Anybody got any 'auction stories'?

Parachute

Parachute

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I think I read that some of you have bought some horses from an auction - correct me if i'm wrong :o

What made you decide to buy from an auction, how did you find it?
I once visited a local horse auction and it was manic!! :o Haven't gone back since as there were a lot of underweight horses and it quite upset me :rolleyes:

Can you share your auction stories and the horse you bought? (Photo's would be lovely) :D:D
 
10 years ago I went to Derby sales to buy some feed and to look for a new wheelbarrow. Came home with feed, a wheelbarrow and an unhandled 8 month old New Forest pony (as you do :o )

This is her as an adult :)

 
I went to Beaulieu Road Sales for a look round and came home with a completely unhandled 4yr old new forest pony. One halter broken and backed she turned out to be the boldest, most agile little pony ever. She was only 13.2hh (and a small one at that), she would have stayed with me if she was a bit bigger however she is now in a new home with a lovely girl who competes her in BS. I went to watch them yesterday at Crofton Manor and they flew round. Couldn't be more proud of my feral pony!

photos in link:

http://www.theeventfuldiaries.com/oakmeade-nutmeg.html
 
Charem I was up at Crofton yesterday too as I work on one of the livery yards - next time you're there let me know and I'll come and say hi, would be nice to meet another fellow HHO'er.

Sorry for the hijack there

I also went to Beaulieu Road Sales a few years ago. Didn't buy anything through the ring, but ended up with a 15 month old black filly bought 'out the back' as it were. Unfortunately I didn't ask my husband beforehand, and spent our wedding present money to do it - boy was I in trouble!! :D
 
I bought a 10yr old sec a unbroken broodmare at beeston turned out to be 100% bombproof ride and drive perfect 1st pony :D Lucky there ( kids chose her too!) because i know a couple of people who have in recent months bought youngsters from there (1 not atall cheap either!) that have one health problem after another and led to some very expensive vet bills!

I would buy from auction again though and plan to soon for a second pony for kids (ill let them chose again since they got it spot on last time!)
 
I went to a sales to buy some tack for my sister's youngster and ended up wandering around the horses and came across one in pretty bad condition that was out of his head with stress but there was something about him - we couldn't leave him and ended up buying him (despite fully intending not to even look at horse :rolleyes:)
He turned out to be the sweetest tb I have ever come across, had obviously been badly treated by previous owners at some point and took a while to come right, both physically and mentally but a darling of a horse. He had a huge jump (was able to do 1.45 easily). He ended up being too much for me and went out on loan where he had a wonderful life until an accident claimed his life :( but he had about 2 years between myself and his loaner where he was loved and cared for and had lots of fun galloping on the beach :D:D

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We went to Holland and bought our amazing stallion who is beginning to turn his hooves to both dressage and show jumping.
Also went some years ago to Melton Horse sales and bought a lovely mare with a view for her being a nice riding horse for OH to potter about on. I tried her out when we got her home and it was a question of how fast can you bale out before she rodeoed me off. Lucky for me name was in sale catalogue and they were cagey yo start with but fessed up there were dealers and had her 9 weeks in which time she had decked every rider in the yard.
 
Ned came through the sales, YO got uncharacteristically emotional (usually thinks with her head, not heart!) and bid against the meat man and won!! Best choice she's ever made :D
 
Hello, very new to forum but could not resist replying to the question. Yes I bought from Tavistock Dartmoor Auction 3 1/2 years ago, Basil was then a very poor flea and lice infested hat rack, with bog brush mane and tail and heavy worm burden. However, his 2 1/2 year maturity (lol) stood out a mile in the buzz of the sale yard, as he calmly stood there eating a hay net, and greeting anyone who showed interest in him. He was fully papered (not just a moor pony) and he turned out to be very well bred. We paid a whole £31.62 for him and he is an absolute poppet. Confidently competing at Prelim dressage, thoroughly enjoying PC adventures and trying hard at county level First Ridden showing. My best buy ever, a truly rewarding pony who at just turned 6 has so much to offer, and my 10 year old has basically learnt to ride on him. An absolute success!! 😀😀
 
Way back when the vikings were here (40+ years ago really) I went to the New Forest Sales and bought a 'dumpee' (a horse that had been dumped in the forest just before the round-up for the sales - sadly quite common at the time). I paid my money and took my receipt to the pen to collect said horse. I put a headcollar on and walked away, only for the man in the pen to yelll after me OI YOU what about the others" - turned out I had bought a 'job lot" of 1 horse, two ponies and 4 shitlands!!!!!!!

Try explaining that one to your yard owner, never mind the parents..............
 
Clannad48 said:
Way back when the vikings were here (40+ years ago really) I went to the New Forest Sales and bought a 'dumpee' (a horse that had been dumped in the forest just before the round-up for the sales - sadly quite common at the time). I paid my money and took my receipt to the pen to collect said horse. I put a headcollar on and walked away, only for the man in the pen to yelll after me OI YOU what about the others" - turned out I had bought a 'job lot" of 1 horse, two ponies and 4 shitlands!!!!!!!

