[QHgin]

My G'pa has made his mind up and he is going to buy a horse from the auction this saturday. he said that he will tell me the horses that he likes and then i can look at them and tell him wich one would be his best bet. so my question is. what should i look for? what are somethings that i should do to try and firuge out if the horse is druged? what are some questions a should ask the owner? things that i should be sure to look at and do with the horses? anything would be apperciated. Im making a check list to take with me. i already know some of the people not to buy from. but my main conceren is that he really wants a TWH and this one lady brings like 10 TWHs with her each month and she is one that i was warned about.

[Blistering Winds]

at auction, rare you will get to ask the owner anything.

Look for soundness mostly....

as for that lady, don't buy any of her horses if that is a concern.

at this auction, are you allowed to get up front with the horses? If so, get in the pits and watch their reactions. Look for "glassy" looking eyes, very relaxed, slow breathing if a horse next to them is just flaking out.....non-alertness if you walk up. A horse should at least flick their ear toward you, regardless of the training they have on board.

[monica-n-shiloh]

Auctions can be great places but they can hide dangers as well.
My friend has bought MANY fantastic horses from a reputable auction in Mass. I bought my gelding there as well (who is a doll).
BUT I also bought a mare there that seemed nice. She was lively, screaming out the window for other horses, rode nice and was quiet while we were in the stall examining her. I took her home and got the experience of my life. She was MOST DEFINITELY drugged when I bought her...even though she didnt show any of the classic signs. When the drugs wore off she was a demon on four legs... kicking, biting, rearing.. downright nightmare! (no pun intended)

Im not trying to scare you away from auctions.. just making you aware that sometimes you end up with a bad apple from them and dont know it till you get it home.
So yes, look for all the classic signs BW listed above... but also, go with your gut. If it says "no" then dont do it. If I had listened to mine about that mare I would have had alot less headaches and bruises.

Goodluck this Saturday! Let us know what happens!

[QHgin]

yes you can get in pens with the horses and sometimes the owners will sit there and talk with you. and you can ride most of them.

[lilrider]

I have gone to the Shipshewana auction often and after going last friday all I can say is horses are going for cheap. Just make sure you do your thinking with your head not your heart or youwill end up with 5 horses from the killpen, not that all teh horses in the kill pen are bad horses but they often have problems mental behavoiral and physical. I never go to the auction with more money than I wnat to spend on tack because I know I would end up taking a horse or two home.

[Blistering Winds]

then that is an awesome auction if you can ride.

Get there several hours early and walk around, mark your auction card of the ones you like.....narrow them down to a few and ride them.

[monica-n-shiloh]

I know the auction I went to you couldnt ride yourself (legal reasons, cant blame them), but they had riders set up so if you liked a horse you could see him go before the auction started.
I have a video of Andy going at the auction and another couple of horses I considered.

[QHgin]

He has decided to go and not take the trailer. he wants to check out whats there and plan for next time. plus i told him that the horses at the barn were sick b/c someone brought in some horses that were carrying some thing(ill post in another post).