[avasmom]

There's a huge difference between an "auction" and a "kill auction". I went to one of the local auctions about two weeks ago-I didn't see one thin horse, nothing apparantly injured or needing "rescue", and this was NOT a high class auction, it was in the middle of nowhere-people just trying to get rid of their oldies and the horses that for one reason or another they don't want.

I HAVE heard of the kill auctions-where the doggers are sitting and buying everything they can that dosen't sell. But neither are actually a rescue-it's more or less just "saving" it from the doggers. I had a rescue mare that I pulled out a friend's backyard a few hundred pounds underweight-feet tore up rainrot everywhere, I would consider that a rescue more than something I "saved" at an auction. So yes, I agree with you Peggy.

[Sondra]

Originally Posted by avasmom

There's a huge difference between an "auction" and a "kill auction". I went to one of the local auctions about two weeks ago-I didn't see one thin horse, nothing apparantly injured or needing "rescue", and this was NOT a high class auction, it was in the middle of nowhere-people just trying to get rid of their oldies and the horses that for one reason or another they don't want.

I HAVE heard of the kill auctions-where the doggers are sitting and buying everything they can that dosen't sell. But neither are actually a rescue-it's more or less just "saving" it from the doggers. I had a rescue mare that I pulled out a friend's backyard a few hundred pounds underweight-feet tore up rainrot everywhere, I would consider that a rescue more than something I "saved" at an auction. So yes, I agree with you Peggy.

Great point you made. The Auction I purchased my gelding at was a local 'get rid of em' sale. On the other hand, there is the horse sale in Unadilla, NY. This one is well known for its junk horses.

[Rae]

I'd say a horse CAN be rescued at an auction, doesn't mean ALL auction horses are rescued. It depends on their circumstance, their health, things like that. If it's healthy, it's not a rescue. My mare Hope was purchased at auction, and she was a rescue because of the condition she was in. Had she been confiscated from someone or surrendered, still would've been a rescue. My other mare Rose was purchased at auction, and she wasn't really a rescue, even though she was a yearling, wasn't getting decent food for her age, and was on the thin side. But, she wasn't rescued.

That's how I see it.

[minilove]

Just tossing in my two cents-

I also consider it a rescue if you out bid say slaughter or someone you know doesn't take excellent care of their horses or people who are boarderline neglet owners. There are a lot of shady people at the auction near me, some who get horses from one auction and sell them at differnt auctions, or a good home, a bad home, slaughter, ect.

[katylynn06]

Our Buckwheat was an auction horse but by no means was he a rescue horse. We actually know the people who were selling him and my husband felt bad that the bidding wasn't going higher so my husband wanted to help and bid on Buckwheat and won and now he is ours for a whopping $160.00. I work at the local horse auction and I have seen some horses that did need rescuing and I know when the kill buyer was there and when he wasn't and it made me mad to see good looking horses go to the kill buyer and I just wanted to bid on them all and take them all home with me.

[avasmom]

It annoys me, too, when someone says "I can't find a rescue horse anywhere...help me..." I'm like ... that's a good thing!

[Blistering Winds]

Boy do I agree.

[madvoice]

Hmm if all auction horses were rescues, please explain why Magic Millions horses (TB auctions) go for that.. millions

[freedom32]

Of course not all auction horses aren't rescues, in fact most aren't! Yes there are some sad cases that go through, but there are many quality animals as well, depending of course on the sale you go to.

[Evening Heiress]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

I don't feel that they are if you bid against somebody most likely you aren't rescuing them at all... this drives me crazy when people say look at the rescue I got at the auction and there is nothing wrong with the horses.. in fact it is perfectably usable when they bought it.. the only auction horses I see as rescues are the ones that are on their last leg and you make the first and only bid on the horse and it is so low you might as well be paying for a new halter or bridle.. NOT EVERY AUCTION HORSE IS A RESCUE!!!

I just got my 20 year old pony back for free because the person I sold her too thought she was sick and couldnt' pay a vet bill but I really don't consider her a rescue... yeah she is under the wheather and older but come on ...

Sorry just a little vent and this is just my OPINION

I agree Its a pet peeve of mine too to hear some noob say I "RESCUED" my horse from the auction....I have bought a perfectly good horse or two from the local auction and never touted them as rescues, issues or no.