bloody dealers/sales - lies,lies and more lies

[_daisy_]

Been a busy fews days. Ive never been to the auctions for many reasons but got invited to 2 so i thought id see what im missing or not missing as the case maybe. Friday went to York sales, bought way too much stuff

and presently putting the stuff i didnt really need to buy on ebay

. Then for the fun of it went to Holmfirth sales today - was very restrained only bought a new set of solocomb blades!

well here comes the rantish bit:
Whilst at York went to have a nosey at some of the horses. 1 caught my eye - not that i normally look at appaloosas as they just arent for me (i dont dislike them just wouldnt buy one) but yes this one caught my eye. Looked him up in the catalogue for more info and it said he was 15.3hh, 5, green, just broken and only hacking out with an escort horse-done nothing else. Said he would be perfect for a winter project. So thought id watch how much he went for. Think he went for about 650 guineas. not bad i suppose for a very green horse who was not settled at all.

So went to Holmfirth and what was the first horse i saw - yes you guessed it the appaloosa that was at York on Friday

. Well the new owner had definietly done a lot with the little lad over night. He turned this green youngster into a 6yo gelding who has xc,sj, hunted and was very laid back at everything

. Horse was more settled today so i do wonder if they had given him something

. Well I left the ring at 980 guineas and they were still bidding.

Cant believe these people. Certainly wouldnt buy for the sales now. it makes me wonder why these poor little horses go through the sales. Im sure that this is very common place to make as much money as possible with very little effort and expense.

 

[Clodagh]

That is so sad. A friend of mine used to buy at Ascot and sell at Doncaster, tbs, she said the same ned went for loads more money at Doncaster. Poor horses.

My Mum thinks all dealers should be banned!

 

[_daisy_]

totally agree. BUT if all these horses are as good as they say they are why the hell are they at the sales as they fetch pretty much peanuts. i feel sorry for the horses/ponies. some of them look well cared for then others are blatantly treated like [****]. one had nice rugs on but when you looked at its feet it was in desperate need of farrier attention. 1 little kid had either a highly strung gelding or a stallion pony with leadrope wrenched through its little mouth, then went on to beat the crap out of it to show it off to someone. Pony just looked petrified. There was a lovely WB SJ mare there who had only had its foal taken off it that morning. You could still see its bag was full, it hadnt got lots of weight to it which is quite understandable but what an awful end to a lovely mare - god knows if it got sold, didnt stay around long enough to find out.
Dont think i will be going to see the horses again. Its way too upsetting.

 

[Louby]

Poor horse, no doubt he will be back again soon once the new buyer realises hes really a nervous wreck.
Ive been to Holmfirth a couple of times and it breaks my heart. I remember seein two shetlands together, one had deformed front legs, then there was a pen of horses all tacked up in poor condition looking really down trodden. I usually end up staying in the tack auction as I hate seeing the poor horses.

 

[_daisy_]

yes there was a pen full of shetlands there totad - being smacked with a walkign stick to make them move round. god know if they sold.
if i go again ill be sticking to the tack - there was a woman in front of me buying a load of crap!!! she mustve spent a fortune.

 

[mrgoop]

A friend of mine had a pony delivered today, yep you guessed it... from Holmfirth sales. she bought him last week and had him delivered today, he must be 30 if hes a day. Poor old soul, i wonder how many times he's gone through the ring in his sad little life. He is now standing in a nice deep bed, with a big fat haynet and wearing his pyjamas. Probably thinking all his christmas' have come at once!!!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I've been to numerous auctions, the first pony I ever bought I had from Hereford Auctions, he turned out quite lovely although he was very green on buying. On my travels I have regularly seen the same horses go through several different auctions. It has always happened & I suppose it always will...sad really. I don't go to auctions now, I have my ideal horse (Private sale) so I don't need to go, maybe I've also gone alot softer,but I find it distressing.

You also have to ask yourself why the animals are being sold at auction where they never realise good money.....the majority are either unbroken, very green, got nasty/dangerous habits, would fail vetting, or alot older than they are saying. You have to really know what you're doing buying there.

 

[_daisy_]

im glad old pony has got a nice home- he wont know what has hit him(of course in a nice way!). at least hes out of the sale ring process now.