Try explaining that one to your yard owner, never mind the parents..............
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OH MY WORD WOW What happened next??
 
In 1990 I went to Hereford market (now Leominster), intending to buy something to sell on. Took about £800 I think. Everything was coming in and making too much money until this scruffy skinny 4 yr old arabx called Queenie came in and tanked its owner round the ring. I had seen in in a pen, straining against a rope and generally being bolshy. I started the bidding at £500 and then no one else bid so she was mine!!! These days she wouldn't have made £200 but in those days the prices were higher believe it or not.
She stamped and screamed the whole 50 miles home and was bolshy and bargy and wouldn't let you near her legs.
Anyway, I never sold her, had her 21 years and we did everything together and I knew her inside out, she was very fast and jumped anything and she was my 'horse of a lifetime' and will be very hard to replace. (btw I changed her name to Tikka and I now have a private numberplate which says Tikka to remember her by)
She is the chestnut in my signature
 
Bought the most talented filly I ever had from Malvern H I S Sales.
Little did we guess that this little grey 2 year old would later with me win a string of Newcomer classes.
Be presented with an award from the auctioneers, and be bought by a current top rider,
Win the Foxhunter Final at the old Wembley, and be sold to Saudi.
I sometimes wonder what happened to her after that.
I have her 25 year old half sister with me now.

Most of my horses have been bought from auctions.
 
Clannad48 said:
Way back when the vikings were here (40+ years ago really) I went to the New Forest Sales and bought a 'dumpee' (a horse that had been dumped in the forest just before the round-up for the sales - sadly quite common at the time). I paid my money and took my receipt to the pen to collect said horse. I put a headcollar on and walked away, only for the man in the pen to yelll after me OI YOU what about the others" - turned out I had bought a 'job lot" of 1 horse, two ponies and 4 shitlands!!!!!!!

Try explaining that one to your yard owner, never mind the parents..............
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WOW!! That must have being a shock to everyone!! LOL! :D
 
I am not allowed to go to sales on my own. Last time, I came back with a 16.1hh ex-police horse - I only went to see how much my saddle went for! Although to be honest, he was fab - bright chestnut 5 year old. I kept him for about 6 months, but unfortunately, I had to have an op on my back and couldn;t cope with riding two, so I sold him. I still regret doing that as he was a real star.

We went to Southall sales once, and I had to be physically restrained from bidding on two donkeys - I had two people hanging onto my hands to stop me from bidding!

A friend of mine later went to Southall to get a bridle and came back with a shetland pony - she was told he was 8 and fully backed. Turned out he was ony 18 months and had never been sat on, although he had given pony rides to a couple of kids at the yard and was a good boy. We only found out he was so young when his "plums" appeared!!
 
Hexx said:
I am not allowed to go to sales on my own. Last time, I came back with a 16.1hh ex-police horse - I only went to see how much my saddle went for! Although to be honest, he was fab - bright chestnut 5 year old. I kept him for about 6 months, but unfortunately, I had to have an op on my back and couldn;t cope with riding two, so I sold him. I still regret doing that as he was a real star.

We went to Southall sales once, and I had to be physically restrained from bidding on two donkeys - I had two people hanging onto my hands to stop me from bidding!

A friend of mine later went to Southall to get a bridle and came back with a shetland pony - she was told he was 8 and fully backed. Turned out he was ony 18 months and had never been sat on, although he had given pony rides to a couple of kids at the yard and was a good boy. We only found out he was so young when his "plums" appeared!!
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You found an ex-police horse at an auction :eek:
 
Parachute said:
You found an ex-police horse at an auction :eek:
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They used to come up at Reading Auctions quite often!
They didn't quite make the grade. The onw I remember the most was a bueatiful dapple grey 16.2, apparently reared up the night of the mellenium at Marble Arch in London! He fetched about £1700, !!

They go to auction if they don't make the grade.
 
kaluki said:
They used to come up at Reading Auctions quite often!
They didn't quite make the grade. The onw I remember the most was a bueatiful dapple grey 16.2, apparently reared up the night of the mellenium at Marble Arch in London! He fetched about £1700, !!

They go to auction if they don't make the grade.
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Wow! I didn't know that :eek:
What a great buy!!
 
I went to Derby sales to buy a Bates saddle that I had seen on one of the stalls.

After intervening in some rough horse handling I ended up in the back pens with my new saddle.............



A few weeks later he looked like this


First xc


First show


Schooling


He has so much potential but also an absolute tonne of issues!
 
I bought an unregistered Highland mare with foal at foot in the Aberdeen sales about 30 years ago. When I got them home, I found out who had sold them and phoned them up saying they'd got their money so they could tell me the truth about her! They said she was an absolute bitch! They told the truth -- but I think she was bad because she'd been ill treated. But the foal was nice and I kept him.

