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Equine charities receive a large number of calls every month from horse owners seeking
alternative homes for their animals. There are over one million horses and donkeys in the USA
and the charitable sector has limited space available and must prioritize welfare and rescue cases.
Welfare organizations simply do not have the resources to take in all the horses whose owners
can no longer afford to care for them.
The accompanying documents, “Re-homing your horse”, “Cutting Costs without Compromising
Health’, and “Can you afford a Horse?", outline the main options available if you find that having
a horse is an expense you can definitely no longer afford. (The term horse is used to cover all
domestic equine species, including horses, ponies, donkeys, hinnies and mules).
BITS wants you to know that their are alternatives to taking your horse to an auction. We also
want you to understand that horses bought and sold at auctions can find themselves in slaughter
plants. There is no safe auction, there is always a possibility that your horse will end up
in a slaughter plant. If you absolutely have no choice but to take a horse to an auction (you are a
minor or you are in a situation where the horse MUST be auctioned for legal reasons), what is the
best way to protect your horse?
alternative homes for their animals. There are over one million horses and donkeys in the USA
and the charitable sector has limited space available and must prioritize welfare and rescue cases.
Welfare organizations simply do not have the resources to take in all the horses whose owners
can no longer afford to care for them.
The accompanying documents, “Re-homing your horse”, “Cutting Costs without Compromising
Health’, and “Can you afford a Horse?", outline the main options available if you find that having
a horse is an expense you can definitely no longer afford. (The term horse is used to cover all
domestic equine species, including horses, ponies, donkeys, hinnies and mules).
BITS wants you to know that their are alternatives to taking your horse to an auction. We also
want you to understand that horses bought and sold at auctions can find themselves in slaughter
plants. There is no safe auction, there is always a possibility that your horse will end up
in a slaughter plant. If you absolutely have no choice but to take a horse to an auction (you are a
minor or you are in a situation where the horse MUST be auctioned for legal reasons), what is the
best way to protect your horse?
| Tips for Taking your Horse to Auction |
1. Grooming!
A bath, clipped up, etc. This shows that the horse has been worked with and that you care. It is also just like selling a
car – a clean horse just looks more valuable and desirable.
2. Hoof trim!
A trim shouldn't cost you more than $35. Again, it makes a big difference to private buyers to see that a horse is cared
for.
3. If at all possible, ride it through!
You’re going to be in a round pen, so it doesn’t have to be all that broke to be successfully ridden through. The horse
who is ridden through has a much better chance of survival, though it is not a sure thing.
4. If the horse is too young to ride, what can you teach it before the sale that will make it look good?
Being able to demonstrate things like picking up feet in the ring, or better yet setting up and pivoting for halter, will
drive up bids from private parties.
5. Get the papers in order.
Transfer them if they’re not. Make sure you have a signed transfer ready to go. If you lost the papers, get
replacements. If the mare is in foal, make sure you have all the paperwork to register the foal.
6. Price
A horse going for anymore than $300 should be safe from a "kill buyer". Put a shelf on the cost of your horse, do not
let it go for less than $300 if possible.
A bath, clipped up, etc. This shows that the horse has been worked with and that you care. It is also just like selling a
car – a clean horse just looks more valuable and desirable.
2. Hoof trim!
A trim shouldn't cost you more than $35. Again, it makes a big difference to private buyers to see that a horse is cared
for.
3. If at all possible, ride it through!
You’re going to be in a round pen, so it doesn’t have to be all that broke to be successfully ridden through. The horse
who is ridden through has a much better chance of survival, though it is not a sure thing.
4. If the horse is too young to ride, what can you teach it before the sale that will make it look good?
Being able to demonstrate things like picking up feet in the ring, or better yet setting up and pivoting for halter, will
drive up bids from private parties.
5. Get the papers in order.
Transfer them if they’re not. Make sure you have a signed transfer ready to go. If you lost the papers, get
replacements. If the mare is in foal, make sure you have all the paperwork to register the foal.
6. Price
A horse going for anymore than $300 should be safe from a "kill buyer". Put a shelf on the cost of your horse, do not
let it go for less than $300 if possible.
| A little effort can go a long way toward encouraging a private party to choose your horse at the sale. Color does not keep them safe. Papers do not necessarily keep them safe. What keeps them safe, as you can see from the above, is TRAINING! |