 

[_daisy_]

dont think i would ever buy from a sale like these - all of mine have been private sales.
my thought on these sales is exactly the same. If the horse is so good (or as good as they state it is) why the hell do they let it go so cheap and in this way. For example - the WB SJ mare caught my eye. Lovely looking thing - checked her details - 11yo, been in same home last 3 years, bred 1 stunning filly foal this year,exelled at Sj and would certainly affiliate.For sale due to owner being pregnant.(overheard that they were keeping the foal!) So if it was that good why isnt it still jumping, why wasnt it affiliated. Why was it put in foal. Too many questions to ask. My answer would be that its knackered but i cant guarantee that.

I could take my 12yo mare and advertise her as a prospect to affiliate SJ - however she cant jump well anymore due to her ringbone. Yes she could jump enough for the viewings but not constantly!!
The owners musnt have a conscience to keep something from a prospective buyer!!

Would a private sale not bring as much. I can understand that they normally will sell straight away (or you hope they do). at least2/3 were for sale due to bad debt!!

 

[sarahmagic]

I was going to go along to York sales just to have a look as I've not been to an auction before. But from what you said it sounds a bit upsetting so maybe I'll stick to looking at the tack! Are all auctions like this or just certain ones? How often do they do the tack sales at York?

 

[Louby]

Ive not been to many auctions but Holmfirth has got to be the worst in my area. Its pityful, poor poor horses that would be better going for meat, awful I know but at least it would end there miserable lives except of course for the old rescued one mentioned above, that brought a smile to my face. He must really feel like hes gone to heaven.
I know what you mean when you say about the 'genuine bombproof or BSJA potential' horses that end up at auctions. There must be some heartbreaking desperate sales that are really genuine but I bet the majority are horses with a problem. It is sad.
Saying that an old friend bought a underfed black yearling from Beeston because she felt sorry for him. It had been trampled by the other 5 or 6 horses loose on the same wagon and went through the ring described as a hanovarian and she paid 100 guinees which was quite a lot then especially the state he was in. It cost her loads in vets fees as he had to be gelded, had ringworm, lice etc but a few years later I saw him in a field and WOW he was gorgeous.
She later sold him for a lot of money as he proved too much for her, so there are some bargains to be had.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Sales are sad places. And at this time of year alot of dealers want rid of the horses they couldnt sell over the summer so they don't have to winter them. Sad but true.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

Re Holmfirth.

Did anyone from here go to the sale on the 21st of this month? (Saturday before last). We have had a report that the stolen blue roan and white gelding from Bristol...see stolen section from this forum... went through the ring on that day, and need more witnesses.

 

[KateStartin]

I went to york sales on fri as well. Don't really know why coz i don't really like it!. I saw the appaloosa as well, those people make me so mad. Felt so sorry for all those foals being dragged round the ring, I dont think some of them were even old enough to wean.

 

[eahotson]

Wouldn't buy from a sale personally or sell at one.I do know some people who do get good buys but not for me.Treatment of foals disgusting.

 

[Troy1999]

Hi, I have bought from sales in the past. Some out of pity and others who may have had potential. I think you have to be confident about your knowledge/ ability and the fact that all sorts of problems can be hidden.
We got a lovely pony who was there as a result of outstanding livery bill, he was a cracker, hackney x welsh black and stunning, 13hh and a bargain, we had 6 years of fun with him before he was outgrown and went to another lovely family. We've also bought unhandled foals/ youngsters over the years. We don't buy anymore as we had to sell the farm/land.
You do see the same dealers there day in/out I was a regular at Beeston for 6 years in the late 1990's and it was the same then. They do the rounds of the horse sales and the same faces do pop up at the other auctions.
Our best ponies were always the ones we bought there unhandled and therefore easier to work with than those who had suffered abuse/ rough handling.
Anyone wishing to train in farriery would learn alot from examining the state of some of the horses feet who pass through!!!!
Worst is when yoiu see the big fat men jump on the horse in a head collar and trot so fast up and down the tight areas asfast as possible - who does this impress?

 

[_daisy_]

dont know but i can ask a friend of mine who goes every week and let you know

 

[_daisy_]

i didnt see any foals but i saw the mare that had just had her foal taken off her that morning!!

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

Thanks ebi284.

 

[_daisy_]

some of the horses are alright im not critisicing everyone who takes their horses/ponies there to sell but i wont be viewing them next time i go.
tack sale normally happens 1 a month -
heres their website:
http://www.ylc.co.uk/auctions.php?zid=2&PHPSESSID=2a2efc4bd1f9da7d73eb7761b28717ff