I sold the mare to a man who bought her as a present for his wife....so that is another marriage that has probably ended in divorce!:D

Back then, the sales were not well conducted and the SSPCA were conspicuous by their absence. One of the yard boys was rather keen on smacking the horses with a stick. There were murmerings amongst the crowd, then someone who could take it no longer jumped up and shouted, "If you hit another horse with that **********g stick of yours, I'm coming down there and ramming it up your ********g a****e". There was a great cheer from the crowd and the man went very very red. I bet he has never hit another horse to this day! (But that was the usual way cattle were treated and I've seen more than one with a closed and bloody eye. They hit them on the head so as not to bruise the meat. Things have improved a lot).

So, I wouldn't buy at an auction again unless I'd done a lot of research. Usually, you can get a catalogue in advance with the sellers listed. I don't think anyone would mind if you phone up the owner and have a chat before going to the sale. But if you buy on looks, you won't know what you're getting and there is no come back or guarantee when buying through the ring.
 
I bought my current horse from an auction in Europe and imported him. Rubenstein, sandro hit bloodlines for the cost of an ex race horse, bargain! Just broken and coming along nicely.
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When melton was up and running I went along to find a companion for my then horse. Saw a little welsh a, had been through ring and not sold. I heard lady say she was not taking him home so sounded to me like a one way trip to meat man. I asked her what she would take for him and she said 90 quid. Legged it to supermarket over road, got money out, legged it back, handed over dosh and he was mine. Luckily a friend had transport there and took him home for me. Couldn't get near him for a few days but he soon came round. I broke him in, got him hacking out etc and he was sold to a forever home when was 4. We sold him for over ten times what we paid and he has won many showjumping championships and is still regularly winning. His little jockey hacks him out, he is a real kids pony. If only I could find a 16.2 version!!
 
For those that asked:

The 'dumpee' I bought was one that I had helped round up prior to the sales: an approximately 8 year old thoroughbred cross, bay gelding. He had been advertised as 'found' prior to the sales but nobody came forward. I named him Rex. the vet checked him over and declared him to be fit and sound with no problems, he arrived with shoes on that the farrier reckoned had been on about a month. He had obviously been well handled and cared for, and I often wondered if his previous owner had been at the sales to see where he ended up. I kept him for 5 happy years and when I moved across country for work he went to a friend of mine who he had a long and happy life with til he passed away due to old age.

Two of the shitlands I had pts on advice from the vet, they both were a lot older than was previously thought and had long term medical conditions. The vet advised that it would be the kindest thing to do.

The two other shitlands became much loved field ornaments for a friend who was in a wheelchair and unable to ride but couldn't be without horses in her life. They lived a long and happy life together.

The two ponies had not had much handling, but with patience and hard work became excellent riding ponies for my dentist's two children. I had a whole set of crowns as payment a couple of years later :)

My parents went absolutely ballistic - I hadn't told them of my plan to buy anything. They took the attitude 'well you've made your bed etc., and never let me forget it.

My then YO was a total star - well after she had stopped hysterically laughing at what an idiot I was........ then it dawned on her how I had got them to the yard. I had taken a headcollar and leadrope for the horse and planned to bring him home on a friends lorry. However things as usual didn't go to plan. I ended up leading him along with the other six in a long line, with headcollars and leadropes made out of baling twine down the very busy main road for about 5 miles.......... :0 :0

Obviously I hadn't thought through the possible consequences of leading seven by myself, and especially as I had no idea of how they would behave. Looking back I was totally irresponsible and should never have been allowed near horses again!!! However they were all impeccably behaved, Phew


I have never been allowed since to go the the sales on my own with money to spend :( :(
 
Livestock auctions always held a fascination for me as a youngster. I used to go along and watch the bidding when I was about 12 as my uncles were farmers, but I always went on my own as my family were not interested. Then I'd get my leg pulled by the dealers that I'd twitched at the wrong moment, bid, and bought a cow!:D

Then one day the auctioneer held up a sheepdog pup. No one bid. So I stuck my hand up and shouted "One shilling!" (Five pence to you lot). Everyone laughed but no one would bid against me. So I took the pup home on the bus to face the wrath of my parents....and there started a life time with dogs.;)
 
Yep - police horses used to go through Reading. I think they may go through the general Ascot sales now. As public property they have to be auctioned off to the public. Usually because they haven't made the grade. Ted was traffic-shy, however, there's a big difference between London traffic and Windsor traffic! The only problem I had with him was with rabbits - he just didn't seem to be able to work them out!!
 
Bought mine out back at Ashford market. Didn't go up there. Friend rang me saying found a sweet mare come up and see her!! She didn't sell in auction.
Wanted a project my god she was!! Still here three years on :)
 
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