19/05/2025
People say I get lucky at horse sales.
But itโs not luck. And to be honest, itโs not even really experience. You just have to show up.
We were walking past a pen of about ten draft horsesโbig, heavy types, standing quietly. One of them stepped forward and came right up to us. The kids climbed the panels, reaching out their hands, and she stood there like sheโd known them forever. Calm. Soft-eyed. Letting them scratch her all over.
When we walked away, she followed. So we stayed a little longer. Loved on her a little more. Something about her just clicked.
We waited until she was run through the ring. She was chased in with no halter, no name, no backstoryโjust another body in the rotation.
We bid. We won. $1,675.
We stuck around a little longer and Dean randomly bid on a little yearling filly for $325. Thats what a grade untouched sound prospect cost.
We paid, went for the truck, backed up to the chuteโand they walked right on the trailer without a momentโs hesitation. No rope. No drama.
Turns out the draft, might be in foal. Thirteen years old. Broke to drive, voice command, picks up her feet. Leads like a dream and I bet i could hop on her back no problem. The filly is shy but curious, which I would expect at 12 months old!
The same kind of draft horse people are advertising online for $6,000 with a half-decent photo and a catchy caption about how theyโre lightly handled. Or $2000+ for bronkey prospects. And we paid meat price.
There were over 200 horses at that sale.
I couldโve brought home MANY more just like these. It happens every single time, it breaks my heart and blows my mind.
The gap between private sales and auctions is unreal. A horse is a horse.
Yesโsome are dangerous. You can see it in how they spook, bolt, or avoid people in the pens. And the owner is not standing there trying to convince you otherwise.
Yesโsome are unsound. But you see that too, clearly, as they trot through the ring. No cover-ups. No filters. Again, the owner is not there arguing that they are sound.
I think a lot of horses end up there because the owners are too scared to deal with horse buyers these days. There is so much judgement, lack of knowledge, tire kicking, liability and high expectations- not to mention the keyboard warriors.
But anyway, we named the draft Dolly and the filly Pixie. Theyโll be sticking around a long time. And honestly? Dolly might be the most grateful horse weโve ever brought home ๐
