the systm, and wound up hurt once the horse was doctored back to health. One was seriously hurt when the horse figured out the only way to get an experienced rider off was to run through a fence. I bet any amount of money, thats why that horse wound up at an auction. I guess you get what you pay for! be careful! By the way, abuse to me is when your buddy is laying on the ground, bleeding from severe flesh wounds while waiting for the chopper...........

yes i have gotten very nice horses from auctions, but then again i also give them a month to settle and for any drugs to wear off before i even think of working them. i also start with the assumption that the horse has a major problem or it wouldnt be at an auction to begin with. all except 1 horse i either found the problem before anyone could get hurt or found no issues at all. the 1 horse was a freak accident and i still dont blame the horse, she had ridden fine for over a year and just blew up at a new rider. it was my fault i let the rider push the horse too far. as for blaming the horse, i understand your frustration but you need to understand that any horse no matter the breed or training has the potential to hurt or kill a person. they are only animals and its amazing any of them tolerate a predator on their back at all. my cousin broke her jaw getting kicked by her gentle mare. i got a concussion from a well bred qh mare, horse are on average far more dangerous than motorcycles. i heard that cyclists average 1 accident per 1000 hours riding- equstriens average 1 per 350 hours. injuries come with the territory, sad to say but they do.you cannot prepare for every eventuality, im sorry to hear this happened, i really am.

Hmmm... i find this kind of funny. Hasn't ANY of you ever been to Keenland to see the throughbred's being auction? Those horses have a TON of potential, and there chance is a VEERY slim at finding a horse for less than eighteen grand, at least. Not all auction horses are bad, it depends on the sale you go to. But... I will admit, I went to a run down auction house and picked up my aqha show mare there, one in a kind find. Purchased her for 300 dollars as a scragly three year old. Scrawny and tiny she was stood at 14.1 hands flat and you could see her ribs. She's now 15.3 hand and jumping 3 5 fenses. That was five years ago. You just have to know what your looking for, and take a chance.

You do kind of take a gamble when you buy at auction. The best bet is to save some money, and use that money to send the horse to a professional trainer to ensure you get a horse that is rideable. At least if someone gets hurt, it's someone who has the professional background to handle it rather than your hubby. Of course, right now there are lots of nice horses for sale which could be bought through private sales and get a more reliable horse and still not pay much money.