Well, I have been watching the local auctions here (Texas)
for many months and have come to this conclusion. The horse most likely to be
bought by the killer buyer is the healthy unhandled horse. By unhandled I mean
no training what-so-ever. They come through the ring snorting and terrified and
no one will bid on them except the meat man. My opinion is also changing about
the meat man. I used to see him as enemy number one, but have now come to
realize that as much as I hate him, he is just another cog in the wheel. The
main problem lies with irresponsible breeding and ownership. I know this is not
news to anyone on this list. I guess the breeders want to pass the training buck
on to the buyer. I think a lot of buyers (especially the newbie horse owners)
have no clue to the expense and commitment to training a horse. I saw a lot of
gorgeous Arabians go through the Brownwood sale yesterday that went straight to
the meat man because they were not even halter broke. Another thing about Texas
is the "Quarter Horse or nothing" headset. Believe me I do not have
anything against the QH but it sure puts a nail in the coffin of a horse who is
of another breed. Another thing I thought was kinda weird is that they will try
to pass any grade horse of whatever breeding off as a quarter horse with no
papers. I do not know how helpful any of this information will be to anyone but
I have been attending these sales around here faithfully and I have seen this
happen over and over. I really do not know what we can do about the problem. I
want so badly to save more horses but I can't bring home a older unhandled horse
and expect hubby to be pleased with me. How can we put these horses into safe
places??
I also was called a "horse hugger" by a kill buyer who claims there is
nowhere else for the "jugheads" to go.
Amanda Barber
Your Stephenville and central Texas auction reporter